My JBJ 28gal Nano Build Thread
- Thread starter ange062
- Start date
buddythelion
New member
Hey Ange, tank's looking great! As you know, I got the same tank as you now and I have a few questions if you don't mind.
Got the 2 LF reactors and the Eheim 600 per recommendation. Did you put the Eheim in the left chamber along with the return pump and the skimmer? Must have been a snug fit! Then the first reactor (in the middle chamber) would be for... and the second one on the right chamber is for... And then I just put the tubing on it to return back into the right most chamber?
And what media would you recommend for each reactor and how much into it? Is that an inTank media basket in the middle?
Sorry for the 100 questions, I want to do it right to get my SPS bug going.
Got the 2 LF reactors and the Eheim 600 per recommendation. Did you put the Eheim in the left chamber along with the return pump and the skimmer? Must have been a snug fit! Then the first reactor (in the middle chamber) would be for... and the second one on the right chamber is for... And then I just put the tubing on it to return back into the right most chamber?
And what media would you recommend for each reactor and how much into it? Is that an inTank media basket in the middle?
Sorry for the 100 questions, I want to do it right to get my SPS bug going.
Hey Ange, tank's looking great! As you know, I got the same tank as you now and I have a few questions if you don't mind.
Got the 2 LF reactors and the Eheim 600 per recommendation. Did you put the Eheim in the left chamber along with the return pump and the skimmer? Must have been a snug fit! Then the first reactor (in the middle chamber) would be for... and the second one on the right chamber is for... And then I just put the tubing on it to return back into the right most chamber?
And what media would you recommend for each reactor and how much into it? Is that an inTank media basket in the middle?
Sorry for the 100 questions, I want to do it right to get my SPS bug going.
Not trying to sound like the search function "board police" but just to save you some time waiting for Angelo to get back to you...all the answers to your questions can be found in this thread. Or at least nearly all of them, like how he set up the reactors, the media in them (GFO and carbon), the inTank media basket and what he keeps in it etc etc.
It's a monster thread but you could probably find it all in there faster than waiting for ange to get the time to respond. Plus there's so much interesting stuff in there too.
Good luck
buddythelion
New member
Yeah, page 14 and the video. But it wasn't specific enough for me. I don't recall if he used the inTank basket either. It's just I'm new with reactors and not too sure what to do with them.
He keeps his inTank media basket going but only with filter floss in the top chamber.
I only have one reactor going but with 2 I think most people just run a Eheim 600 or similar pump in the back corner and run it to the inlet of the first reactor. Then the outlet goes to the inlet of the second one. The outlet on the second one then runs back across the back of the tank to the corner that holds the pump and it's directed out the return on that side and into the tank.
Ange, and most people run GFO in the first reactor and carbon in the second. Typically you want carbon with slightly lower flow so it doesn't grundy itself into nothing. I just have one reactor and I keep carbon in the media basket.
BTW, keep the videos coming ange.
I only have one reactor going but with 2 I think most people just run a Eheim 600 or similar pump in the back corner and run it to the inlet of the first reactor. Then the outlet goes to the inlet of the second one. The outlet on the second one then runs back across the back of the tank to the corner that holds the pump and it's directed out the return on that side and into the tank.
Ange, and most people run GFO in the first reactor and carbon in the second. Typically you want carbon with slightly lower flow so it doesn't grundy itself into nothing. I just have one reactor and I keep carbon in the media basket.
BTW, keep the videos coming ange.
ange062
New member
I try to target feed him once a day, but I probably only manage to do it 4-5 times a week. He does eat when I broadcast feed, I just feel better about watching him consume mass quantities
He has been in the tank for 2-mo now, just for reference.Hey Ange, tank's looking great! As you know, I got the same tank as you now and I have a few questions if you don't mind.
Got the 2 LF reactors and the Eheim 600 per recommendation. Did you put the Eheim in the left chamber along with the return pump and the skimmer? Must have been a snug fit! Then the first reactor (in the middle chamber) would be for... and the second one on the right chamber is for... And then I just put the tubing on it to return back into the right most chamber?
And what media would you recommend for each reactor and how much into it? Is that an inTank media basket in the middle?
Sorry for the 100 questions, I want to do it right to get my SPS bug going.
The Eheim reactor pump is in the skimmer chamber below the intake from the HOB-1. First reactor I use GFO, Carbon in 2nd though I don't think the order matters. Return tubing dumps back into the heater chamber. Check out this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TBOfgx0tlw&feature=plcp
Media I use BRS HC GFO or TLF Phosban (prefer Phosban) and BRS ROX0.8 carbon. I use 1/3cup Phosban and 2/3cup carbon, changed monthly. Yes, I use the InTank media basket as it handles the flow much better, I only run floss in it.
