20L marco tank build.

[Devaji108]

OK guys it finally time to start this build.
I have been wanting to do this for a few years now.
so after trying to decide between a 40br and a 20L

so this is what I am doing...


tank info:

~standard 20L 30x 13x13
~special reef grade sand. love this stuff
~75W ehime heater or 100W finnex pretty sure I am going with the finnex.

filtration:
~AC 50 for filtration, gas exchange, surface agitation. there is a chance i might upgrade to the AC70 so the finnex heater will fit in that and keep it out of the DT. from what i hear the finnex will indeed fit in the AC50
I plan to run a simple system here just some biomedia /LR rubble and maybe carbon.

flow
1x jebao RW4 wave maker I think it will be nice to see the macro flow from side to side.

lighting:
aquamax 32W nemo light just bought this.

live rock
15 to 20# of TBS OR
15to 20# of live reef n rock both are FL. aquacultured.
there is a small possibility I might use "real reef rock" the dry made made stuff as well.
OR 15# from KP aquatics got decided my sunday.

topoff:
not sure about ATO might run it off my 29H res. from my main DT with a avast pump or might get the aqua smart micro ATO.

fish:
not 100% sure on this. it will prob. change is I get closer to stocking. also depends on what i add to my reef. but here are some contenders:
fyi I am NOT going to add them all just a few off the top of my head.

Kaudern's Cardinalfish. (Pterapogon kauderni) for sure on this one...
Azure Damselfish (Chrysiptera hemicyanea)
Yellow Banded Possum Wrasse (Wetmorella nigropinnata)
Clown Goby, Green (Gobiodon atrangulatus)
Tail Spot Blenny (Ecsenius stigmatura)
Canary Blenny (Meiacanthus oualanensis)

open to suggestions on stocking.

macros:

grens
Caulerpa ashmeadii
Neomeris annulata
Codium
Caulerpa cupressoides
Halimeda opuntia
mermaid cups
shaving brush



reds:
Haliptilon Sp (Red palms, fern, smooth kelp),
botryocladia (Red grape)
Hayi,
string of pearls
Euchema spinosum
Cryptonemia Crenvlata
Galaxaura

blues /purple :
Coralline Cluster (Fine Branched)
Hypnea pannosa
blue scroll
Purple Fauchea (violet flames)

that kinda my wish list but it all comes down to what i can get and what will grow in the tank. this is going to be a fun build I look forward it. :dance:

thanks for fallowing along!

 

[Devaji108]

so my 1st challenge was deciding between a 40br and 20L.
hey dont laugh it was harder than you might think...

i have both tanks so I mock them up in place.
40br with stand:
<a href="http://s1103.photobucket.com/user/devaji108/media/20160517_165341.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g480/devaji108/20160517_165341.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20160517_165341.jpg"/></a>

20L on desk.
<a href="http://s1103.photobucket.com/user/devaji108/media/20160517_164436.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g480/devaji108/20160517_164436.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20160517_164436.jpg"/></a>

 

[Devaji108]

I did not what the "side project" to over power the reef and there both in my large bedroom. so after days of back in forth i decided to go with a nano. I have never done one before but i think a nice nano macro talk will be nice.

i did switch out the desk for a longer table. think it looks a lil better.
I was going to DIY a nice plywood stand but I had these and spending alot of money getting these 2 tanks up and running, so I opted for using what i have.

did a water change on my 90 reef. and took 15-17 gallons and fired it up!
<a href="http://s1103.photobucket.com/user/devaji108/media/20160524_162947.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g480/devaji108/20160524_162947.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20160524_162947.jpg"/></a>

 

[homer1475]

Looking forward to watching this progress. Following for sure!

Good luck! :thumbsup:

 

[Devaji108]

thank homer I am just as excited as my reef build. I am very fascinated with macros,
when I lived in HI a few years ago I got a macro book form the library so I could identify the macros while walking on the beach and diving/snorkeling.

made some more progress.
here is the obligatory just added my sand shot.
<a href="http://s1103.photobucket.com/user/devaji108/media/20160525_224511.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g480/devaji108/20160525_224511.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20160525_224511.jpg"/></a>

 

[HuskerBioProf]

I like this idea. I was thinking of adding a 10 gallon macro algae tank next to my display. I will watch and see how yours goes first to see if it is worth doing. I don't want a lot of extra equipment for a macro tank, but was thinking of maybe plumbing it into the same sump as a display refugium. It seemed like a potential plumbing/overflow disaster though.

