40 Bonsai Reef

[Tristan23]

Changed the direction of where my tank is heading and after some thought I acquired a non drilled 40 breeder. I rushed into building my 75 and there were things I regretted. Now where I have an opportunity and time to research and gather ideas from other fellow reefers I can create my dream tank. After looking at RayAllen and Koa's breeders I pulled the trigger to have RR breeder. I had fellow reefer drill and help me set up an bean animal overflow with a toothless overflow box.I like the dimensions enough room to play around with landscape. I wanted to used the rocks I have and combine them into a bonsai aqua scape. Talked to a few of you guys and ordered a 10lb of macro rock to combine the rocks. Still debating to drill the rock And using a rod to stabilize the rock. (pictures coming soon)

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/02/habuduvu.jpg got the tank drilled 4 holes one return in the middle where it splits into two. The other three used for bean animal overflow with a toothless overflow box.

My goal to achieve http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/02/e6ary2uz.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/02/uny6e7at.jpg
After I give the rock a good long vinegar bath. I'll dry them out and start stacking and try to see what kind of look I like. I'll post pics later

Picture with the sump and rocks being clean with water\vinegar http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/02/devupyty.jpg the rocks have been in there for a few days and planning to boil them hopefully tomorrow before work. I will dry them out when the sun comes out.


Things that I need to be done.

tank drilled- check
Tank stand and canopy- in the process being built by Ace
I'm using my old sump (ACE made) from my previous tank for my build. It's 37" x 16" x 18". Here is a sketch of it.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/02/uruvy2a5.jpg can't wait to see it!
Plumbing- under construction
Lighting- saving up to get Ai Vega with two 36" retro fitted T5's on to a canopy
Rock work- bonsai aqua scape ordered from macro rocks (ordering 10lb kit)


More pics and an update soon

[Paul28]

Thats going to be a nice build :) Love the rock work design

[RayAllen]

That stand and over flow look familiar ;)

Looking good.

[Tristan23]

Thanks! I'm excited how the rock work is going to look. So many possibilities.

Haha my tank wants to grow up to be like your tank :D

[RayAllen]

LOL, My tank is still growing up.

It took me a while to add coral and it is still without fish. Will be updating my thread soon..

[BBQHILLBILLY]

Yall have taken these 40Breeders to another level. Very cool and top of the line.:bigsmile:

[Tristan23]

Good cant wait to see what is going in over there.

Thanks! I know you will do great things to the 8ft tank.

[Zack]

Will your canopy be open top? If not, you may not get the right spread you need from the vega..

[Tristan23]

It will be closed. The tank will be in my bedroom so I didn't want the light to spread all across the room. Will there be dead spots if I have the vega?

[Scutterborn]

I think the spread on a vega is roughly 24"X24". You may be able to get a little more by changing out the optics on the outer pucks.


- Ben -

[BBQHILLBILLY]

You need 2 led setups. You wont need T5s:bigsmile:You could get 1 LED setup and get your coral in there, than get the other one for more spread.
LEDs 50000 hours nice.

[Zack]

You could easily DIY two fixtures for the price of one ai vega if that's something your up to.

[Tristan23]

There is no limit what I can do. I'm in no rush either. Ill look into that.. I guess it's been something I wanted for a long time

[Zack]

I highly reccomend aquastyle but rapidled is also a good company

[350gt]

I really like the design.....


imo 1 vega will be pushing it:.... But it can work, there are no other optics available yet but are outfitted with 80 degree lenses.... So you could raise them to get more spread...

Vega's are awesome btw... I was sorta optimistic about my purchase but until recently I have noticed good things, including growth..


You could save money with a DIY but we both know its not what you want and no DIY can do what the vega can and be as clean..... The app for the iPhone should be out soon which will make it more cool....

[Tristan23]

That's true Tony...maybe the way I aquascape the tank I can have my rock piece under the vega while the t5's can fill in. My canopy should be at least 12" above the tank

[RayAllen]

Tristan i light mine with a 36" T5 6bulb fixture which is plenty of light, but I to plan on going to LED maybe later this year. Right now im content and the tank looks great.

