Another JBJ 45 build!

[Doob]

The new tank came in the mail Friday. Plans are:

Light - AI hydra 26 HD
Skimmer - undecided (suggestions)
Flow - MP10w-QD (in addition to included pumps)
Heater - cobalt aquatics super flat 200w
ATO - Autoaqua smart micro

I plan on making 2 devisions of one of the media baskets into a fuge, and getting IM's fuge light.

I struggled with the decision on the light. I'm new to the hobby, and the topic seems to be much more opinion than cut and dry/right and wrong as a lot of the other aspects of the hobby, but I feel the hydra should be a good starting point.

Suggestions and or comments welcome. I plan on taking a road trip to the nearest decent fish store (about an hour drive) on Friday to start knocking things off my list. Stand construction should begin this weekend, hopefully.

I gotta say, pics just don't do this thing justice.

 

[Doob]

Also, I noticed 3, ~ 1/4" holes in the acrylic back that divides the display from back of the tank, a couple inches up from the bottom. I've found little info on these, aside from their purpose being to avoid running the pumps dry. Seems to me, however, that these would cause an equal water height between the display and all columns of the back, back the chambers and baffles pointless. I don't see how water would flow correctly, or at all, with these holes there. I'll have the ATO, so I'll probably be plugging then somehow. What did you do?

 

[Nelsons_reef]

dont plug them they do not effect the water level in the rear. your build is basically my build exactly except i have an aquarium controller

 

[Doob]

dont plug them they do not effect the water level in the rear. your build is basically my build exactly except i have an aquarium controller

Cool! Is yours up and running/for how long? What skimmer and controller did you go with?

 

[Nelsons_reef]

i have the reef keeper light plus. It has been up and running for about 2 weeks now i have the tunze9004 skimmer not sure if i like it or not still waiting for it to finish breaking in so i can't really comment on how well it works just yet. I already have fish and coral in mine but i used cycled rock sand and water from my old setup so that facilitated things

 

[Steelerfan747]

I have an apex running mine and Tunze apparel. 9004 skimmer, 2- 6055 streams and Tunze osmolator ATO. I will be upgrading the return pumps to MJ 1200's just for dependability as I received the tank with one that was making horrible noise and now the second is starting to make some noise as well. I went with the Maxspect razor for lighting but would love to go with a Hydra 52. Upgraded the media baskets with ones I purchased from inTank which are awesome. Have one running as a fuge and the other running ChemiPure blue. I also went with the IM fuge light which seems good but not sure yet as I just set it up. Also will be running IM mini media reactor for gfo

 

[Doob]

Stand construction has begun!

Still quite a ways to go. Picked up an eheim heater over the weekend, along with 40lbs of caribsea special grade reef sand and about 20lbs of Rock. IM spin streams are in the mail. A guy at the store convinced me to go with the radion light, so I'll be picking that up along with the mp10, reef link and ato either this weekend or the weekend after. Then I'll be able to stare at her for a few months while she cycles.

 

[Marktheshark83]

Very cool. Looking forward to the build! Sounds exciting!

 

[Doob]

Slow and steady wins the race.

The ATO should be here next week, then the only piece of equipment I need is a skimmer, but I can get the tank up and cycling without that. Now for a day full of chores and stand construction...

 

[Marktheshark83]

Looking sharp

 

[jmp21677]

What are the dimensions? I just got my reefer 170 yesterday. Amazing build quality! Struggling with light selection as I want a clean look but it's 24x24

 

[Doob]

Tank dimensions are 26.5" x 21". 19" tall. Here's radion estimated light coverage, this thing puts off a lot more light than I could have imagined.

I'm not looking forward to putting the sticky mount onto the glass for my MP10, but from what I've read it is necessary and I haven't found any alternative methods, so I guess I'll have to just deal with it.

 

[Doob]

Found some very neat dry rock on my road trip to pick up the ecotech equipment.

 

[Marktheshark83]

Wow. Fancy and full of coraline

 

[Doob]

 

[Doob]

The RMS mount for the radion does not hold the light level with the tank. I've considered shimming it, but the more I think about it the more it bothers me. This is not some cheap mount for some cheap light, this is a $90 mount for a top of the line light. Research shows that this is a common problem, Ecotech's care level seems to be minimum though, it's very disappointing.

 

[Doob]

Here's a dry run. Should have it primed and painted this weekend!

 

[Marktheshark83]

Classy

 

[Salty1962]

Very sharp!

 

[Doob]

Primer is done! One coat of paint should do it, I'll slap that on 1st thing in the am and my tank will have a home by tomorrow night!