12 Gal. AquaPod Build

[racksteris]

Hi this is going to be my attempt at a nano reef. The tank I'm working with is a 12 Gal. AquaPod which i removed all the chambers in the back of the false wall so i would have room for my pump's, heater and Protein Skimmer. I opened the stock return from 1\2 inch to 3\4 inch, Also drilled a second 3\4 inch return for added flow with a Maxi-Jet 1200. I welcome comments and suggestion. This is what I'm starting with.

- 12 Gal. AquaPod
- 70W SunPod HQI Metal Halide System
- Current Prime Mini-Aquarium 1\15 Hp Chiller
- AquaC Remora Pro Protein Skimmer \ Rio 1400
- Main Pump - Rio 1700
- Maxi-Jet 1200 Close-Loop
- Lifegard 40 Watt Ultraviolet Sterilizer
- Fluval 404 Canister Filter \Filter Floss \ Seachem Purigen \ Seachem Matrix Carbon
- Stealth 100W Heater
- 24 Lb Fiji Live Rock
- 12 lb Arag-Alive Sand
- Coralifr Digital Thermometer
- Titanium Ground Probe

[saltman123]

Sounds like a good start. Not sure about removing all of the walls but if you don't intend to use the different chambers than I guess that works. I have a 12 gallon without the MH and I love it.

I don't have a skimmer or chiller, but those are definitely things on my list.

Seems like you have a strong list of many things you will need to be a more serious reefer. Go for it!

[racksteris]

Thanks saltman123 i will try.

[jacksonpt]

wow... skimmer, chiller, sterilizer - you've certainly got your bases covered. You sure you're going to need all that? You're also going to have a ton of flow... 2 pumps and the fluval - what are you planning on keeping in the tank?

[racksteris]

Hey jacksonpt, your tank is really nice. I do have a lot of flow but I'm use in 3\4 inch return for both pumps so the pressure is not high, it's a very gentle flow. I would like to keep 2 Ocellaris Clownfish, Zooanthus sociatus coral. I'm new to coral so i don't know what i can keep but so far i like the Zooanthus sociatus. I would like advice on what coral my system can handle.

[racksteris]

My 12 Gal. AquaPod at 3 week

12 Gal. AquaPod & SunPod

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12 Gal. AquaPod

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Back Chamber

[IMG][/IMG]

Current Prime Mini-Aquarium 1\15 Hp Chiller & Lifegard 40 Watt Ultraviolet Sterilizer

[IMG][/IMG]

[saltman123]

Sweet start, and sweet setup so far. But isn't it a little early for fish? Your rock looks like it has the brown algae bloom which is usually the tank starting algae. Depending on if your rock was cured or if your tank is cycled would determine if the fish is cool in there. I took it slow and waited months before I got a fish, but only because I wanted to get the hang of softies without the need to feed

The MH and chiller look sweet! Good looks on getting those right away.

I would recommend trying to 'break up' your rock a tiny bit. Right now you have a lot of vertical walls, and I do also. The problem is that you run out of places to put stuff FAST in such a small tank. I would recommend spreading them out and try to make it sort of cave like. Check out my thread, you'll see my rock is sort of the same like a box, but I did my best to shift it a bit to get that extra area. The more horizontal room you have, the more area to keep softies, zoo's, corals, and spend MORE money!!! jk

You can check out my thread by clicking the little red house icon near the PM button.

Can't wait to see what this tank looks like in 3 to 6 more months.

[gsellers1245]

also take the glass off...it helps with gas exchange...

[racksteris]

Hey saltman123, The live rock I used was cured, But in the first week i had a lot of die off on the rock and my water parameters was really off, everything was high. I also seeded the AquaPod from my freshwater tank, I added 1\2 Gal. Bio-Balls from my FW Wet\Dry filter to the AquaPod Chamber. After the first week my water parameters are all at 0, and been like that for over 2 week's now. I have also Re-AquaScape the tank.


Water Parameters: At Week 2

78 Degrees
1.022 Salinity

PH=8.2-8.4
Ammonia=0
Nitrite=0
Nitrate=0

Water Parameters: At Week 3

78 Degrees
1.022 Salinity

PH=8.2-8.4
Ammonia=0
Nitrite=0
Nitrate=0

Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Saltwater Master Test Kit I'm Using.



AquaPod Re-AquaScape

[zma21]

You can't do much aquascaping with those boulders. Break them up in a couple pieces and it will look a lot better.

[reefman13]

You are ready to start adding stuff. Good luck. You have a really nice setup there.

Can't wait to see this tank evolve.

[TheSaltwaterGuy]

This tank will look great when its finished. I, personally, love your aquascaping. Lots of places to stick corals.

[racksteris]

Thank you all for your suggestion and your complements. I would like input on what coral's I can keep in my in my tank, one's that are for a beginner. I have broken up the large pice of live rock and Re-AquaScape a little. (pictures of the coral's would be nice)

[gsellers1245]

how about frogspawn

maxima clam

ricordia

fox coral

trumpets (claustrea)

just to name a few...since you have metal halide then you have alot more choiced

[gsellers1245]

you need to open up that rockwork its compacted too tight
for example....but not exactly

[TheSaltwaterGuy]

He doesn't need to, but it would open up coral-placing possibilities. Although, I still thing when his current rockwork has coral all over it, it would look real nice.

[gsellers1245]

i'm not talking about for coral placing i'm talking about suspension of detritus.Not Allowing poop and food to sellte in the rockwork. As the rocks are now it gives the tank the chance to operate a nitrate factory which is not good.

[racksteris]

Hey gsellers1245, Thanks for posting those pictures. Those corals are very nice, I like the Frogspawn, Maxima Clam and the Fox Coral. Are they difficult to keep. This will be my first time keeping corals.

[gsellers1245]

no problem if you need any help finding or aquiring these specimens shoot me a pm

[racksteris]

My 12 Gal. AquaPod with AquaC Remora Pro Protein Skimmer \ Rio 1400

[racksteris]

Marry Chrismas & Happy New Years to everyone.

It's been 18 day since I updated this thread. I have made a lot of changes to my system over the pass 2 weeks. I want my system to be as stable as I can afford it to be. That said, I have added a 25 Gal. tank under my 12 Gal. display. This tank will be used for a Refugium\Sump. I have removed the false wall in the back of my Aquapod, and add a Continuous Siphon Overflow 1" Single Bulkhead, 600 GHP with the Aqua Lifter Pump. I have also added 2 1\2'' Directional U-Tube for the return. The Refugium\Sump is just a 25 Gal. tank, There is no baffles just the open tank. I have 4'' Arag-Alive Sand and about 2 pound of live rock, will be adding more . I plan on having Chaetomorpha Algae, Ulva Lettuce Algae, and Maiden's Hair Plant in the Refugium. I have moved my AquaC Remora Pro Protein Skimmer and my Fluval 404 Canister Filter to the sump. My Stealth 250W Heater, Titanium Ground Probe, and Coralifr Digital Thermometer have also been moved to the sump.

[racksteris]

[racksteris]

Hey guys quick question, How long does it take Blue Mushroom's to open up. They have been in there for less that 2 days.

[racksteris]

My 12 Gal. Aquapod just turned 2 months old, I have not stock my tank a lot because I'm still working on the sump\ Refugium setup. So far I have 12 Astraea Snail, 20 Nassarius Snails,1 Ocellaris Clownfish, 1 Purple Firefish, 1 Royal Gramma Basslet, 1 Blood Shrimp, Some Blue Mushroom Coral, Fox Coral, Zoanthus.

Full tank and stand shot:



Full tank shot:

[racksteris]

Has anyone added 2 x 36w PC Retro Kit too a 70 W Sunpod. I'm think of doing this mod too add some more light to my 12 Gal AquaPod.

This is the kit I'm looking at at :


http://www.nanotuners.com/product_in...products_id=32