20G Custom Build - PICS

[kyrie_eleison]

you did all that for a 20 gallon tank?

[macawdad2003]

Looking Fantastic. If I had to start the hobby over again I may have copied your design .

[chocolateblnt]

Originally posted by kyrie_eleison
you did all that for a 20 gallon tank?

Some people are bound by space and not their imagination ... keep up the great job my friend! BTW how are your h20 paramaters?

[MrMexReefer]

Chocolate, you need to make me a sweet gangsta elmo avatar.

[chocolateblnt]

Actually I have one I made it for a fellow reefer ... hehehhe enjoy

[MrMexReefer]

LMFAO!!! AWESOME!!!! Now to edit the text..... thanks bud!

[beelzebob]

Originally posted by chocolateblnt
Some people are bound by space and not their imagination ...

i sure could roll ya one for that!

great stuff and sweet tank!

[chocolateblnt]

Originally posted by beelzebob
i sure could roll ya one for that!

great stuff and sweet tank!

I'll match

[hammer294]

kyrie_eleison - to some this may seem like way too much for a 20g. But here was my thinking... I am on space restrictions and also, I thought why not start small and learn about the systems I put into the tank. This is my first attempt at an overflow, sump/fuge, and plumbing. I will upgrade way down the road when i move out i am sure, but i do not plan on tearing this tank down ever.
I am actually planning a large bookcase right now for my parents for their study and will be incorporating a 55 gallon fish only tank built into the bookcase.

macawdad2003, chocolateblnt and beelzebob...thank you.

For an update .... I have added my first sps today and also a 6 line wrasse.

Water parameters are the following:
pH = 8.2
Ammonia = 0
Nitrate = 0
Nitrite = 0
Calcium = 420
dKH = 9
Let me know if there are any other tests your may be concerned with. I dotn have any test but will pick it up the next time I am at the LFS and let you know how it turns out.

My hair algea problem is slowly getting under control. I am doing smaller water changes more frequently and that is working really well. Any other ways to get rid of it???

[danoreef]

how can you say that your not much of a woodworker. From those pics I think you may have missed your calling. Nice job. Its funny but as I was reading your thread I thought in one picture the water looked a little high in the tank. I don't know what you did to remedy the leek in the top trim. I would think that the notches into the overflow would have to be lower. awesome job.

[hammer294]

hey danoreef...thank you. When I say I am not much of a woodworker it is that I honestly have not had any experience besides crown molding, floor board trim and installing simple tongue and groove hardwood floors. The stand actually took me a few weeks to complete and a alot more scrap wood because of mistakes made.

For the water level issue...I siliconed the outside of the lip in the area of the leak. It is more of a temporary fix. I am debating on which way to go with the groves. To either extend them down further, try to widen them a hair, or just hack off a couple groves???

[chocolateblnt]

SO your levels rock! ... when are you getting livestock?

[hammer294]

My livestock list is scattered about in my above posts, but I will make the up to date master list real quick.


5 Nass. Snails
5 Blue Hermits
5 Astrea Snails
2 Emerald Crabs

2 P. Clowns
1 Six Line Wrasse


GSP
Pink Polyps
Brown Zoas
Eagle Eye Zoas
Xenia
RadioActive Green Zoas
1 SPS - I just got this and forget the name off the top of my head right now
Ricordia

[chocolateblnt]

SO it's gonna be a mixed reef with mostly softies?!

I have that exact fish list ... couldn't be happier with their performance

[hammer294]

Ummm.. I am still up in the air about the direction of the tank as far as stocking. This is my first SPS and if it goes good, I think I am going to lean towards majority SPS.

The fish are awesome, and the six line I just got is probably my favorite

[hammer294]

Been a bit since i updated the progress of my tank. Here is the updated picture. Working on getting better pictures for some close ups, just not used to the camera yet.



Since my last update, I have added the following to the tank -

Small torch frag
small hammer frag
5 small sps frags



I am thinking of getting more live rock and making a rockwall on the back of the tank. My current setup has too steep of a face to really have options as to where to place frags. What does everyone think about added more rock?

My calcium levels are right on the money right now, but for those who keep sps, do you add any supplements to your tank?

[danoreef]

nice rock work.

[tigga]

hey good job with the stand&canopy construction. Looks amazing! What is the height of the canopy?

[FLricordia]

I chunked the Mag drives on a 240 and went with Quiet ones instead. To date-no leaks and they run cooler than the Mags. I think it was on Marine Depot site for the Mag drive pumps (I could be wrong on the site) and it said that Mag drive pumps were not recommended for external saltwater use.
Great set-up BTW.

[hammer294]

danoreef - Thank you. I am actually considering adding more live rock to cover the whole back of the tank. What you think about that idea? I will still keep a cliff over the middle of the tank, this way i cna get to the strainer of the closed loop system. (you really cant see it in the picture above.)

tigga - Thank you. Exterior height of the canopy is 9".

FLricordia - Thank you. It is funny you mention the heat issues with the Mag Drive pumps. I have the Mag 7 in the sump for the return and although i dont have a great concern with the heat right now, I think it will cause an issue in the summer. For this reason I am thinking of changing my current sump design. Gonna put the skimmer in sump and try to find the most quiet exterior pump i can find for the return and the closed loop. I know you mentioned the Quiet one pump, but are there any other quieter pumps out there???

[danoreef]

IMO I would say wait with the rock because as you start getting corals they will come on pieces of rock and you will want space for your corals.... when I say space I mean size of individual corals and the amount of corals. Oh and also Chris my 20 high DIY project, turned into a 24 gallon aquapod with 150 watt MH...I admit defeat on my DIY project...lol. I posted updates on my thread.

[hammer294]

danoreef - i hear ya on the rock. my surrent problem though is that my wall is really steep. maybe ill just play around with the current rock.

Sorry to hear about the project that didnt go as planned. Atleast you got a tank up and running though. on my way to check out you thread.

[hammer294]

My previous aquascape has been bothering me for a while due to how steep it was. I had very limited locations to place frags. So I spent some time today reworking the layout.

[danoreef]

stiil looks great! really nice rock and configuration

[zombiedust]

Niiiiiiiiiicccccceeeeeeee !