ojonas JBJ 28g build thread
- Thread starter ojonas81
- Start date
I started out using the API test kits which included tests for the most common parameters such as Alk, Ca, Ammonia, PH, Nitrite, Nitrate. After using it for awhile I discovered that it was very hard to get an accurate reading since it is all color based and a lot of the color shades looked the same to me. I have since invested in Red Sea test kits and are happy with them.
I am doing weekly tests for Ca, Alk and Mg and abut every 3rd week for PH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate etc. These values has been fairly stable for some time now and does now change much if anything at all.
I am doing weekly tests for Ca, Alk and Mg and abut every 3rd week for PH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate etc. These values has been fairly stable for some time now and does now change much if anything at all.
Discovered this morning that my clam had got pushed off from its location, probably by one of my Turbo snails. The foot threads are still attached to the rock but the clam is laying on a rock below on its side. Will the clam regrow its foot again or will it slowly die? Any tips for making it reattach itself to the rock quick?
I'm am debating with myself on which equipment to get next for the tank. I am choosing between the following:
The last 3 items on the list might be more for the long run. So far the temperature is keeping itself under 80 with a few spikes above. The light upgrade and bigger tank is more a wishful thinking than anything that will be realized in the short term.
The goal for the tank is to make it as fully automated as possible so I only have to do water changes and feed the tank.
Any recommendations or something I might have missed?
- APEX Controller
- ATO
- Dosing system
- Chiller
- Ecotech Radion LED light upgrade
- Bigger tank
The last 3 items on the list might be more for the long run. So far the temperature is keeping itself under 80 with a few spikes above. The light upgrade and bigger tank is more a wishful thinking than anything that will be realized in the short term.
The goal for the tank is to make it as fully automated as possible so I only have to do water changes and feed the tank.
Any recommendations or something I might have missed?
ange062
New member
With summer coming up the chiller may be the best idea (depending on where you live). Down here in TX, there is no way I would consider running my tank without a chiller. It's a form of insurance, all it would take on a hot summer day is for the AC in my house to go out while I am at work and I come home to a tank full of cooked livestock. On top of that, I also don't have to pay to keep my place at 72deg all summer, I can set it to 80 or 82 when I am out of the house. That alone has paid for the investment in my chiller.
ATO makes the tank WAY easier to take care of, and can be done very cheaply. Definitely a good idea.
Radion would be awesome, and you could grow anything and won't regret it a bit, but it's also more then 3x the cost investment of the first two.
ATO makes the tank WAY easier to take care of, and can be done very cheaply. Definitely a good idea.
Radion would be awesome, and you could grow anything and won't regret it a bit, but it's also more then 3x the cost investment of the first two.
Have been really bad on updating here lately. Partly because of increased work load and less time to spend on the tank and partly because I wanted to let the tank mature some.
Unfortunately that also meant that I skimped on a few water changes and my water parameters started to go to the worse. Lost my torch and half of my Hawkins Enchinata. The Hawkins because one of my turbos knocked it down one day and it got buried in the sand for a few days. I am hoping for a recovery.
Also just ordered a second reactor and will be running one with GFO and one with carbon. Hope that will help a lot. Will install this weekend.
With the warmer weather here in Florida I have seen the temperature rise in the tank. It does go over 80F now almost on a daily basis which is higher than I would like to see. Might have to consider a chiller here pretty soon.
My HOB-1 skimmer have stopped skimming for some reason. I don't know why but it seems like there are far less bubbles coming out from the pump than it used to. Does anyone have any idea on what might have happened or what is going on? I have not done any cleaning of the skimmer since I got it more than the collection cup and the intake pipe.
Unfortunately that also meant that I skimped on a few water changes and my water parameters started to go to the worse. Lost my torch and half of my Hawkins Enchinata. The Hawkins because one of my turbos knocked it down one day and it got buried in the sand for a few days. I am hoping for a recovery.
Also just ordered a second reactor and will be running one with GFO and one with carbon. Hope that will help a lot. Will install this weekend.
With the warmer weather here in Florida I have seen the temperature rise in the tank. It does go over 80F now almost on a daily basis which is higher than I would like to see. Might have to consider a chiller here pretty soon.
