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msn711
08/17/2006, 12:08 PM
30 Cubes and 40 Breeders seem to be the "in thing" in the nano world lately, even if they're not true nanos. So I opted to be different and set up a 30 Breeder. The dimensions are 36x18x13.

Tank Specs:
50 Lbs Fiji Life Rock - Jeff's Exotic Fish (recent sale - only $100 plus shipping)
70 Lbs Aragonite Sand - about 3" in the display and maybe 4" in the fuge
Lighting: 2x150w MH Coralife Aqualight HOT 14K (Since I already had one of these units, I just bought another one because the tank has a center brace. In my old unit, it's time for a replacement bulb, so I ordered a 14k Phoenix. The new one will keep the coralife 14k bulb. I thought about T5s, but the tank is so shallow, and I want a mixed reef.)
Portable Refractomer - Drs Foster and Smith
Sump/Fuge - 20L that I already owned. I had a ridiculously difficult time with the silicone (this is my first attempt at a sump). So after getting in 2 baffles, I just called it quits. Fortunately, bubbles aren't a problem. The fuge portion is about 14x12x9 or roughly 6.5 gallons. I put a bunch of rubble that came with the live rock order in there. I put a 13w Clip on light that I had from my old set up when I was using an AC filter as a fuge. I'll have to see how well it works out. The bulb is 6700k. I was always afraid of putting in a sump because all of the talk of plumbing and DIY work made it sound really complicated. It was so simple and easy to do however, except the baffles.
CSS 125 Skimmer
Return Pump - Mag 5: about 375gph after headloss.
Additional Circulation: an extra MJ 1200 and Penguin (300gph) for another 600 gph of circulation. Works out to just above 30x and a nice dip in the sand bed.
The overflow I picked up from the LFS, but it's the same design as the lifereefs. I tested everything and it doesn't lose siphon. I also put 2 siphon break holes in the return line.
Lastly, I just ordered the JBJ ATO system. I've got an extra MJ 1200 that I can hook up to it since the suction cups aren't working.

Pictures:


http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a211/msn711/100_0234.jpg
Struggling with putting in baffles.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a211/msn711/100_0236.jpg
Painted the back black, although the picture looks blue.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a211/msn711/100_0240.jpg
All set up

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a211/msn711/100_0247.jpg
Water and sand

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a211/msn711/100_0250.jpg
Live rock

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a211/msn711/100_0255.jpg
First Aquascape

Questions, comments, criticisms?

IndyMatt
08/17/2006, 12:53 PM
Are 30 breeders hard to find? I want to use one as a prop tank.

msn711
08/17/2006, 12:56 PM
I think they are. I just happened to stumble across this one at a freshwater store that keeps a lot of tanks in stock and realized it would make a great reef without being a big tank. They are a standard size for AGA though, so maybe a good LFS could order you one???

msn711
08/18/2006, 07:48 PM
Well, I went to turn on the new Coralife Aqualight today, and for some reason it wouldn't fire up. It would just flicker. I left it alone for an hour and then tried again...still just flickering. So I check all of the connections, and lo and behold there's a sizzling sound coming from the wiring. I look, and there's actually a small cut in the wire just before it connects to the ballast. Tomorrow, I'm going to try to take it back to the LFS; hopefully, they'll give me my money back. If not, the instructions say there's a 12 month warranty, so hopefully Coralife will replace it. I just hate that it quit working after only 2 days, and I have to wait and see if the LFS or Coralife is going to cooperate with me. This stuff is too expensive to be falling apart so easily.

slevesque
08/18/2006, 07:53 PM
Perfecto has a 30 breeder as well as AGA.

msn711
08/22/2006, 06:29 PM
LFS replaced the aqualight...no questions asked.

Ooh, Ammonia is at 0...one small step for the tank (and fairly quickly I might add). Nitrites are still off the charts.

JBJ ATO arrived along with a Phoenix 14k MH bulb. The ATO is great except for that annoying beeping. I'm just going to unplug it at night when I go to sleep. I also wish I had some space left in the stand. Right now, my ATO reservoir is a 5g bucket next to the tank that's almost in my doorway. Oh well...what can you do?

14K bulb looks sweet. Now I can actually see why the Coralife bulbs are considered garbage...it looks more 10K compared to the Phoenix. Gonna have to save up some many to replace that bulb as well.

CeeGee
08/22/2006, 07:00 PM
I think that sand is going to cause you problems if you don't keep it immaculate. It is too deep to be considered a SSB and not deep enough for a DSB. I made the same mistake and I am currently vacuuming out a little sand at a time and doing water changes as well.

msn711
08/25/2006, 08:52 PM
Interesting...I read somewhere that 3" was deep enough for a DSB in tanks less than 75g or so. But more importantly, I went with a lot of sand because I'm planning a pistol shrimp.

Right now, trying to get alkalinity under control and waiting for nitrates to drop before I order a frag pack.

msn711
09/04/2006, 12:20 PM
Some updated pics:

This full tank shot really shows the difference between the 2 bulbs:
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a211/msn711/100_0353.jpg

Closer full tank shot:
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a211/msn711/100_0334.jpg

Crocea Clam:
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a211/msn711/100_0338.jpg

Acro frag with some neon green tips:
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a211/msn711/100_0316.jpg

I was originally thinking this would be a mixed reef, but with the amount of light I have, I'm leaning more towards SPS dominant. I also can't decide how I feel about the great sand bed debate. Right now I have about 32x flow and periodic sand storms. I'm wondering if I should take out just some of the sand or all of it.

msuzuki126
09/04/2006, 12:23 PM
Sweet!

msn711
09/04/2006, 01:37 PM
Thanks!