CADLight 8 gallon Build

[Austinchap]

Well here is some pics of the aquascaping as requested. The tanks dirty as i have not ordered a nano mag yet.
The rock i used is Vanuato. It is cured but still pretty fresh i think.

Im not sure if i like it or not... please give me some of ur opinions.
I started to put the rock together with just epoxy and found that it doesnt hold very well. So i used the sandwich method ppl use for frags. Rock-Gel-Epoxy-Gel-Rock. It held in less then 30 seconds.

Front

Right

Left

Let me know what you think!

Also what corals can you have if we turn this into a seahorse tank?

 

[iFisch]

I like the aquascape! Not sure I can be of help with the seahorse question.. I'd try posting that question in the "seahorse" section of RC.

 

[Bill Nye]

Rock looks pretty good. I think if you put one smaller rock on the bottom left in that little hole it would bring the thing together.


Just an FYI about the pump situation...a Maxijet 1200 fits in the back chambers..thats what I am going to be running.

 

[Austinchap]

Yea I think it looks off on that side as well. I just figured a coral would feel it in at some point. I was thinking about doing a arch from the front left corner, to the left of the shelf where that area is.

I'll have to run and grab the 1200. It looks like it would work great back there! Thanks!

 

[ZPavDesign]

sps, are usually good with seahorses, along with shrooms.

 

[Austinchap]

I think we scratched the idea of sea horses as we would only be able to keep dwarfs. I don't think we are qualified to keep them just yet. I'd have to look into it more.

 

[Austinchap]

The skimmer in chamber one was restricting to much flow and causing the mj1200 to overflow the tank...
Any ideas on what to do? I was thinking cut additional slits over chamber two or go with less flow...

Added more rock to the left and right side. Let me know what you guys think. I think it makes the tank look larger then it is. I also wish I would have spent more time on my BC29 aquascape.

Arch on the left.

 

[Laurier]

look awesome, love how the rock turned out

 

[iFisch]

I agree - however, just IMO, I'd remove/move the very top piece of rock that's closest to the light. Simply because there's not a whole lot you can put on that rock just inches from the surface.

Otherwise - :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[reefjunkie42]

so whats the pump your running? did they send you the replacement?

 

[hustlah]

Nice!

 

[Bill Nye]

IMO I would ditch the skimmer rather than go with less flow. If you end up having nutrient problems you could just get a reactor.

 

[Luckedout]

IMO I would ditch the skimmer rather than go with less flow. If you end up having nutrient problems you could just get a reactor.

I would tend to agree. On a tank this size, regular water changes would be easy, or a small reactor.

As far as aquascape, I tend to think less is more on rock. Especially if you are adding coral. You need room for growth and placement.

 

[ScubaMr.T]

I just purchased this same tank and im pretty excited for it to arrive and work on the mods that you did. Thanks a bunch for posting this. If your still looking to get a skimmer, look into the pico skimmer by glazer. They look like they have a smaller profile but still pretty effective.

Pico Skimmer by glazer: http://www.picoaquariums.com/index....tegory_id=50&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=107

 

[Luckedout]

I just ordered this tank as well. I put in the special instructions not to put the wrong pump in the package based on your post. Hopefully I avoid the hassle you have. Any updates??

 

[Austinchap]

Thanks for all ur advise! I removed the top rocks and pushed some stuff closer. I also removed the skimmer from chamber one. I was planing on just going with rics, zoas, palys for corals. I might try a few SPS on the top rock. If you guys have any coral suggestions let me know as I'm pretty new to saltwater.

I have a few photos and a video to upload to show it now.
I went with the maxi jet 600 with 750gph. It really pushes some sand with the hydor flo.

 

[Austinchap]

Okay so heres the video to show the flow with the maxi jet 600. The hydor flo causes more of a current so with out it you can use as high as the maxi jet 1200 which would be 1300gph i believe.
The pump they sent out to me puts out 250gph which would be more then the one 110 promised.Im not sure if it would even fit in the chamber. and if it does you will need additional hardware to install it. i havnt hooked up the new pump they sent to see how it would do, but i don't think you would see the flow through the chambers like you see in the video.
Also any suggestions on a stock list would be great!

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Fuge Chamber

 

[Luckedout]

The scape looks awesome now!

For mine, I'm thinking of stocking with sexy shrimp mostly, a couple of LPS corals like acans and then zoas. Maybe even a mini-carpet anemone. I'm not sure about SPS, but that's mostly because I don't like how it looks under LED's. Fish wise you could try a yellow or green clown goby, or a neon goby.

They shipped mine out today, so I guess I play the waiting game for the FedEx man. Did yours take long to get to you?

 

[Austinchap]

Well I'm up in Minnesota and it ships from Canada. I think it took 4-5 days to get here.

The wife found new canisters...
Will stainless steal be ok to hold RO/DI water for the ATO?
Also is 64 onces enough?

 

[Luckedout]

Personally I would be hesitant about stainless steel, but you might be ok. If it were my tank I would find something plastic to fit in the container just to be on the safe side. Like a large cup or old yogurt container.

64 ounces should be plenty for a top off. If you use the glass top to prevent water loss and you are not using a skimmer, your water loss should be minimal. It also depends on where you live and the weather, so just keep an eye on it the first few days and you'll get a feel for how long it will last and if that's adequate.