jameshughes1989
Fish Addict
Introduction
So it begins, in the space of 6 months this will be my 3rd reef tank. Maybe this one ill let mature and grow out, or maybe not, who knows! Link to current tank thread, albeit not very updated:
Current Tank
The reason for the change is the problems I have had from the current tank. These were:
- Tank not being drilled and the hang on overflow box being a pain in the backside to use.
- Dont like the cube as I found it a hard shape to scape with and I dont want to change it now.
- Sump is awkward to get to and is hard to see the water level, therefore making it difficult to see if I need to top up.
- The fact that everyone likes a new tank! (Im still a big kid!)
- Hair algae is doing my head in, not too bad but im a perfectionist.
- Lost some SPS due to high nitrates, which is also causing the algae.
So the plan, same as before but better. I want it to be a mixed reef but may move on from softies, focus mainly on LPS and maybe a few SPS.
The Tank
After looking at several suppliers I was in a right mix. Found some amazing tanks with some great reputations for build quality but some were not easy on the pocket. After looking at the ND Aquatics website, I researched their customer service and build quality reputation and was happy. I then proceeded to e-mail them with my specs and after some very helpful e-mail and phone conversations I decided I would order with them. I decided on this:
24" x 18" x 18" (Length x Height x Width) Braceless/Rimless Marine Fish Tank:
- Tank Volume: 24 UK Gallon ( 110 Litre )
- 10mm all glass aquarium
- Polished edges
- 1 x Weir, right
- 3 Drilled holes, 1 Return, 2 Inlet
- Sump Tank 21"x18"x 13"
- Black silicone/Black Backing
- Cabinet, lugano oak, bar handles
- Front pane in Optiwhite™
- Comes with all the pipework needed
Cabinet in
Not excactly the same but it shpuld look similiar to this
The tank is being delivered on the Tuesday 5th April (3 weeks) so that is when the real fun will begin, hopefully with lots of pics along the way. Just thought I best right all this down now or ill just forget!
Lighting
Ill be using the same lighting from my previous tank. I feel this will be adequate as it has supported my LPS well and the tank will be 4 inches shallower. Its an Eco-Lamp KR-91 in black (24 inches).
Lighting periods are:
12-2 Blues
2-10 White and Blues
10-11 Blues
11-12 Moonlight
Filtration
The water will be filtered through approx 12kg of live rock. The scape will probably be a bit different from the last one. I might go for a couple of little mounds or 1 long mound. Ill be running a deltec mce300 skimmer along with a TMC v600 reactor fluidising bio-pearls. Im also lighting cheato to help with my nitrate problems and will probably be running a filter sock on the inlet to the sump.
Sand
Ill be using TMC medium grain sand with this tank, I used some on the cube and im very happy with it.
Flow
Flow will come from 2 powerheads and the return pump. I am undecided on what im going to use yet but hope to get an Vortech MP10 for this tank as I think they rock. I will be aiming for about 30+x turnover.
Reverse Osmosis
I didn't have my own unit until a few days ago. I should have got one sooner but just didnt get round to it. The hassle of going to the shop everytime I needed water and the worry of quality made me go for it. I have a 4 stage 50 GPD osmotics.co.uk unit. Its got an inline tds meter and its currently running on the outlet at 0 tds. Ill be using Red Sea Coral Pro Salt agin too.
Auto top-up
I plan to get one for this tank just to make my life easier. I feel that stability has been a huge issue with the current tank and this should help to combat against this. I would like a tunze one but may have to settle for a cheaper aqua medic one. Unless, someone can reccommend me one?
Chemistry and Dosing
I will be trying to keep my SG stable at 1.026 at a temp of 26C. I will try to keep my parameters inline with my Salt levels. They are:
Ca - 450
Mg - 1340
KH - 12.2
I have got FM Balling Salts to use if any of my levels are being used up to quickly but feel that on a tank this size the 10% weekly water tank should be sufficient. I do not dose anything else in the tank other than salifert coral food (daily dose of 3ml).
Stocking Plan
As said above, sticking with LPS, maybe a few softies and SPS. Fish will be 2 common clowns, my zebra goby, 1 Carpenters Flasher Wrasee and maybe a Chalk Bass. I will have a cleaner shrimp, emerald crab, and the normal hermits and turbo snails.
Conclusion
I hope this tank will be more successful than my current one and also easier to run. I am finding the tank a chore to run at the moment, it just seems to take up too much of my time. I plan to get a few frags and hopefully be successful in growing them on as colonies. I love tanks with miminal equpiment and rock with loads of corals so we shall see what I achieve.
I will try to keep this thread updated unlike my last one and without all the spiel of this post. I hope you enjoy reading my plan and I am open to critism, ideas and feedback, cheers.
