Reeferz412
Coral Hoarder
Very nice, I like the scape and the look. It makes me happy to see you gave it another shot. Can't wait to see the progress. Best of luck on your endeavors and I will be watching this thread 
ojonas JBJ 28g build thread
- Thread starter ojonas81
- Start date
coralsnaked
New member
Hey OJonas
Looks like a great start up but one thing I just can't stop thinking about. Did you plug back into the GFCI plug? Man that is a no no on an aquarium. They are notorius for warming up and tripping. Would you plug your freezer into one? Critical appliances are never plugged into GFCI plugs. Thats why you use the 15 amp surge protectors on your system, and plug into a regular plug serviced with a 20 amp breaker in the box.
Looks like a great start up but one thing I just can't stop thinking about. Did you plug back into the GFCI plug? Man that is a no no on an aquarium. They are notorius for warming up and tripping. Would you plug your freezer into one? Critical appliances are never plugged into GFCI plugs. Thats why you use the 15 amp surge protectors on your system, and plug into a regular plug serviced with a 20 amp breaker in the box.
ange062
New member
It's funny how much you learned from your first go around!! If I could start over, I'd do all the same things you are doing this time (dry rock, scape outside of tank, glue rocks, plan/organize stand better, etc).
It's so funny how the first time is all about shortest cycle, quickest time to adding something living, rock wall scapes, and the stands become a mess as you add things over time.
If I could start over, I'd do all the same things you are doing this time (dry rock, scape outside of tank, glue rocks, plan/organize stand better, etc). It's so funny how the first time is all about shortest cycle, quickest time to adding something living, rock wall scapes, and the stands become a mess as you add things over time.
pleuralplexus
New member
What brand/type of chemicals do you plan to use this go around?
I will probably use the same as the original tank with a GFO and carbon reactor and 2-part for dosing when that will be needed. Have not decided if I will run Chemipur and Purigen in my inTank media basket. Since I am running the reactors I don't think those will add anything.
pleuralplexus
New member
Interesting. My build will be mechanically very similar to yours, it appears, once I'm finally done with the upgrades (JBJ LED pro hood, HOB-1, phosban 150 reactor (but just running one), and I plan to slowly switch a large percentage of my Hawaiian black gravel to Fiji pink aragonite.
I heard great things about culerpa refugiums from some friends so I set up a nano refugium in the bottom of the center chamber at the time of this initial build; but it didn't fix my phosphates, and it DID cause an explosion of hair algae that I doubt I'll ever completely solve (this is something I never had a problem with in my last nano which had no refugium). And as for coralline propagation, seachem reef builder doesn't do the trick with a 28g. I'll try a two part, and keep my fingers crossed that the reactor combined with my regular water changes starves the algae's phosphates.
One other question: did you augment the PAR light spectrum on your hood with any additional actinic LED strips?
I heard great things about culerpa refugiums from some friends so I set up a nano refugium in the bottom of the center chamber at the time of this initial build; but it didn't fix my phosphates, and it DID cause an explosion of hair algae that I doubt I'll ever completely solve (this is something I never had a problem with in my last nano which had no refugium). And as for coralline propagation, seachem reef builder doesn't do the trick with a 28g. I'll try a two part, and keep my fingers crossed that the reactor combined with my regular water changes starves the algae's phosphates.
One other question: did you augment the PAR light spectrum on your hood with any additional actinic LED strips?
The cycle has gone well so far. Added a raw shrimp and watched the ammonia spike up to almost 5ppm. It is not untraceable. Nitrites did also spike up and are now almost down to 0.
Yesterday was an exciting day. My shipment from Inland Aquatics arrived. Ordered their detritivores starter package to seed the tank. I must say that I am very pleased with how they handled my order. Had some questions and they responded very quick to my emails. Found an issue on their webpage and as a thanks they included a Burning Bush macro algae for free. The package included six baby bristle works (although I found 10+ in the bag), small brittle stars and countless mini astrea stars, 4 Stomatella varia as well as 100+ assorted pods. I also added 4 hair worms to the order.
The box was very well packed.
Mysis/assorted pods kit and Burning Bush
Brittle stars, micro stars, Stomatella Varia and Hair worms acclimatizing
Bristle Worms acclimatizing
Burning Bush in the tank. Looks very cool
One of the largest of the brittle stars hanging out on the rock
Latest FTS. Nothing too exciting yet.
My plan is to let the tank sit now for a week or so and if all my parameters are good by next weekend I might add a small CUC or snails and a few hermints.
Yesterday was an exciting day. My shipment from Inland Aquatics arrived. Ordered their detritivores starter package to seed the tank. I must say that I am very pleased with how they handled my order. Had some questions and they responded very quick to my emails. Found an issue on their webpage and as a thanks they included a Burning Bush macro algae for free. The package included six baby bristle works (although I found 10+ in the bag), small brittle stars and countless mini astrea stars, 4 Stomatella varia as well as 100+ assorted pods. I also added 4 hair worms to the order.
The box was very well packed.
Mysis/assorted pods kit and Burning Bush
Brittle stars, micro stars, Stomatella Varia and Hair worms acclimatizing
Bristle Worms acclimatizing
Burning Bush in the tank. Looks very cool
One of the largest of the brittle stars hanging out on the rock
Latest FTS. Nothing too exciting yet.
My plan is to let the tank sit now for a week or so and if all my parameters are good by next weekend I might add a small CUC or snails and a few hermints.
ReefCare4U
Member
Looks like a great start!
Apparently the worm looking thing above is s Phyllodocid. They prey on smaller worms, otherwise it's harmless.
Ammonia is compley gone now. No signs even after ghost feeding. Still some nitrites though but they are slowly coming down too. Gone on a business trip this week but hopefully I will be able to add a small CUC this coming weekend.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
Ammonia is compley gone now. No signs even after ghost feeding. Still some nitrites though but they are slowly coming down too. Gone on a business trip this week but hopefully I will be able to add a small CUC this coming weekend.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
Was wondering if I could run 4 of the 10watters on this driver?? Meanwell LPF-40d
Have been gone on a business trip since last Sunday so the tank has been running its cycle by itself. Wife ghost feed it a couple of times. Came back and everything looked as it should.for ammonia and nitrite this morning and both are untraceable. Did have a pretty high spike last weekend so hopefully the cycle is going into its final stage now. Have started to see an algae/diatom outbreak on the sand and rocks.
Will add a small clean up crew today. Plan is to add the following:
Too many/too few and have I missed anything?
Will add a small clean up crew today. Plan is to add the following:
- 5 blue legged hermits
- 5 Nerite snails
- 5 Cerith Snail
- 5 Nassarius Snail
- 3 Astraea Turbo Snail
Too many/too few and have I missed anything?
pleuralplexus
New member
I had a hair algae outbreak recently (multifactoral; long story). Currently I have 5 medium-sized scarlet legged hermits and three large turbo snails. That coupled with my water change, new skimmer, and phosban reactor have reduced the algae to nearly zero.
Did a water change and added a small CUC today. My parameters for ammonia and nitrite is staying at 0 even after ghost feeding. Nitrates are high but not unrealistic for a typical cycle.
CUC just put into the tank after drip acclimation over 1h. As you can see I have entered the "fun" phase of algae/diatom outbreak. I have also seen a few small sports of GHA. Hopefully the CUC will keep this in check.
If everything stays good this coming week I will probably add the first fish by next weekend. Most likely a clown pair, just not sure which kind yet.
CUC just put into the tank after drip acclimation over 1h. As you can see I have entered the "fun" phase of algae/diatom outbreak. I have also seen a few small sports of GHA. Hopefully the CUC will keep this in check.
If everything stays good this coming week I will probably add the first fish by next weekend. Most likely a clown pair, just not sure which kind yet.
