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09/30/2010, 04:22 PM | #1 |
Northern Reefer
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 531
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Russter's 20 gal Reef
After 2 years, I decided to tear down my 90 gal reef that was in the dining room. High electrical costs and a couple of spills on the hardwood were enough to make me try to please my wife and get the tank out of there.
So I decided to downsize and put a 20 gal tank in my built-in entertainment center in the basement. I could set up a fishroom on the other side of the wall and keep all the noise and equipment out of earshot and sight. This will hopefully make my wife happier The tank is a 20 gal high and I am using an old 55 gal I had around for the sump. I also have a 10 gal tank that I am using for a RO-DI reservoir. Here is a picture of the entertainment center I am using the Beanimal overflow style again on this tank and I love it. 1" pipes on all the returns and it is dead silent. Once it crusts up with some coraline, hopefully you wont even be able to see the elbows. Lights are 4x 24w T5 Odessea with 2 ATI blue plus, 1 ATI aquablue special, and 1 KZ Figi purple. I really like this setup of bulbs and it really seems to bring out the colors in the corals. Closer up FTS The fish room is directly behind the cabinet in another room. I built a low stand for the 55 gal that has the SWC Xtreme 160 skimmer, Mag 18 return pump and refugium. I put most of the leftover rock and sand from the 90 gal in the refug. I also purchased a Level Loc auto-topoff so that I could hook it directly into my Bulk Reef Supply 75 gal/day RO-DI unit. No more lugging jugs for me. The system is controlled by a Digital Aquatics Reefkeeper Lite. Unfortunately, something happened to one of my PC4 power bars during the move and I have shipped it off to DA to (hopefully) get fixed. I should have it back late next week or the week after. Then I will be able to set up my doser and get the moonlights on a timer for dusk/dawn. I have a mixed reef with the only flow coming from the 1.5 inch return off the Mag 18 pump. This provides the corals with what I would call moderate flow, but I think I am going to purchase a Vortech MP10 to mix things up in there. Here's some coral shots: |
09/30/2010, 04:25 PM | #2 |
Northern Reefer
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 531
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And a few more:
I have 1 Saddleback Clown, 1 Percula Clown, and a Lawnmower Blenny |
10/01/2010, 03:03 PM | #3 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Costa Rica
Posts: 243
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Looks good
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10/01/2010, 05:25 PM | #4 |
Northern Reefer
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 531
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10/02/2010, 12:42 PM | #5 |
Moved On
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 201
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Thats a pretty big sump for a 20g!
Nice aquascape |
10/02/2010, 08:33 PM | #6 |
Northern Reefer
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 531
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I know. But I had that old scratched up 55 lying around and I was tired of everything being jammed into my old sump. Plus this up's the total water volume and allowed me to have a large 'fuge. I would eventually like to put some mangroves in there too.
I really like the aquascape too. It seems to allow for good water movement without any powerheads. |
10/30/2010, 09:32 PM | #7 |
Northern Reefer
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 531
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Update
Here are some updated pics of my tank as of October 30, 2010:
I got rid of my Saddleback Clown because he was getting a bad attitude and killed a purple firefish that I had added. So I traded him in and and got a second perc clown and a strawberry dottyback You can see the chunk out of it's tail from the Saddleback Also got some new Zoas Some of the other corals in the tank |
11/26/2010, 03:07 PM | #8 |
Northern Reefer
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 531
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Coral warfare
I woke up the other morning to a battle in my tank. A chalice was getting attacked by his close neighbor favia.
I knew that I had placed them too close to begin with but was hoping for the best. I moved the favia but the damage was done. It has been a couple of weeks now and the chalice is starting to heal and look better. Lesson learned I guess. By the way, can anyone ID these two corals for me? |
11/26/2010, 06:35 PM | #9 |
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Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Sarasota, Florida
Posts: 30,279
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Tank looks great and nice setup in the back room
But one thing has me confused, "I have a mixed reef with the only flow coming from the 1.5 inch return off the Mag 18 pump. This provides the corals with what I would call moderate flow....." Moderate flow from a Mag 18 ? Instead of keeping it valved back I'd recommend you plumb off another return from the Mag and avoid putting a powerhead in the tank. JMO because I have an aversion to too much equipment in a display tank. Your's looks so clean I'd hate to see you junk it up with a powerhead.
