Nat's 29 Gallon Build Thread
- Thread starter nattarbox
- Start date
nattarbox
New member
Anyone have an opinion on external overflows? Specifically I was looking at this Tom Aquatics model, which includes a pump and some other gadgets to prevent any flooding disasters:
After the move I'm going to have a new stand with an enclosed cabinet. I will also be breaking down my freshwater tank, since there is no room in the new apartment. This means I'll have a 15 gallon tank that should fit well under my display in the new cabinet. Being able to hide my skimmer and other equipment while having the extra room to do something like a fuge or frag tank would be very nice.
I don't want to drill the tank though, so its either an overflow or staying with my current setup.
After the move I'm going to have a new stand with an enclosed cabinet. I will also be breaking down my freshwater tank, since there is no room in the new apartment. This means I'll have a 15 gallon tank that should fit well under my display in the new cabinet. Being able to hide my skimmer and other equipment while having the extra room to do something like a fuge or frag tank would be very nice.
I don't want to drill the tank though, so its either an overflow or staying with my current setup.
nattarbox
New member
Also another note on the tank, I've begun trying out some of the Zeovit products in the tank. I've started with a very small addition of the zeovit filtration material for removing contaminants, and dosing the ZeoBak bacteria culture and ZeoFood bacteria and coral food.
As far as the tank, I've never seen the water look quite as clear. Incidental algae formation on the glass and rock also seems to be reduced, although its too early to draw any real conclusions.
As far as the tank, I've never seen the water look quite as clear. Incidental algae formation on the glass and rock also seems to be reduced, although its too early to draw any real conclusions.
nattarbox
New member
Yeah I lurked around a bit. I ended up adjusting the flow rate to be very low on my Aquaclear filter and added a small amount of the Zeovites. Things seemed to be doing well after four days (the water is amazingly clear), so I added a little bit more. I'm going to slowly work my way up to running 1/4 of a liter, which is their suggested volume for my tank.
Right now I'm running the Aquaclear with 2/3rds carbon, and the rest of the volume split between zeovite and liverock rubble. The nice part is you can lift the filter basket and give it a shake to dislodge the mulm, something I was in the habit of doing with my liverock rubble anyway.
Regarding the overflow, it seems like everyone says Lifereef is the way to go, which uses the u-tube design you mentioned. I think I'm going to start planning an upgrade to coincide with after my move using one of these overflow boxes and a 15 gallon tank as the sump.
nattarbox
New member
Holy crap, how about this heat wave? Over 100F in Boston today, and thats without taking into account the insane humidity.
I was really worried about how my tank would do this summer, and this week has been quite the test. I ordered an Azoo clip on fan last week when it started getting hot, and I'm pretty sure I'd have a tank full of boiled coral right now if I hadn't. We only air condition the bedroom because our building doesn't have central AC, so the tank is left on its own.
A few things I think have helped. The fans obviously, but also starting the halide at 6pm (I do this anyway because I'm not home to enjoy the tank during the day). Also I've always run the tank at 80F, and its had a month to slowly fluctuate with the warming weather. Right now it pins at a maximum of 84F with the lights on, even though the ambient temp has been between 90F and 100F. Thats a great benefit from a lowly fan if you ask me, and decent evidence that I can probably keep the tank without a chiller.
Looking forward to moving at the end of this month so I can get back to stocking the tank. Hopefully we will get some better temps around the time of the move.
I was really worried about how my tank would do this summer, and this week has been quite the test. I ordered an Azoo clip on fan last week when it started getting hot, and I'm pretty sure I'd have a tank full of boiled coral right now if I hadn't. We only air condition the bedroom because our building doesn't have central AC, so the tank is left on its own.
A few things I think have helped. The fans obviously, but also starting the halide at 6pm (I do this anyway because I'm not home to enjoy the tank during the day). Also I've always run the tank at 80F, and its had a month to slowly fluctuate with the warming weather. Right now it pins at a maximum of 84F with the lights on, even though the ambient temp has been between 90F and 100F. Thats a great benefit from a lowly fan if you ask me, and decent evidence that I can probably keep the tank without a chiller.
Looking forward to moving at the end of this month so I can get back to stocking the tank. Hopefully we will get some better temps around the time of the move.
longhornxtreme
New member
That's good to hear considering your ambient temps. Being a Texan, I just don't understand why so many New Englanders lack air conditioning... Is it just because it's not too hot year round to justify?
As referenced by the Texan, we Okies must have some A/C. Nasty hot and humid.
nattarbox
New member
Today I picked up two juvenile ORA clownfish and a nice short tentacled plate coral. I will try to get some photos later today when the lights come on.
I've noticed that the overall population of micro-organisms decreased immensely before and after the move. I wasn't able to give the tank as much attention as I previously had during the run up to the move, and I think things suffered as a result. Shifting the sand bed during the move probably didn't help.
Additionally my birds nest coral, always the healthiest and fastest growing, has bleached significantly and is showing signs of tissue death at the base. While some corals seem to be doing great and encrusting, a few others in addition to the birds nest don't seem as healthy as they once did. I'm not sure what can be done, I'd hate lose these frags after they had once been so healthy.
Anyway, looking forward to getting the tank back on the road to its original health and adding new specimens now that I am in (what I hope!) is a permanent location.
I've noticed that the overall population of micro-organisms decreased immensely before and after the move. I wasn't able to give the tank as much attention as I previously had during the run up to the move, and I think things suffered as a result. Shifting the sand bed during the move probably didn't help.
Additionally my birds nest coral, always the healthiest and fastest growing, has bleached significantly and is showing signs of tissue death at the base. While some corals seem to be doing great and encrusting, a few others in addition to the birds nest don't seem as healthy as they once did. I'm not sure what can be done, I'd hate lose these frags after they had once been so healthy.
Anyway, looking forward to getting the tank back on the road to its original health and adding new specimens now that I am in (what I hope!) is a permanent location.
nattarbox
New member
Here are some quick shots. I tried throwing in some food to get the clowns close to the glass, but it just made them dart around all fast trying to catch the food. I will have to work on taking better photos of them
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nattarbox/2729559168/" title="Plate Coral by nttrbx, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3267/2729559168_8b17376c5b.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Plate Coral" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nattarbox/2728729145/" title="Plate Coral by nttrbx, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3256/2728729145_14c46ce3a7.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Plate Coral" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nattarbox/2728730131/" title="Clowns by nttrbx, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3258/2728730131_28ac2b8baa.jpg" width="500" height="346" alt="Clowns" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nattarbox/2729559168/" title="Plate Coral by nttrbx, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3267/2729559168_8b17376c5b.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Plate Coral" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nattarbox/2728729145/" title="Plate Coral by nttrbx, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3256/2728729145_14c46ce3a7.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Plate Coral" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nattarbox/2728730131/" title="Clowns by nttrbx, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3258/2728730131_28ac2b8baa.jpg" width="500" height="346" alt="Clowns" /></a>
nattarbox
New member
I think I caught the plate coral spawning tonight. I posted a thread in the LPS forum asking about it:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nattarbox/2733927812/" title="Spawning! by nttrbx, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3134/2733927812_8a0e23f2be.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Spawning!" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nattarbox/2733927812/" title="Spawning! by nttrbx, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3134/2733927812_8a0e23f2be.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Spawning!" /></a>
kevin4052002
New member
Thats what my green short tentacle plate looks like about two hours after it has been fed. I assumed it to be poop, because at the same time he let out a krill eyeball.
Great tank, absolutely beautiful. Keep up the great work.
Great tank, absolutely beautiful. Keep up the great work.
