My AquaPod 24 HQI Thread*

[Bmgrocks]

Join me on my AquaPod Thread, Questions, comments, and pics of Everyone's Tanks, Especially AQUAPODS, are appreciated


College is comin up and I decided, that my 6 month old, 29 nano, would take up too much space so I took the plunge and purchased an AquaPod 24, not much of a downgrade, but 10" and 4 gallons = alot of desk space.

An all in one system would be more useful, for tank moves, hidden equipment, and the Added Light Intensity

Sorry about the Tank pic, it was somewhat neglected during vacation. Water needs topped off, light was just turned on, ect. We all have those days....

The old AGA 29 was lit by a
CoraLife Lunar AquaLight Pro 130w PC, 10,000k and Actinic
Coralife AquaLight 36w T'5 10,000k, and Actinic
bringing 5.4 watts per gallon

Filtration was a Coralife SuperSkimmer 65 (once dialed in, its great; but simply too tempermental)
AquaClear 70 Modded Fuge with Chaeto and Live Rock Rubble
Visitherm Stealth 200w

Tank Perameters
Ca: 400 ppm
Alk: 10 dKH
NO3: < .5ppm
NO2: 0ppm
PO4: 0ppm
SG: 1.026
Temp: 27 - 28°C
pH: 8.2 - 8.3

Maintenence
Dose 3X weekly, Kent Nano 2 part supplement
Weekly/bi weekly 5 gallon Water Changes with ReefCrystals
Dose 1X weekly DT's Phyto (feed pod population)

Stocklist
1 ORA Black and White Ocellaris
1 ORA Ocellaris
1 Flame Angel
~poss Royal Gramma~ in future, day of livestock introduction to AP

3 Turbo Snails
1 Astrea Snail
3 Red Leg Hermits
4 Nassarius
1 Pepperment Shrimp
1 Green Mythrax

Green Bubble Tip Anemone
13 headed Grape Coral (pink/green)
6 Headed Hammer (purple/pink)
4 Headed Frogspawn (lavender/purple)
Various Zoas/Paly's
Orange Ricordea
Florida Bubble Mushroom
Small Sun Coral
Fiji Yellow Leather
Candy Cane

 

[Bmgrocks]

Having Been inspired by the June's Tank of the Month, thanks Scott's (sidewinder770) and Erin’s (Reefmaiden), i decided to go with the polyurethane background. Their 375, just look so realistic, you would of never thought that it was simply sprayed on. So On went the hunt for "Handi Foam"

Oh, and here's some pics of the "Beginning"

the tank

back chambers, and content

 

[Bmgrocks]

in case u can't tell, i work in a LFS! lol

stock pump, like 340 gph

The Maxi Jet Mod

And the Tank itself

 

[Bmgrocks]

The beginning of the Background

i was unable to find "the marketed" handi foam, but found a different kind of polyurethane based sealent. It is used for ponds, black in color, fish and plant safe, so i put on my gloves and went to work, unsure of what to expect....some what scary

My Hydor Koriala 2 for adequate flow

When i first saw the results i thought it looked terrible, the foam was always expanding, changing shape, and direction ect

Had to make sure i didn't cover up too much of the filter intake

full shots

but once the light came on it looked somewhat better

 

[Bmgrocks]

The background can be altered once it solidifies, cut, sanded, painted, ect.. as far as the shape and texture, i wish i had practiced, but considering that the goal is to make it look like Live Rock, im sure it will be ok.

Scott and erin stated that in a few months, it becomes covered with coraline, and microrganisms just like real live rock, and by the looks of their tank, I hope that the're right!

 

[Musho3210]

hehe nice background

 

[Bmgrocks]

And here's the end result

looking to adding 2 more fish, poss. a yellow fin fairy wrasse, and a Royal Gramma.

maybe a few SPS, moti's, birds nest, more zoas, and paly's,

 

[Bmgrocks]

Temp wise, the HQI, is pretty stable, i've left the top on, for about 3 days, evap is prob 10oz with the lid, My Visitherm 150 heater is kept at 77, the halide brings the temp up to about 79, 80 degrees during the day.

 

[reefman13]

Absolutely fantastic looking tank. And the touch n' foam looks really good.

 

[Bmgrocks]

hey thanks alot, appreciate it, i was kinda worried about that touch and foam, because it was really shiny, but after it cures i really like it... btw, how do u like ur Phoneix 14k bulb, i've heard really good things about them...

 

[E30 E T A]

Amazing tank! I love the foam backgrounds. You work at Marine Scene?

 

[crunk]

the foam turned out really good. it makes me want to use that technique when i set up a the next tank

 

[Bmgrocks]

no, its Aquarium One, in Rockville, the foam background was realy easy, but i was very scared on how it would look, it was shiny, i didn't like the pattern, ect, but, when given time, it stopped expanding, and came out well,

 

[afex]

not my style, but should look better once it gets encrusted.

pretty packed tank there

 

[InLimbo87]

Looks awesome! Love the foam background

 

[Genin]

I like the foam background. I have one myself in both my freshwater and marine tank. Like you said it can be quite frightening but when the lights are on it, it looks much better. I just started up my marine tank and like you are waiting for the coraline to encrust the background to give that live rock look, I also added pieces of rubble in the foam so that when completely covered with coraline it really should be unrecognizable from the LR.

 

[Bmgrocks]

looking into adding some color, pref, red into the reef, and have been looking into the wrasses'

any reccomendations,

really like the yellow fin fairy wrasse
any flashers suitable for my tank size?

 

[Chrisrush]

You sprayed the foam and then covered it up with a rock wall? Why not open the rockwork up some and allow the foam to be seen? Maybe 2 islands or something. That will allow you to move the ph as well.

 

[costeroma]

must b nice to work at a reef store lol jk dont have the money to support my hobby like that I buy used

 

[Bmgrocks]

Chris- yeah, i have noticed that, but i currently like my rock aquascape, maybe when i get tired of it, it will change, i do think that the textured foam looks better than a flat black anyway.

costeroma- all of those corals were purchased before i worked in the store, the aquapod itself and the hydor koriala, which are really hard toget a hold of nowadays, were perks of the job