I do not see why one vega would not be efficient if the rock scape was done accordingly leaving 6" of space on either side. Would make for a cool appearance I think. A bit darker on the edges would look cool IMO.

[Cammed_02]

Stick to your original plan and try it with the one vega and just aquascape accordingly. The t5s will be plenty of supplemental light for what you're looking to do.


Tristan i light mine with a 36" T5 6bulb fixture which is plenty of light, but I to plan on going to LED maybe later this year. Right now im content and the tank looks great.

I do not see why one vega would not be efficient if the rock scape was done accordingly leaving 6" of space on either side. Would make for a cool appearance I think. A bit darker on the edges would look cool IMO.

This...

[Tristan23]

A little update...picked up the stand and canopy from Ace

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/10/enahegy6.jpg

It's been raining over here so I had to move it in the garage/shack

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/10/e5yzaqa8.jpg

It cleared up a little where I can clean and re-silicone the overflow box where Ace help trimmed up to make the box smaller.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/10/arymupan.jpg
Forgot to snap a pic of the box on lol


While that was drying up I boiled the rocks that was in the vinegar bath

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/10/ba5y5ajy.jpg

I used rainwater to boil it hope it wasn't bad.

Hopefully the sky clears up so I can start staining!

[350gt]

Dang, that stand and canopy came out very nice!

[Tristan23]

Thanks Tony! Ace did a really good job.

So before work I managed to take out the stand and canopy to stain. Hopefully the weather will be nice the next couple days to do a second coat and polyurethane

I used a cherry red stain by varathane.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/15/a5u3uza4.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/15/eruteju6.jpg

This was my first time staining. What do you guys think?


Hopefully the E-Marco-400 comes in later today or tomorrow to bond the rocks together...

[Mr Cob]

Great looking system, Ace does a wonderful job.

Sent from my HTC VIVID using Tapatalk

[Tristan23]

Just one step closer to getting the system wet :)

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/15/a2u5usaj.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/15/ytypagej.jpg

[BBQHILLBILLY]

Looking sharp. :bigsmile:Good job on the staining.

[Tristan23]

Thanks Shane. So I snapped a few pics of the mortar I bonded together. It's pretty strong but I might have to buy more or use some proxy to stick a few pieces together.



http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/22/ramy2e6e.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/22/ujujuju9.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/22/gapu6e5a.jpg

[hobogato]

progressing very nicely tristan - great job on that rockwork!

[allan]

I like that armed looking last rock.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Tristan23]

It took me a while to figure out out to bond them together. This being my first time with this stuff I thought the mortar was a putty than thick cement. I just laid the center piece on its side stacked the rocks with the mortar without falling and worked for me. I should of used zip ties to hold some in place but I already started the mix.

[350gt]

looking good....



all these rebuilds is making me think ....lol

[Tristan23]

Thanks! Finally have some time to work on the tank today. Worked on the dry fit plumbing. What do you guys think? Is there anything else I should add on? Planning to going to Lowes and ER in a little bit.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/27/jymepa3a.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/27/munytyny.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/27/3a2eqenu.jpg

[hobogato]

i would put in unions on both drains just before they turn down into the filter sock so they are removable and the filter sock will be easier to take out for cleaning.

[Tristan23]

Will do I'll get a few of them right now.

[Tristan23]

It finally begins!! http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/31/ezema8uj.jpg

Seeded the tank at 8:30 :)

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/31/5umu9eny.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/31/3u5emebe.jpg

Making a list on the things I need/want as I'm waiting for this to finish:

CUC
LED Fixture (as of right now AI Vega)
MP10
Reef Keeper lite

Livestock:
Any kind of clownfish
Bulb anemone
RBTA

I'm glad I took my time on this. All I can do now is to save up :)

[allan]

Looking good, dude.

[350gt]

Clean...

[Big_Pun]

very nice!