My HOB-1 skimmer have stopped skimming for some reason. I don't know why but it seems like there are far less bubbles coming out from the pump than it used to. Does anyone have any idea on what might have happened or what is going on? I have not done any cleaning of the skimmer since I got it more than the collection cup and the intake pipe.
Installed the second reactor running carbon last weekend. Had planned to run them off a MJ400 but when installed it was so noisy I had to take it out. Re-plumbed the reactors to the stock return pump temporarily and ordered a Eheim Compact 300 instead which is supposed to be very quiet.
After running the reactors I noticed a huge drop in alkalinity which was expected. Trying to slowly get it back up again to where I want it. After running the reactors together for a few days I, at least imagine, that the water looks a little clearer and crisper.
I am slowly loosing my ORA Hawkins Echinata, mainly because it has been knocked over one too many times by my Mexican Turbos. There are still hopes but it does look kind of bad right now. Extra bad because it had just started to encrust and show some growth sign.
My clowns are still not hosting mt RBTA but I have noticed that at least one of them, the smaller one, looks at it when the main light goes out. It swims a few inches away facing directly at the RBTA. Still not touched it though. I hope that this is going in the right direction and that I have my RTBA hosting my clowns soon.
Next project is to get a ATO system and maybe one or two more SPS.
After running the reactors I noticed a huge drop in alkalinity which was expected. Trying to slowly get it back up again to where I want it. After running the reactors together for a few days I, at least imagine, that the water looks a little clearer and crisper.
I am slowly loosing my ORA Hawkins Echinata, mainly because it has been knocked over one too many times by my Mexican Turbos. There are still hopes but it does look kind of bad right now. Extra bad because it had just started to encrust and show some growth sign.
My clowns are still not hosting mt RBTA but I have noticed that at least one of them, the smaller one, looks at it when the main light goes out. It swims a few inches away facing directly at the RBTA. Still not touched it though. I hope that this is going in the right direction and that I have my RTBA hosting my clowns soon.
Next project is to get a ATO system and maybe one or two more SPS.
A short quick photo update. The tank is running along fairly good but I am still fighting some nitrates but they are coming down after adding a second TLF reactor. Are now running two reactors, GFO and activated carbon, and I have seen improvements in the water quality.
Anyway, I will add more info soon but here are a new full tank shot as well as three new SPS I don't know the names of so if anyone knows please don't be afraid to write.
<img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7185/7134400579_e747c650c9_b.jpg" width="1024" height="962" alt="FTS_Apr_29_2012">
FTS
<img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7276/7134401923_4e3e8de615_b.jpg" width="1024" height="1019" alt="New_unknown_SPS_3">
Unknown SPS 1
<img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8018/6988316490_ac006678c2_b.jpg" width="1024" height="924" alt="New_unknown_SPS_2">
Unknown SPS 2
<img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8164/6988316166_06b9ccd1fa_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="New_unknown_SPS_1">
Unknown SPS 3
Anyway, I will add more info soon but here are a new full tank shot as well as three new SPS I don't know the names of so if anyone knows please don't be afraid to write.
<img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7185/7134400579_e747c650c9_b.jpg" width="1024" height="962" alt="FTS_Apr_29_2012">
FTS
<img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7276/7134401923_4e3e8de615_b.jpg" width="1024" height="1019" alt="New_unknown_SPS_3">
Unknown SPS 1
<img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8018/6988316490_ac006678c2_b.jpg" width="1024" height="924" alt="New_unknown_SPS_2">
Unknown SPS 2
<img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8164/6988316166_06b9ccd1fa_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="New_unknown_SPS_1">
Unknown SPS 3
Tank looks amazing. I guess losing coral death just comes with the hobby because I've been battling Cyano red algae for the past month. Half my livestock died.
How do you like the new plumbing for both reactors by using a separate pump for them? I pretty much used your method pluming the 2lf reactor and not to happy with how much space it takes. What chamber did you add the pump?
Oh yeah can you post a pic ?
How do you like the new plumbing for both reactors by using a separate pump for them? I pretty much used your method pluming the 2lf reactor and not to happy with how much space it takes. What chamber did you add the pump?
Oh yeah can you post a pic ?
I like the plumbing muc better now than what i originally had. Have an Eheim Compact 300 pump in the skimmer compartment and it is working really well. In retrospect I kind of wished I used the 600 model but the 300 gets the work done, just barely enough flow.