 

[krusieski]

nice start and good luck on bulld


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[Devaji108]

I like this idea. I was thinking of adding a 10 gallon macro algae tank next to my display. I will watch and see how yours goes first to see if it is worth doing. I don't want a lot of extra equipment for a macro tank, but was thinking of maybe plumbing it into the same sump as a display refugium. It seemed like a potential plumbing/overflow disaster though.

DO IT! display fuges are nice! A few years ago I was getting up a 75 w/ 40br display fuge but had to stop the project. with a 10 display fuge I think it would grow great.

nice start and good luck on bulld

thanks bud. :thumbsup:


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[HuskerBioProf]

My only concern about the display fuge is blocking one side of the display tank for viewing. Maybe I will do like what you are doing and have a separate smaller tank for macro algae. I also am a big fan of them (and we grow a lot of interesting saltwater macro algae for our biology labs and have to throw it out when it gets too abundant).

 

[eb2292]

A frogfish/angler fish might be a cool critter to put in a macro tank

 

[Devaji108]

My only concern about the display fuge is blocking one side of the display tank for viewing. Maybe I will do like what you are doing and have a separate smaller tank for macro algae. I also am a big fan of them (and we grow a lot of interesting saltwater macro algae for our biology labs and have to throw it out when it gets too abundant).

what i was going to do years ago with my 75 was I built a short stand so the top of the 40 was at the bottom of the 75. i'll see if I can dig up some pics for ya. if you would like.

throwing out macros? i'll take em what you got? share the love man..haha

A frogfish/angler fish might be a cool critter to put in a macro tank

yes I have been playing around with that idea. but i love movement and color way to much. but am considering a Wartskin Angler (Antennarius maculatus)
that said I will most likely just do shrimp and fish.

so I order 10# of LR today for this lil tank. was going back and forth for days on what kind ans where i wanted to get it at. needed to make my mind up so I went with KP aquatics 10# nano pkg.
great company I have order from them before on my 90 reef and will be ordering again. they actually send me photos of the rock I will be getting.
talk about great CS!

lights should be here by mid week and the rock too. i'll keep you posted...

 

[Devaji108]

1st tapa talk replay let's see how it works..

OK So i got in my 10# nano PKG form KP aquatics. And love this stuff. If very nice rick not to dense at all.

Here how it came in. USPS 3 days from FL. To wy.

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[Devaji108]

I was very impressed with the packing. Insulated box double bagged and LR was wrapped in wet paper towels and still wet!

Boxed opened:

3 of the 6 rocks

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[Devaji108]

And a quick FTS after a 5 sec scape just to add the LR nothing fancy with the scape yet but looks great just from adding it.

i'll get a better FTS shot when the reflection not so bad form the light coming in..
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[Devaji108]

well she is on full cycle.
I did add 20 drops of pure ammonia about 3 days before I got the LR. in hopes of kick starting the cycle.

just tested:
SG. 35 PPM
ammonia 1.5 to 2 PPM
No2 5 PPM
NO3 80PPM

just gonna let it do its think over the next fews days will test again in 2 to 3 days.

 

[Devaji108]

So i got my lights in today.
The aquamaxx Nemo 36W led.
Bought bit used from a fellow.

Opening it up! This thing is nice and slim. Just how I let em.

Even the power supply is nice and small.

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[Devaji108]

On the tank with lights off.

Lights on. It lists the 20L very well.

Now just got to play with the controls. There pretty simple. But gotta learn them.


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[Devaji108]

Got a pkg coming in from BRS with my Heater and Hanna po4 regent. Tanks is coming along.

Will order/get so macros in the next few days.


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[Devaji108]

I placed an order for 12 macros from an fellow macro junky they will be shipped out on Monday...
yeah it's getting real!

 

[Devaji108]

OK got the Marcos in but hadto go do apts. so could glue them on the LR

Packed very good.

Floating in the tank...
More to come..

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