20g Nano Setup

[Porkfat]

Setting up my new tank and my first reef setup, wanted to get a few opinions/suggestions.

Here is the gear some of it I have bought some of it is theory.

Stats:

Tank ~20g
- 24 x 13 x 16
- External Overflow

Sump ~10g (Rubbermaid)

Remora Skimmer

Aqua Medic Ocean Light 1X150W DE 20000K

(2) PanWorld 40PX-MD20R External Water Pump - 480gph
- Sump Return and Closed Loop

Flow Setup and Tank Design

I was thinking about using one of the bulk heads in the external overflow as an intake for the Closed Loop, figured it'd be safer then an intake inside the tank, just might be a little more noisy.

Not sure about having only two outputs for the CL one on each side with a MBV or OM squirt (leaning towards the OM because of price).

Sump return flow comes to ~200 - 250 gph when accounting for bends and head pressure.

Closed Loop flow comes to ~350 gph when accounting for friction and bends.

27.5 X Turnover seems a little high but most tanks this small tend to run a little high from what I've seen.

I'm buying all this stuff now, ahead of the tank. I just ordered it 3 - 4 weeks till it’s done; don't know how long for shipping from the mainland to Hawaii. Haven’t decided on all the flow stuff / plumbing so far so I'd appreciate some help on that. Any equipment / lighting info would be helpful. I'm not sure if I need to get anything else.

Help

~Brandon

 

[Krish]

Brandon...You look like you've got a pretty good setup there in mind. One things for sure, with a tank that size, it wouldn't be too hard to get enough flow. I like your idea on using one of the bulkheads in the external overflow as an intake for your closed loop. Once you get all of the air out of it, it won't be noisy IMO. About using two outputs @ 350 gph...I don't think it will serve much purpose once it is split in 2. 175 gph each isn't much. You'd probably be better off just using 1 output with the full flow. If you want 2 outputs, I'd probably suggest a bigger pump for the closed loop. One of my nozzles in my tank is a return from my magnum 350 (which is supposed to give me 350 gph) and it isn't much flow really. It gives pretty good surface aggitation, but nothing much to maybe move detritus off of my rocks. However, my tank is a 90 gal and may pertain to you. Just a few thoughts...

 

[Porkfat]

Thanks krish, just trying to make the switch to be able to support some corals. I've thought a lot about it and I want to do it right the first try instead of doing it right on the second or third tank.

For the CL when using a MBV or OM wouldn't it switch between the two outputs? That would place 1 output at a time to 350 gph switching between the two?

Anyhow thanks much for the input, it really does help a lot.

~Brandon

 

[Krish]

What does MBV and OM stand for (LOL)?

 

[DonW]

Id use a am2100 and no mbv just to simplify things the turbulance will be more than enough. 27x turn over really isnt much in any size tank. I'm assuning your goal is a nano sps tank.

Don

 

[Porkfat]

OM = oceans motions

MBV = Motorized Ball Valve

Sorry krish, I just get caught up in all the acronyms I see here sometimes.

~Brandon

 

[Krish]

LOL...Thanks Brandon. I know what they are, but just didn't remember them by their acronyms. It must be my pill kicking in making my brain slow down. (LOL)

 

[Porkfat]

am2100 however I had to look up

I didn't have a clue what it was and I'm assuming DonW means this little beast. 2100 GPH ??? in a 20g??? lord almighty just saying that freaks me out. You sure?

Dolphin AmpMaster 2100 External Pump

This pump operates at .8 - 1.1 Amps, has a cut off pressure of 17.5 head feet, and has a max flow of 2100 GPH through 1.5" PVC pipe

I was thinking of stepping it up a notch but this tank is also in my bed room so... I still need to be able to sleep in here at night

~Brandon

 

[Elmo18]

Looks good so far Brandon.

My question though...is...what corals are you keeping in Honolulu, HI?!?!?!

- Elmo

 

[Porkfat]

Elmo,
Heheh, it's funny that you ask. Getting livestock esp basic things at retail like live rock is next to impossible here and ordering it from the mainland is both cost prohibitive and risky. However I am surrounded by it, so it is available, you just have to go and get it yourself. grrr...

Dry goods are just as bad. I had to order most of it from the mainland because the reef keeping society is non existent here (go figure). Sooo, I had to order my tank from the mainland and because I'm getting killed on shipping already I ordered a custom one. Example, a maxijet 1200 power head is about $35 each from the LFS, CRAZY I tell ya. Get a couple of power heads and it's cheaper to make a closed loop with on line parts.