One hint: don't rush into using GFO/GAC!! Increase your dosing slowly. Jumping into it can result in bleached corals and possibly even deaths.
And no worries on the questions. All the answers are in this thread, but it's a ton to look through!
I want my tank to look like this
Thanks for the compliment!!!
Thanks for helping to field questions bud!! LOL! :bounce1:
ange062
New member
Thanks dood, glad to see you back around these parts! Your tank is showing great growth also, and hope that you can knock your pest issues out soon.
Thanks!! 9" off the water, 70% intensity. It took a long time to get there though, rushing the bump on intensity will do nothing but give you bleached corals. I've been using the Radion since last October.
ange062
New member
So when I first started dosing Brightwell AA's I noticed a substantial increase in growth and more vivid colors. I wasn't sure if this was because of the AA's or if things had just hit their stride so I continued to dose for months. I was finally running out and thought I would just try Reef Nutrition OysterFeast and PhytoFeast in place of it. Much to my surprise and dismay, a lot of my vivid colors have faded over the past few weeks. It's most noticeable in my cali tort for sure, but also in the ORA plum crazy and others.
Just snagged up another bottle and will restart dosing. If the colors come back, it's 100% certified that the product works. Will update on this in a few weeks.
And no, I'm not affiliated with any products that I recommend, I buy them from the LFS just like anybody else. I just like things that work and want to fan out knowledge. Hence my stance on the HOB-1, Radion, PhosBan150's, etc... But, if any of those companies would like to pick me up as a sponsor I'd gladly oblige, LOL!!
Just snagged up another bottle and will restart dosing. If the colors come back, it's 100% certified that the product works. Will update on this in a few weeks.
And no, I'm not affiliated with any products that I recommend, I buy them from the LFS just like anybody else. I just like things that work and want to fan out knowledge. Hence my stance on the HOB-1, Radion, PhosBan150's, etc... But, if any of those companies would like to pick me up as a sponsor I'd gladly oblige, LOL!!
Hey ange. Can you expand on why you now prefer phosban over BRS GFO? Thanks
And you should get some kind of kick back. Especially from the Ecotech folks. A month ago I said there's no way I'd spend that much on a light...now I find myself showing my wife YouTube videos of it going "Look at all the things this light can do!!" getting her primed in case my a150 doesn't cut it for me.
And you should get some kind of kick back. Especially from the Ecotech folks. A month ago I said there's no way I'd spend that much on a light...now I find myself showing my wife YouTube videos of it going "Look at all the things this light can do!!" getting her primed in case my a150 doesn't cut it for me.
ange062
New member
Here is my take on it. BRS HC GFO is slightly less effective, but lasts longer. TLF PhosBan is more effective, but lasts less time. I just seem to get better overall results out of the PhosBan and don't mind the added cost or replacement interval. Both great media's though.
And LOL, glad to hear it! If you look back a ways, Ecotech has actually commented in my thread because I managed to get one before "public" release by purchasing from my LFS who was on the preorder list. I think I can honestly say that I was one of the very first users of this light, besides of course, D2mini who is not only a local Houstonian but also the Radion poster child (his tank pics are in all of the manuals, websites, press materials, etc).
Speaking of Houston, my TOTM article was posted on the Marine Aquarium and Reef Society of Houston (MARSH) in just the past couple of days. I'm a proud supporting member of MARSH as well as my LFS's and local reefers if you haven't noticed, so take a look if you get a chance. Tons of info about the tank in there.
http://www.marsh-reef.org/TOTM/2012/02May/
ange062
New member
Thanks man!!
just read your MARSH article. my goal is to make my tank better than yours
Haha, awesome!! I hope it does one day!
ange062
New member
Wow, it's been a long time since an update!!! Pics coming soon, I have it on my agenda for an updated set.
In recent news, first the bad:
1) Mo the flame hawkfish started breathing fast one day, and was dead the next, not sure what happened there but it wasn't fun
2) My prized deep blue hoek staghorn acro lost the battle to zoas that were trying to claim it's territory, also a bummer
3) Javier the coral beauty angel appears to have MHLLE despite my multitude of feedings and pristine water chemistry, I suspect the tank is too small and crowded for him now. It's minor to date and he seems to be doing well, and he has also been in the tank for over 1.5-yrs now.
4) My prized superstar cali tort has lost a lot of it's color and just kind of turned to a pale purple, really a bummer!! I think the frag might have been out of a zeovit tank and suspect it won't ever look as good under "normal" circumstances.
5) I'm coming up on a big reorder of goods, which is never fun (salt, GFO, GAC, AA's, etc etc)
The good:
1) Everything else is kicking butt!
2) My ORA hyacinth birds is just a nuisance at this point, not enough room for it so looking to get rid of the whole colony if I ever get around to actually selling/trading it. Until then, it will continue to be killed on some tips by it's more aggressive neighbors. Still looks great and is truly huge at this point.
