My JBJ 28 HQI Nano

[madbomber]

I just thought I would share a picture and vid of my 28 gallon JBJ HQI system. So far its been a heap of fun watching everything progress.

It has been about three months since start up now;

A "Top Down" video.

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/-abwj6RmTBhF1D16u4oB2w?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-OM0Rv0JbXlE/TpRRwLNvuOI/AAAAAAAAAKM/ldfzOXv9jKw/s144/WP_20111005_025926Z.jpg" height="108" width="144" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/117872660072462187764/JBJNano?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">JBJ Nano</a></td></tr></table>

 

[tmz]

Very nice. Thanks for the pictures.

 

[mr86mister]

Awesome collection of corals! Tank looks awesome!

 

[Krypt1979]

Tank looks great! Going to fill in nicely.

 

[madbomber]

I decided to go back to tropic marin salt after years of Oceanic salt. The cost is outrageous but with such a tiny system it just makes sense to not skimp. I did a 15 gallon wc lastnight. I did not realize that I had as much rock and substrate displacement as I actually do. Try not to cringe too much at the thought of such a large swap. Hopefully I will not regret it.


Before the WC

My Todds and an orange aussy torch just left of it.

During the WC

I will post pics soon of the results.

 

[jfl14609]

Looks great

 

[Capt_Cully]

Looks really good. I tried one once, just couldn't get it to look nice. I'll always appreciate a well done nano after failing at it myself.

 

[madbomber]

 

[madbomber]

Its been 2 weeks since swaping over to TM salt. My zoos are happier and everything else is doing considreably well. The only issue I see now is that I am needing to dose CA every so often whereas with the Oceanic salt my CA levels were just fine. I since a a month ago I added a doser for just buffer. I may have to add another doser for CA soon now.

 

[teamdulski]

Oceanic does mix super high for ca, but low on alk. I hope the tang police don't see this.

 

[rjmayes34]

very nice looking tank!! And its only been for 3 1/2 months or so! You need another tank!!!!

 

[RandyO]

Looks good.

The tank is more established now, so your corals and coralline are growing better, resulting in a larger consumption of calcium.

Just my opinion, but I don't think it's the salt.

 

[tmz]

I with Randy O on this one. Price doesn't make a salt better or worse.

 

[madbomber]

I have to disagree. every time I went over to TM in past systems, I have always had better results with Tropic Marin. I am sure this system is starting to mature, but its nowhere close to a 12 month mark. Eh,.. who knows really?

Check my entire gallery here;
https://picasaweb.google.com/117872660072462187764/JBJNano?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite

 

[tmz]

Each his own. There is no reason to think TM is "better" ,however.Different salts have different levels of mag. calcium and carbonate alkalinity. Picking one that matches dosing of these supplements in a particular supplement is useful. Beyond that salt is salt. These tanks run with common Coralife salt and have for 8yrs:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2092232

 

[madbomber]

Those are beautiful systems Tom. I guess I just trust that TM's products are distributed with better quality assurance.

 

[tmz]

That may be so and your tank is really looking good but there is no information to support a claim that TM has a better quality assurance process than the others . It does have a higher price point and a marketing strategy to go with it.. Many do really well over a long period of time with Instant Ocean for example.In my case , Coralife has been very consistent and reliable over the years.

Here is Randy Farley's take on why he uses Instant Ocean:

"I do not think there is a "best" salt mix. Nearly all of them will work fine as long as you know their pros and cons.

I personally prefer Instant Ocean, and this is why:

I don't want excessive borate, which leaves out Seachem.

I don't want vitamins or anything else organic in my mix, so that tosses out some like Reef Crystals, hW Marinemix Plus BioElements, Kent, Coralife, and Nutri-SeaWater.

I don't want excessive calcium (long term use of limewater as I use drives up calcium, so I do not want it starting high), so that tosses out a bunch, such as Kent, Seachem, Coralife and Oceanic.

There are certain companies that I will not support due to their misleading claims and/or product lines. That tosses out a few which I won't detail here since it is my personal thought as opposed to a specific issue with their salt mix.

I won't use certain lines of natural seawater due to excessive metals in it.

That only leaves a few to choose from, such as Instant Ocean and Tropic Marin Pro. The remaining ones might all be fine for me, but IO is lower in cost, especially if you get it when it goes on sale (which it frequently does)."

 

[madbomber]

Here are progression photos from the past 7 months;

 

[Hiltonc57]

Great tank! what fish do you have besides the yellow tang?

 

[rjmayes34]

yeah thats coming along great!! I like it!