New 85g Rimless Tank Journal

jmc1974

Member
Hello everyone, after several years of trying to get back to this hobby since mid 2000's that I was unfortunate to had been forced to leave this hobby, and for the 3rd time I attempted to get back in... I Finally got a tank that I think I can enjoy for many years to come, I had gotten a Nano Frag 20 gallon and then a Nano 30 gallon Cube couple of months ago, but it was to get my feet wet again and spark the flame or should I say spark the LED. Anyway, I want to share my build as I go, this time unlike the past where i had rushed to get it running and stocked, this time I will wait patiently :twitch:, to get the hardware it needs that will work correctly to help me create a great Reef again!

this time I am beginning with a rimless tank from Aqua Japan, this is their 85 gallon 48" model, that comes with stand and glass sump, but I already have the sump for sale or trade as it is not what i envision for this build, IMO this original 35" sump is way too big and leaves almost no space for other equipment, as this system measures 48" long x 17 3/4" wide x 23 3/4" high. I know that this brand is not the best like the RedSea tanks or others; but it is what I can afford. So ahead of people tell me that I have commited a crime and wasted all my money and why I bought it, first i need to give you a bit of my history; my first tank was a JEBO 75 gallon, with the rounded corners, the built in PC lights on the hood and some weird filtration on the hood that used a pump to draw water in to a mini AIO/sump build on the hood, the it passed thru media, sponges, etc then back down. (mine had it, but it was also drilled and with a corner overflow, so that was never used. as for the lights, the 4 PC lights, eventually had it modded to T5 HO with better ballast, then removed the entire hood and had an ODDYSEA Metal halide fixture, yes another JEBO, and I had it modded also with CoralVue Ballast, Dual ended (HQI) Phoenix 14k and also moded to T5 HO and I never once had any issues :fish1:, and I had that tank fully stocked for about 3 years until I upgraded to a 120g long. so I know this is not high end.

here are some pictures of the tank on its way to my house on Wednesday

y02TtIy6yyl-TvjAG_jnMtf5aY27kVHhVygxvPe3nhygGk9eLJ_tF2SphZ8_TXvn8AhpEgcz4lb6UojBNdHiAlm_6UsZZ6LV5FARPuCaWFLM9cxOAM6_0ok-zMaZ-HmHyikbnOVBuE4=w640
 
Now let's see the new tank... sorry i didn't take pictures of the stand being assembled... but here it is

cabinet detail
melZWKknyl7U9IsNGP9CDa2m26-HMNgN1se5lT7CX4Z12y8VK26oCb6yDVXsQBLn6K81kSrbiz6s8OaRqLKBFNWk3Gp_rV3ttU2weWMB0Ju24iwlR42dIBcu5aQSMP8MVyrUtKYosFk=w640


I was told it was gloss black, but then seems they changed the finish :sad1:
B8cgGteo0nzIwjAdcIElsQ1jEZzbFpPeFAHsptIjHGm_fGdsOKC6GU-TlrC5tPSmkj3EMl30PMoLrg3HHYBNljsgCWQ-teiTOT_Z6SUU4C7RbY8BuHiuvfpX4t7Rl25k3QPZEXNmaBU=w640


I guess that could be easier to hide imperfections or finger prints, specially from my 4 yr old :worried2:
 
this shows the inside and the glass sump

6ClKjjdTgHp2aTKAxEC7VNTo-qYAyAi-K9tN3gj8fZG9F6G2bvTyCVKMfnGJmmQUHR-nui_w6LFjXUxYrDadVNW_rm-39NMLFzNudSyZkJ9suXGd9XeFcm347q9DNcYNDFuGMX6WoNI=w800



that center brace it is removable to remove the sump if needed... too bad the center brace it is more for the doors to close than to hold weight, I would had loved not to have it, the 65 gallon does not have it, damn it!
 
New 85g Rimless Tank Journal

Nice build! What has your experience been with the aqua Japan tanks? I read somewhere that they can scratch easily. I'm wondering if the glass is starphire or something else.
 
Last edited:
Nice build! What has your experience with the aqua Japan tanks? I read somewhere that they can scratch easily. I'm wondering if the glass is starphire or something else.
I have not read anything good or bad... This has 3 sides of low iron glass... So I hope it is strong

My old Jebo tank I had it for 3 + years and hardly had any scratches, it had few little mainly near the bottom from when the pad pick-up aragonite while cleaning the glass. I will be very careful, thus creating a good question; should I go bare bottom or sand? I always had good luck with aragonite sand as it keeps the alkalinity and calcium more in balance. And thats also what I have always read, but I seen SPS dominated tanks with no substrate and they thrive

Sent from my GM1915 using Tapatalk
 
And finally I got my new LED lights, I don't know why here in the US this are not popular, they are high power in range with Ecotech Radions, AI Hydras 52 and Kessil AP700. This are AQMAI LRM 100w, ultra slim.


4df2d87bc3363c4ca1865e874cbfd6ab.jpg
25b6f30704b9d44645e027aa2862ef77.jpg


Sent from my GM1915 using Tapatalk
 
I have not read anything good or bad... This has 3 sides of low iron glass... So I hope it is strong

My old Jebo tank I had it for 3 + years and hardly had any scratches, it had few little mainly near the bottom from when the pad pick-up aragonite while cleaning the glass. I will be very careful, thus creating a good question; should I go bare bottom or sand? I always had good luck with aragonite sand as it keeps the alkalinity and calcium more in balance. And thats also what I have always read, but I seen SPS dominated tanks with no substrate and they thrive

Sent from my GM1915 using Tapatalk

I'm pretty sure the people you got the tank from lied to you about it having 3 sides of low iron glass. I say this because in all of your pics of the tank show a greenish tint to the edges of the tank. Low iron/star fire glass will not have this tint at all. I have a low iron/star fire glass 50g rimless and it does not show any green tint in pics. I can share my tank edges if you would like.
 
I'm pretty sure the people you got the tank from lied to you about it having 3 sides of low iron glass. I say this because in all of your pics of the tank show a greenish tint to the edges of the tank. Low iron/star fire glass will not have this tint at all. I have a low iron/star fire glass 50g rimless and it does not show any green tint in pics. I can share my tank edges if you would like.

I didn't know that, but strangely both the shop AQUALAB AQUARIA, and the Mfg. of this tank AQUA JAPAN, claim this has 3 sides LOW IRON.... either way I am happy with the tank.
 
I'm going to look into these lights never seen them

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk


this are nice, they are ITALIAN, and the craftsmanship is in another level, completely silent, and seem to have good potential.

Features:
At Less than 0.80 inches thick, the Aqamai LRM LED Reef Light is the most compact high-powered LED light on the market
Dimensions: Length 14.1" X Width 6.3" X Thickness .78"
100 watts. 2 clusters of 15 LEDs.
LED colors: cool white, UV, indigo, royal blue, blue, green & two different reds
6 color channels (managed with the Aqamai smart phone App)
90 ° diffuser lenses
Almost completely silent (under 28 dB), thanks to innovative cooling system.
Hang with enclosed hanging kit or mount to the aquarium using the optional Hydor Aqamai Light LRM Aquarium Mounting Kit
The internal battery back up stores your settings in case of power outage

HY01187F-2.jpg



Here is a YOUTUBE Video

https://youtu.be/cr3oMY5WJXc

here is a Marine And Reef.com chart that listed the required lights, see how they are on the same category

https://www.marineandreef.com/Articles.asp?ID=121
 
Last edited:
Got another great addition to the build, this one I saved few hundred $, is new to me, but got it USED :rollface: a SWC 160 Cone Skimmer

ZZZDOFxi2Troye-w8LYiA7Lw1r6HQUq9LgDca41k0ir_mqOYiao_lM4Dj0v1FCRVAc-UFBmX-JRVH8kNh7BMRCxeDqyWUqdyxlkLtcQAd4T_loQZZ28F7Yfwmq7LflmkFEo7LeUN8bs=w800
 
Haven’t seen an SWC in a while; used to have one in my 90, same model/size. I remember being happy with it and having no issues. IIRC there was some stuff with the company that made a lot of people unhappy but the skimmer should serve you well.
 
Back
Top