Down at Frag-gle Rock!

[syncere]

Basic Info about the tank:

20 Gallon Long (glass)
10 Gallon Sump
2 Koralia Nano's (425gph)
1 100W Eheim Jager Heater (In sump)
1 50W Hydor Theo Heater (In display)
Glass-Holes Overflow and Return Kits
Mag 3 return
Tek 24" Fixture
30 lbs LR
30 lbs LS

Livestock:
2 True Percs
Yellow Watchman Goby
Lawnmower Blenny
Pistol Shrimp
Peppermint Shrimp
CUC (Astreas, Nassarius, Hermits and Turbos)

Coral:
Toadstool Leather
Acans
Unknown Paly's
Candy Apple Red Zoa

Well here is what I have for now:

FTS kinda(I know the pics are horrible but guarantee to borrow a camera soon.)

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/FTS6-2-10.jpg

Right Set-Up - Koralia Nano 425gph, Return and Hydor 50W Heater

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/RightRockStructure6-2-10.jpg

Middle

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/MiddleRockStructure6-2-10.jpg

Left Set-Up - Other Koralia Nano 425gph and Overflow Box

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/LeftRockStructure6-2-10.jpg

Sump - 100W Jager Heater, and Mag 3 return

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/Sump5-27-10.jpg



Will keep updating as much as possible and any feedback or comments are welcome and appreciated.

Thanks,
Marc

[hobogato]

very cool idea! i always felt so sorry for the little builder guys (forgot what they were called)

[syncere]

Thanks! I think they were called "doozers" so that name is going for all of my cuc. lol

[syncere]

Ok a little bit of an update.

In no way do I know anything about plumbing but just ran a freshwater test an hour ago and everything worked pretty well. Only things I am a little concerned about are flow to the sump and display water level.

I have a mag 3 return with a 2' head height. The flow was nice but the overflow box seemed to drain more water as it is a 700gph box with 1.5" pvc running into the sump. I am going to install a ball valve to reduce the flow and see if I can keep the display water level higher. As for the return it is 1/2" pvc plumbing so should I go a little bigger or will the pump still push out the same?

Also I simulated a power outage to see if the sump would be able to hold and it did but I'm still concerned because it seems as though the display was about an inch and a half below the top of the tank. The baffles are about 9 1/2" in the sump with the middle one being at 10 1/2" in a 10 gallon. What should I do? Should I adjust the baffles in any way?

I'm so close to getting it up and running but don't want to run into any problems once its full and has life in it. Any feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Marc

[txav8r]

I would advise against putting a ball valve in the overflow line. To raise the water level in the display, increase return water flow or raise the baffles to the overflow.

[syncere]

So should I use a more powerful pump for the return? I have a rio 2100 that says on the box it pushes about 560 gph at 2' while the mag 3 is about 350 and the same height.

[Big_Pun]

you really dont want the flow going in and out of the fuge too high/fast, haveing the water in contact with the fuge(macro algae) longer is better, all flow in tank should come from the power heads and not the return from the pump. what exactly are you worried about in regards to power failer and the baffles in the sump, if you filled with water to the levels you want in the fuge and shut off power and all was fine shouldnt be any worries, if you want the display level higher the only way to do so is to raise the baffles in the display return

[Big_Pun]

i wouldnt hard plumb all the pipes flex hoses are easier to mess with later incase something goes wrong, i have all pipes going from fuge to bulk heads with some kind of soft pipe

[syncere]

So could my overflow box be too low? Don't think there is anything I can do other than drill another tank and raise it up right?

As for the flex tubing I wanted to do that from the beginning and may look into it some more as I liked the fact that I could see what is flowing through the tubes just in case something where to get stuck.

[txav8r]

Yes. The box is too low. you cold partially cover the slots to raise the level or extend the height of the overflow with acrylic.

[syncere]

Feedback please. :)

[syncere]

Up and running finally. :bigsmile:

Not sure how long of a cycle I will have but will definitely take it nice and slow.

[syncere]

Been a week since I started up my tank. So here are some new pics.

[syncere]

Just ordered my Tek fixture. :)

[txg8gxp]

Looking good, I like my Tek fixure...I'm sure you will too.

[syncere]

Looking good, I like my Tek fixure...I'm sure you will too.

Thanks!

Really looking forward to the Tek fixture and bulb combo!
Current Sundial will be up for sale shortly.:wink_smile:

A little late but my weekly updated pics. Including appearances from the "dozers" aka CUC.

Hermits playing "king of the mountain" :lauging:

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/CUC6-9-10.jpg

Bumble Bee on break :ph34r:

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/CUC26-9-10-1.jpg

Pepper :photo:

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/PeppermintShrimp6-9-10.jpg

[syncere]

New pics. Did a water change yesterday and check all parameters before adding these guys today.

Clowns

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/clowns.jpg
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/clown.jpg

Yellow Watchman

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/watchman.jpg

Acans

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/acans.jpg

Paly's

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/Palys.jpg

FTS (sorry for the bad pic but wanted to get the light fixture in too)

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/fts6-17.jpg

Will save some more pics for next week. :P As soon as I sell my other light fixture will definitely look into getting a camera. B)

[syncere]

Sorry it took me so long to get some pics up this week (gf might move in :what_smile: ). But anyways there was a recent loss this last week. I lost my smaller clown due to what I think was bad planning on the flow and scape and maybe the clown not being the brightest tool in the shed. :confused:
It seems as though he got stuck behind the left rock and rather than go with the flow to the other side he would always fight against it till he would get tired and let it take him. This happened a couple times until father's day I found him being ravaged by some hermits who seem to be getting out of control :at_wits_end: (eating astreas and nass snails for shells).

So in his memory I changed up my scape just a little bit. I also kept with the theme and now I present some more frag-gles:

Somewhat Zoa Garden
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/zoas.jpg

Toadstool (Kinda Open)
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/toadstoolopen.jpg

Toadstool (Closed)
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/toadstool.jpg

Right Side
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/rightside6-25.jpg

Right Angle
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/rightangle.jpg

Ricordia
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/ric.jpg

Red Acan
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/redacan.jpg

Left Side
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/leftside.jpg

Left Angle
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/leftangle.jpg

GSP
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/gsp.jpg

Goby
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/goby.jpg

Frogspawn
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/frogspawn.jpg

Favia?
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/favia.jpg

Clown
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/clown-1.jpg

Brain/Lobo?
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/brain.jpg

Blue Acan
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/blueacan.jpg


Also I would really like some help id'ing some frags as far as more common names. I am aware of their scientific names and know the pics really suck but if you can give me an idea of what they might be I could look them up and compare.

Any info or concerns you all could give me as far as where I have placed any frags would help tremendously. I did a lot of research on lighting conditions and flow but would like some more opinions. :bigsmile:

Thanks,
Marc

[syncere]

Few more pics:

Blenny (Still Hiding)
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/blenny.jpg

Paly's, Mushroom and Zoas
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/3peat.jpg

[syncere]

Just wondering if anyone had any opinions or suggestions as to where to place my frags and larger corals. I did a lot of research and most of them tend to be opening up but I feel they could be happier. I hate to move them so much but would like to hear some spots anybody else would place them.

Also after changing up the right scape I really like that look and would like a similar setup on the left. Would it be a big change in parameters if I took the rock out and broke it up into smaller pieces to rearrange? Also I have a pistol shrimp that lives under that side, so would that be a big problem to mess with that side at all?

Here is a recent FTS to see more or less where everything is placed.

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/fts625.jpg

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/fts625jj.jpg

[syncere]

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/FTS6-30-10.jpg

[syncere]

Updates.

New FTS
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/July/FTS7-6-10.jpg

Left Side
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/July/LeftRockStructure7-6-10.jpg

Center
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/July/Center7-6-10.jpg

Right Side
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/July/RightRockStructure7-6-10.jpg

Blueish Green Acans
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/July/BlueAcans7-6-10.jpg

Bumblebee
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/July/BumblebeeSnail7-6-10.jpg

Frogspawn with Toadstool in the distance
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/July/FrogspawnandToadstoolLeather7-6-10.jpg

Acan
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/July/GreenAcan7-6-10.jpg

GSP
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/July/GSP7-6-10.jpg

Shroom
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/July/Mushroom7-6-10.jpg

Acan
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/July/PeppermintAcan7-6-10.jpg

Red Acan
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/July/RedAcan-1.jpg

Clown
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/July/TruePerc7-6-10.jpg

YWG
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/July/YellowWatchmanGoby7-6-10.jpg

Zoas
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/July/Zoas-1.jpg

More Zoas
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/July/Zoas2.jpg

[Big_Pun]

it's coming along nice. why is water cloudy, water change or just re-aquascape

[syncere]

Thanks! As for the cloudiness its the brightness of the lights and a bad camera phone lol

[Europhyllia]

very nice. You'll have it full in no time! :)

[syncere]

Thanks!

[syncere]

Haven't updated and had some pics on my phone from a while back I'd like to share. :)

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/IMG_0034.jpg

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/IMG_0033.jpg

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/IMG_0032.jpg

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/IMG_0031.jpg

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/IMG_0030.jpg

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/IMG_0029.jpg

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/IMG_0028.jpg

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/IMG_0026.jpg

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/IMG_0024.jpg

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/IMG_0021.jpg

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/IMG_0012.jpg

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/IMG_0007.jpg

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/IMG_0006.jpg

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/IMG_0005.jpg

[syncere]

I have been looking into trying to find a mate for my clown. I kinda want to get something a little more exotic and flashy like a snowflake or picasso. I know that chances of them getting along are pretty slim but would the age or size difference be the biggest challenge? Also going through the different types of species of perculas I noticed that he/she has had that black marking on his body since I got it. It looks a lot like a black onyx but still not since he/she is so young still. Would this have any factor that should be considered in choosing a mate? Rather make the right choice (and less expensive choice) to try and pair two of these up so any feedback is well appreciated.

[syncere]

New/Old Pics

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/IMG_0149.jpg

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/IMG_0148.jpg

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/IMG_0147.jpg

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/IMG_0146.jpg

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/IMAG0071.jpg

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/IMAG0070.jpg

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/IMAG0067.jpg

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/IMAG0065.jpg

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/IMAG0062.jpg

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/IMAG0061.jpg

[syncere]

A few pics after moving this last weekend :0)

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/YellowWatchmanGoby9-9-10.jpg

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/RightSide9-9-10.jpg

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/LeftSide9-9-10.jpg

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/FTS9-9-10.jpg

[syncere]

:)

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/IMG_0080.jpg
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/IMG_0076.jpg
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/IMG_0074.jpg
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/Syncere3/photo.jpg