Downside with this plumbing is that I have another pump in the tank which adds to the heat. I really need to get a chiller here soon. The temperature is constantly over 80F during the days now. Not good.
I am on the road this week but will see if I can get a picture of the new plumbing up this weekend.
Downside with this plumbing is that I have another pump in the tank which adds to the heat. I really need to get a chiller here soon. The temperature is constantly over 80F during the days now. Not good.
I am on the road this week but will see if I can get a picture of the new plumbing up this weekend.
ange062
New member
So the 300 is just barely enough flow? Are you sure you have the adjuster on the pump set to the maximum? If so, I will be sure to only recommend the 600 moving forward, sorry if I gave you bad advice
The 600 is definitely too much flow as I have mine set with the flow VERY reduced. Not that it's an issue to restrict flow with this pump, but the added heat of the 600 may be an issue for you over the 300.I would say that the 300 gives me perfect flow but I have no margins to adjust up. (unless the adjust switch somehow got pushed from its max setting when I installed it. I am very happy with the flow and as you said, the 600 would probably have added too much unnecessary heat for me not having a chiller yet.
The advice was not bad at all and it is working perfect, just no margins upwards.
The advice was not bad at all and it is working perfect, just no margins upwards.
Here are some more pictures of the tank.
<img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7273/7137840859_e8b590913f_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="SPS_Birdsnest">
<img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7106/7137839523_3111401092_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="Unknown_new SPS_side_3_2">
<img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8156/6991753970_7dc95b931b_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="Unknown_new SPS_side_2">
<img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8141/6991752332_756b370815_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="Unknown_new SPS_side">
<img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8142/6991750862_c0d4b7e3cb_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="Big_polyps">
<img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8003/6991749186_2707b693f6_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="Green_Zoas">
<img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7114/6991747322_dbd05372f7_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="Green_bali_slimer_acro">
<img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7273/7137840859_e8b590913f_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="SPS_Birdsnest">
<img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7106/7137839523_3111401092_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="Unknown_new SPS_side_3_2">
<img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8156/6991753970_7dc95b931b_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="Unknown_new SPS_side_2">
<img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8141/6991752332_756b370815_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="Unknown_new SPS_side">
<img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8142/6991750862_c0d4b7e3cb_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="Big_polyps">
<img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8003/6991749186_2707b693f6_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="Green_Zoas">
<img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7114/6991747322_dbd05372f7_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="Green_bali_slimer_acro">
<img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7062/7137827987_b44532770d_b.jpg" width="1024" height="682" alt="FTS_Left_April_29_2012">
<img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8015/7137827057_7791cdbfab_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="Monti_Claim">
<img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7119/7137825871_e6c81b94ac_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="Hawkins">
<img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7126/7137825109_82e1d45c16_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="Rico_Frogspawn">
<img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8012/6991742662_70590dc1c8_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="RBTA">
<img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8019/6991741966_b22a369c5c_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="ORA_Dottyback">
<img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8015/7137827057_7791cdbfab_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="Monti_Claim">
<img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7119/7137825871_e6c81b94ac_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="Hawkins">
<img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7126/7137825109_82e1d45c16_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="Rico_Frogspawn">
<img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8012/6991742662_70590dc1c8_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="RBTA">
<img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8019/6991741966_b22a369c5c_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="ORA_Dottyback">
ange062
New member
OK, glad to hear I didnt give you bum advice, LOL!! I think I might have made a comment to the effect of the 600 giving you more room to play originally, but that's besides the point
Your tank is seriously looking good! Your SPS, clam, fish, and everything else looks super healthy and colorful, I am really digging it! That big birdsnest in the front is going to grow faster then anything else though, just FYI, so will eventually block to total view unless you frag it out.
Your tank is seriously looking good! Your SPS, clam, fish, and everything else looks super healthy and colorful, I am really digging it! That big birdsnest in the front is going to grow faster then anything else though, just FYI, so will eventually block to total view unless you frag it out.
ange062
New member
I just run floss in mine now, the other stuff is redundant with the reactors in place...
ange062
New member
IMO there isn't enough room in the back chambers, so unless you are running a sump you are better off running a GFO reactor for phosphate export.
