29 Gallon Build

[HC.SADER.15]

This is my 29 gallon tank build I started 7/11/2015. Its my first tank in the saltwater hobby. I had the 29 gallon tank and eheim 2117 canister filter on hand from a past freshwater tank. The eheim was my uncle's and printed on the canister it says Made in West Germany. In the canister I have polyester fiber filter, a bag of activated carbon, and the original eheim sponge. I bought Marinepure ceramic spheres that I will add to the canister when I change the media at 60 days. I started the tank with 20 pounds of reef saver rock and 20 pounds of Arag Alive Fiji Pink live sand. My heater is an Eheim Jager tru temp heater. I have a Hydor Koralia Nano 425 power head. I wish I bought a stronger pump because there is not much flow in the tank. Lastly I have a Finnex HOB refugium which I have ceramic spheres and a mushroom coral on the right side. On the left side I want some type of macro algae. Any recommendations on which type? I bought some live rock that had coralline algae on it. I'm not sure if the coralline will grow but the rock was only 4 dollars.

 

[HC.SADER.15]

Here is a picture of the live rock. Will the coralline grow with a standard florescent light? When I had my water tested at the LFS my calcium levels were "fine."

 

[mushumatt]

Personally I would ditch the canister filter, it will become a nitrate factory if you don't clean it on a very regular basis. The hob filter I would either just run carbon in it, or just convert it into a little refugium and ru cheato in it.

The best thing to do if you do not run a sump would be to purchase a quality hob protein skimmer. This plus your liverock and livesand will give you your filtration.

 

[HC.SADER.15]

What would you consider a regular basis for cleaning? Weekly?

 

[mushumatt]

Yup every week or two weeks but two weeks would be pushing it.

 

[HC.SADER.15]

Gotcha, I was considering Reef Octopus Classic 90 Hang-on-Back Protein Skimmer or a Reef Octopus Classic 1000 Hang-on-the-Back Protein Skimmer. I guess I'll have to buy it sooner than I thought.
The only thing I regret is not having the tank drilled before I started it.
By the way do you live in West Chester Ohio?

 

[mushumatt]

You could always drain it and drill it. It would take maybe 5-6 hours to do everything. Better to do it before everything is established. I'd look into the aquamaxx hob skimmer I've heard great things about both skimmers. But no, I live in west Chester, Pa. Home of the infamous bam Margera.

 

[MrClownReef]

I'll hopefully be starting a 29 gallon as well! Yours is lookin' good!

 

[HC.SADER.15]

Thanks, the only thing I wished I did different was drill the tank.

 

[HC.SADER.15]

I bought a Royal Gramma 9/10/15

 

[HC.SADER.15]

On 9/14/15 I bought a reef octopus hob skimmer. Also you can see the screen and egg crate top I made.

 

[HC.SADER.15]

Lastly I bought a clean up crew consisting of: an Emerald Crab, 3 Nasarrius snails, 7 hermit crabs, 5 Astreas, and 3 Margaritas.
I tested my water tonight with my Red Sea kit and my parameters are: 78 degrees, Ph 8.2, Dkh 7.5, Nitrate 2, and Ammonia 0.

 

[HC.SADER.15]

Just an update: Last Friday I bought an xr30 Pro from my lrs. I know its overkill for a 29 gallon. Have you ever seen those Crown Vics with the rims that are more expensive than the car? I kind of feel like that right now. :uzi:
I bought a 40 breeder at the last Petco dollar a gallon sale. Eventually I will change my tanks after I accrue all the gear for the 40 breeder. Currently I use Jonathan's chart/graph at 20% intensity. My two mushrooms are doing great under the light. Tomorrow I think I will pick up a couple zoa frags.
My parameters are: 78 degrees, PH 8.2, Nitrate 15, Nitrite 0, Ammonia 0, Calc 350, and Dkh 7.

 

[Bcrowe2012]

Looks good from what I can see from the pics. How is the skimmate in the collection cup? How long has your tank been running now? Any plans on adding fish or coral in the near future?

 

[HC.SADER.15]

I have 2 ocellaris clowns and a Royal Gramma. I also have two mushroom corals

 

[HC.SADER.15]

The reef octopus is pulling some gunk out of the tank, its doing well. It's not really dialed in yet. And the tank has been up for over three months.

 

[HC.SADER.15]

I bought some corals today at the lrs. I got some palys and a hammer coral. I also ordered some of those gel filters so I can take better pictures of my tank.

 

[HC.SADER.15]

I bought some of those gel filters to block out the blue light.

 

[jml1149]

Looks great, what gel filters are you talking about?

Also, the top with the half mesh half eggcrate...awesome. First time I have ever seen that, I'll be doing the same thing with my 29g tank shortly.

 

[HC.SADER.15]

I googled gel filters reef tank and one of the results was Amazon. I'm not sure what they are actually called, I heard about them through my lrs. All you do is hold them in front of your iPhone/droid and take the picture.