4g mixed reef (picture intensive)

[kylebeano]

Well, ive decided this tank is by far the easiest to maintain of any that I have owned. It's been up since May, so I will show some progression shots. It's sitting on my kitchen counter of my apartment.

Finnex 4g tank
AC70 filter (carbon/floss)
Boost LED par30
GLazer overflow box

That's it for equipment. I dont dose yet, just 1g water changed about twice a week.

 

[kylebeano]

 

[kylebeano]

 

[unkel j]

Nice

How often do you top off for evaporation?

 

[kylebeano]

Nice

How often do you top off for evaporation?

Thank you, I try to top off 2-3 times a day. I'm live within 10 minutes of school and work, and work 10-12 hour shifts in the ER. My girlfriend tops of for me too whenever she notices it's a little low, so she is kind of my auto top off.

 

[unkel j]

Thank you, I try to top off 2-3 times a day. I'm live within 10 minutes of school and work, and work 10-12 hour shifts in the ER. My girlfriend tops of for me too whenever she notices it's a little low, so she is kind of my auto top off.

That's cool. I have a 29g that I used to top off 1-2 times per day. I finally got an ato and now I couldn't imagine not having one. That is the main thing
keeping me from setting up a mini tank like yours.

 

[kylebeano]

Yeah, I can't use standard ATO units now because the overflow box is too small to accommodate a float switch. I tried setting up a gravity fed ATO, but the damn thing either overflows the tank or doesn't siphon when the water falls below the tube.

 

[ange062]

Neat looking tank. Going to look awesome once all the frags grow out!

 

[kylebeano]

Thanks man! Im looking forward to it too. I know I would like one more birdsnest, another leather type soft coral, multiple sp of clove polyps, and a few more zoanthids though.

 

[evsalty]

Yeah, I can't use standard ATO units now because the overflow box is too small to accommodate a float switch. I tried setting up a gravity fed ATO, but the damn thing either overflows the tank or doesn't siphon when the water falls below the tube.

Look into ato's that use an air pressure switch. They only use a 1/2 or smaller tube attached to 1/4 tubing so they fit in very tiny places.

 

[kylebeano]

Look into ato's that use an air pressure switch. They only use a 1/2 or smaller tube attached to 1/4 tubing so they fit in very tiny places.

Thanks a lot for the suggestion/help!

The only one I can find is the Spectrapure (would it be complete with just an aqualifter pump?);
http://www.spectrapure.com/St_alc_p3.htm

Do you know of any others that are available. I trust their procucts, but most of the kits use a float switch for backup, and I cannot accomidate that.

 

[evsalty]

Thanks a lot for the suggestion/help!

The only one I can find is the Spectrapure (would it be complete with just an aqualifter pump?);
http://www.spectrapure.com/St_alc_p3.htm

Do you know of any others that are available. I trust their procucts, but most of the kits use a float switch for backup, and I cannot accomidate that.

I use the aqualifter with mine. I think JBJ and Tunze also use air pressure and then there is also optical switches. autotopoff..com has them I believe and I am sure there are others.

 

[chem-e]

Just another option, but I use a small peristaltic pump connected to a timer that automatically adds water for me as top off. It's easy to figure out how much topoff you consume and then all you need to do is figure out the speed/duration. I like this method over sensors because evaporation is pretty predictable and I don't need to worry about switches failing.

 

[kylebeano]

Thanks a lot guys! Ill look into getting either one of those set up soon. I was very surprised to see the tank not crashed after being away for 4 days with a rabbit water bottle ATO lol

 

[kylebeano]

 

[RBTA99]

where did you order that LED bulb? by the way great tank how long you have it running?

 

[kylebeano]

Thank you, it started May 10th.

The bulb is a BoostLEDâ„¢ PAR30 2 Royal Blue, 1 Blue, 1 Cool White, 1 Neutral White

where did you order that LED bulb? by the way great tank how long you have it running?

 

[r_jay]

Sweet overflow, did you make it? I had the same set up for my pico minus the overflow. Looks great!

 

[kylebeano]

Sweet overflow, did you make it? I had the same set up for my pico minus the overflow. Looks great!

Thanks a lot man, it helps quite a bit. Only drawback is no room for a float switch.
It was made by a guy on another forum (nano-reef), goes by glazer. He does amazing work, for an incredible price.

 

[kylebeano]

Some updated shots from today using my phone, sorry colors aren't great for the top downs.

and a growth shot of just how well this BN is growing under the par30....
July 18th

October 18th