29G Build

[Choice84]

Hi all! Just got back into the hobby and looking forward to getting this up and running sooner rather than later (not that I'm trying to rush the cycling process). Here are a couple pics of my progress so far:
26923
26922
2692426925

[Dkray944]

Looking forward to seeing the buildout. What do you plan on keeping?

[Choice84]

Looking forward to seeing the buildout. What do you plan on keeping?
Thanks! Mainly acans is what I plan on having. Couple other softies as well. I should be getting my substrate and salt mix tomorrow then the rest of my misc. equipment saturday, so everything is falling in place as planned so far lol. I do need to get some LR as well as all I have is dry right now. Any local place in San Antonio with good stuff? Also how would I go about mixing the saltwater first time around? Can I just mix in the tank itself so I can knock all 30+ gallons at once?

[alton]

Welcome back to MAAST and you should be fine mixing all your salt in the aquarium to start. I would add liverock before substrate or make sure your rock sits on the glass not the substrate. If you do and ever add a sand digging fish like a goby the rock may settle on his head or shift. If you are worried about cracking the bottom pane of glass add a piece of plexi-glass to the bottom for protection. I would go to different stores picking out the best of the best buying only the choice pieces from each one. Also smell it, you maybe able to get enough rock that is fully/almost cured.

[Cammed_02]

Nice start man, gonna be a sweet little setup. Most people mix up saltwater in brute trash cans or food safe containers. If you have some spare 5 gallon buckets those will work too. You are going to need them anyway for when you do water changes.

[Choice84]

I have my dry rock in right now and it is sitting on the bottom glass. I only got about 20 lbs so I may need to get more LR than I thought but will definitely look for some good pieces.

I have 2 empty 5 gallon buckets right now, just wondering if mixing in the tank itself while it cycles was a good idea.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Choice84]

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/05/29/6922fab76f6a823ef96b3f84e1585137.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/05/29/83f5acdb2f540cc9d44518d22d2c1234.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Dean]

The double arch aquascape looks sharp!

[Choice84]

Thanks! Here's a few more pics with LR

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/06/01/8730afbff008b9753f2a6e3fc1513f39.jpg

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/06/01/0d0cda5ed70885f640a64ac45d6a5723.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Cammed_02]

Looks great, I like the minimalist look as well. Did you glue the rocks or are they just stacked.

[Choice84]

Thanks! I do have about 10#s of live-rock in the sump as well. There are just stacked but I did various "earthquake" tests lol. I would bump into it or shake the entire tank, before the water of course, just to make sure it was solid. I did contemplate zip tying them together but ended up with some good pieces of rock that meshed very well together.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Choice84]

So I've been wondering what everyone else uses for their return pump from the sump. I have a sicce 1.5 (358 gph) and not sure if it is enough flow. I plan on mainly having an acan garden and some other softies. There is also a 565 gph koralia in the tank. I have a maxi jet 1200 (1300 gph) for mixing my saltwater. Should I swap the two? What are some other pros and cons of each I may not have read about in reviews?

[Dean]

The most common number I see used is to have 10 times your gallons per hour turn over rate. In other words for 30 gallon tank you want to achieve 300 gph. The size pump depends on your plumbing and head pressure ( the distance that the pump has to push uphill to get to the tank).

For softies and most lps the 10times turn over ratio is a good number. You might see some of the sps guys get more towards 30 times per hour.

The koralia will be good for creating indirect flow by having it directed to disrupt the flow of your return. If you still have the paper work for your return pump it will have the exact flow per ft of head pressure so you can see if it will be putting out what you need but to me it sounds pretty much perfect.

[Choice84]

Sorry I haven't been able to update lately. Tank is still running through its cycle and doing well. Unfortunately my work schedule is a little crazy and I don't think I will have time to properly maintain a reef with the right care. I will most likely be selling it sooner than later. Hopefully as a whole but will part out if I have the time to break it down. I will post more about the specs of the equipment in the for sale section but if there is any interest please message me. Here are a few pics of its current state
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/06/13/6f51542809f27a5436699a517ba551fd.jpg


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Choice84]

I think it's ready for a clean up crew.

