24 Gallon Aquapod, A glass box to a reef

[maxcab]

Okay, so I started my aquapod in late March when one of our family friends was taking down their SW tank and were willing to give us 30 lbs of live rock(only turned out to be 12 lbs) for $30 and a 20 gallon tank for another $20. When I get the tank it turns out that it will be cheaper for me to buy and aquapod and use the 20gal for a quarintine. I set up the AP and cycled it with the live rock (i picked up 8 more pounds from my LFS) which took only about 2 weeks. My first fish was a little Chalk Bass who only shows up at feeding time.
Anyway, now I have 6 snails, 5 hermit crabs, 1 scarlet skunk cleaner shrimp and that chalk bass. Hoping for a pair of Ocellaris Clowns, a Yellowhead Jawfish and of course corals.
Today I come home and find that my pump is pumping at only half the speed it should be and the water temp. is at almost 83 degrees, probably going to get a Maxi-jet 1200 in the near future, but my LFS is charging $44.99 and i can get it for $15.00 online.
Hope to get some pictures up (still have to figure out how) but for now anybody have any recommendations, suggestions, or concerns I'd be happy to hear them!

 

[maxcab]

Pictures--Step 1

Pictures--Step 1

Here is the front of the Pod

And here is the left filtration chamber

More pictures to come.

 

[smy168]

I would switch out the stock return pump for a maxijet, they run cooler and will help the temp. control. What are you using in the filtration compartments? and how much sand do you plan on using? I tried the Fission, didn't like it, and the bubbles never went away for me but there are some people here that have been able to get it working well (very water level sensitive) but I do a 10% water change everyweek (I buy 5 gallons from my LFS).

Anyway, keep up the post and drop some pics at each stage, it would be cool to watch you build it.

good luck


As for the Jawfish, I'm sure people will say that it's only feasible if you have 5 to 6 inches of sand, I have 4 and my Dusky is doing really good, he found a spot right in front of the tank.

 

[maxcab]

For filtration I am using the 2 blue sponges, the 5 or six bio-balls, NOT the creamic rings, and the fission skimmer (that isn't working, no green scum ever) Oh and I do a 10% weekly water change. For substrate I am using 30 lbs of Aragonite. Does the Yellowhead Jawfish need a mixed substrate or does aragonite work fine? My LFS has one in a 12gal aquapod and only has aragonite about 2in deep.
More pictures later today!

 

[flameangel88]

maxcab,

I'm looking to add a jawfish as soon as my AP goes through the the 2nd cycle (i got ls& lr from TBS which comes in 2 parts). I've about 2.75-3" of sand (25lbs from florida and 12lbs of aragonite) in the tank right now and will probably need to add more when I put the jawfish in. I guess as long as the fish body can go in with the head sticking out then that should be enough sand.

Fussion skimmer is a pain and hasn't pull out any scum (more of a scam to me) but then may be my tank is still fairly new to have that much to pull out.

 

[maxcab]

I have 10 lbs more aragonite that I could put in but I would maybe like a mixed substrate, they look cool.
Okay Here is step 2 of my setup

 

[maxcab]

Photos!!! This is my tank now.

Photos!!! This is my tank now.

Okay, I took my pump to my LFS and he just cleaned it out and its working fine now, still going to get that MJ pump... eventually.
So here is what my tank looks like right now, I had to re-do the aquascaping from above because I bought a nice 4lb rock for the future Jawfish

Here is a close up of the LR:

and here is my shrimp!

I am thinking of maybe and In-Tank Refugium by CPR. Tell me what you think.