I decided to start a new thread for this rebuild of my 60 gallon mixed reef into a softy dominated jawfish species tank. The thread for my 150 SPS build is here:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1842085
This Glass Cages tank will replace an acrylic tank of the same dimesons I built myself which after six years was ready to blow out at any minute. The odd dimensions are the result of some really terrible planning on my part. I originally built the 8’x8’ bookcase/stand with a plan in my head to just house a small 28 gallon bowfront tank Beth and I had setup in our old apartment. However, at the last minute I decided to build a tank as big as possible to fill the space available.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21479988@N04/5525738867/" title="Untitled by nickgrant79, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5016/5525738867_2cf06721ae.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="" /></a>
The old tank was a nightmare. Everything was DIY (tank, skimmer, stand, etc) and while I learned a lot of important lessons in the process of building the old tank, I think the #1 lesson I learned was that not everything is worth DIY.
The new setup will house all my zoas, rics, and other softies as well as about six yellow headed pearly jawfish. I may throw a wrasse in there to keep the zoas “clean” but that’s it for fish. I think jawfish are one of the most entertaining fish out there and they’re even more fun to watch as a group. I spent a fair bit of time observing colonies of them in Roatan last fall. So much so, that my dive group got a bit away from me on more than one occasion. :spin3:
Specs:
Tank: 33”x17”x24” Glass Cages Starphire Front, Left Rear Corner Overflow, 1.5” drain, 1” return
Lighting: 24” 6 bulb ATI Sunpower T5
Skimmer: Skimmerless or Bubble Master 150 (haven’t decided yet)
Circulation: Vortech MP40W ES
Controller: Neptune Apex (shared with 150 gallon tank)
Sump: 20 gallon glass tank w/ a couple baffles
Return: Water Blaster 3000
Heaters: 2 x Eheim Jager 150 watt
Frag tank: 17”x17”x6” (from old system)
GFO/Carbon: I hooking up a phosban reactor to my return, not sure yet if I’ll use it for GFO or Carbon or at all
Substrate: 5-6” mix of Tropic Eden Rubbly Reef, Crushed Coral, and Dry Rock Rubble
As always, I would appreciate anyones input
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1842085
This Glass Cages tank will replace an acrylic tank of the same dimesons I built myself which after six years was ready to blow out at any minute. The odd dimensions are the result of some really terrible planning on my part. I originally built the 8’x8’ bookcase/stand with a plan in my head to just house a small 28 gallon bowfront tank Beth and I had setup in our old apartment. However, at the last minute I decided to build a tank as big as possible to fill the space available.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21479988@N04/5525738867/" title="Untitled by nickgrant79, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5016/5525738867_2cf06721ae.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="" /></a>
The old tank was a nightmare. Everything was DIY (tank, skimmer, stand, etc) and while I learned a lot of important lessons in the process of building the old tank, I think the #1 lesson I learned was that not everything is worth DIY.
The new setup will house all my zoas, rics, and other softies as well as about six yellow headed pearly jawfish. I may throw a wrasse in there to keep the zoas “clean” but that’s it for fish. I think jawfish are one of the most entertaining fish out there and they’re even more fun to watch as a group. I spent a fair bit of time observing colonies of them in Roatan last fall. So much so, that my dive group got a bit away from me on more than one occasion. :spin3:
Specs:
Tank: 33”x17”x24” Glass Cages Starphire Front, Left Rear Corner Overflow, 1.5” drain, 1” return
Lighting: 24” 6 bulb ATI Sunpower T5
Skimmer: Skimmerless or Bubble Master 150 (haven’t decided yet)
Circulation: Vortech MP40W ES
Controller: Neptune Apex (shared with 150 gallon tank)
Sump: 20 gallon glass tank w/ a couple baffles
Return: Water Blaster 3000
Heaters: 2 x Eheim Jager 150 watt
Frag tank: 17”x17”x6” (from old system)
GFO/Carbon: I hooking up a phosban reactor to my return, not sure yet if I’ll use it for GFO or Carbon or at all
Substrate: 5-6” mix of Tropic Eden Rubbly Reef, Crushed Coral, and Dry Rock Rubble
As always, I would appreciate anyones input
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