My 30g w/ 400w MH and Tunze wavebox
- Thread starter vijaym85
- Start date
Slakker
Premium Member
How are your clowns getting along? Do you just have the one ocellaris and one tomato?
I'd be wary of the Tomato killing your Ocellaris...they don't often like to have other clowns among their tankmates.
Corals are looking great, that wavemaker seems to be just what the doctor ordered.
I'd be wary of the Tomato killing your Ocellaris...they don't often like to have other clowns among their tankmates.
Corals are looking great, that wavemaker seems to be just what the doctor ordered.
vijaym85
New member
With the clowns, I placed the Ocellaris first and allowed it to establish. Then I placed the Tomato. They both stay at opp. ends of the tank. The Tomato has chased the Ocellaris once since I had them together but, that was the only time. I guess he had it building up in him. They both pretty much keep to themselves. The tomato is the meanest of all the fish I have.
unclefrosby
New member
where is the wave box??? and how do you keep sand from going everywhere. Show a pic with the 400 on not just your actinics.
vijaym85
New member
Check back at some of the pics on the first page. The wavebox is on the right hand side of the tank at the back. It is raised a few inches above the sand. It used to blow sand around at first but, that was during setup. It basically blew all the sand it could away from it, and from that point on it settled itself in. The sand is at a far enough distnace that it does not fly around. I don't mess around with the sand bed to make sure it does not start doing that again. Also I put a few rock infront of teh wavebox so it does not suck in the sand but get deflected off the rocks.
On my half tank shots you can see that half the tank is blue and half is white. The blue half is the halide the white is the flash from the camera. The bulb I am using is a 400w 12k bulb which is basically got the same color spike as a 20k bulb. It is a Reeflux 12k bulb. Its par is not very high but I like the color. IT brings out the corals look.
I still need some time to figure out my camera better, so I can take natural shots without using the flash. But if you read up on this bulb its known to be very blue, Radium like. ITs way bluer than my Hamilton 400w 14k. I will definately try to take more clearer pics though.
On my half tank shots you can see that half the tank is blue and half is white. The blue half is the halide the white is the flash from the camera. The bulb I am using is a 400w 12k bulb which is basically got the same color spike as a 20k bulb. It is a Reeflux 12k bulb. Its par is not very high but I like the color. IT brings out the corals look.
I still need some time to figure out my camera better, so I can take natural shots without using the flash. But if you read up on this bulb its known to be very blue, Radium like. ITs way bluer than my Hamilton 400w 14k. I will definately try to take more clearer pics though.
vijaym85
New member
On my full tank shots look at the right side of the tank behind the Goni and the Frogspawn. Do you see a black box and a bunch of ridges at the top of the tank, that is the wavebox. I tried to hide it as best i can. PPl mistake it for a built in overflow so hopefully it blends in ok. 
Its awesome and I totally reccomend it to anybody
Its awesome and I totally reccomend it to anybody
Good looking tank. Impressive on the Tunze wavemaker on a 30...would you recommend this device for a 90 gallon reef tank? I was thinking either a Tunze or creating a manifold for increased water movement and agitation...
And I do have some criticism here just to make you happy
I have had a 30 gallon reef tank before, and there is just no feasible way I see all those coral in there working out. If chemical interactions don't start to bother any coral, then surely you will be running out of room very very soon (but you said you had a 150, so actually these criticisms could very easily be non-issues).
There are a number of very large leather coral in there which slightly concern me in regards to new SPS you have put in there (again, chemical warefare is possible, but i'm no expert, trust me). Also, was wondering what supplementation you use (calcium, iodine, etc.). Also, not clear, is there a refugium on this tank or a sump (strictly 30 gallons or more volume)?
Are you planning on moving these coral into the 150 as they grow larger? Or will you be fragging a lot? I ask because your coral seem very healthy and soon will be rubbing up on each other (most notably that Galaxea, man!! 10 inch sweepers!).
Again, tho, the tank looks great. I too enjoy the 30 gallon model of tanks as I believe they are a great volume to work with (adequate volume, good random flow possible from powerheads, cheaper lighting, many etc.) and their only real drawbacks are, as with ANY tank, space constraints.
Keep us informed with pics. They look good.
And I do have some criticism here just to make you happy
I have had a 30 gallon reef tank before, and there is just no feasible way I see all those coral in there working out. If chemical interactions don't start to bother any coral, then surely you will be running out of room very very soon (but you said you had a 150, so actually these criticisms could very easily be non-issues).
