The last tank I got was free. I'm picking up this weekend a FREE BC29 w/ stand. I have great friends!!
Here's the plan:
BC29, false wall removed
Glassholes nano overflow kit
10-15G sump (I may use an extra aquapod 12G tank that is just sitting around) Skimmer: TBA
Chiller: TBA
The big question is what light to get?? My current 12G uses a Current 70W Sunpod. I think the light was a little too strong for my needs (mostly softies). I was looking at retro fit kits from companies like nanocustoms, but they don't account for the extra space from the removed false wall.
I would really like to keep the closed top for a cleaner look. What do you guys recommend?
I have a 150W MH retro-fit kit laying around. Maybe the 150 MH w/ some actinic lights in the stock hood? My idea was to make a spacer that mounts the hood a few inches higher that stock. I was hoping this would help with cooling, less of a spot light effect, and make the retro fit easier.
Also, I want both a fuge/sump and a frag tank. Is it a bad practice to have one over flow into the other (stacked in the stand)? Am I asking for problems by doing this??
I am excited to take my hobby to the next level. Any input is appreciated!
depends on what you want to keep. If SPS go with the 150w. I can try and get some pictures of what I did with my biocube if you want, I didnt take the false wall out but I did build an acrylic riser for the hood that raises it about 4 inches and bought a reflector for the 150w MH and mounted the 2 36w actinic CF bulbs in it as well as putting in a few computer fans. So far I am very happy with how it turned out.
If your not keeping SPS corals, 150w MH may be too strong since the hood is still very close to the water. You will have to provide shade for your less light needy coral.
I'm not planning on keeping SPS, but it seems to always inevitably happen
Pictures of your setup would be great. I want to do exactly what you just described. I may have to sell the 150MH retro kit I have for a 70W kit. 4" of space sounds like it would help a lot. I may try the 150W first, since I already own it..
I tried the 70w first and it just was not enough light for me, but then again I wanted to put a clam at the bottom part of the tank and also some montipora and acropora.
I took out the 70w, and I have the ballast and the lamp holder and a 10k ushio bulb just sitting in a drawer so if you want to go that route let me know and maybe we can work something out. 4 inches IMO is a good height as that way you can put a couple of 80mm PC fans in that will help cool your tank. I have a few in and so far I have not needed a chiller as my temps have not gone above 82 with the 150w MH. But if your mainly keeping less light needy coral the 70w should be good for you. just any SPS you do get put them high in the tank and you should be ok. Also I had my 70w in the hood and i had not built the riser yet and didnt have any temp issues either so you could get away with having the hood in its original place with the 70w if you wanted.
I will get a camera and try to get some pictures up this weekend.
I took out the 70w, and I have the ballast and the lamp holder and a 10k ushio bulb just sitting in a drawer so if you want to go that route let me know and maybe we can work something out.
I will get a camera and try to get some pictures up this weekend.
Maybe you want to trade for a 150W kit?
Get me some pics! If I could use a 70W and not build a spacer, life would be great
Wish you would have posted a few weeks earlier, I have already finished the 150w kit and the spacer. As soon as my camera gets back from vacation without me I will. (friend borrowed it since theirs crapped out)
Ok so I got some pictures of what the Riser looks like and you can see in the back I have the fans. I have not finished cleaning up the fans in the back yet but hopefully i can get to that this week.
Thank you. I am happy the way that it turned out. Once all the little frags start growing out and I get more of them I hope it will look a little better....seems a little baron still but...like i keep hearing go slow....
Last night my girl friend throws me a zinger. She says "Why don't you wait until we move. You're going to want a larger tank any ways... Let's see how big of one we can fit!"
She may be right, but keeping my current 12G setup stable is becoming too difficult and time consuming...
So I'm back on the fence about dropping the money for the new light, skimmer, and chiller
Assuming I am going forward with this project, which skimmer should I order? The Remora Nano I have is too loud and doesn't skim as well as I would prefer. Any recommendations? I'm looking for something small, potent, and quiet. Tunze and Deltec are out of my price range...
If you really want to keep this simple. I would just get a good size fan so that you could avoid the chiller completely. Put the fan on a time with the halide and it will keep your temps well within range. Also for the skimmer take a look at the CPR hang on tank type they have gotten pretty good reviews from what I have seen and if you patrol enough forums and craigslist you can find one cheap. It just seems that if your planning a bigger tank it would be a shame to go all out and have the best stuff that could not be transfered to your bigger tank.
I like the idea you had of pulling the false wall. Looks good.
Also you could still mod a 150w MH bulb into the hood and build a riser for it, I think the riser cost about 20$ to get all the peices and then the bulb, ballast, reflector was about 90$. That way you could save for your better lighting on your next tank....Just an idea.
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As soon as my camera gets back from vacation without me I will. (friend borrowed it since theirs crapped out)
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