[hobogato]

nice rockwork! that really turned out well tristan

[Tristan23]

Thanks guys. I had it planed two have two islands

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/31/ara3e9y5.jpg

But my girlfriend like the one island in the middle. It's always good to get a different opinions.

[hobogato]

oh, that is nice too... i think either will look great when it grows out. being a fan of keeping the sides of the tank clear of rock, i would vote for the single island

[Zack]

I like two islands, but scoot them in a bit so you can mount your mp10 on the side and not blast any corals. Looks good man!

[Tristan23]

Thanks Zach Ill keep it like that for now but I'm glad I made two islands. I can change it up in so many ways. It would be a pain to put one big piece in that tank. It won't be till March I will get the MP10. It will by my little birthday present for myself.

[Tristan23]

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/02/12/edupase9.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/02/12/urevyge2.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/02/12/y2yga5ap.jpg

I'm digging the new update for the Vegas...

Thanks to Ace and Tony for helping me set up the fixture!

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/02/12/e9y3esan.jpg

[Scutterborn]

Be careful! Your hard work is showing!

:)

Looks good, Tristan.


-Ben-

[RayAllen]

Looking good.

One vega to light it, huh? I was wondering about that myself. Seeing the tank is 36" and they have a coverage of 24", but with a island in the middle it will be evenly lit.

[Tristan23]

Length to length of the island is roughly 24" so I was lucky :D

[Tristan23]

Some of the stuff I collected from the last update :)

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/03/28/bemu2yru.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/03/28/8apyge9u.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/03/28/jyse3ymy.jpg

Had algae on the wall, giving those snails something to munch on. http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/03/28/5uruja7y.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/03/28/gasesasu.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/03/28/nuhy4uva.jpg


Talked to few people all over town about adding more supplement to my vegas. Led strips panoramas or retrofit T5's. money isn't much an option as I'm taking my time looking for the right placement either perpendicular or parallel with the Vegas as the are horizontal on my canopy. Any suggestions or opinions is greatly appreciated.

[Mr Cob]

looks great! What a nice looking rock scape. I really like that the corners and sides of the tank are darker versus evenly lit.

[jrossjr79]

looks very awesome, I agree with Rob, really nice looking rock scape.

[Tristan23]

Thanks guys! The light is about 12 inches above the water line. It was the only way to at least get a light spread over the whole tank. It worked pretty well with the rock scape. Wished I went to the meeting at Ben's place on how to rock scape. All I did was stack the rocks on the side mortar rock mortar and more rock. Than pray it won't fall drying it out lol. Next time if I had to do it again I would do zip ties.

[Mr Cob]

zip ties work well, even better is drilling holes in the rock and utilizing acrylic rods mounted to a thick flat piece of acrylic to be used as the base.

[Tristan23]

What did you use to drill the holes? A masonry bit?

[Tristan23]

Finally bought a Reef keeper Lite. Excited yet frustrated on it. Came in a bunch of cords. Is there different ways to hook it up? I'm trying to hook up to the computer to I can change and rename set out all the outlets. I have is 2 PC4, SL1 with the temp, and ph probe. Any suggestions or links is appreciated.

[BBQHILLBILLY]

Congrats with RKL. Have you tried this site http://www.digitalaquatics.com/saltwater/RKL

[Tristan23]

Thanks Shane! Yeah I have but unjust seeing other ways if there is other ways to hook everything up. And be able to hook it up to the computer with everything on if there is such a thing.

[350gt]

You need a Sid adapter.... I have one but Chris is keeping it hostage till I go see him...

[Tristan23]

Is it basically (best for my description) phoneline<Sid adapter<phoneline<USB<computer. I believe I have that. Wish I was home to take a picture of it.

[Tristan23]

Go see him! I was there week ago. The tank look nice with the new fixture up.

[Zack]

From what I've read you should update each module seprately, not connect all together.

The SID connects to the coupler then connects to the head unit. or you can go SID to the unit you would like to update.

Check page 14 of this guide

http://www.f3images.com/IMD/UserManuals/DA11311_1.pdf

[350gt]

Yes update each module separately.....