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/06/14/c3dbfd39844fb98d4210e187721601ee.jpg

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/06/14/926564c5b292b32b437aef56bb72dcae.jpg


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Dean]

👍

[Choice84]

Damsel, cleaner shrimp and 3 turbos acclimated

[Choice84]

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/06/19/a00df4b25a8d954ade00efb27aff8a68.jpg

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/06/19/bf74b97280aafb54271e29d115725aee.jpg

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/06/19/c49f1c179db3ff254c15aa3d9eb8b25a.jpg

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/06/19/ef4899ee26a3148efb50d5f529801bf6.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Choice84]

Still doing well. Looking at possibly adding a few more acans 

[Dean]

Coming by along nicely.

[Choice84]

Frogspawn
27067

Zoas
27068

New residents
27069



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Dean]

Nice additions!

[Mr Cob]

Looking good. A little late but i also like to cut egg crate where my rock will go then add rock on top and then sand...but too late :)

Look forward to seeing some corals take over that rock scape. The large tunnels look interesting.

Maybe add a lirtle island...?

[Mr Cob]

Nice job on the plumbing too. Sweet and simple... i like it.

[Choice84]

Thanks! Yeah I thought of putting the egg crate after seeing a few tanks with it. And I actually have a smaller rock with a gsp frag that hopefully becomes a little grassy island :)


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Dkray944]

Looking good. Slow and steady wins the race.

[Choice84]

Couple of updated pics. Since last update I've added an emerald crab and 3 red leg hermits to help with the hair algae as well as pruning it myself and siphoning out. It is getting better but still has a long way to go. Corals are all happy and opening very nicely. Been having trouble finding a good spot for the palys though. Any suggestions?

Not hosting, just like to be in front of the camera
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07/26/244651991217e9a29db4bccef9ca301e.jpg

Palys on substrate
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07/26/7f4f710ef8106064af21c7a9da0e3647.jpg

Acans
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07/26/b7d1e8ca570a82a506ed46d05b672c95.jpg

Gsp island
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07/26/ec0f795d8b12212ed6d5da4b6aa65228.jpg

Emerald crab, molting on the left
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07/26/2d4daf28f4f9839ccc028c7c1719c3da.jpg

Fts
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07/26/c017977b235a80324e6b0bb09369a8c3.jpg

Cleaner shrimp helping acans out
https://vimeo.com/134563695

https://vimeo.com/134563337


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Choice84]

https://vimeo.com/134564125



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Choice84]

Current fts
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/08/03/b226fbd19d85715ede56e6e40654dfe8.jpg

[Choice84]

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/08/09/49a6b7da576b980c5c166d021b4836e7.jpg

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/08/09/ee052610b898314180a6e30cb4b2fb85.jpg


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Davie118]

Lookin good :D

Sent from my LGLS740 using Tapatalk

[Choice84]

Not much to update on other than my frogspawn appear to be splitting. All other corals are opening and seem happy. Clowns are getting along fine too.

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/08/12/816e0d82f27a743acad92bbab929e325.jpg

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/08/12/4e8c415aca52fe74da07ec3d41905ce5.jpg

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/08/12/3d41e252a9d8ba8a0cd3a02e87825db6.jpg


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Choice84]

8/16

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/08/16/f14e2fd397a7922b53fa2a2bf9b87bd8.jpg

I was moving the acans around a couple days ago and may have upset them. They haven't fluffed up over the past few days. I placed them back to their original spot. Should I give them more time?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Davie118]

General rule is leave them be

~Greg

[Choice84]

Ok. I figured as much. Everything else appears to be doing well. Not sure how much longer until the frogspawn completes splitting but I am anxiously waiting the result.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[nanoman28g]

8/16

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/08/16/f14e2fd397a7922b53fa2a2bf9b87bd8.jpg

I was moving the acans around a couple days ago and may have upset them. They haven't fluffed up over the past few days. I placed them back to their original spot. Should I give them more time?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Nice! I like the scape.

[alfred14]

Looks nice is it an AIO or does it have a sump? I have a 29 that I would like to use for my first ever salt tank.