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Less technology , more biology . Current Tank Info: 30 gallon half cube and 5.5, both reef tanks |
11/26/2010, 07:40 PM | #10 |
Northern Reefer
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 531
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Thanks Agu!
I have been thinking of plumbing another return. I also like the clean, uncluttered look without any powerheads and I have lots of flow left on the Mag 18. I have it 5/8ths open right now and would like to be able to open it up more but it is too strong with the single return. |
11/26/2010, 07:48 PM | #11 |
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: GA
Posts: 1,636
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WOW! thats alot of equipment for a 20g! I love it! lol.
i really like those speckled zoas a couple posts back, where did you get them?
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:) Current Tank Info: 75g mixed reef, 28g nano SPS |
11/26/2010, 08:21 PM | #12 |
Northern Reefer
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 531
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11/27/2010, 12:32 PM | #13 |
Registered Member
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Is that a Galaxia on the left?
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pairo chero Thanks for looking at my build thread and subscribe to it if you already haven't yet! Current Tank Info: thirty rimless |
11/27/2010, 01:35 PM | #14 |
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Location: GA
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^ i would have guessed it was some type of goniopora?
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:) Current Tank Info: 75g mixed reef, 28g nano SPS |
11/27/2010, 01:40 PM | #15 |
Northern Reefer
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 531
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I was told it was Alveopora due to the # of "petals"
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11/27/2010, 02:26 PM | #16 |
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Join Date: Nov 2010
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I love the back room setup you have. My plan is to do something like that when I move in a few months. If I have any questions I know who to ask
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11/27/2010, 09:11 PM | #17 |
Northern Reefer
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 531
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11/27/2010, 09:19 PM | #18 |
Northern Reefer
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 531
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From ReefPedia:
Alveopora spp. Difficulty: Medium to Hard Light: Moderate Aggression: Not aggressive Hardiness: Very delicate Growth Rate: Slower Availability: Uncommon to rare The Alveopora spp. corals are commonly known as "Flowerpot" corals, and are close relatives to Goniopora. Goniopora spp. are also known as "Flowerpot" corals, so it is worth noting that they share a common name, but are different genera of coral. Alveopora is the slightly easier to keep cousin to Goniopora. Both genera of corals, Alveopora and Goniopora are very delicate, and have limited success in the aquarium trade. A difference is noted between the two by looking at a polyp and counting the nubby tentacles around the polyp. Alveopora has twelve of these "petals", while Goniopora has twenty-four. There are several species of Alveopora with limited available photographs for identification, making it somewhat difficult to determine exactly which may be in your possession. I have had this coral for over a year and it has grown a bit. I do not usually directly feed it but it will get the occasional squirt of reef chili. |
11/29/2010, 06:26 AM | #20 |
Northern Reefer
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
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11/30/2010, 12:50 AM | #21 |
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Location: Vancouver, Canada
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Very clean. Looks good.
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20G Frag Tank - Koralia 750, Sunlight Supply New Wave 4x24W T5HO, 50W Eheim Jager Heater. 20G Frag Tank - Koralia 550, 70W Metal Halide 20K Ushio, 50W Eheim Jager Heater 10G Rimless Display - Koralia 425, 70W Metal Halide 20K Ushio, 50W Eheim Jager Heater 15G Empty |
11/30/2010, 05:19 AM | #22 |
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Location: phoenix, arizonia
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i love your tank . it has to be cool to have a fish room like that ?
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11/30/2010, 06:28 AM | #23 |
Northern Reefer
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 531
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11/30/2010, 06:35 AM | #24 | |
Northern Reefer
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 531
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Quote:
Speaking of parameters, here are the latest as of last night: pH ~ 8.21 Salinity ~ 1.026 Temperature ~ 81.0 F Alkalinity ~ 9 DKH Calcium ~ 400 ppm Magnesium ~ 1350 ppm All tests are done with Elos test kits. |
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