My JBJ 28gal Nano Build Thread

[SkullV]

And an FTS

Looking good!

 

[ange062]

Looking good!

Thanks bud! Your big tank is looking sweet as well, and glad to see you back in the nano forums with your office build.

 

[rockryno]

this thing is sweet! Im glad to see your rics adjusted to the LEDs, I melted one of mine when i introduced it to my tank.

 

[ange062]

this thing is sweet! Im glad to see your rics adjusted to the LEDs, I melted one of mine when i introduced it to my tank.

Preciate cha sir! Rics really didn't respond too poorly, it was mostly my SPS that tanked in the whole ordeal and it took a bit for them to recover on both light bleaching occasions. Overall, everything is looking better then ever under the LED and really looking forward to seeing the SPS frags grow out in a few months. They have all really taken off.

 

[ange062]

So just ordered a personal Xmas present of a Tokina 100mm f/2.8 macro lens for my D90 DSLR. Much mo betta pics should be in the works stat!! Tired of all this cell phone picture crap I have been doing for months, though they did look pretty decent considering!

 

[SlvrSurfRidr]

So just ordered a personal Xmas present of a Tokina 100mm f/2.8 macro lens for my D90 DSLR. Much mo betta pics should be in the works stat!! Tired of all this cell phone picture crap I have been doing for months, though they did look pretty decent considering!

congrats buddy, looking forward to the pics!

 

[cdrewferd]

ange,

Do you happen to have a picture of the back side of your tank? I would like to see how you have the HOB and the reactors setup as I may go that way with my tank.

 

[ange062]

congrats buddy, looking forward to the pics!

Thanks! Should be pretty neat to get some macro shots!

ange,

Do you happen to have a picture of the back side of your tank? I would like to see how you have the HOB and the reactors setup as I may go that way with my tank.

This is the best that I have right now, let me know if you have any questions or need any details:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=19447419&postcount=340

 

[cdrewferd]

Awesome thanks. Do you have both reactors running off one pump? A lot of people are saying that GFO and Carbon need different flow rates to work right. Most common suggestion is to run a manifild type setup off one return pump and control the flow with ball valves. Do you see this as being better than running both off one pump?

Thanks for your time in answering my questions.

 

[ange062]

Ive been switching between Phosban and BRS HC GFO, and using BRS ROX0.8 carbon. I notice that they tumble at about the same rate, and I havent had any problems with pulverizing either media or having dust get back into the display.

And yes, both are plumbed serially on a dedicated maxijet400.

 

[Nelz]

Well, from one kneedragger, to another, all I can say is..................hhhoooeeelyyyy freaking WOW!

I just read through the entire thread start to finish, pretty cool watching it come to life. The colors are just stunning.

Pretty sure this is the route Ill be taking, is the nano cube, I thought they were too small, but after seeing a few......I WANT

Keep up the work and the progress


My keen eye noticed a MC DVD as well, is that off season Pr0n? LOL

 

[Sean_South]

Amazing build Ange!

Just went through all 19 pages in a 2 day span my head is still spinning.

I am actually going to start my first tank soon and will be going with the JBJ 28 inspired by you. I was going to spring for the JBJ LED advance, but seeing what you were able to do with the Quad PC was amazing and have decided to go that route(however you should probably have a disclaimer results not typical ). I am going to move very slow with the corals though. I just have a few questions for you if you wouldn't mind answering.

1. I can see from your signature that you have 3 tanks-2 reef and 1 fresh. Was this your first salt water set up? Because if so it was very inspirational to see what you were able to do. Any previous experience?

2. I read in a few of your posts you referencing your sump. Are you just talking about the false back of the tank or did you actually plumb a sump?

3. How long did you research all the equipment you were going to use before beginning, or did you learn as you go?

4. Where did you learn most about reef keeping, was it here on RC, your buddy who hooks you up at your LFS, or another website/guy? I enjoy reading the forums and the wealth of information here but I love getting hands on with a book. If you went that route do you have any recommendations for a book? Anything geared specifically for Nanos as opposed to saltwater aquariums in general?

Once again I am truly blown away by your tank, and will be using it as a huge reference for my build. Thanks for making your build thread, and thank you for any help you can provide.

-Sean

 

[ange062]

Well, from one kneedragger, to another, all I can say is..................hhhoooeeelyyyy freaking WOW!

I just read through the entire thread start to finish, pretty cool watching it come to life. The colors are just stunning.

Pretty sure this is the route Ill be taking, is the nano cube, I thought they were too small, but after seeing a few......I WANT

Keep up the work and the progress


My keen eye noticed a MC DVD as well, is that off season Pr0n? LOL

Thanks!! And yeah, I buy each seasons GP video to watch sporadically in the off season And I have a few different motorcycle photo annuals from WSBK etc.

Amazing build Ange!

Just went through all 19 pages in a 2 day span my head is still spinning.