There are a number of very large leather coral in there which slightly concern me in regards to new SPS you have put in there (again, chemical warefare is possible, but i'm no expert, trust me). Also, was wondering what supplementation you use (calcium, iodine, etc.). Also, not clear, is there a refugium on this tank or a sump (strictly 30 gallons or more volume)?
Are you planning on moving these coral into the 150 as they grow larger? Or will you be fragging a lot? I ask because your coral seem very healthy and soon will be rubbing up on each other (most notably that Galaxea, man!! 10 inch sweepers!).
Again, tho, the tank looks great. I too enjoy the 30 gallon model of tanks as I believe they are a great volume to work with (adequate volume, good random flow possible from powerheads, cheaper lighting, many etc.) and their only real drawbacks are, as with ANY tank, space constraints.
Keep us informed with pics. They look good.
vijaym85
New member
PKUNK35 thanks for the comments and suggestions
- I would 100% suggest you buy this for a 90g. In fact I first saw the unit on a friend's 90g and decided to get my own. They are very good units and will really help your coral thrive. They are pretty darn dependable too. The box blends pretty well with a black background and looks like a overflow box.
The refugium is just a simple hang on aquaclear powerfilter, largest model I think 110.
I add B Ionic 2 part and I do add Iodine, mag., and strontium. I use IO salt and RO double DI water.
I run Phosar, carbon, and chemipure, in a New reactor moded off a coralife skimmer which is not pictured. I removed the second smaller aquaclear filter and added the reactor instead as I get a better contact time and flow through with the reactor.
I understand and respect your concerns with chemical warfare between corals and I am trying to consider my options. I have done some , fragging and have traded some away already to help maintain space. I also have changed my aquascape recently, but not pictured. I placed all the softies to one end of the tank since they don't seem to mind rubbing on each other from my observations. I think that the new aquascpae will buy a good amount of time before I am forced to relocate or frag corals.
I like the fact that I got a AGA tank because I only had to invest about $40 on it and can spend the money saved on corals and equipment instead. of on a more fancy tank.
Also the tank is 3ft long so I have a pretty nice amount of horiontal space to spread things over. Since I use a wavebox I have to be cautious of the aquascaping and palcement of corals to insure there is not direct flow from the output of the wavebox. The light is also a concern and I have to place corals from getting burned by 400w's of light.
I also changed my bulb to a Hamilton 14k and my leathers are responding very nicely to it. Not pictured
To me this tank is all about doing something different and trying out products that are not traditional to a 30g. I want to push a Nano to its limits and see how much success or lack of it I have . I have no problems with traditonal Nano's with zoo's and mushrooms. But this tank is my experiment and I hope that others will see it and maybe feel more comfortable in pushing their tanks to the limit as well.
- I would 100% suggest you buy this for a 90g. In fact I first saw the unit on a friend's 90g and decided to get my own. They are very good units and will really help your coral thrive. They are pretty darn dependable too. The box blends pretty well with a black background and looks like a overflow box.
The refugium is just a simple hang on aquaclear powerfilter, largest model I think 110.
I add B Ionic 2 part and I do add Iodine, mag., and strontium. I use IO salt and RO double DI water.
I run Phosar, carbon, and chemipure, in a New reactor moded off a coralife skimmer which is not pictured. I removed the second smaller aquaclear filter and added the reactor instead as I get a better contact time and flow through with the reactor.
I understand and respect your concerns with chemical warfare between corals and I am trying to consider my options. I have done some , fragging and have traded some away already to help maintain space. I also have changed my aquascape recently, but not pictured. I placed all the softies to one end of the tank since they don't seem to mind rubbing on each other from my observations. I think that the new aquascpae will buy a good amount of time before I am forced to relocate or frag corals.
I like the fact that I got a AGA tank because I only had to invest about $40 on it and can spend the money saved on corals and equipment instead. of on a more fancy tank.
Also the tank is 3ft long so I have a pretty nice amount of horiontal space to spread things over. Since I use a wavebox I have to be cautious of the aquascaping and palcement of corals to insure there is not direct flow from the output of the wavebox. The light is also a concern and I have to place corals from getting burned by 400w's of light.
I also changed my bulb to a Hamilton 14k and my leathers are responding very nicely to it. Not pictured
To me this tank is all about doing something different and trying out products that are not traditional to a 30g. I want to push a Nano to its limits and see how much success or lack of it I have . I have no problems with traditonal Nano's with zoo's and mushrooms. But this tank is my experiment and I hope that others will see it and maybe feel more comfortable in pushing their tanks to the limit as well.
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