Re-Rock work and Remora Nano

I've added a few more pieces of rock and re-aquascaped a bit. I needed less height and more surface area for corals. Finally got the temp to moderate without light. Now I need to get salinity up. Current salinity is 1.019. Too low. That's what I get for NOT mixing my own.

DIY top of bracket is done, in place and working good. Pump works good. Dual 65 watt 10K bulbs arrive tomorrow. Now I need to build a hood for them. Finnex replacement should be back next week. Ordered a DJ power control center for main control of all tank fixtures.

Aside from that... the wait continues. Another week and testing starts along with Kalk dosing.

Remora Nano skimmer started tonight. Little loud but bearable. Funny how folks hate a little "white noise" kind of relaxing to me.

I love the smell of a skimmer working. Not the result of the skim, the process!

Lighting

This weekend during the set up of the Finnex tank my 10K T5 lights went out. Don't know why/how but they just flickered and then POOF, OUT! Also the fan has been working on and off. Weird. So I emailed Finnex Sunday night and got a response Monday morning.

I was asked to return the lights for replacement. Hopefully I'll have them back by next week.

I have been struggling with the main return pump. All is working well, but it seems like this tank can handle more flow. The Tunze Nano's are creating a lot of movement in the water column but that does not move was "through" the system. I have read that folks are able to run the QuiteOne 3000 with no problems. I may try this pump. Maybe then I can add the LocLine Y and 2nd nozzle to the system. The current Finnex pump is rated a 623 GPH. The 3000 is rated at 780GPH.

I received my ATO today. Need to find a pump now. I have no clue what to buy. LOL! Back to Nano-Reef and start reading.

I also am waiting for 2 65watt 10K Coralife bulbs to arrive. The MH just throws to much heat into this little system. 226 watts over a 30 is decent for what I want to keep. 7.5 watts per gallon.

Here is just the 250 watt Iwasaki MH running. Bulb is about 10" above the water and it pushed my temp over the course of 3-4 hours from 79.2 to 81.1 That's almost 2 degrees. Safe but I still don't like swings like that. So the Finnex and Coralife light will be incorporated instead.

Now to figure out those damn Coralife programmable power strips!!!

It's ALIVE, It's ALIVE!

After a quick trip to the LFS for water this morning the project began. Half the water was added and rock work began. After numerous attempts at a layout I said enough is enough and left it as is.
Now the rest of the water was added and I was ready for the real test.

Power strip plugged in? Check. Towels at the ready? Check Tank leveled? Ah shit Nope! LOL! Time to cut a shim strip and get her level.

OK! Power on. First issue. Crappy flow. I kinda figured that was going to happen. LocLine Y removed. Flow MUCH improved. Next issue. I forgot to seal the factory hole for the fuge plumbing. Draw the tank down, cut a piece of acrylic and patch it. Let it dry and start over.

Power on. Everything works great. Adjust fuge flow and tadda! Now for the sand. The most tiresome part of the whole project. Sand done. Time to break out the HOT Magnum and scrub the water. Next series of picture shows the 4 hour process of cleaning the water via the HOT Magnum. I did have my main light go out. I think the ballast took a crap! POS!!!!!!!

Plumbing

After some thought I decided to install a bulkhead. I installed it to accommodate the use of LocLine. In order to use LocLine I needed to drill (ream) out the stock hole from Finnex to fit the 1/2"ID, 1 1/8"OD bulkhead. The Dremel tool, nice and slow did the job.

I wanted the ability to target specific areas in the tank to eliminate dead spots. Although, with two Tunze Nano streams that won't be necessary.

You can also see I added an elbow to meet the T connector.

I did have to modify the barbs on the MPT connectors. I cut two sections off of each end to gain some space to make connections. I also had drill another hole in the wall the sends water to the fuge side. The hole is the same size but about an inch towards the back.

Here you can see the whole Finnex stock connections. The ONLY part used in this mod is the main straight pipe that connects directly to the pump. I also had to cut down the main feed that heads to the fuge flow control side.
Next I cut the tubing to fit each connection. The only drawback to this mod is when you need to service the pump the whole thing needs to be taken apart including the elbow that is installed. That is unless you have small hand. I don't.

Here is the final product. After trip to LFS tomorrow for water I'll see it in action.

Also I will be constructing the enclosure for my 250Watt MH! I little black acrylic, heat strip and that should do it. Yeah right. Easy as that. HA!

Ordered and waiting for the following. Remora Nano skimmer, Coralife digital power strips, 2 65Watt 10K Power Compacts and last but not least my ATO!

