Biotopes
New member
Hey all!
I just want to start out and say this tank will take a while to finish, especially due to the fact I'm moving across the US! But I will keep this thread and the people on it updated as much as possible! :bounce1:
So this tank is going to be 55 gallons with a 30 gallon sump. It's going to have minimal rockwork for the most part with maybe an island to plant mangroves on. As much equipment as possible will be going into the sump (i.e. heater, protein skimmer, extra rock, etc), but I have a few questions about the sump itself as this is my first time using one! #sumpvirgin
1. How high should the water level be? On my sump there's a sticker saying that the water level should only be about 4 inches high, but it can't get over the first baffle? Does that mean in only the second section?
http://saltwaterisland.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/acrylic-30g-sump2.jpg
2. Can I run my Coralife Turbo Sea 586 GPH Pump standing on its end?
Design - I am going for Giga's 80G Mangrove Shallow tank-look, not identical, and I don't want to in any way copy it. But I love the negative space and I want to do something similar.
Water Movement - I am going to be using the Coralife pump for most of the flow (that thing has a lot of freaking power! :blown: ) and maybe add a Maxijet to give more flow. (3.) Will the pump running at around 600 GPH be enough flow for a fairly open, 4' tank? There will be a TON of open space, so I don't think I need too many pumps to get water moving, especially as there isn't going to be too much rock to slow it down. The rock that is in the tank will be mainly along the seabed, and extra will go in the sump
Lighting - I am not sure on a specific brand, but I am going to use a shoplight (like the ones from Home Depot) along with two blue CFL spiral bulbs. For moonlighting I built an LED system, which has 6 blue LED's, 2 green LED's, and 4 white LED's. Since I still have a month before I can buy the majority of the tank's pieces, I am going to continue to scour the face of the earth to find an LED system I can keep mangrove's, macro's, and mushrooms/tree corals with.
:reading:
Rock/Sand - Both of these I will be getting from Reef Rocks. I have heard great things from them and their prices are second to none. 85$ for a 50lb box of AMAZING rocks, and a 40lb bag of Bahama Aragonite Sand free!
Tank/Stand - I am going to get a tank and stand from craigslist and buy local. If I can't find a good deal anywhere, I'll use Petco's 1$ per gallon sale (starting the 26th! :beer: ) to get a tank, and do a 2x4 stand.
Mangroves/Macro's - I'll buy it all from GCE! (Gulf Coast Ecosystems) I am also looking around to find mangroves I can get from fellow hobbyists that have more mature root systems. PM me or leave a comment if you can help with this! (I have a tank I can keep them in until ready to plant in the new tank.) If I end up having to buy "baby" mangroves, I'll float them or even stick them to the side with suction cups to get the roots to grow out longer.
Coral/Fish - Coral's are going to be mushrooms, maybe a few zoanthids/polyps, and some tree corals. I am not sure on fish, but I will get both fish and coral from Paradise Aquatics, which is a store 20 min from my new home
I do want to have several camel shrimp, gobies, and jawfish or some other fish that will look great, blend in with the sand, and live in the open sand I might even add shrimp for them to pair with. On top of those, I am looking at a coral beauty as the centerpiece. But I am not sure of it with mangroves, macro and coral. :worried: I think it might be a bit like trying to stop a kid from eating candy in a candy store! I also like lobsters, and Live Aquaria has some that are pretty interesting.(4.)Could I keep them with mangroves, macros and soft corals?
Salt - I am going to use Instant Ocean, from what I hear it's great salt to use! Chime in on this if you use it please
Plumbing/Overflow - Now, even though this is controversial, I am going to build a PVC overflow for this tank. I have looked at many, many designs and videos and pulled the most popular, effective (IMO) design to use. It's going to be the basic "check valve and PVC" design, with a ball valve to control flow or shut off during maintenance. Also, it's going to be 1 1/2" to make up for my almost oversized pump (580 GPH). Speaking of the pump, I am adding a ball valve there, for obvious reasons
As mentioned above, I will continue this thread as I get equipment etc
Thanks!
