Andrew17030
New member
Thanks, I did a ton of work myself and about 50% percent of the equipment was bought used. The large tank was built professionally but everything else I made. I learned my lesson already with buying quality the first time.
Andrew's 2 a.m. Mangrove Thing
- Thread starter Andrew17030
- Start date
Thanks, I did a ton of work myself and about 50% percent of the equipment was bought used. The large tank was built professionally but everything else I made. I learned my lesson already with buying quality the first time.
Andrew17030
New member
I am trying to decide if I should add some T5 lighting, like 4 36". I think I could squeeze two on the front and two on the back of the halides. They would have to angled about 45 degrees maybe more. I want to avoid coral only growing straight up towards the centered light. I have been looking at some EYE 6500K 150 watt halide spots to throw on the sides to help simulate a more natural growing reef. I am also trying to figure out if I should keep adding live sand with or without feeding the tank. I fed today and a lot of the feather dusters have opened up well. I want to establish as much of the bacteria and microfauna as possible before adding fish that will prey on the smaller life. I think I need more life in the sand beds now, to consume the food I am putting in and grow in numbers. I also want to let the rocks grow as much algae as possible and then stock with a trio of small convict tangs and a small yellow tang. Then I think their waste will help the tank develop. Then the cardinals. I will have the Mangroves here in about two or three weeks after I have the life in place to process the fish food into waste to nitrate for the mangroves.
JMCAquarium
They are among us!!
Normally dont comment on others tanks but i have to say that is one clean cut set-up hope it stays that way for ya
Andrew17030
New member
Thanks, I wanted to make things as simple as possible.
Andrew17030
New member
Thanks, here's a shot from last night. The color is a little off.
<a href="http://s938.photobucket.com/albums/ad225/Andrew_57/?action=view¤t=IMG_1581_zps259890e4.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad225/Andrew_57/IMG_1581_zps259890e4.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s938.photobucket.com/albums/ad225/Andrew_57/?action=view¤t=IMG_1581_zps259890e4.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad225/Andrew_57/IMG_1581_zps259890e4.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Andrew17030
New member
Got some more pics of the setup for those interested. Here are some shots of my sump and some detail on how I kept arranged things to achieve a very tidy look.
<a href="http://s938.photobucket.com/albums/ad225/Andrew_57/?action=view¤t=IMG_1632.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad225/Andrew_57/IMG_1632.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s938.photobucket.com/albums/ad225/Andrew_57/?action=view¤t=IMG_1631.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad225/Andrew_57/IMG_1631.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
I ran all of the power cords out of the back with a 2" bulkhead and put a threaded 90 on the back side and a little pvc to bring it higher than the top of the sump. The drain for the one of the refugiums is in this picture too as well and the gate valve that controls its flow. The center panel is 5/8" lower than the outside panels of the sump in case of overflow. The center drain from the display is the open line or back up line that takes the access from the display and it drains into the refugium. The plumbing is completely silent.
Here is where my main syphon drain feeds the skimmer/sump:
<a href="http://s938.photobucket.com/albums/ad225/Andrew_57/?action=view¤t=IMG_1636.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad225/Andrew_57/IMG_1636.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
I hid the skimmer cord by running it through the bottom of the fuge instead of draping it over the bubble catch.
<a href="http://s938.photobucket.com/albums/ad225/Andrew_57/?action=view¤t=IMG_1637.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad225/Andrew_57/IMG_1637.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s938.photobucket.com/albums/ad225/Andrew_57/?action=view¤t=IMG_1632.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad225/Andrew_57/IMG_1632.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s938.photobucket.com/albums/ad225/Andrew_57/?action=view¤t=IMG_1631.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad225/Andrew_57/IMG_1631.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
I ran all of the power cords out of the back with a 2" bulkhead and put a threaded 90 on the back side and a little pvc to bring it higher than the top of the sump. The drain for the one of the refugiums is in this picture too as well and the gate valve that controls its flow. The center panel is 5/8" lower than the outside panels of the sump in case of overflow. The center drain from the display is the open line or back up line that takes the access from the display and it drains into the refugium. The plumbing is completely silent.
Here is where my main syphon drain feeds the skimmer/sump:
<a href="http://s938.photobucket.com/albums/ad225/Andrew_57/?action=view¤t=IMG_1636.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad225/Andrew_57/IMG_1636.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
I hid the skimmer cord by running it through the bottom of the fuge instead of draping it over the bubble catch.
<a href="http://s938.photobucket.com/albums/ad225/Andrew_57/?action=view¤t=IMG_1637.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad225/Andrew_57/IMG_1637.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Last edited:
Andrew17030
New member
Update
Update
Some new fish and plants.
One Scribbled Rabbitfish, very docile fish and he doesn't get picked on at all.
Three Banggai Cardinal juviniles.