I am actually going to start my first tank soon and will be going with the JBJ 28 inspired by you. I was going to spring for the JBJ LED advance, but seeing what you were able to do with the Quad PC was amazing and have decided to go that route(however you should probably have a disclaimer results not typical ). I am going to move very slow with the corals though. I just have a few questions for you if you wouldn't mind answering.

1. I can see from your signature that you have 3 tanks-2 reef and 1 fresh. Was this your first salt water set up? Because if so it was very inspirational to see what you were able to do. Any previous experience?

2. I read in a few of your posts you referencing your sump. Are you just talking about the false back of the tank or did you actually plumb a sump?

3. How long did you research all the equipment you were going to use before beginning, or did you learn as you go?

4. Where did you learn most about reef keeping, was it here on RC, your buddy who hooks you up at your LFS, or another website/guy? I enjoy reading the forums and the wealth of information here but I love getting hands on with a book. If you went that route do you have any recommendations for a book? Anything geared specifically for Nanos as opposed to saltwater aquariums in general?

Once again I am truly blown away by your tank, and will be using it as a huge reference for my build. Thanks for making your build thread, and thank you for any help you can provide.

-Sean

Thanks!!

1. The 28 was the first tank setup, no previous experience. The planted was #2 and the pico is the newest.

2. I just mean the stock false-wall back chamber area, no external sump has been added.

3. Not a whole lot, I researched before each individual purchase but have added things slowly over time as they became needed.

4. I've done a ton of reading, mostly online from various sources including RC, advanced aquarist, DFS, and many others. I've also learned a lot from several of my LFS and just chatting with local reefers. But most of all, I am a learn by trial and error type person, and always have been. I have made mistakes along the way, but always ensure not to let them happen again.

And thanks again for the kind words! I'll be keeping an eye open for your build thread! Oh, and for reference I have made the disclaimer several times that PC-quad results may not be typical. While I have shown it's possible, it's not the best or easiest way to get good growth from high light stuff and you have to pay very careful attention to placement in the tank.

 

[ange062]

Ive raised the Radion up twice over as many weeks to try to combat an issue I have noticed with coverage and shading of lower areas of SPS colonies. I bumped intensity slightly today as well to compensate, will track progress over the next few weeks.

The macro lens for my DSLR comes Thursday so will have a photo-update then.

 

[ange062]

I haven't had a whole lot of time, but haven't had much luck with the macro lens yet. I can take perfect shots of anything outside of the tank, but through the bowfront glass/water I can't seem to get the focus right even at higher aperture settings where the DOF is much higher. Anyway, I should be able to figure it out once I can play with it more, I've learned a couple of small tricks already.

As far as the tank, the GSP was growing too quickly, and was starting to overrun some SPS. The ORA Blue Mille was affected at the base and has since STN'd up to near the tips The ORA purple stylo also lost some polyp's but it hasn't spread and the affected areas are actually recovering. I filled the big open area left by the GSP with a bright purple/white acro.

Here is the only macro shot so far that I am actually happy with:

And an FTS from today:

And a couple bearable but not great coral macros.
ORA Purple Stylo:

ORA Green Stylo:

ORA Bellina:

Cali Tort:

 

[tandldel]

Sorry to hear about the blue mille and purple stylo. Hopefully the Blue Mille can be salvaged. Your pictures look great for just getting used to the lens. The clown looks great..Also your Bellina has grown and nice PE on all sps as well. What is the new purple Acro looks like a a tort of some kind---great size.

 

[flipsideleo]

Looking good, Angelo! Loving that first shot, too! Yeah... macro lenses take photography (especially in our hobby) to a whole different level.

 

[ange062]

Sorry to hear about the blue mille and purple stylo. Hopefully the Blue Mille can be salvaged. Your pictures look great for just getting used to the lens. The clown looks great..Also your Bellina has grown and nice PE on all sps as well. What is the new purple Acro looks like a a tort of some kind---great size.

Thanks for the compliments! Not sure on the species of that white acro, plan to put up a post in the SPS ID forum. The bellina is the fastest growing acro I have had experience with to date, it can almost keep up with the birdsnests!!

Looking good, Angelo! Loving that first shot, too! Yeah... macro lenses take photography (especially in our hobby) to a whole different level.

Salamat po Leo!!

 

[venom550pm]

How high is the Radion from the water? Mine is enroute to me as i type

 

[ange062]

How high is the Radion from the water? Mine is enroute to me as i type

I started with it at 6in, but have since raised it up to 9in to get better coverage. I think it is working out much better at this height, but at the expense of light bleed outside the tank and coralline growth in the sump area and skimmer at the back of the tank.

Congrats on your purchase, you won't regret it! Make sure you turn it way down for acclimation though, read back a few pages if you haven't already to learn why Ive got some acclimation profiles already created, PM me if you want them.