Raied's Punyaquarium Build

[mrhasan]

Well, I am back

For the past 1 year, I have had quite a few changes: I got the perfect job, I bought a brand new car and finally switched to a better apartment. I thought about restarting my hobby but some things kept on blocking it. But finally, few weeks back, when I was talking to a client from long island and he showed how he was using the LED fixtures from the company that I work for (I work for a LED manufacturer btw), that clicked my determination! I have finally decided to pull the trigger once more.

Well this tank is NOT going to be like the last big mistake I made. It is going to be small, only LPS and softies and something that I can enjoy instead of experimenting with. From the top of my mind, I am planning on the following:

1. Tank dimension: 18"x18"x15". Will be starfire, black siliconed and absolutely no trim. I am ready to sacrifice size but won't have any trim and get bugged by the salt creeps.

2. Lighting: as many of you know, I am not a big fan of LEDs for aquarium. But for this tank, I am going for LEDs and none other than Kessil (they are a real LED fixture manufacturer). Reviews seems to be good and I like their no lens fixtures for the nice colour blend. For the tank size, I am going for A160. I am struggling to find the PAR readings out of these fixtures; can anyone please help me out with this?

3. Filtration: This is something that I am debating with myself. I want a big skimmer on the tank and since my previous filtration experience has always been overkill, I don't want to repeat the same thing again. Then again, I am open to suggestions for this. Anything that can be done without sump. Suggestions are always welcome.

4. Content: as mentioned earlier, this is going to be a tank that I can enjoy instead of messing around with. I really like the idea of a bonai tree (with various colours of torches) and I will probably be going for that. Want something sweet and simple this time. Colourful, basic, with some crazy clownfish clowning around.

Just as a quick flashback, this is where I left an year ago:



I am excited

[WarDog]

Welcome back!

Only 21 gallons? You'll be upgrading soon, lol!

[mrhasan]

Originally Posted by WarDog

Welcome back!

Only 21 gallons? You'll be upgrading soon, lol!

Thanks Warren

Nah I got tired of big tanks. I am not going to think about big tanks until I get my own place and that is not happening anytime soon. Its hard for me to maintain big tanks at rented places.

[kien]

Originally Posted by mrhasan

Well this tank is NOT going to be like the last big mistake I made.

Originally Posted by mrhasan

Just as a quick flashback, this is where I left an year ago:

HUH? Say whut ?!? These two things don't seem to add up. I would hardly call your last tank a "big mistake" :-)

Welcome back !

[Aquattro]

This big mistake was supposed to be TOTQ. Just bad timing all around.

[maron6977]

Good to see you back .
Was only a matter of time

[Dearth]

Glad to see you back Raied missed seeing your tank which I might add was to drool for regardless of what you think 😜

Btw your not allowed to leave again that's the rules

[Myka]

Welcome back! Why don't you put a false back in it like the AIO tanks and make the compartment big enough to hold a little Tunze skimmer? Hang-on skimmers overflow onto your floor unless you mod them.

[Myka]

Originally Posted by mrhasan

Thanks for your input. I have been thinking of getting an AIO but all the store ones are not enough for me. After seeing you idea about putting tunze inside the compartment, I contacted the aquarium manufacturer and they can make an AIO So I am getting an AIO with enough space to put in a tunze 9004. I am going to sit with the design now and hopefully can post it tonight to get more feedbacks

BTW I am getting mixed reviews regarding tunze skimmers; do you have any input on how tunze 9004 performs?

Awesome! The Tunze skimmers, like any skimmer, are very sensitive to water height so they perform much, much better if you use an ATO. You don't have to use the Tunze, I was using it as an example, there are others you could check out too that have similar dimensions.

[mrhasan]

Originally Posted by Myka

Awesome! The Tunze skimmers, like any skimmer, are very sensitive to water height so they perform much, much better if you use an ATO. You don't have to use the Tunze, I was using it as an example, there are others you could check out too that have similar dimensions.

Thanks! Yes I will be putting in Hydro ATO to keep the level consistent.

So I have come up with the final dimensions for the tank. It is going to be 16"x20"x15". 4" inches will be used up for the three chamber AIO partition and so I will end up with a "nearly cubic" 16"x16"x16".

For skimmer, I have decided to get Aquamaxx WS1. The reef central community swears by it and although it is going to be massively overkill for the size of my tank, I want to make sure I am covered for my bad habit of over stocking. Thanks to Ray @ reef supplies for making it easier to get this skimmer.

For lighting, I am still inclined towards kessil; nothing else is making sense to me yet. I am leaving this open for suggestion; please do let me know if anyone has any better idea for light.