My 36g Bowfront Build

jse08

jse08

Member
Two questions:
1)I have a 30" nova extreme fixture and an 18" nova extreme fixture. Would there be any reason that I couldn't go buy another 30" 10000k t5 bulb and another 18" actinic bulb and then swap bulbs so that my 30" light is just 10000k and my 18" is just actinic. That way I can control them separately to run just actinics, etc. Any reason that wouldnt work?
2) I currently have a Koralia nano pointed across the back of my tank and a Koralia 3 on the back wall near the bottom aiming up and toward the center of the tank. The Koralia 3 is a loaner because I broke my Koralia 2. What would be a good amount of flow in the tank? I plan on getting some zoa's, some frogspawn, and some mushrooms. My fish stock list is going to be a flame angel, a pair of bangaii cardinals, and a bicolor pseudochromis.
 
jse08

jse08

Member
Well I got a GREAT deal today! There is a LFS that my cousin goes to a lot and he told me they had two black and white ocellaris clowns there for awhile. He said they looked really good and they sell them for $39.00 each. He asked if they would sell both for any less, they said $70 for both. I was undecided for alittle but then I just decided I wanted them... so he goes to pick them up for me and the employee ended up making the price $56 for both. They have been there for 3 months and are already paired up. Needless to say I'm pretty happy. Oh and I also got 5 blue leg hermits for free since I spent over $50.
They are currently acclimating so I'll post some pictures tomorrow.
:-D
 
redsea

redsea

Active Member
Originally Posted by jse08
http:///forum/post/2944850
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:


the tank looks great! that is a good picture of the shrimp!
 
jse08

jse08

Member
haha thanks. I broke down the 10g and put the shrimp into a 5g eclipse hex that I had but the water params weren't so good so I just swapped it to the refugium in my sump until I can figure something else out. I don't want to put it in with the bicolor pseudochromis i bought because I've read they will kill shrimp. I might end up taking it to a pet store (stinks because I've had it from 1/2" to 2")
 
jse08

jse08

Member
here are a couple pictures I took yesterday...
One of my nassarius snails (shell is around 3/4" from front to back)

Another nassarius snail(this one is tiny)
 
jse08

jse08

Member
finally finished the doors for my stand. I still have to take them back off and stain them one of these days.

best picture I could get of the bicolor:(he was quartering away)

clowns: it got blurry when I took it but you get the idea

I REALLY need to clean my glass and take some more pictures!
 
jse08

jse08

Member
thanks! I love them too and I especially love that I got them for $56 and they are decent sizes too. In my area they normally go for $40-50 a piece
 
matt boyer

matt boyer

Member
yeah get some better pics lol the doors look good but is it just me the one handle looks a little higher then the other.
 
jse08

jse08

Member
Apparently my fish don't like their pictures taken! I can sit with my nose 2 inches off the glass and they will come and sit right in front of me but as soon as the camera is in front of my face they HIDE!!!!
Also, what kinds of cameras do you all use for taking pictures? My camera can't seem to handle the motion... it always gets blurry
 
jse08

jse08

Member
a couple pictures:

best I could get of the clowns... they dont come to the front of the tank much:

bicolor:
 
jse08

jse08

Member
oh one more thing,
I found a local reefer that has a few corals and I was thinking of getting them... he wants $5 a piece for these:

and like $15 for this:

worth it?
 
jse08

jse08

Member
Over the weekend I bought a Koralia 1, a Coralife Power Center Power Strip, and the Pocket Guide to Marine Fishes, all for $73 WITH shipping
Hydor is also sending me a replacement pedastal kit to replace the one I broke on my K2 the other week, and also the washers to (hopefully) quiet down the loud vibrations.
 
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