3) ORA borealis color is intense and insane, and after well over a year now it's finally reaching a somewhat appreciable size! What a slow grower.
4) ORA plum crazy has grown a good bit and still has an intense purple color.
5) Pebbles and BamBam the SA fancy snows are huge and healthy, and looking close to mating (they bite me when I clean "their" corner now)
6) Yoshi the ORA spotted mandarin is still fat and happy and a healthy eater of just about any food I put in the tank
7) All 4 clams are doing and looking great!
8) Dotty the ORA neon dottyback is still fat and happy
8) Everything else is still looking great and growing like weeds. Even some typically slow growers are just insanely fast in my tank, like the baby blue turaki and sunset mille. I frag them regularly to local reefers on the cheap just so I don't have to throw them away.
With the shear size of a lot of my SPS pieces, I'm actually just tempted to stop fragging to keep them separate and just let everything grow together and fight it out. Room is so limited I can't clean the glass without breaking off chunks of SPS or having to lift entire colonies out of the water. This has really increased the tediousness of cleaning so it gets done much less often
And so, I will quit rambling with my 2-mo of updates. Next time I check in I will have pics, which is all that anybody cares about anyway
In recent news, first the bad:
1) Mo the flame hawkfish started breathing fast one day, and was dead the next, not sure what happened there but it wasn't fun
2) My prized deep blue hoek staghorn acro lost the battle to zoas that were trying to claim it's territory, also a bummer
3) Javier the coral beauty angel appears to have MHLLE despite my multitude of feedings and pristine water chemistry, I suspect the tank is too small and crowded for him now. It's minor to date and he seems to be doing well, and he has also been in the tank for over 1.5-yrs now.
4) My prized superstar cali tort has lost a lot of it's color and just kind of turned to a pale purple, really a bummer!! I think the frag might have been out of a zeovit tank and suspect it won't ever look as good under "normal" circumstances.
5) I'm coming up on a big reorder of goods, which is never fun (salt, GFO, GAC, AA's, etc etc)
The good:
1) Everything else is kicking butt!
2) My ORA hyacinth birds is just a nuisance at this point, not enough room for it so looking to get rid of the whole colony if I ever get around to actually selling/trading it. Until then, it will continue to be killed on some tips by it's more aggressive neighbors. Still looks great and is truly huge at this point.
3) ORA borealis color is intense and insane, and after well over a year now it's finally reaching a somewhat appreciable size! What a slow grower.
4) ORA plum crazy has grown a good bit and still has an intense purple color.
5) Pebbles and BamBam the SA fancy snows are huge and healthy, and looking close to mating (they bite me when I clean "their" corner now)
6) Yoshi the ORA spotted mandarin is still fat and happy and a healthy eater of just about any food I put in the tank
7) All 4 clams are doing and looking great!
8) Dotty the ORA neon dottyback is still fat and happy
8) Everything else is still looking great and growing like weeds. Even some typically slow growers are just insanely fast in my tank, like the baby blue turaki and sunset mille. I frag them regularly to local reefers on the cheap just so I don't have to throw them away.
With the shear size of a lot of my SPS pieces, I'm actually just tempted to stop fragging to keep them separate and just let everything grow together and fight it out. Room is so limited I can't clean the glass without breaking off chunks of SPS or having to lift entire colonies out of the water. This has really increased the tediousness of cleaning so it gets done much less often
And so, I will quit rambling with my 2-mo of updates. Next time I check in I will have pics, which is all that anybody cares about anyway
buddythelion
New member
Yes. Pics. Now!
Haha, glad to hear about everything. If you check your list, the pros outweigh the cons of what's happened so far! Positive KDR for you sir. Everything sounds like it's growing well.. Maybe a bit too well!
Time to get some pricey SPS and grow those suckers out!
Haha, glad to hear about everything. If you check your list, the pros outweigh the cons of what's happened so far! Positive KDR for you sir. Everything sounds like it's growing well.. Maybe a bit too well!
Time to get some pricey SPS and grow those suckers out!
Spirofucci
New member
This tank is way over due for an update!
I haven't been spending much time here on RC, but I do like to check out your tank. It's been an inspiration for me watching your tank evolve. I'd like to see how your corals have grown into each other and those that have not, lol. I've "planted" a lot of mine close together, not knowing exactly who will get along, but with hopes that someday I'll have a lush coral forrest......maybe.
I haven't been spending much time here on RC, but I do like to check out your tank. It's been an inspiration for me watching your tank evolve. I'd like to see how your corals have grown into each other and those that have not, lol. I've "planted" a lot of mine close together, not knowing exactly who will get along, but with hopes that someday I'll have a lush coral forrest......maybe.
