Jake's seahorse reef
 

Starting a new tank!

It will feature two 24”x24”x22” cube(ish) tanks,, a 36”x16”x16” sump/DSB refugium, and two standard ten gallon tanks for ATO and easy water changes.

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/y...ndandtanks.jpg

My goals:
1) Very quiet tank(s).
2) Keep power consumption low.
3) Reduce tank maintenance/ make maintenance easy.

Tank #1: Soft coral, macro algae, sea grass and seahorse tank. I have no experience keeping sea horses and sea grasses, so this build has required some reading on my part. I guess that is the main reason for this tank… I just wanted to try something new! Over time, I plan on adding a pair of Mandarin dragonets and harlequin shrimp. All of these species require special attention, and I will be adding them slowly to ensure I have a good grasp on the husbandry techniques needed to keep them healthy.

Tank #2: It will depend on the water chemistry I am able to achieve in the sea horse tank alone. This tank will be added to the system next year. I am open to theme ideas! I have not even ordered this tank yet.

Details:

Custom Concept Aquatics 24”x24”x22” starfire tank with external Bean Animal Overflow (12” long), one piece euro brace, and a blue ABS background. The return line will come back through the overflow, so there will be four holes in the external overflow box. I should get it in within a month. Like everyone else I have talked to, I have only good things to say about my experience working with Dave.

The display will have a 2.5” DSB (mixture of mud and aragonite sugar sand) for seagrass and ~20-30 lbs of Bali live rock. A Maxspect Razor will light the tank. I like the sleek form, lack of fans, and price. They are not, however, available in Canada yet.

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/y...22onepiece.jpg (rendering by Concept Aquatics).

I was going to build my own sump, but I decided to order an Eshopps R-300 today from Ray at Reef Supplies.ca (amazing service so far by the way! I have no idea how he can ship a 40 gallon tank across the country for $25). The sump will have a 4” DSB of aragonite sugar sand. Above it, suspended by egg crate, will be a frag rack for clams and soft corals. I love clams, and I can’t let my old ones go! They are apparently not sea horse safe. They are great water filters, so why not put them in the sump. My sump light will be an AI nano I already own.

The return pump will be an RLSS DC5000. Additional flow will be provided by an MP10 on the lowest possible setting. Heating/ATO/dosing/monitoring will be controlled by a Profilux IIIex.

Some of the gear :) I try telling myself I'm not a gear-guy... but not convincingly.
http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/y...graas/Gear.jpg

Proposed stand: 80”x24”x36” power coated 2" steel. I know this is overbuilt. I thought having two separated tanks on the same stand would call for some special structural considerations. Also, I want it to hold an 80” long tank if I ever decide to get a single big tank. The bars on the bottom are to keep the sump off the floor. There will be feet on the bottom of the stand for easy leveling and to allow airflow beneath the stand. Any input on this topic would be appreciated.

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/y...raas/Stand.jpg

Thanks for reading!
Jake

PS. This was posted on one other forum, hope that is OK!

If your dead set on 2" tubing you can easily eliminate all the front vertical tubes and just have one in the center. I use 1.5" tube for all my stands, never any issues. Realistically if you skin the top of the stand with 1" plywood and screw it down solid you don't need all the bracing. To simplify the stand put 2 cross supports in the top, back & bottom, one in the center front. More then enough support & cost much less.


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looks like it is going to be an awesome setup.

Looks good, as a side note we had clams and seahorses without any issues. I did it for a few years and know of others, some say the seahorse hanging on the clam may cause it to close and I think that's people's reasoning on it.

Thanks for the advice Grizz - I think I will reduce to 1.5" with 0.188" wall, and reduce the supports, as you suggested.

Good to know BlueTang! I was surprised when I read that clams were definitely not sea horse safe. I'll keep one in the tank and monitor it closely.

I had a seahorse tank for a couple years as well. If you want to keep dragonets with the seahorses make sure you get ponies that are already eating frozen otherwise they will compete for food. And see for yourself at the store that they will actually take frozen foods, I had one that was advertised as eating frozen but that wasn't true. Luckily I had a well established pod population and it wasn't an issue. Of course you can also grow your own live food but I wasn't interested in doing that.

Yup, had seahorses with large Squamosas, Derasas & other clams. No problem. Of course that was just my experience and other clams may be more sensitive to a curious or passing pony.

I'm really happy about this news regarding the clams! If all goes well, clams will be a big part of the display.

Here is the new stand...

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/y...psdfe0b21e.jpg

I added in a 2nd vertical support in the front in case I ever want to up size to single 80"x24" tank.

What program are you using for the stand sketch? Looks good to go!!

Thanks!

I'm using Google Sketchup. I took a couple of 20 minute tutorials on it last year (free on Google). It is really easy to use. That rendering took me about 5 minutes. If you need help making a rendering, let me know.

Dave emailed me a picture tonight. Almost there!

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/y...inprogress.jpg

While I'm sitting on my butt at home, Dave is crating my tank at 8pm! Should be here soon.

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/y...aas/Crated.jpg

Also, getting the tank built in Calgary by Concepts and shipped to Vancouver was literally half the price that I was being quoted in Vancouver.

I'm excited for you! I'm tempted to have concept build me something too..... :)

Lol don't be tempted just do it I have no regrets with my build, except I should of went bigger lol but that's everyone's regret after a while lol.

Arrived yesterday!

The next step is to skin the stand. I think it will be done in a dark walnut. I spoke with a guy today, hopefully I can get this done quickly as I'm itching to get started!

Also, after a bunch of problems with my AI nano I got a replacement from AI. Unfortunately they didn't have a Nano in stock, so I paid a bit extra and they sent me a Sol blue. That will light the refugium/frag tank.

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/y...s/IMG_4902.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/y...s/IMG_4903.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/y...s/IMG_4904.jpg

Very slow progress!



http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps82467a16.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps0d245e82.jpg

Came down to Mitras vs. Kessil. Went with the Kessil because of its small size, price, and I like the mounting arm. Knowing me I'll regret my decision in two weeks, but so far I like my choice.
http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps3e27df2b.jpg

The overflow. I used stockman-like standpipes due to a lack of space. If it doesn't work out I'll try another design.
http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/y...s/IMG_4981.jpg

Cut out a few teeth and fed the loc-line under the eurobrace.
http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/y...psf9993d79.jpg

Not quite finished the plumbing. Still need to build something to support it, and I need to finish the return plumbing. The DC5000 has a weird sized outlet, 1.25" and I couldn't find a PVC 1.25"-1" threaded bushing in Vancouver. I have accepted I'll have to use the 1.25"/1" barbed adapter that came with the pump, which I'll attach to hard plumbing with a 1" barb/male threaded adapter.
http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps84cd11b9.jpg

Still lots to do.

Good to see some progress
Where's the second DT ?

Thanks!

I'll get the second tank in the fall.

:jaw: one piece euro brace cube....with external overflow...and all the plumbing neatly hidden....gorgeous stand and all the right gear to make me wet myself a little in its presence...


X2!!!!! :faint2:

YUP im following this one!!

Have you tried an outdoor sprinkler supply place? There a place here on the island called Iritex that has weird stuff like that. IF they haven't had a piece I've needed they've found it and brought it in for me at a very reasonable cost. My special order gate valves were almost 1/2 price of the major LFS price.

seeing all these nice plumbing, makes me want to rip up all my tubes and redo it, next tank i will have to use pipes for my plumbing

Thats a piece of pvc art right there , great job .

Thanks, I'll have to keep that place in mind. I have never heard of it. I have already plumbed in the pump so it is too late now, but I may renovate the plumbing when I add the 2nd tank.

Thanks! I used hard plumbing just for the looks, I don't know if there are any other advantages. My last tank was plumbed with vinyl tubing and it was perfectly functional, plus it was a lot easier to do.

Thanks! Brought a tear to my eye haha jk.

Very nice build!! Great job with plumbing... looks very nice!!

I can relate to you with the speed of the progress... I've been working on my tank for the last two months.. still in the process.

I call dibs on the Kessil if you change your mind and decide to sell it! :mrgreen:

I just received a Walz 4pi spherical PAR meter at work. This is a roughly $3000 PAR meter/sensor, and I'm excited to bring it home once the tank is filled to get some PAR readings on the Kessil. It will produce highly accurate PAR readings.

*I didn't buy this PAR meter, grant money did. It is for phytoplankton research.

Almost ready to fill with water!

Here is a pretty detailed run down of what I did to attach panels to the back of the stand. I'm posting it because I hope it helps someone else out with their build at some point.

Back panel with magnets in each corner. Slots cut out for the plumbing.
http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/y...psa3285338.jpg

Close up of counter sunk magnet. The magnet is superglued and screwed to the panel. I got them at Lee Valley.
http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps932fff38.jpg

Acrylic disk on top of magnet.
http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps88f153c3.jpg

Panel attached to the back of the stand. Plumbing is supported with hose straps on the back (not shown).
http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps489acba6.jpg

How I ended up plumbing the DC5000 pump. I would have preferred something "cleaner", but the vinyl tubing may help dampen pump noise.
http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps3e1b986f.jpg

The pump is sitting on top of a silicone trivet. The DC5000 actually comes with great rubber feet, and I can't even tell the difference between the pump running with and without the trivet beneath it, so I may remove it.

Anyways pros/cons to using magnets:

Pro: Really easy to install. Easy to change skin if you want. Inexpensive (~$2/magnet).

Con: The panel has to rest on the floor. Magnets can resist pulling forces, so the panel is firmly kept upright, but the panel slides downwards until it hits the floor as the magnet does not strongly resist up/down slide forces.

Thanks for reading!

Looks great! Nice and clean look to it!

Thanks :)

Started filling the tank yesterday evening, getting excited.

Things got delayed again. I just noticed the blue ABS background isn't really attached to the back glass anymore, so I'll need to fix that. It should be an easy fix, but silicone takes a couple of days to dry/cure (whatever you call it!).

Dave/Concepts is sending me a brand new background shortly. Gotta love when LFS's back up their products with great service. Thank you!

Finally got it filled... I went with a low lying aquascape so I can fill in the tank with macroalgae, gorgonians, some softies, and maybe a few LPS. There is some very unhappy xenia on the right if you look carefully.

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps3839cd43.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps00a49258.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/y...psf07b7a77.jpg

I fragged a milli from my last tank before I sold the colony so I could use the dead skeleton for something the seahorses can wrap their tail around.

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps2d61d09a.jpg

DSB is about 3" deep. The bottom layer is mixed Caribsea mineral mud and sugar sand (2.5"). The top layer is sugar sand (0.5"). The mineral mud felt more like peat moss used for gardening.

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps1bc46a83.jpg

Still a lot to do. The electrical is a mess and the overflow needs to be adjusted. The gate valve on the siphon makes a loud sucking noise.

I won't be adding sea horses for some time... still need to let things stabilize and add macro/gorgonians to give them plenty of tail wrapping options.

Also, I chickened out of going skimmerless and bought a Vertex IN-80 from J&L. Maybe a bit undersized, but it was a good deal and I'll have a lot of algae in the tank. It has already pulled out a lot of sand. Unfortunately I lost the plug for the skimmer cup drain, anyone know where I could get another one!?

I cleaned up the electrical a bit, so here are some more pictures:

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/y...psd159db15.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps2addb586.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps0413a6f8.jpg

My Q-tank.
http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/y...psffabfa55.jpg


I bought a AquaRay Mini500 HD for my refugium. Love it so far! It is a very white light, I wouldn't use it over a reef tank, but it should be great for growing algae.

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/y...psea30e8b8.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps70035ddd.jpg

Nicely done wiring :wink:

Where's the fish ? :razz:

Thanks!

I could probably add fish right now. I don't expect the tank to cycle, but I'm going to wait a week or two just in case.

I think I'll add some tigger pods tomorrow though. How's that for exciting :)

Took some PAR readings from the Kessil A350 (non-wide) this afternoon. The light is suspended 3" above water.

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps667059e8.jpg

Pretty impressive in my opinion! They were far higher than I expected. I'd like to suspend the light further above the water, but the Kessil mounting arm is a bit too short for a 24" wide tank.

Added some livestock!

Clean up crew- 5 spiny astreas, 5 regular astreas, 5 ring cowries, 1 sand sifting seastar, and 5 nassarious snails.

Corals - contents of my Q-tank, and a frag of GSP and fox coral. JL has a couple of great fox corals right now, 5-6" for $50. A couple had quite a bit of green on them too.

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/y...psed4a7bf2.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps1a3573b2.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/y...psab0acdc9.jpg