As for livestock we have fish available though for pretty cheap since a lot of it is caught locally. A Copper Banded Butterfly was $8 at the LFS and a banner fish was less at about $7. Tank raised fish are still expensive here ~$25 for a tank raised false perc. I can catch many myself, triggers bite just about any kind of bait, box fish are found in all the harbors, so are Moorish idols, yellow tangs, snowflake eels (easy to catch at night) and can be caught with nets and poly bags of bait. Wrasses bite about anything and everything, couple others, squirrelfish, angels stuff like that.

Learning material (Lets all go and catch our own fish!):
Collecting Your Own Saltwater Aquarium Fish

Corals,
SPS is found pretty commonly around the breakers, rough water areas and can be a little dangerous to collect. Most of it is green or tan, not very exciting, but if you have a chisel you can come home with a bucket full (though I never take more then what I would put into my tank). Haven’t seen much in the way of LPS because I only free dive to about 50 feet (I'm a noob in finz) 5 lbs and 2 mins and I'm already freak'n out So I'm not sure if I can get much of that. Mostly I really have no idea what to do.

Once I get my new tank running and set up for corals I'll start posting pics and ya'll can have a stab at figuring out what it actually is that I find. Heck if anyone knows a way I can safely trade/buy frags over to and from the mainland without breaking the bank I'd love to hear it.

Now since I have only junky LFS lighting I only attempt inverts and fish, but I'm setting up. Tank is set to be done Oct 15 with a ship day of the 17th woooot! We'll see how everything turns out.

Till then I have to buy all my new equipment.
Scary as heck, but this is an adventure and I'm love'n it.

~Brandon

My little stand if you want to see what I'm working with here.
My DIY Stand

 

[DonW]

am2100 however I had to look up

I didn't have a clue what it was and I'm assuming DonW means this little beast. 2100 GPH ??? in a 20g??? lord almighty just saying that freaks me out. You sure?

Dolphin AmpMaster 2100 External Pump

This pump operates at .8 - 1.1 Amps, has a cut off pressure of 17.5 head feet, and has a max flow of 2100 GPH through 1.5" PVC pipe

I was thinking of stepping it up a notch but this tank is also in my bed room so... I still need to be able to sleep in here at night

~Brandon

Its much quieter than the panworld your looking at. My buddy has one on a 29 and its just the perfect size.

Don

 

[Porkfat]

Update!

Today I went out to Makapu’u and gathered the live rock for my new tank. Remind me never to do that again, it was bad. Imagine a little Asian guy hacking away at the breakers with a chisel in one hand and a big rock in the other for two hours in the mid day sun. People were starting to look at me weird. I saw some really nice encrusted stuff that I had to have, the waves crashing around me and everything. If ya’ll wonder why live rock costs so much at the LFS that is why! Tough as heck work, but I got some nice stuff, lots of holes, good shape, some coralline, and stuff all over.

I ended up carrying about 40 lbs of rock a half mile up the ATV trails to my car, I even had to give up my shirt to protect one nice piece that I didn’t want to get damaged. Fun Fun, but I have some Hawaiian Live Rock now

I took some pictures of the rock; it was three large pieces, a couple I might break up. Only got two shots though, my fingers hurt and I didn’t want to have to dig it out of the bucket. I’m not sure if I have to cure them or anything but I have them in buckets with an air stone or powerhead. I won’t have my tank till the middle of next month anyway so I figured this would be just about a perfect time to go get the rock and make sure it is ready.

The chisel is for reference (about 8”)

Decided to make this a mainly SPS tank high energy.
Lighting going with a 24" Single 175 Watt Metal Halide.
Flow going with two Poseidon PS1 formerly known as Blueline Velocity T1

Everything else is same as before. What does everyone think?

~Brandon

 

[NeilsReef]

Brandon,

Your design looks very nice, I like OM's product as well. Your drawings are very well thought out, did you design them? If so, what computer program did you use?

On a different note, it was my understanding that live rock collecting in Hawaii was no longer allowed?

I wish you the best!

 

[Porkfat]

Neil,
Thank you for the kind comments

I've been looking at the forums for a while now, and I have a small FOWLR setup atm. Always wanted a reed setup though, but never really had the funds to do anything about it till now. I've always been planning it on the side, making designs for tanks of various sizes, plumbing, equipment, the works. This is the only one that I've been able to do anything about though.

As for the program that I use Your gonna laugh but I use MS Word, kind of like fitting a square peg into a round hole. It doesn't work nearly as well as a cad program but I have no choice. Takes a bit of patience and it's impossible to get to scale, but you can get it to look the way you want in the end.