Brown Ogo
Blue Ochtodes
Flat Red Gracilaria
Sea grapes, something that came in with my live rock and grow amazingly well and bright red.
Ten Red Mangroves, six survived.
There is about a gallon of Mineral Mud and simple algae grows a little but I had done nothing to deplete the phosphate in the system except skimming, until about a week ago. Once I started using GFO and brought in more plants to compete for the Phosphate growth of algae is much less. I initially encouraged the hair algae before I introduced the convict tangs because I knew they would need something familiar to eat while they were getting used to other foods. I've seen some LFS bring them in and heard of many aquarists having trouble keeping them alive, so I thought this might work and it did. They are fat and have the beautiful yellow color of wild convicts. They were much more pale when I got them, I wonder if high light may also help produce the yellow tint.
Update
Some new fish and plants.
One Scribbled Rabbitfish, very docile fish and he doesn't get picked on at all.
Three Banggai Cardinal juviniles.
Brown Ogo
Blue Ochtodes
Flat Red Gracilaria
Sea grapes, something that came in with my live rock and grow amazingly well and bright red.
Ten Red Mangroves, six survived.
There is about a gallon of Mineral Mud and simple algae grows a little but I had done nothing to deplete the phosphate in the system except skimming, until about a week ago. Once I started using GFO and brought in more plants to compete for the Phosphate growth of algae is much less. I initially encouraged the hair algae before I introduced the convict tangs because I knew they would need something familiar to eat while they were getting used to other foods. I've seen some LFS bring them in and heard of many aquarists having trouble keeping them alive, so I thought this might work and it did. They are fat and have the beautiful yellow color of wild convicts. They were much more pale when I got them, I wonder if high light may also help produce the yellow tint.
Andrew17030
New member
Zibba, thank you.
AZ_reffer, yes I built the sump.
AZ_reffer, yes I built the sump.
AZ_reefer
New member
What equipment did you use? Table saw? # of teeth on the blade? clamps, weld-on, ect? The edges of your acrylic are really clean. Any pictures of the build?
I am a sheet metal man myself. Aircraft though, not construction. I have worked with acrylic before, but nothing like that. Very nice work.
I am a sheet metal man myself. Aircraft though, not construction. I have worked with acrylic before, but nothing like that. Very nice work.
SDReefer44
New member
Looks amazing...wish I had that level of patience..good luck!
Andrew17030
New member
AZ_reefer, I had the acrylic cut for me. I prepared the edges with a homemade scraper because I could not find one in the valley and didn't want to wait for one in the mail. I used the plastic yellow squares they sell at HD and the cheap clamps with rubber ends. Those squares worked out well because they have a flat bottom that one can clamp to the acrylic. I used weld-on #3 and two applicator bottles. Acrylic is not easy to perfect however it is very forgiving. I just had to drain my sump and reinforce two welds that were not holding well. I also changed my bubble trap height by simply running weld-on #3 along the original welds and putting a little pressure on the piece. Does that make sense? I had never worked with acrylic before I did this, I just watched some videos and thought about what I was doing. I flame polished the edges with a cheap butane torch. With about a 1" blue flame at a 45 degree angle because I noticed that it was much easier to manage the inconsistent flame from the cheap torch. I have some pictures somewhere Ill track them down.
SDReffer44, thank you, I spent a lot of time on it. After my first nightmare tank I vowed to do something that would be easier to manage and creative. I just added a UV sterilizer followed my a carbon filter and it has made a huge difference in water clarity and skimmer production.
SDReffer44, thank you, I spent a lot of time on it. After my first nightmare tank I vowed to do something that would be easier to manage and creative. I just added a UV sterilizer followed my a carbon filter and it has made a huge difference in water clarity and skimmer production.
Andrew17030
New member
Thank you to everyone who has complimented my work. I put a lot of thought, time, and energy into my build and only this community can truly appreciate and understand what building a system takes. My family and friends just don't get it so it means a lot to me that you folks think its neat. Hopefully, I can step up to the plate and create descent staghorn filled display.
I have another project underway to build phytoplankton, macroalgae, copepod, and amphipod culturing systems. I want be able to feed all of my animals live food only. I believe this will dramatically reduce the need for water changes and increase the over all health of my animals. I am planning on figuring out a way not to throw expensive saltwater down the drain because it is "dirty". I am going to attempt to grow beautiful sps in a system that reuses a fixed volume of water. We'll see if I'm nuts or not. I don't like doing something that wastes resources when even the best and brightest cannot determine how much or what "things" build up in aquarium water over time. There is tons of research out there on recirculating aquaculture systems, that some of you may find very interesting.
