Jet Black's Nano Build 2.1

[Jet Black]

I've been having some fatal issues with my original 20 gallon setup, so I'm starting new and getting rid of them. This is supposed to be my perfect well running college tank, so has to be quiet, low maintenance, and not have any issues. I'm trying to do everything right, so I saved up from dog walking and lawn mowing which has allowed me to chose some higher end equipment.

Original tank was an AGA, oak trim painted black, hang on back overflow and return.

Looked pretty good at its height but had its share of issues, such as overflow siphon breaking every two weeks, having a plastic water bottle holding up the return, hang on back as a reactor, 10 gallon sump with sharp, leaking, home made, baffles. You know little things.

So to combat these issues I have started anew. Tank 2.0 was Relientkiid's 30 gallon low iron tank.

Drove up to Roseville a week ago through rush hour traffic to get it drilled. After then I got it all painted and prepped for the weekend setup! The problem was that after spray painting I got a phone call and stepped out of the garage. Right then my mother got home and ran into the tank with her car.

So on to tank 2.1, ordered the Current Solona 34 gallon 20" cube off of Marine Depot, somehow it got here in six days. Went back up to Aquarium Depot where greenhead put in good word for me, and I got it drilled in one visit. Big thanks to greenhead and those who work late at AD!

So the tank specs are:
34 gal 20" cube
2" Glass holes 700gph return
~7 gallon sump
Used AI vega for light
Rio 2100 for return
100 watt Eheim heater
Like new Hydor Slim Skim

Now a few questions,
Last time I accidentally bought spray paint illegally (I didn't know!). Now if I were to go the route of buying caned vinyl paint do I have to be 18?
Any tips to painting the back?

On the topic of plumbing, I bought flex PVC, do I have to use glue or is it possible that I can just shove it up the elbow and it wont leak?

Ill have pictures tomorrow of tear down and setup, and probably a new set of questions.

Happy Reefing!

 

[Saltwaternooby]

The problem was that after spray painting I got a phone call and stepped out of the garage. Right then my mother got home and ran into the tank with her car.

So on to tank 2.1, ordered the Current Solona 34 gallon 20" cube off of Marine Depot, somehow it got here in six days. Went back up to Aquarium Depot where greenhead put in good word for me, and I got it drilled in one visit. Big thanks to greenhead and those who work late at AD!

Now a few questions,
Last time I accidentally bought spray paint illegally (I didn't know!). Now if I were to go the route of buying caned vinyl paint do I have to be 18?
Any tips to painting the back?

On the topic of plumbing, I bought flex PVC, do I have to use glue or is it possible that I can just shove it up the elbow and it wont leak?

DAM:eek2: That sucks, 1 had a 120g break when my brothers strength gave out after i just had bought it.

Glad you got a new tank quick thought. You need to be 18 for any spray can paint. Use painters tape and paper to mask off the sides so you over spray.

You need to GLUE flex pvc!!

 

[Jet Black]

I was a little confused when the cashier asked for an ID, and what I was using it for. Didn't even think of it being illegal, but now I'm going to use the roll on type can paint. Didn't like scraping off the little spots where it got around the paper on the last one.

I was hoping to get around the glue...

 

[generaltoaster]

Here are some pictures from yesterday while we were breaking down his previous setup.
Can I just say: yuck. and dust definitely is not meant to be green. I can't wait for JB to have this muck out an the nice clean one in

 

[Jet Black]

Ya definitely had an adventure cleaning last night, and I think I figured out part of my problem. My skimmer pump was leaking black gunk and it had a hole through the back of it. No wonder why I was getting shocked periodically...



Also did some work on the stand, light modding and cable arranging. I have to say that this sump is more inviting to work on then sharp baffles.


I'll post more pictures after I'm done spray painting.

 

[Jet Black]

SUPER PROUD OF MYSELF! No wrong pieces or extras, no leaks, all glued, every thing looks clean.

Started with the (TOTALLY LEGAL) spray paint, used an old box to keep off speckles. Worked pretty good



I then put the tank on the stand and dry fitted everything together. Looks pretty clean. Also got a cereal container for the ATO when I get one. Wanted a larger one but that's the only one I could find that fit.



Also added a fan and it is all secure and wired and I'm not worried about it falling in, in short I'm proud of myself.



Can't wait to get corals and my other fish in this!

