Chris Q's Humble Reef

[Chrisq0904]

Took some time off from working on the stand (it's basically done just needs finishing touches and stain). I got to working on my aquascape and had some problems with it but I can say I really like where it's at now.


The piece on the bottom right will be attached as a shelf once the mortar cures a bit.

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[Chrisq0904]

The "final" scape

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[Chrisq0904]

How does everyone feel about these options?

#1

#2

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[Lacy]

I like option #1 with the tonga rock.
Any more updates?

 

[GfordQC]

Option 1 as well

 

[Chrisq0904]

I like option #1 with the tonga rock.
Any more updates?

Thanks for your opinion on the aqua scape. No major updates, just stained and sealed the stand. Been pretty busy looking for a new house but I did have my offer accepted yesterday!! Hopefully everything goes well and I can close on this one and then things will move a little faster.

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[Chrisq0904]

Been going crazy trying to decide if I want to go bare bottom on this tank need some opinions. Don't think I'm going to have any animals that require a sand bed, but I have never done a bare bottom tank so not sure if I'll like it.


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[Lacy]

I don't like bare bottoms, it doesn't look natural to me. Others like it. You could always go bb and then add sand if you change your mind.

 

[rovster]

I prefer sand but that said when I ran BB on my ghetto tank (didn't add sand because it was temporary) I was pleasantly surprised at how decent it looked and more importantly how much flow you can crank through them!

 

[Chrisq0904]

I don't like bare bottoms, it doesn't look natural to me. Others like it. You could always go bb and then add sand if you change your mind.

I honestly don't like the look either... my temporary tank (40breeder) is bare bottom at the moment but I don't like the look. If I did it it would be purely for easier maintenance and more flow.

I prefer sand but that said when I ran BB on my ghetto tank (didn't add sand because it was temporary) I was pleasantly surprised at how decent it looked and more importantly how much flow you can crank through them!

I prefer sand too and as mentioned above my current tank is bare bottom and I can't stand it. Everyone seems to agree that it's easier maintenance but I don't find siphoning the sand to be that tedious of a chore with weekly/biweekly warerchanges. And as you mentioned more Flow! If I do go with a sand bed it'll probably be a shallow one 1-2" and I think I'm going to try Tropic eden reef flakes because from what I'm reading you can bump up the powerheads a little more.


On a side note... now I'm also going crazy trying to decide on a return pump. I feel like going cheap and getting a jebao 7000 or 9000 but part of me also wants to say screw it and spend big money and get the vectra m1 but I don't see why I would spend $350 just for a return pump. My return section is 5" wide so most AC pumps won't fit, but the sicce 3.0 will but I'm not sure about a pump with 700ish gph flow that has to pump to two returns.

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[rovster]

Vectra is nice but overkill. I'd be looking at sicce and eheim, good reputation and modestly priced. You could get 2 and have a back up for the price of a vectra. If your tank was bigger maybe the vectra would stand out abut more. I considered putting one on my tank but bought a used back up instead lol.

I have reef flakes in my tank and although it stays somewhat put, I still get bare patches. Just an FYI....

 

[itz frank]

I have a sicce 3.0 and love it. Completely quiet. No heat. Runs great. Mine runs at a 5' rise over the back of the tank and then into a Y split return.


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[Chrisq0904]

Vectra is nice but overkill. I'd be looking at sicce and eheim, good reputation and modestly priced. You could get 2 and have a back up for the price of a vectra. If your tank was bigger maybe the vectra would stand out abut more. I considered putting one on my tank but bought a used back up instead lol.

I have reef flakes in my tank and although it stays somewhat put, I still get bare patches. Just an FYI....

You also have a crap ton of flow though, I don't think I've ever had as much flow as you.....hmm maybe that's why I don't get growth like you.

I have a sicce 3.0 and love it. Completely quiet. No heat. Runs great. Mine runs at a 5' rise over the back of the tank and then into a Y split return.


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What size tank do you have? Someone offered me a good deal on the sicce 5.0 that's 6 months old, it's pretty tempting.

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[itz frank]

I'm about 130gallons. 5ft long. I was aiming for 3-5x turn over from return pump.


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[rovster]

You should be looking at a 3.0. I know because I was just looking at them for my project tank which is 60 gal.

 

[Chrisq0904]

I finally decided on a return pump. Got the rodc varioS, honestly to just be able to connect to apex because apex allows me to nerd out a little and I've always had good experiences with reef octopus with some of their other products. Should have it by Monday the latest.


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[rovster]

I finally decided on a return pump. Got the rodc varioS, honestly to just be able to connect to apex because apex allows me to nerd out a little and I've always had good experiences with reef octopus with some of their other products. Should have it by Monday the latest.


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I looked at that one too! Great choice. They recently were on sale right?

 

[Chrisq0904]

I looked at that one too! Great choice. They recently were on sale right?

I know the older model they replaced were but didn't see these new models on sale.


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[rovster]

I know the older model they replaced were but didn't see these new models on sale.


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Ha, I see where you got it

 

[Chrisq0904]

Got 2 packages in the mail today.

First was the Reef Octopus VarioS pump. Pretty excited to see how this little pump will preform!

And second package is some tropic eden sand. Must say that this stuff looks pretty clean compared to some others.

One bag came broken which I wasn't too happy about but not much was spilled.

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