James
So it begins, in the space of 6 months this will be my 3rd reef tank. Maybe this one ill let mature and grow out, or maybe not, who knows! Link to current tank thread, albeit not very updated:
Current Tank
The reason for the change is the problems I have had from the current tank. These were:
- Tank not being drilled and the hang on overflow box being a pain in the backside to use.
- Dont like the cube as I found it a hard shape to scape with and I dont want to change it now.
- Sump is awkward to get to and is hard to see the water level, therefore making it difficult to see if I need to top up.
- The fact that everyone likes a new tank! (Im still a big kid!)
- Hair algae is doing my head in, not too bad but im a perfectionist.
- Lost some SPS due to high nitrates, which is also causing the algae.
So the plan, same as before but better. I want it to be a mixed reef but may move on from softies, focus mainly on LPS and maybe a few SPS.
The Tank
After looking at several suppliers I was in a right mix. Found some amazing tanks with some great reputations for build quality but some were not easy on the pocket. After looking at the ND Aquatics website, I researched their customer service and build quality reputation and was happy. I then proceeded to e-mail them with my specs and after some very helpful e-mail and phone conversations I decided I would order with them. I decided on this:
24" x 18" x 18" (Length x Height x Width) Braceless/Rimless Marine Fish Tank:
- Tank Volume: 24 UK Gallon ( 110 Litre )
- 10mm all glass aquarium
- Polished edges
- 1 x Weir, right
- 3 Drilled holes, 1 Return, 2 Inlet
- Sump Tank 21"x18"x 13"
- Black silicone/Black Backing
- Cabinet, lugano oak, bar handles
- Front pane in Optiwhite™
- Comes with all the pipework needed
Cabinet in
Not excactly the same but it shpuld look similiar to this
The tank is being delivered on the Tuesday 5th April (3 weeks) so that is when the real fun will begin, hopefully with lots of pics along the way. Just thought I best right all this down now or ill just forget!
Lighting
Ill be using the same lighting from my previous tank. I feel this will be adequate as it has supported my LPS well and the tank will be 4 inches shallower. Its an Eco-Lamp KR-91 in black (24 inches).
Lighting periods are:
12-2 Blues
2-10 White and Blues
10-11 Blues
11-12 Moonlight
Filtration
The water will be filtered through approx 12kg of live rock. The scape will probably be a bit different from the last one. I might go for a couple of little mounds or 1 long mound. Ill be running a deltec mce300 skimmer along with a TMC v600 reactor fluidising bio-pearls. Im also lighting cheato to help with my nitrate problems and will probably be running a filter sock on the inlet to the sump.
Sand
Ill be using TMC medium grain sand with this tank, I used some on the cube and im very happy with it.
Flow
Flow will come from 2 powerheads and the return pump. I am undecided on what im going to use yet but hope to get an Vortech MP10 for this tank as I think they rock. I will be aiming for about 30+x turnover.
Reverse Osmosis
I didn't have my own unit until a few days ago. I should have got one sooner but just didnt get round to it. The hassle of going to the shop everytime I needed water and the worry of quality made me go for it. I have a 4 stage 50 GPD osmotics.co.uk unit. Its got an inline tds meter and its currently running on the outlet at 0 tds. Ill be using Red Sea Coral Pro Salt agin too.
Auto top-up
I plan to get one for this tank just to make my life easier. I feel that stability has been a huge issue with the current tank and this should help to combat against this. I would like a tunze one but may have to settle for a cheaper aqua medic one. Unless, someone can reccommend me one?
Chemistry and Dosing
I will be trying to keep my SG stable at 1.026 at a temp of 26C. I will try to keep my parameters inline with my Salt levels. They are:
Ca - 450
Mg - 1340
KH - 12.2
I have got FM Balling Salts to use if any of my levels are being used up to quickly but feel that on a tank this size the 10% weekly water tank should be sufficient. I do not dose anything else in the tank other than salifert coral food (daily dose of 3ml).
Stocking Plan
As said above, sticking with LPS, maybe a few softies and SPS. Fish will be 2 common clowns, my zebra goby, 1 Carpenters Flasher Wrasee and maybe a Chalk Bass. I will have a cleaner shrimp, emerald crab, and the normal hermits and turbo snails.
Conclusion
I hope this tank will be more successful than my current one and also easier to run. I am finding the tank a chore to run at the moment, it just seems to take up too much of my time. I plan to get a few frags and hopefully be successful in growing them on as colonies. I love tanks with miminal equpiment and rock with loads of corals so we shall see what I achieve.
I will try to keep this thread updated unlike my last one and without all the spiel of this post. I hope you enjoy reading my plan and I am open to critism, ideas and feedback, cheers.
James
very well planned. Sorry to hear of the current tanks issues but from the ashes rises new beginnings 
.