Any recommendations for further equipment?
I have to get an ATO and I was thinking of buying a broken MP40 for cheap because I have been collecting parts and only need the motor magnet. Some type of reactor maybe?

 

[Relientkiid]

Looking good dude! I'd put in a TLF 150 w/ a rio 400 and put gfo and carbon in it.

Ps, filter sock on that overflow line. Change every week or sooner depending on your water changes and bioload.

 

[Jet Black]

I'm still a little confused with how you get filter socks off, do you put like a union above the sock or do you just have to pull the PVC out by bending it?

I think Ill go with a BRS gfo reactor so that I can mount it on the inside of my stand and save space.

Still not sure of what I want to do with the middle chamber. To be honest I have had NO luck growing cheato. It could be the light I'm using or I'm not growing it right. I'm thinking maybe just LR rubble or something.

My livestock consists of my pair of black clowns, pictured. A mandarin who is currently in my sump of my 75g along with a tail spot blenny. I was thinking that I would add a chalk bass and that would complete my livestock.

Any suggestions on stocking? More or less? Any fish ideas?

 

[Relientkiid]

Your overflow line just needs to be far enough under the water to allow you to slip the socks on and off. Deep enough to not make too many bubbles (this is almost impossible) but the bubbles will get caught in the sock and any that trickle over into the next chamber will be dealt with by the bubble trap entering the return chamber.

Brs reactors are a great idea. Just make sure to do the double reactor instead of putting both medias in one reactor on those guys. They are a pain to clean.

I'd suggest something over 10k but any more is over kill. An old light bulb is worse then no light bulb as it will grow nuisance algae pretty rapidly.

Live stock looks good. I'd consider a small wrasse. Maybe a fairy wrasse to help keep worms under control. Because they will eventually get into your system. Hitch hikers happen. It might out compete your mandarin goby but as long as you have a good supply of pods in your sump you will be golden.

Cleanup crew? Cleaner shrimp? These are a must imo.

E/: Rubble rock in the sump is a wise choice. Basslets are cool but from my experience they are punks. Iv seen them bully fish way bigger then them. Especially once that aren't aggressive.

 

[Jet Black]

I'm not sure if a double reactor will fit, is it really that much easier to do two? I run carbon and GFO in a crappy single reactor and it seems to be doing pretty well on my 75.

I realized I set up my system with the skimmer section in the return is on the wrong side, it sorta restricts the flow in that one spot. Could I get around the sock under the outflow and just have the holder placed right under the spout area?



I really like the Chalk Basslet, every where I go it says that they're not aggressive. And now that I'm looking at them, some of the Fairy Wrasses are really cool. I'm not sure which I will chose from. The competing with the mandarin will not be a problem, got it from ORA so it "should" eat frozen. I've had it for over a year now in the 20, its never really come out to eat but it has to be the only way it survives. I'm going to place it in a breeder net when I do the move and feed it just to make sure.

Clean up crew I was thinking mostly snails and a few hermits. I made part of the aquascape break the surface of the water so that I could see if they would climb up (there is a cover on the overflow box and a glass cover over the tank). I was thinking a few emeralds or a porcelain, not too set on those yet. I was also thinking a nice shrimp as a sort of show piece, a fire or a skunk, I'm not allowed to put those in my 75 and I've forgotten how cool they are. Would the Fairies mess with those? The Chalks only go after little ones when they're full grown.

So far everything is working smoothly, didn't realize how loud my room was until it got quiet.

 

[Jet Black]

Now that I have measured it out and looked at things, I might be able to fit a BRS single in my stand. I think the only other option would be to screw it on the the side of my stand and I'm not sure if I want to ruin the aesthetics like that. The only other option is to use the TLF 150 but I wont be able to mount it above the sump. Would it be worth it to paint the white parts of the BRS double and have it outside or should I just use the 150?

 

[Relientkiid]

Post a pic of your sump again for me please. I'd like to see how you have it setup now with the skimmer in.

I don't do crabs(hermits ether) anymore. They are pretty cool to watch but I find their benefits don't justify the damage they do. Iv had several scartles and blue legs get big and basically go rouge and kill my snail population. And then took out their rage on a ultra maxima :/ that was a sad day.