Commercial collecting of live rock/corals I know is strictly forbidden, particularly in areas designated natural preserves, Haunauma Bay, parts of Waikiki, places like that. Collecting rock/coral in non designated areas for personal use I don't think is illegal. Places I see people fish, dive, collect opi'hi, stuff like that I look for tank stuff, I figure what I'm doing is no different. I mean how many visitors take home a piece of coral when they come to Hawaii? Lots! And most of the stuff they take is from the dang protected areas they visit.

The only time I ever heard of people getting in trouble is from commercial operations, and even then only once when there were people using dynamite to collect coral.

The place I collect most of my stuff is off the shore of a former dump. There are abandoned cars strewn all over the place and everything is dead except for the sea, which has made a remarkable recovery. This is an area claimed by bums, fisherman and ATV's. If they're all allowed there, so am I. It is my understanding that I can collect my rock on the shore by the breakers and in the water; I just can't sell it to you or anyone else. Which is probaly for the best.

Anyhow I'll look into it, I honestly never even though of it, that it might be illegal to take a rock from a dump.

~Brandon

 

[Elmo18]

Today I went out to Makapu’u and gathered the live rock for my new tank.
~Brandon

Man, now I miss my home I grew up on O'ahu along the Windward side. Kailua and Aikahi. Do you know where Enchanted Lakes is? I'm not sure if 'The Shack' is still there....

That hike to the Makapu'u lighthouse still amazes me, even after the 8-9 years i've spent time there. On clear days, we would go body surfing in Bellows and then hike up and go see our neighboring island.

- Ilham

 

[Porkfat]

Elmo,
I've been to the Enchanted Lakes area a few times, for hiking mainly. Don't know about "The Shack" sorry so I couldn't tell you anything about it. I've done that lighthouse hike many, many times too. I like to go a few times in the spring, the whales come so close you can hear them breach. Most of the stuff I catch for my tank is in that area, I like it because it isn't all developed, polluted, or overrun with people. I get to go hiking, catch some critters, and get some sun. Who could ask for more? Bellow's is a little tough to get into unless you’re military now unless it's Sunday. They do exercises on that base now during the weekend.

On a clear day you can still see Molokai.

~Brandon

 

[Porkfat]

Update!

Live rock is still curing. Been about 2 weeks now, looking good. I put most of it in my old display tank and returned all the fish to the ocean. Only have a few critters like a zebra hermit left in there. I'm hoping this will shorten my cycle once my new tank arrives

They gave me a few pics of the construction of my new tank, hopefully it will be done soon.

10/11/05

10/13/05

I'm hoping I'll get the tank by some time at the end of next week. Started the big plumbing hunt, and headed to home depot where I spent a few hours figuring it out. Ended up with 3 bags of fittings in a nice big jumbled mess. Made a durso and a stockman stand pipe (not sure which one I'm going to use) but I posted a "help me figure this out" in the general forum so I'm hoping I'll get some ideas there.

Learned one good lesson in all this. Plumb PVC in a well ventilated area that you really don't care about. I tried gluing at first in the bathroom with just a fan going, and nearly passed out from the fumes. Looked on the marble table I was working on and realized that primer/glue and marble Really should never even see each other let alone touch. Spent the rest of the night trying to clean my now permanently stained marble counter top. I did however end up with a couple of decent stand pipes though.

~Brandon

 

[Krish]

Looking good Brandon! I know you must be excited and getting very anxious to set it up! Good luck.

 

[Porkfat]

Update!

Got my new tank delivered by SoCal Creations. Good Packing, tank arrived safe and sound.

All Boxed Up

Unpacked

I Quickly Put the Tank Up

And started on the Plumbing

Got the Bottom done too

But Not without having to mod the sump bulkhead

I cut a slipper in half and thinned it out with a random orbital sander. This braced the bulkhead better to the thin Rubbermaid sump wall and helped it seal with some good ol’ silicon.

After that I mounted my new 250w PFO Mini Pendent 14k phoenix to some aluminum poles that I had in storage with some wire and a couple of butt connectors (yes I know its crooked.) I will use some chain as soon as I can get down to home depot.

And tested it

WOW that’s BRIGHT!

I managed to crack one of the return bulkheads and no one sells them here in Hawaii, so I had to get a new one by mail order. It should arrive in a few days. I started to fill my new tank and test for leaks. Besides the small sump problem no leaks so far.

I don't have the funds to pay for my closed loop yet... but soon as I get the funds I'll add it on. Until then I have plugs in my closed loop

Another note I have no skimmer yet and so I'm going "all natural" ie. live rock only filtration until I can afford that purchase too.

Hopefully after I get my new bulkhead I'll be able to get everything circulating and my cycle going. Then the real fun begins SPS Here I Come!

~Brandon

 

[Detri]

Nice looking little tank. I like the overflow and return design. Keep the pics coming.