Sonny's Rimless Shallow Reef.

[mak]

one more!

 

[Ed Reef]

We will keep bumping this thread and get everyone subscribe to vote :lol:

 

[GSMguy]

I voted.

 

[SunnyX]

YES WE CAN!
YES WE CAN!
YES WE CAN!

 

[SunnyX]

I just wanted to drop an update for those who were interested in the frag tank I am setting up. The new frag tank will be setup tomorrow and of coarse pictures will follow.

Here are the specs:

Tank:
24"x24"x12" Rimless

Lighting:
250W Reef Optix III
Ice Cap electric ballast
Phoenix 14K DE

Flow:
2x Tunze Nano 6045 streams

Return Pump
Either a maxi Jet 1200 or a mag 5/

Now, I know some of you are thinking "HEY! I thought you were a T5 guy!! MH!! Evil Blasphemer!!" . When setting up the tank I looked around for good deals on the components to make up the frag tank. I was initially going to get all new parts and run an Ati fixture for lighting but then I thought that it would make no sense to do so. I needed to put in the least amount of capital if I wanted to make this frag tank worth while.

I have run the Phoenix 14K's with Reef Optix III's in the past so I know that they will work great. For the price I got the lighting setup I had to do it.

For $100 I got:
250W Reef Optix III
Ice Cap electric ballast
Phoenix 14K DE (NEW)
Phoenix 14K DE (6 months use)
Hamilton 14K DE (NEW)

As you can see, ANYONE would be hard pressed to pass up a deal like that! The frag tank is going to run $40 or a couple frags if the seller decides he would like some.

So, for $140( I already have the frag racks and Cider blocks for a stand) I was able to put together a nice frag tank.

 

[Bill14]

Sounds like a sweet deal to me. I assume you'll be plumbing this into your existing setup. If so, it might be interesting to see what changes you notice between the two tanks. The water would be the same and the only major difference would be the light.

 

[JCR's Reef]

Hey Sonny. Almost exactly the same setup as my Nano but mine is 24x20x12". I made mine out of a 1/4" though. I used the phoenix bulbs on icecap also. Now im using 12k reeflux and wish I wouldve of changed them b/c all my color brown out. But im working on tuning it up a little. I'm actually running my light like a foot above the water surface since its such a shallow tank.

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14933045#post14933045 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Bill14
Sounds like a sweet deal to me. I assume you'll be plumbing this into your existing setup. If so, it might be interesting to see what changes you notice between the two tanks. The water would be the same and the only major difference would be the light.

That is another reason why I would like to do the MH on the frag tank. The frag tank will be plumbed in to the main system so it should be interesting to see what sort of growth and color difference I will see between the two.

 

[Mchava]

nice Idea Sonny but instead of running a mag pump why not use a eheim 1250 as the return?

 

[volcom69]

Hey sonny just wondering do you have an Automatic topoff system on your tank, i forget if you do or not.

 

[ksed]

Sorry I may have missed this question before but I ask anyway .
How did you build your rock work eg. epoxy pins ,rods.
If you have pictures that would be great.

Thanks

Kevin

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14934595#post14934595 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mchava
nice Idea Sonny but instead of running a mag pump why not use a eheim 1250 as the return?

Well, I already have the MAG5 so that was why I would use it, but I am going to give the maxi jet 1200 a shot. 200gl of turnover an hour in that small tank should be sufficient.

We will see how it goes.

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14934813#post14934813 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by volcom69
Hey sonny just wondering do you have an Automatic topoff system on your tank, i forget if you do or not.

Nope, no auto top off here. Keeping it as simple as possible.

I have a RO/DI line that run directly to my sump. I have line drawn on the sump and as soon as the water level get to the line I turn the RO/DI on. I probably should look into an auto off but I don't want to complicate things more then they need to be.

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14935630#post14935630 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ksed
Sorry I may have missed this question before but I ask anyway .
How did you build your rock work eg. epoxy pins ,rods.
If you have pictures that would be great.

Thanks

Kevin

Hello.

The rocks were strategically placed together with no pins,epoxy, etc. You just have to play around with the rocks until they fit in right.

The reason why I did not use anything to connect my rock work is I will need to move or remove rock in the future as the reef matures.

 

[Mchava]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14935674#post14935674 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SunnyX
I have a RO/DI line that run directly to my sump. I have line drawn on the sump and as soon as the water level get to the line I turn the RO/DI on. I probably should look into an auto off but I don't want to complicate things more then they need to be.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO (in my best Luke Skywalker voice):strooper:. Sonny please dont connect the ro/di line directly to the tank. Seen and heard way to many horror stories of tank death because of this. A top off is what makes it simple. I have mine set up with a 5gal container and a Tunze ATO. But I would def. recommend an ato.

 

[tmantaylor18]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14935954#post14935954 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mchava
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO (in my best Luke Skywalker voice):strooper:. Sonny please dont connect the ro/di line directly to the tank. Seen and heard way to many horror stories of tank death because of this. A top off is what makes it simple. I have mine set up with a 5gal container and a Tunze ATO. But I would def. recommend an ato.

lol couldn't agree more Mario. I have a 5 gallon container also which means even if the switch messes up atleast it won't wipe out my tank.

 

[scaryperson27]

The only way I would ever do that is if I had a relay to turn the return pump off if the water level got to high...

 

[SunnyX]

Well, The only time I turn the RO/DI on is when I am home and I make sure to set a reminder on my Blackberry to turn it off after two hours. I have been doing water additions like this for about 8 years now but I should look into an ATO as you never know what can happen.

Anyone here have pictures of their ATO setups?

 

[rutz81]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14936656#post14936656 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SunnyX
Well, The only time I turn the RO/DI on is when I am home and I make sure to set a reminder on my Blackberry to turn it off after two hours. I have been doing water additions like this for about 8 years now but I should look into an ATO as you never know what can happen.

Anyone here have pictures of their ATO setups?

I don't have a picture right now. But, it is VERY simple. A 5 gallon salt bucket that I fill about once/week. And Tunze takes care of the rest. The osmolator kicks on when the summp level drops below a certain level and turns off when it is at that level. Defintely would look into one, it's not expensive at all either.

 

[mcrist]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14936765#post14936765 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rutz81
I don't have a picture right now. But, it is VERY simple. A 5 gallon salt bucket that I fill about once/week. And Tunze takes care of the rest. The osmolator kicks on when the summp level drops below a certain level and turns off when it is at that level. Defintely would look into one, it's not expensive at all either.

Same thing here except a 44 gallon Brute container. I highly recommend the Tunze Osmolator, an excellent product.