The brs reactor are great. Just can be a pain to clean. You have to unscrew the top and remove the cartridge. It can get gummed up pretty bad when you run both medias in it. I'm like you and like my system to look clean. I wouldn't put it on the outside unless you absolutely have too. I prefer the 150 based on the ease of use and function of equipment. Plus you can run both medias pretty easily. Clean up is simple. Comes down to a subjective question. What do you like best.

 

[Jet Black]

I think Ill go with the 150, it will fit in my stand and seems to be more recommended.

The skimmer placement isn't best, it would be better on the other side but its what I had to do.



I was thinking I could put the filter sock to the right of the skimmer, it would have to be one of the clips with the square around the mouth of the sock though.

 

[Jet Black]

Just put in two orders from BRS and Dr F&S. Went with the TLF 150 for the reactor and the JBJ and an aqualifter for the ATO.

Also re-added a few coral and an anemone for the clowns, they were in it before I was done placing it.



(Darn LEDs make my camera phone go nuts)

 

[Jet Black]

Okay, update way overdue.

What I added equipment wise, Two Little Fishies 150 and an ATO. I also found a MP40 that had a broken wet side so I get the pieces I need, its in the mail right now.

I also added a McCoskers wrasse, got him from Jojos, a few small tears in his dorsal but hes been doing fine. Little shy and doesn't quite show his colors yet but I'm working on it.


Also added this beautiful purple-pink urchin (Salmacis bicolour). (Phone Camera, sorry)

(Actually kind of proud of that one)


Also added some more corals

Had to move the anemone back, wasn't liking the tank quite yet. No harm done.

I have also spotted some specks on my zoas, not sure if its pox or not but I'm keeping an eye on them. Only a few frags in there and they are just for testing but it would still suck to loose what I have.

 

[mikid]

2.1

2.1

I like your aqua scaping skills:hammer:

 

[Jet Black]

Thanks, still haven't quite figured out how to place the rock that the zoas are on. Maybe after Fridays meeting Ill have some ideas.

 

[Jet Black]

SO, update is a *bit* overdue,

The tank was doing really well before my Rio 2500 broke and released something nasty into the water. Had to make a second trip back with frags to go in Generaltoaster's tank. LPS did fine but the trial SPS decided to die. Sadly my awesome urchin also didn't take the gunk nor my mandarin that I was training.

So if anyone sees anything similar to my urchin photos or labeled as Salmacis bicolour please let me know!

Now that I'm rethinking my fourth fish choice, I'm looking for something bright to contrast the black bottom and back of the tank. First things that came to mind were
some sort of bright colored bottom dwelling goby/blenny
pretrained ruby red dragonett
a very small (~2") long nosed hawk, everywhere I go it says min of 30gal but I know that my 5" buddy in my 75gal wouldn't be happy in a 34 cube at his current size.

Right now I'm open to suggestions, I'm really going for something that has personality and is of the less common sort. Not to sure of best combinations but it must have a good chance of getting along with my tail spot, two black ocellaris clowns, large fire shrimp and the McCoskers wrasse I have.

When I added the blenny back to the tank the wrasse kept picking on him. The clowns and the blenny were together in the tank before the switch so they were kind of friends already. The blenny kept running to the clowns and they would protect him and "taunt" the wrasse which would then retreat. It was quite funny to watch but they're all calm now.

Also bought a lot of snails online but they don't seem to be doing a very good job, getting what looks like diano.

Equipment wise I finally found a MP40 dry side so I took it apart and replaced the motor bearings along with the wet side (quite easy to do with a bearing puller, don't use screwdrivers to break the irreplaceable drive magnate). Nice and quiet now. The replacement Rio 3100 creates a lot higher rise in the water level so my rock work breaking the surface is a little less noticeable but you win some you loose some. Also noticed a few very light scratches :mad2: I have to look for them every time but it still irritates me.

I'm thinking of doing a separate equipment holder/box/sump thing. Room has run out very fast and the two gallon reservoir is already starting to drain fast and were not even in summer yet. I will start another thread regarding this idea but in general it would be able to sustain my equipment needs, be furniture grade, and flexible for if in the future I have to move it to a different position or have to return to my current setup.

Once again, any ideas are greatly appreciated!
Justin

 

[generaltoaster]

Well the more I look at my very full tank the more I don't mind holding your frags for you..
take your time Justin

 

[Relientkiid]

Post a full tank shot for us bro