Here is a shot of live rock "curing" and DIY 250W MH.

To cram or not to cram

That is the question. All right, 2 Tunze nano streams and a MH reflector arrived today. Nanos ROCK! My DIY Iwasaki's NEVER looked better. That got me to thinking. Can I shoehorn a 250 watt MH AND 65 watt PC's into my standard Finnex set up? Do the math. 250+130+96

I think I can. Here's how. (maybe) Construct a second hood for the MH. Not much heat generated behind the reflector. So I'm going to attempt a acrylic hood. Light weight, strong and easy to work with. 1/4" should do the trick I think.

Coralife dual 65 is already torn apart from 60 gal tank. I will need longer lead wires to outlets. Easy. Ballast's are tiny (compared to MH one.) Fans not necessary if mounted in stand. Now for the fun part. Finnex hood is 23 1/2" wide. Plenty of room for 65 watt PC's stuck on the sides. The trick will be mounting the PC clips the hold the bulbs. They will need to have clearance and not operate at a funky angle. No reflector needed as the Finnex reflector will be utilized. Then figure out moon light LED wiring and placement. (Stock placement stinks IMHO)

Next shipment from MD is LocLine plumbing stuff. Got the Y, forgot one whole side of Y plumbing stuff. Scheduled to arrive Monday. DOH!

Sand may hit the tank this weekend. OLD 60 gal. LR get placed in tank with saltwater. Cycle begins? How long can LR survive out of water wrapped in wet newspaper? Don't know? We'll find out. Lots of color still and NO SMELL.(die off) We'll see! Substrate is a combination of South Down, fine (yes I have South Down, still have 12 bags of it) and Argonite course.

Reef wall is out. Too many drawbacks at this point. Time and MONEY (for LR)!

ATO, 10K bulbs and Coralife power strips ordered.

Man will this tank ever get started. Mod, mod and mod some more!

The Stand

Main construction of the stand is complete. Final size is 27D X 30W X 36H. All 2X4 construction with 1/2 veneer plywood top, bottom and 1 shelve.
I first cut 4 24",30" and 36" 2x4's. I had to take into account the ability to get the stand out of the basement if needed.
I then built two 27"X30" (24"+ 1 1/2" width of 2X4=27") They turned out pretty square! Amazing ehhh!!!!
Next step was to attach main legs. If you notice I installed legs to the inside. This will allow me to install another 2X4 on the outside for added support.

Here is LB standing inside the stand!!!!

Here you can see the other 2X4 installed to the outside of the frame adding support to the top. All connections were made with 2 1/2" sheet rock screws.

Top cut and placed on frame. Top off container sitting in place. An ATO from Ebay will be installed for top off.

Installed a shelve for storage and tank placed on stand. Up next is staining the top. Going with a black stain. Sides will be 1/4" Oak veneer plywood stained black. Front will be the same except it will not be nailed. I will place velcro on the front for full and easy access.

So it begins...

After tearing my 60 gal. down for the move I wanted to step back and re-evaluate my position on reef keeping. The 60 was A LOT of work.

I have always enjoyed smaller systems and was waiting for the right one to come along.

Well I found it. A 30 gal. Finnex cube. I came to this conclusion after reading some posts at Nano-Reef and ReefCentral. It seemed the quality was there.

I am shooting for a softy tank with a few fish (3 maybe), crabs, shrimp and clean up crew.

I was really impressed with masterswimmer's reef wall set up. I want to add a peninsula coming out of the center of the tank. Take a look here!

My (initial) set-up will be as follows.

Lighting: Stock T5's that came with the tank. In addition to the T5's I will either add my Dual 65W Coralife PC's or one of my two 175W MH. Custom Acrylic hood (built by me to house them)

Pump: Stock for now. Going to leak test and run tonight. Single output will be replaced by a 1 1/8" X 1/2" bulkhead, Loc-Line Y and two 1 1/2" nozzles. To add "flow" I am adding two Tunze 6025 Nanostreams. Thought about a larger pump but was concerned first about heat and then the need for a valve to control flow. Some have had to mod their fuges to settle down the flow.

Skimmer: Stock for now. There seems to be a little trouble with micro bubbles and adjustments. I'll wait for that verdict.

Stand: Custom built by me. I plan on thinking this one out a bit. Need room for Top off container and a safe (read DRY!) place for electrical.

ATO system found here.

That's it for now. It is going to be a good weekend to start this "adventure" here in Burnsville. Weekend highs will NOT make it above zero during the day and -15 to -20 at night! YIKES!