Then connect the Sid on the last pc4 and you can edit each pc4 or each channel on the pc4... Well atlleast on the elite you can.

[Zack]

You can also have everything plugged in, then unplug the temp probe from the last chain of the pc4 and you can reprogram the modules. That's what I do unless I need to do updates.

[Tristan23]

Idk what it is but my head is hurting lol. I'll work on It tomorrow. Thanks guys :)

[Zack]

lol call me if you need help tomorrow after 1. I'm framiliar with the pc4s and the head unit programming but not the sl1 probe

[BBQHILLBILLY]

This is an awesome setup
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/31/5umu9eny.jpg

[Zack]

Did you buy it?

[BBQHILLBILLY]

if i could i would, I still have room in the fish room

[Tristan23]

I haven't got any offers and I'm trying to get sell it by tomorrow since I'm off. Offers will be entertained :)

[Tristan23]

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/05/12/u5uhe6ev.jpg I'm going to miss this when this goes

[BattleAthletics]

What was the reason to sell it?

[Tristan23]

I was going to upgrade on a larger tank, but decided to stay and add on to the tank.

Look what I found the other day.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/05/24/uze3erup.jpg

[BattleAthletics]

**** load of snails!

[Tristan23]

I had a ton more eggs then a few days later they disappeared.

It's been almost 5 months since this tank started so here a little update:

Today I picked up ATI bulbs at Elegant Reef. 2 blue plus, and 1 actinic to add on the retrofit T5's I put on a month ago.

Thanks Louis for ordering them for me.

I had a problem with the reflectors being to far away from the bulb sockets. I had the reflectors drilled onto the canopy. Malofish told me to get long screws with washers and nuts and to suspend them from the canopy.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/06/22/uqe4adev.jpg

Worked pretty well and save some time and money

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/06/22/uhubu8un.jpg

Without T5's http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/06/22/sunebury.jpg

With T5's
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/06/22/vuga3uqy.jpg

More pics to come

[hobogato]

very nice tristan, glad you kept it :)

[malofish]

Day and night man! Very good choice to supplement with t5's. I like it lets start trying some of my deepwater zoas on the outsides bud!

[KING]

Looks nice

[Tristan23]

Thanks guys! I would like to see this tank all the way through. Also set up a cichlid tank next to it to crave my freshwater addiction. http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/06/23/a2eha9y6.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/06/23/5ava7aqu.jpg

Colony of German Ruby Reds.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/06/23/sa6a4ahu.jpg

[Tristan23]

Got home early from work to catch my lights still on. Took some pictures to share

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/08/14/u8u5yse6.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/08/14/yba3eqys.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/08/14/7u2egezu.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/08/14/9aduhamy.jpg

It's coming along really well and starting to notice I need another tank with all these corals being filled up on this tank :)

[smalls]

Very nice looking tank. I just purchased a 40g breeder tank and working out all the details on how I wanna set it up, yours I think is most close to what ill end up with. how many gallons of topoff do you go through per day and or week? want to put a shelf for a topoff tank but want to make sure its enough to last a week plus if possible

[Tristan23]

Very nice looking tank. I just purchased a 40g breeder tank and working out all the details on how I wanna set it up, yours I think is most close to what ill end up with. how many gallons of topoff do you go through per day and or week? want to put a shelf for a topoff tank but want to make sure its enough to last a week plus if possible

Thank you. For now I have a 10 gallon reservoir and fill it up with 5 gallon of water. It usually last me 4-5 days. I try to not let the water get low. Post a build I like to see the progress if you haven't already.

[smalls]

I will be posting up a build here shortly. Its prolly going to be a while before she sees water as im remodeling a small master bed / bath and doing the tank at the same time. Picked up most of the materials to build the stand so will start with that here over next few days

[envy]

nice looking tank man

[wbwoodworks]

Looking very nice Tristan ill be glad when I prove to the wife that I can reef with the best of them. She is behind me is doin this but wants to make sure I can keep it all alive before she lets me go nutso lol