I just want to start out and say this tank will take a while to finish, especially due to the fact I'm moving across the US! But I will keep this thread and the people on it updated as much as possible! :bounce1:
So this tank is going to be 55 gallons with a 30 gallon sump. It's going to have minimal rockwork for the most part with maybe an island to plant mangroves on. As much equipment as possible will be going into the sump (i.e. heater, protein skimmer, extra rock, etc), but I have a few questions about the sump itself as this is my first time using one! #sumpvirgin
1. How high should the water level be? On my sump there's a sticker saying that the water level should only be about 4 inches high, but it can't get over the first baffle? Does that mean in only the second section?
http://saltwaterisland.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/acrylic-30g-sump2.jpg
2. Can I run my Coralife Turbo Sea 586 GPH Pump standing on its end?
Design - I am going for Giga's 80G Mangrove Shallow tank-look, not identical, and I don't want to in any way copy it. But I love the negative space and I want to do something similar.
Water Movement - I am going to be using the Coralife pump for most of the flow (that thing has a lot of freaking power! :blown: ) and maybe add a Maxijet to give more flow. (3.) Will the pump running at around 600 GPH be enough flow for a fairly open, 4' tank? There will be a TON of open space, so I don't think I need too many pumps to get water moving, especially as there isn't going to be too much rock to slow it down. The rock that is in the tank will be mainly along the seabed, and extra will go in the sump
Lighting - I am not sure on a specific brand, but I am going to use a shoplight (like the ones from Home Depot) along with two blue CFL spiral bulbs. For moonlighting I built an LED system, which has 6 blue LED's, 2 green LED's, and 4 white LED's. Since I still have a month before I can buy the majority of the tank's pieces, I am going to continue to scour the face of the earth to find an LED system I can keep mangrove's, macro's, and mushrooms/tree corals with.
:reading:
Rock/Sand - Both of these I will be getting from Reef Rocks. I have heard great things from them and their prices are second to none. 85$ for a 50lb box of AMAZING rocks, and a 40lb bag of Bahama Aragonite Sand free!
Tank/Stand - I am going to get a tank and stand from craigslist and buy local. If I can't find a good deal anywhere, I'll use Petco's 1$ per gallon sale (starting the 26th! :beer: ) to get a tank, and do a 2x4 stand.
Mangroves/Macro's - I'll buy it all from GCE! (Gulf Coast Ecosystems) I am also looking around to find mangroves I can get from fellow hobbyists that have more mature root systems. PM me or leave a comment if you can help with this! (I have a tank I can keep them in until ready to plant in the new tank.) If I end up having to buy "baby" mangroves, I'll float them or even stick them to the side with suction cups to get the roots to grow out longer.
Coral/Fish - Coral's are going to be mushrooms, maybe a few zoanthids/polyps, and some tree corals. I am not sure on fish, but I will get both fish and coral from Paradise Aquatics, which is a store 20 min from my new home
I do want to have several camel shrimp, gobies, and jawfish or some other fish that will look great, blend in with the sand, and live in the open sand I might even add shrimp for them to pair with. On top of those, I am looking at a coral beauty as the centerpiece. But I am not sure of it with mangroves, macro and coral. :worried: I think it might be a bit like trying to stop a kid from eating candy in a candy store! I also like lobsters, and Live Aquaria has some that are pretty interesting.(4.)Could I keep them with mangroves, macros and soft corals?Salt - I am going to use Instant Ocean, from what I hear it's great salt to use! Chime in on this if you use it please
Plumbing/Overflow - Now, even though this is controversial, I am going to build a PVC overflow for this tank. I have looked at many, many designs and videos and pulled the most popular, effective (IMO) design to use. It's going to be the basic "check valve and PVC" design, with a ball valve to control flow or shut off during maintenance. Also, it's going to be 1 1/2" to make up for my almost oversized pump (580 GPH). Speaking of the pump, I am adding a ball valve there, for obvious reasons
As mentioned above, I will continue this thread as I get equipment etc
Thanks!
It'll be plywood bottom sealed with epoxy, and four glass sides. The dimensions will be 48"x24"x12" so I have no need to run the pump how I have it in the picture. I'll run it flat on the ground screwed into a plywood board. 
