Its time to set up a tank again

[Turbovr3six]

So I brought some corals back with me and now I want a mini reef to put them in. I want to set up my BC29 instead of the plain 10G I have up and running right now. I need to get new filters for my RODI unit before I can make any water. (Does anyone know a place local that sell Spectrapure filters?) I also need sand; can I get it for a beach and rinse it out or should I just buy some? (Wheres a good LFS to buy dry sand?) Next I'm going to set up the rockwork with MarcoRocks and a piece or two of LR. (Where to get GOOD LR?) I'm going for the "minimalist" look so I will be using acrylic rods and zipties to create overhangs/caves. (Any plastic shops that sell acrylic?)

Equipment list:
29G Biocube + stand
2G tank for top-off water
MJ1200 return
Solana Skimmer -----(Really looking for a Tunze 9002)
Vortec MP10
AI SOL Blue or 20" 150W sunpod with PHX 14K
JBJ ATO

Please chime in if you know a good spot for certain things. I wanna get this rolling ASAP!!

 

[OzoneParkGuy]

Well this a partial answer to your questions, however... it is your answer that will determine the outcome.

Tito from Gotham Aquatics has replacement RODI filters (standard size) to fit most units and he also sells sand.

I have LR in my sump that we can work out a great price on.

Now if you are willing, you can PM me and I'll give you Gotham Aquatics number so you can tell him exactly what it is you are looking for and if you decide to order, we can link up and you can get the LR also... This all depends on you.

As far as Marco Rock call the Doc... unless you already have that.

I wouldn't put Sand from the beach into my tank although I've read some have done it. You just don't know what contaminents are in the sand and if they are poisonous to your tank and future inhabitants later on if it starts to leach out.

I can not tell you anything as to the LFS's in your area... wish I knew and maybe someone else will chime in to help.

 

[DgenR8]

Local law enforcement will make you an unhappy camper if they catch you taking beach sand, and it's silica sand, not worth it. For a small tank like that, you're best off buying a bag of aragonite sand. Closest LFS to you is probably Aquahut (Coram) or Pets Warehouse (Selden). I'm told that Gotham Aquatics actually will deliver to you, but I have not tested that.
I just placed an order with Spectrapure on Tuesday. I would have been happy to share shipping cost with you. Be careful with replacement filters and Spectrapure units, I bought cheap LFS replacement filters and they were a hair short for the housings on my Max Cap unit.
A lot of folks are using fiberglass rods from Home Depot. They come with a small flag on them for marking driveways and such. Just toss the flag. I don't know of a place to get actual acrylic rod.

 

[DrHarryLopez]

Hey Justin, I have some marco rock for you as a welcome back gift. I'm pretty much available this weekend if you want the rock asap!

 

[Turbovr3six]

OGP- Thanks for the input. I might take you up on your offer for the LR since I only need a tiny piece or two to seed the rest of my rocks. PM sent for Gotham Aquatics contact info.

Larry- Yes, I only need a tiny bit of sand and will buy it somewhere. It's just, I started a thread on LIRA to ask where to get water and they said that some collect from the ocean. I didn't know if the same rules apply for the sand and whatnot. Thanks for the heads up on the law and silica though! And in the future if you ever need to order from Spectrapure again, LMK and I'll probably go in with you.(your choice)

Harry- Thanks for the offer. I highly appreciate it. I brought 150# of Marco Rocks back from AZ with me so I've got alot. Doesn't mean I dont wanna stop by to at least check out the tank though.

 

[Turbovr3six]

Going to get sand today and start to set up the Biocube. I need to clean the tank still, so I'll only clean then aquascape. Water will be next week most likely. The little 10G I have running now is doing pretty well so far. I have my zoanthids all on a Mag-Rock in hopes that they will cover it and grow onto the glass in time.
I brought a ~6"x6" colony of ReefFarmers Digi from AZ, and surprisingly it had only some die off. Since it has been back in a tank with nice flow and good lighting, it it starting to grow back/color up.

Here's a couple of quick IPhone pictures of the tank:

The Digi that looks like it will recover(hopefully)

Ric

Blue Cloves

And Thanks to Noel for these jems.

Blue Polyp Monti

OPG's War Coral (pictures don't to justice. This thing is sweeet!)

 

[anthony27]

Hey buddy I sent you a pm nice job on the tank

 

[Turbovr3six]

Finished cleaning the Biocube so once I find a spot for it, I'll begin with the rockwork. Until then the little ol' 10G will work. Im running a 50W heater, HOB Rio skimmer, HOB filter for carbon, Sunpod 150W 14K Phoenix, MP10 set on reefcrest on the lowest setting.

