Jeffie
New member
So my plan with the 29gal. HQI Bonsai Reef didn't last. Just not enough room for what I wanted to do. This is my daughters and my tank. All my other tanks are holding/work related. I thought she would like a little "show" tank. Which she did. It lasted about 2 months and needed to be upgraded in size.
Here is the 29gal. when we first set it up.
A top down of the rockwork.
The inspiration behind the Bonsai.
As I said. There was just not enough room in the 29. A 45 does not sound a whole lot bigger, but it really seems like it is. Plus I wanted a sump so I could house a descent size skimmer. So here we go. Tank was set up 2 weeks ago.
The Gear
45gal cube with custom corner overflow 24x24x18 barebottom
Custom Sump made by Reef Mania
Octopus XP-10000SSS skimmer with bubble blaster pump
Octopus 3500 return pump
2 x Vortech MP10's- 1 set on Reef Crest mode 100%, the other on EcoSMART NTM mode at 100%
Tek 24" 4 bulb T5 Light fixture which is being replaced shortly.
I used both drilled holes for drains so that I could utilize the gate valve mod so that the tank is virtually quiet. Only thing you hear are the Vortechs. I plumbed the return line up the back and over into the overflow with loc-line coming out.
Maintenance on the aquarium will consist of-
10% weekly water changes
2-Part dosing as needed. Will eventually automate this with dosing pumps.
Probidio-Starting once the tank is 1 month old.
Lots of feeding(pellets, PE mysis, Rods, Oyster Feast) and heavy nutrient removal via wet skimming.
I have already decided that the 4 bulb T5 will probably not be strong enough for what I am planning on doing. There is a new 24" 6bulb T5 light that just came out that I have ordered. I am hoping that it works just fine so that I don't have to spend big bucks on a ATI Fixture. I will keep everyone updated on how this light works as it is very reasonably priced. Should have it in the next few days and will take some PAR measurements from it and really check the thing out(reflectors, ballasts, etc).
Here is the light I ordered..
http://premiumaquatics.com/store/me...t_Code=CV-T5LED246&Category_Code=coralvue-led
Inside the tank-
This aquarium will consist of 99.9% SPS corals.
Still deciding on what fish to keep.
Here is what is in the tank now-
Fish-
six line wrasse
ORA Yellow Assesor
Corals-
ORA Valida
ORA Plum Crazy
ORA Phils Granulosa
ORA Red Planet
ORA Verde
ORA Hawkins Enchinata
ORA Red Digitata
ORA Green Digitata
Marshall Island Yellow Fuzzy
Marshall Island Blue Bottlebrush
Blue Tort
ATL Super Blue Vermiculata
Garf Bonsai
Corals are not in there permanent places yet. I will be adding quite a few more with the requirements that they have about 4" of space between each one for growth.
How it looked this morning- Corals browned a bit when I moved them from the 29 but they are already slowly regaining their colors
Front View-
Side View -
Sump View -
Stay tuned. Should be fun :beer:
Here is the 29gal. when we first set it up.
A top down of the rockwork.
The inspiration behind the Bonsai.
As I said. There was just not enough room in the 29. A 45 does not sound a whole lot bigger, but it really seems like it is. Plus I wanted a sump so I could house a descent size skimmer. So here we go. Tank was set up 2 weeks ago.
The Gear
45gal cube with custom corner overflow 24x24x18 barebottom
Custom Sump made by Reef Mania
Octopus XP-10000SSS skimmer with bubble blaster pump
Octopus 3500 return pump
2 x Vortech MP10's- 1 set on Reef Crest mode 100%, the other on EcoSMART NTM mode at 100%
Tek 24" 4 bulb T5 Light fixture which is being replaced shortly.
I used both drilled holes for drains so that I could utilize the gate valve mod so that the tank is virtually quiet. Only thing you hear are the Vortechs. I plumbed the return line up the back and over into the overflow with loc-line coming out.
Maintenance on the aquarium will consist of-
10% weekly water changes
2-Part dosing as needed. Will eventually automate this with dosing pumps.
Probidio-Starting once the tank is 1 month old.
Lots of feeding(pellets, PE mysis, Rods, Oyster Feast) and heavy nutrient removal via wet skimming.
I have already decided that the 4 bulb T5 will probably not be strong enough for what I am planning on doing. There is a new 24" 6bulb T5 light that just came out that I have ordered. I am hoping that it works just fine so that I don't have to spend big bucks on a ATI Fixture. I will keep everyone updated on how this light works as it is very reasonably priced. Should have it in the next few days and will take some PAR measurements from it and really check the thing out(reflectors, ballasts, etc).
Here is the light I ordered..
http://premiumaquatics.com/store/me...t_Code=CV-T5LED246&Category_Code=coralvue-led
Inside the tank-
This aquarium will consist of 99.9% SPS corals.
Still deciding on what fish to keep.
Here is what is in the tank now-
Fish-
six line wrasse
ORA Yellow Assesor
Corals-
ORA Valida
ORA Plum Crazy
ORA Phils Granulosa
ORA Red Planet
ORA Verde
ORA Hawkins Enchinata
ORA Red Digitata
ORA Green Digitata
Marshall Island Yellow Fuzzy
Marshall Island Blue Bottlebrush
Blue Tort
ATL Super Blue Vermiculata
Garf Bonsai
Corals are not in there permanent places yet. I will be adding quite a few more with the requirements that they have about 4" of space between each one for growth.
How it looked this morning- Corals browned a bit when I moved them from the 29 but they are already slowly regaining their colors
Front View-
Side View -
Sump View -
Stay tuned. Should be fun :beer:
