Aquatop 40 Gallon Build

[Weeb]

Well. . .Setup was completed on Friday, December 16, 2022. It was a 'packaged' aquarium -- Self contained, if you know the model. It is a cube 21.7". About 40 gallons; 36 gallons of water. The single Red Sea 90W light makes it all look very 'blue' in the photos. Maybe I should take photos when the light is in the moon phase?

I was expecting a better water flow. I guess this is what the aquarium has to 'live' with.

The aquarium was seeded with bacteria and ammonium chloride to get the cycle started. The water looked more like skim milk at the outset (see picture).

On the morning of the second day, water was looking better (see picture). Skimmer has not been on during this process. You can see the back of the setup in the third photo. So far, on track.

I was hoping to keep only soft corals. I was also hoping to put in a Clownfish and a Diamond Watchman Sand Sifting Goby, but maybe there isn't enough substrate surface area for one?

 

[blaxsun]

Should be ok for either fish.

 

[Weeb]

It looks much better (to the human eye) with the light off and the camera flash and getting clearer by the day:

 

[anthonygf]

Nice start. You may need more flow if you get corals. Do you have any wave makers? I have several small ones I no longer need if you want them.

 

[Weeb]

Nice start. You may need more flow if you get corals. Do you have any wave makers? I have several small ones I no longer need if you want them.

Thanks Anthony.

It was suggested that I might want to add a wave maker. How does a wave maker affect water flow in the lower regions of the/my aquarium, do you think? I kinda thought of a wave maker just swishing around the tank's surface. (Still learning).

I'd definitely want one of your smaller ones.

 

[anthonygf]

For one it prevents dead spots in and around rocks. Corals need water movement to supply them with food and helps to remove their waste. Helps oxygenate water,or gas exchange. One pump near the top to get wave action and one pointing down where you may think are dead spots or areas that have no water movement. You may not need the one for the top if your return pump supplies enough water movement. I have two cross flow wave pumps one on each end of my tank, only one is on at a time switches over every other day to vary the flow. My flow travels around the length of the tank.

 

[anthonygf]

Thanks Anthony.

It was suggested that I might want to add a wave maker. How does a wave maker affect water flow in the lower regions of the/my aquarium, do you think? I kinda thought of a wave maker just swishing around the tank's surface. (Still learning).

I'd definitely want one of your smaller ones.

When you are ready you can stop by my house to get it. I don't know how we can do a secure message, maybe click my name and we can communicate privately. I can text you my address. then as you go if you need anything else just ask I may have it. This hobby is expensive enough so if you can get used equipment for cheap or free go for it.

 

[Weeb]

It's been a while since I updated this thread.

I now have a small Yellow Tang - Zebrasoma flavescens (which will eventually need to be re-homed) and one tank-bred Clownfish hybrid which is a a Davinci type. Blue-footed Hermit Crabs (getting bigger now -- I provided larger shells for them to grow into), and a variation of Nerite Snails (doing a great job eating algae from where the crabs can't reach and I don't clean (i.e., back glass). I put one in the back/overflow chamber and it clean it up, then I put it back into the main aquarium cube.

Getting my first coral, a plug with two types of Torch Corals in the next few weeks.

Here are the photos -- one without lighting, one with lights on.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

It's been a while since I updated this thread.

I now have a small Yellow Tang - Zebrasoma flavescens (which will eventually need to be re-homed) and one tank-bred Clownfish hybrid which is a a Davinci type. Blue-footed Hermit Crabs (getting bigger now -- I provided larger shells for them to grow into), and a variation of Nerite Snails (doing a great job eating algae from where the crabs can't reach and I don't clean (i.e., back glass). I put one in the back/overflow chamber and it clean it up, then I put it back into the main aquarium cube.

Getting my first coral, a plug with two types of Torch Corals in the next few weeks.

Here are the photos -- one without lighting, one with lights on.

Best of luck with the new coral coming in!