My 36g Bowfront Build

jse08

Member
I currently have a 10g set up for saltwater with only a peppermint shrimp (had a 4 stripe damsel but it disappeared a few nights ago and haven't been able to find it since). It has approximately 20 pounds of live rock.
The bottom line is that a 10 gallon is just too small for me. I got a free 29g from my aunt and was planning on swapping everything over to that. However, I was wasting some time at a LFS and saw that their tanks were 20% off so I picked up an Aqueon 36g bowfront with a HOB filter, lid, and 200w heater for $120 new. I then put the 29g for sale and ended up getting $75 for it (I couldn't believe it).
I originally planned on using HOB filtration with the tank but the Penguin 350 I bought didn't fit on the tank due to the center brace so I took that back and decided to go the sump/refugium route.
My dad and I started the construction of my stand (he used to be a cabinet maker) and once I figured out how much space I was going to have, I bought a 20H(biggest volume tank I could fit). I got some free acrylic from my cousin and started putting the baffles in the tank. Unfortunately I made one of the pieces too tight and not thinking it would be an issue I just siliconed it in. I thought wrong and the one side pane of glass cracked about half way across. I found another tank and that became the sump.
My equipment is:
Nova Extreme t5 2x24w light fixture - $74
AquaC Remora w/ MJ1200, drain fitting, and noise mod - $130
Koralia 2 - $20
Eshopps 800gph overflow - $37
23w (produces 75w) power compact plant light - $10
5.5" Light housing - $7
Tetra DynaMag 500gph return pump - FREE (we had one that was going to be for a pond)
SCWD 3/4" wavemaker - $32
Various Plumbing Parts - ~$60
Chaetomorpha - FREE
I got 31 lbs of live rock from some lady that had it in a bucket sitting outside for $60 and then I bought another 7 lb rock (the top piece) for $40 I have another 5 lb rock in the 10g that will be going into the DT and also some rubble rock that will be going into the sump and maybe to fill some small spots in the DT. I also have two Koralia Nanos that will be going in the tank once I swap everything when this tank is cycled.
I need to get back to the LFS and get another 10 lbs of sand or so to make the DSB in the sump alittle deeper. I want to get the chaeto further up into the flow. I also am trying to figure out a way to quiet down the drain line where it enters the sump. I was having problems with the overflow box gurgling but to solve that problem I removed the standpipe I built and just stuck some airline tubing down the bulkhead. Problem solved.
Thanks for taking the time to read my thread and any CC is great!
Pictures:





My 10g:

 
E

eric b 125

Guest
lookin good so far. any ideas of a stocklist yet? keep up the good work! by the way: that stand looks great!
 

jse08

Member
Thanks! The stand cost me ~$75 to build compared to the $150 the LFS wanted for one and this one looks WAY better!
As far as a stocklist goes, I'm not totally sure. For one thing I'm not sure what I want to do with the peppermint shrimp. I've had the thing for around 8 months, since it was less than 1/2" long (its 2" now), but it is pretty NASTY. I bought a $2 zoa frag last week and the shrimp has destroyed all buy ONE polyp. It is also CONSTANTLY hanging on the snails trying to get around the shell. I have watched this A LOT lately and its definitely not just cleaning the shells or anything like that. Maybe putting it in the bigger tank would take away some of the aggression, who knows.
Anyway,
I'd like to do a flame angel but I also want to venture into some easier corals and I've read that flames can start to nip corals eventually.
My girlfriend also wants a black and white clown, but she has also mentioned that she really likes Royal Grammas and Bicolor Pseudochromis. I haven't done much research to see what fish will really be a good match though.
Any ideas?
 

jse08

Member
Thanks!
Do you guys think the Nova 2x24w light will be enough for like zoa's and some others beginner corals?
 

nissan577

Active Member
yea ofcourse. zoas and mostly all of the other beginner corals could live under not much light. SPS and some LPS are the one that need Metal halide and T5. but everyother ones dont. so you are good.
great tank btw
cant wait to see it done
 

jse08

Member
Good to hear. I also have the 18" version of the light which is 2x18w so if it wouldn't have been enough I could always throw that on too.
We also still need to build the doors for the stand but who needs them to get the thing running.
So far I LOVE the bowfront look. For some reason it makes the tank look a lot bigger than it actually is!
 

nissan577

Active Member
it sure does! it looks fantastic. i wouldnt put the doors IMO i would like to see if i have pods and such.
looks great!
 

jse08

Member
I really like the clean look with everything hidden. I read something about running the plant light in the sump when the regular light is off in order to help keep ph up among other things. Once I get doors built I think I'm going to try that, but I'd never be able to sleep with the light on with no doors haha.
 

nissan577

Active Member
dont worry the boggie monster wont come out! our the fuge monster!
yea what you read is true. the light will keep your ph at night while the DT light is off.
 

jse08

Member
No, we released it. (He's my cousin) It was caught in Tampa Bay and weighed an estimated 100 lbs.
 

jse08

Member
well I added the first fish yesterday: a bicolor pseudochromis. I also moved the zoa frag that was in my 10g into the 36g because it had been nearly destroyed by my peppermint shrimp. In the three days since that happened there are already more polyps open on the frag.
Today I also moved the shrimp and some live rock into a 5g eclipse hex tank I had (with a 10w coralife screw in 50/50 bulb) and found a small crab on the one rock.
here's a picture of it:

no new pictures of the 36g yet though.
 

scottallert

Active Member
maybe the dottyback was a bad idea, ive had 3 and they all have been nightmares, killing shrimp, and my firefish and would have killed my purple firefish but i got it out, and they would bite the tails off my clown and anthias.
i have a yellow, bicolor and royal.
maybe youll have better luck
 

jse08

Member
hmm I had one before and it was perfectly fine towards the other fish. It it becomes a problem I'll pull it out.
 
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