Hello ReefCentral. This will be my 3rd salt water tank in 15 years, but my largest to date. First tank was 20g and ran for about 10 years and my current tank is roughly 7g at almost 3 years.
New tank is a 20" cube (approx. 35g) with bottom drilled corner overflow.
Eshopps RS-75 sump
Eheim Compact+ 2000
Par38 w/ DIY mount
The light mount is finished and simply needs to be attached to the new stand. The PAR38 should be sufficient for now. The bulb is a few years old now, and will be updated by the end of the year. What it will be updated to will be subject to the budget at that time, but I do favor an AI unit with an APEX controller.
The tank manufacturer provided bulkheads, but they are barbed going out. I will be replacing both with double slip bulkheads. The barbed fitting significantly reduces the diameter of the drain pipe, and the return bulkhead is poorly made as it appears overly thin on one side as if melted. Anyways, will hopefully have the new bulkheads tonight and will finish the plumbing and get the tank cycling.
Any skimmer recommendations are appreciated. I was leaning toward one of the Octopus modules but given the cost of a skimmer it is not a choice I want to make twice.
No refugium planned given stand limitations and personal bias. May add a chaeta holder and light into the sump at a later date. I have a plan for a a hanging holder that would sit into the sump in addition to a small LED fixture I already have sitting around.
Picture included shows the new an old tanks as they are currently next to each other. The 12x12 was all natural filtration for almost 3 years. After 1 1/2 years of being in the tank and fed, my emerald crab randomly turned on me and killed all the snails. Typical. Even when fed it seems all crabs turn eventually. Finally got him out, but not in time to save the tank from a major algae outbreak and a loss of a large softball size birds nest. Duncan is still retracted a bit, but the trumpet coral is thriving. Zaonthids are doing well but spreading away from pockets of algae growth being manually removed. :deadhorse1:
Anyways, I am looking forward to the new build and once again having things such as a protein skimmer and media reactors to aid regular water changes. Plus the extra capacity will allow for a larger more diverse CUC.
That is about it for now. Looking forward to any recommendations the members have form me along the way.
Just for fun. Here is a shot of the wonderful birds nest coral before its untimely passing. Can you spot the inevitable disaster? :blown:
New tank is a 20" cube (approx. 35g) with bottom drilled corner overflow.
Eshopps RS-75 sump
Eheim Compact+ 2000
Par38 w/ DIY mount
The light mount is finished and simply needs to be attached to the new stand. The PAR38 should be sufficient for now. The bulb is a few years old now, and will be updated by the end of the year. What it will be updated to will be subject to the budget at that time, but I do favor an AI unit with an APEX controller.
The tank manufacturer provided bulkheads, but they are barbed going out. I will be replacing both with double slip bulkheads. The barbed fitting significantly reduces the diameter of the drain pipe, and the return bulkhead is poorly made as it appears overly thin on one side as if melted. Anyways, will hopefully have the new bulkheads tonight and will finish the plumbing and get the tank cycling.
Any skimmer recommendations are appreciated. I was leaning toward one of the Octopus modules but given the cost of a skimmer it is not a choice I want to make twice.
No refugium planned given stand limitations and personal bias. May add a chaeta holder and light into the sump at a later date. I have a plan for a a hanging holder that would sit into the sump in addition to a small LED fixture I already have sitting around.
Picture included shows the new an old tanks as they are currently next to each other. The 12x12 was all natural filtration for almost 3 years. After 1 1/2 years of being in the tank and fed, my emerald crab randomly turned on me and killed all the snails. Typical. Even when fed it seems all crabs turn eventually. Finally got him out, but not in time to save the tank from a major algae outbreak and a loss of a large softball size birds nest. Duncan is still retracted a bit, but the trumpet coral is thriving. Zaonthids are doing well but spreading away from pockets of algae growth being manually removed. :deadhorse1:
Anyways, I am looking forward to the new build and once again having things such as a protein skimmer and media reactors to aid regular water changes. Plus the extra capacity will allow for a larger more diverse CUC.
That is about it for now. Looking forward to any recommendations the members have form me along the way.
Just for fun. Here is a shot of the wonderful birds nest coral before its untimely passing. Can you spot the inevitable disaster? :blown:
