Hello again after a while (9 months of wedding preparation). Never got my latest tank set up but have been browsing the boards and thinking of setting up a tank again. Certainly not rushing it . . .
My overall theme is a "zen tank" - a very simple tank that is as uncomplicated as possible while still being well-run and a good biotope for any inhabitants. So, here's my current plan. #4 is the one concept I've been debating in my head -
1) Oceanic 37 gallon "cube" tank (24x21x18)
2) Sunpod 150w DE MH with lunar lights, 14K Phoenix bulb
3) Either Coralife 125 Super Skimmer or Octopus hanging needlewheel skimmer, to be used for cycling live rock and problems only as this is generally going to be a skimmerless tank
4) internal refugium to avoid even a hanging one - take a piece of plexiglass and glue 1.5 to 2" long pieces of PVC pipe spacers to the 4 corners and place against the back to make a 1.5 to 2" "dead space". Drill a hole near the bottom for a tiny powerhead and "Seal" the top with eggcrate. This creates a refugium for LR/chaeto, similar to a hanging refugium, but without worrying about refugium overflows. The downsides are that it takes a little tank space up and lighting it will be more difficult. May just go with a CPR AquaFuge 2, but it's an idea . . .
5) Mixed softies and LPS
6) 3 total small fish
7) Cleanup crew including L. wurdenammi for aiptasia
8) 1.5" SSB
I toyed with the idea of having a LifeReef overflow and an ASM G1x skimmer/refugium in the sump, but my favorite tank was a small 20g high with a small hanhging skimmer. Just easier to work with.
Some thoughts at midnight.
My overall theme is a "zen tank" - a very simple tank that is as uncomplicated as possible while still being well-run and a good biotope for any inhabitants. So, here's my current plan. #4 is the one concept I've been debating in my head -
1) Oceanic 37 gallon "cube" tank (24x21x18)
2) Sunpod 150w DE MH with lunar lights, 14K Phoenix bulb
3) Either Coralife 125 Super Skimmer or Octopus hanging needlewheel skimmer, to be used for cycling live rock and problems only as this is generally going to be a skimmerless tank
4) internal refugium to avoid even a hanging one - take a piece of plexiglass and glue 1.5 to 2" long pieces of PVC pipe spacers to the 4 corners and place against the back to make a 1.5 to 2" "dead space". Drill a hole near the bottom for a tiny powerhead and "Seal" the top with eggcrate. This creates a refugium for LR/chaeto, similar to a hanging refugium, but without worrying about refugium overflows. The downsides are that it takes a little tank space up and lighting it will be more difficult. May just go with a CPR AquaFuge 2, but it's an idea . . .
5) Mixed softies and LPS
6) 3 total small fish
7) Cleanup crew including L. wurdenammi for aiptasia
8) 1.5" SSB
I toyed with the idea of having a LifeReef overflow and an ASM G1x skimmer/refugium in the sump, but my favorite tank was a small 20g high with a small hanhging skimmer. Just easier to work with.
Some thoughts at midnight.