Current tank parameters:
Temp-79.7 (swings from 79.4-80.9)
Sg-1.026 (Refractometer)
Ca-480 (Salifert, ELOS)
DKH-9 (Salifert, API)
Mg-1520 (Salifert)
NO3-0 (Salifert, API)
PO4-0.06 (Hanna)

Here's a couple of pictures:


Thanks Harry!

Insane PE

Very healthy piece!

Mag-Rock with my $3 Zoanthid frags from AZ

More $3 frags

And the FTS. :rolleye1:

 

[DrHarryLopez]

Nice!!!!!!!!!!!!! and life begins.... The slimer looks nice as the center piece.

 

[guarda]

Canal Plastics on Church St. and Canal had acrylic rods for like 2 or 3 bucks per 12 or 18" last time I was there. I read it's better to use fiberglass rods if you're going to be suspending heavy rocks as the acrylic will break down after a few years but I haven't heard anyone complain of their rockwork falling yet.

 

[Staaan]

Canal Plastics on Church St. and Canal had acrylic rods for like 2 or 3 bucks per 12 or 18" last time I was there. I read it's better to use fiberglass rods if you're going to be suspending heavy rocks as the acrylic will break down after a few years but I haven't heard anyone complain of their rockwork falling yet.

Great tip Arthur...

Think I'm going to go there this week.

 

[cullyisgully]

Nice zoas..... keep us up to date :crazy1:

 

[Turbovr3six]

Thanks for the kind words!

Canal Plastics on Church St. and Canal had acrylic rods for like 2 or 3 bucks per 12 or 18" last time I was there. I read it's better to use fiberglass rods if you're going to be suspending heavy rocks as the acrylic will break down after a few years but I haven't heard anyone complain of their rockwork falling yet.

Nice, Thanks. :beer: I'll check them out for my bigger tank. In the Biocube the rocks are small so I'm not really worried about them breaking. On the bigger tank though, I'll have heavier rocks so I'll look at the fiberglass rods. Thanks again.


Got the BC all cleaned up and on its stand. The 10G has been moved into another spot and I'm running LED's on it now. Going to see if the colors improve while the BC is cycling.

 

[Turbovr3six]

Ideas for the Biocube:
-Snowflake/Platinum Clown pair with an anemone, and softies
-Very minimalist aquascape with rock towers and overhangs with SPS
-Ricordea/Zoanthid/LPS, with a BSJF.

 

[Staaan]

I like the first idea minus the platinum clown (I think they're ugly, just IMO of course lol).

That way once you get the bigger tank you might not have the "urge" to put in an anemone and risk getting all your coral destroyed...

 

[cullyisgully]

Mag-Rock were did you get it I need to buy a few of them ....

 

[Turbovr3six]

once you get the bigger tank you might not have the "urge" to put in an anemone and risk getting all your coral destroyed...

That's the plan Stan(I can rhyme) I would like to get a pair and possibly attempt to raise the eggs if/when they hatch. I've never had clowns spawn, so I never got the chance to try to raise the babies. I think it would be a cool learning experience, and if it works I'll have lots of little clown babies!

Mag-Rock were did you get it I need to buy a few of them ....

I got it in a group buy we did in AZ. I got 2 rocks that size, one larger one, and 3 plugs for $40. Seemed worth it to me because I like the way the rock on the glass looks once covered in coral.

 

[Turbovr3six]

New FTS. Cant seem to get a good picture; They all look so blue. Basically the same look, but in a new location.

 

[DrHarryLopez]

I like!!!!!! cool!

 

[Turbovr3six]

My girlfriend and I were in Petco buying dog food, when I saw they had 2 Blackfoot Clownfish for $20 each. Needless to say I bought them because I never really see them in many tanks. As soon as we got home my girlfriend looked up info on them and saw that they were selling for $60 each.:eek1: Maybe the site she looked at had high prices, or maybe I lucked out. Either way I'm excited about them.

I went to Pets Warehouse today with my buddy who just started a tank. He ended up getting the Solana that was for sale on LIRA. The Solana has a bad algae issue, so we went to PW to get stuff for water changes and a CUC. While we were there I saw a Neon Orange Fungia Plate coral and of course I wanted it. I've wanted an Orange Fungia for a while now, and this one is SUPER NEON Orange!


Anyway, here's some pictures of the new additions. Sorry about the clownfish pictures, they're impossible to photograph. Also using the IPhone camera doesn't help. :lol:

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