I have another project underway to build phytoplankton, macroalgae, copepod, and amphipod culturing systems. I want be able to feed all of my animals live food only. I believe this will dramatically reduce the need for water changes and increase the over all health of my animals. I am planning on figuring out a way not to throw expensive saltwater down the drain because it is "dirty". I am going to attempt to grow beautiful sps in a system that reuses a fixed volume of water. We'll see if I'm nuts or not. I don't like doing something that wastes resources when even the best and brightest cannot determine how much or what "things" build up in aquarium water over time. There is tons of research out there on recirculating aquaculture systems, that some of you may find very interesting.
Andrew17030
New member
Thank you
Andrew17030
New member
Update
Update
Blue Ochtodes: Growing like a weed. I've read that some have had problems keeping this macro. It looked pretty poor when I got it. I suspect photo-shock was to blame. Mine likes moderate flow, lighting is one 150 watt cfl grow light and the ecoxotic RBW led par38. I would say it has almost tripled in size over about three weeks.
<a href="http://s938.beta.photobucket.com/user/Andrew_57/media/IMG_1690_zps2b500eef.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad225/Andrew_57/IMG_1690_zps2b500eef.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"/></a>
Phytoplankton setup underway, still need exhaust fans, light bulbs, and culturing bottles. I plan on progressive batch cultures, no CO2 just going to use buffers. I think I am going to set up a large sterile water reservoir then re-sterilize the container and media before inoculation. I may put a small portable AC unit in there too, to help with humidity and heat. I want to keep the closet as contaminant free as possible. I got a metro rack from a local asset liquidating company in Phoenix, great deal. The wire shelves should help light the containers evenly.
<a href="http://s938.beta.photobucket.com/user/Andrew_57/media/IMG_1697_zps15c4d83a.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad225/Andrew_57/IMG_1697_zps15c4d83a.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"/></a>
I am going to use a similar setup for zooplanktons and restaurant/kitchen food safe containers. They can be repeatedly sterilized and are very inert. I used to be a chef, so I am very familiar with their use and I think I can make culturing species like highly cannibalistic mysis shrimp much more practical.
Ohh, and I have several thousand cleaner shrimp larvae about 3 weeks post hatch. Not planned at all, I just noticed them surviving in a certain tank and started watching to see what I could learn. I have them in all the tanks but one of them seems to have the right environment so far. There are three females and one male, they all get along well, I see them walking around where there are young and they seem like it's no big deal. All of the females are hatching at different times within 7-8 days. I should have some more young in the next day or two. I hypothesis that the new young will serve as appropriate nourishment to the older larvae. I have read that other species of shrimp have trouble establishing a functioning digestive system when fed immediately on easily produced live foods and plant based food may help encourage a functioning digestive system. I have noticed that these larvae congregate in specific spots in the sediment, where detritus settles. I have lots of different edible macros in the tank and I feed them a supplemental diet. The parents get lots of good foods too.
Update
Blue Ochtodes: Growing like a weed. I've read that some have had problems keeping this macro. It looked pretty poor when I got it. I suspect photo-shock was to blame. Mine likes moderate flow, lighting is one 150 watt cfl grow light and the ecoxotic RBW led par38. I would say it has almost tripled in size over about three weeks.
<a href="http://s938.beta.photobucket.com/user/Andrew_57/media/IMG_1690_zps2b500eef.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad225/Andrew_57/IMG_1690_zps2b500eef.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"/></a>
Phytoplankton setup underway, still need exhaust fans, light bulbs, and culturing bottles. I plan on progressive batch cultures, no CO2 just going to use buffers. I think I am going to set up a large sterile water reservoir then re-sterilize the container and media before inoculation. I may put a small portable AC unit in there too, to help with humidity and heat. I want to keep the closet as contaminant free as possible. I got a metro rack from a local asset liquidating company in Phoenix, great deal. The wire shelves should help light the containers evenly.
<a href="http://s938.beta.photobucket.com/user/Andrew_57/media/IMG_1697_zps15c4d83a.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad225/Andrew_57/IMG_1697_zps15c4d83a.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"/></a>
I am going to use a similar setup for zooplanktons and restaurant/kitchen food safe containers. They can be repeatedly sterilized and are very inert. I used to be a chef, so I am very familiar with their use and I think I can make culturing species like highly cannibalistic mysis shrimp much more practical.
Ohh, and I have several thousand cleaner shrimp larvae about 3 weeks post hatch. Not planned at all, I just noticed them surviving in a certain tank and started watching to see what I could learn. I have them in all the tanks but one of them seems to have the right environment so far. There are three females and one male, they all get along well, I see them walking around where there are young and they seem like it's no big deal. All of the females are hatching at different times within 7-8 days. I should have some more young in the next day or two. I hypothesis that the new young will serve as appropriate nourishment to the older larvae. I have read that other species of shrimp have trouble establishing a functioning digestive system when fed immediately on easily produced live foods and plant based food may help encourage a functioning digestive system. I have noticed that these larvae congregate in specific spots in the sediment, where detritus settles. I have lots of different edible macros in the tank and I feed them a supplemental diet. The parents get lots of good foods too.
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