Bcarl's 17 gallon Rimless Reef Build

[bcarl77]

After about 5 years of keeping high tech planted tanks I am converting it over to a reef! Here is the equipment I have already:

-17gallon Rimless Tank
-2X Hydor Korlia Circulation Pump
-Aquaclear 30 HOB

Here is what I just bought to start:
Refractometer
Fragging Supplies (Glue, Plugs, Etc.)
Red Sea Coral Pro Salt Mix
Reef Octopus HOB Skimmer
Red Sea Test Kit
-15 lbs of Dry Pukani

Still need: Filter Media (Chemipure Blue is what I have in mind), Aqualifter (Make shift ATO), and will be getting a AI 26HD (need to use it on a bigger tank eventually)

Open questions: What is the best way to cure the pukani? What the heck should I put in the filter for media?

 

[Brew12]

Looks like you are off to a good start!

I find the best way to cure rock is to put it in a plastic tub with a powerhead and heater.

 

[bcarl77]

Is it better to start with freshwater for a week or 2? Seems like this process can take several weeks.

 

[Brew12]

You can start with freshwater but I would use saltwater for the higher pH

 

[bcarl77]

So everything got shipped out today and should be here Friday. I think I will do a vinegar bath for the pukani to help speed it along a bit. I am still breaking down the planted tank and the contents inside so this build will be a bit slow for the next few weeks.

 

[bcarl77]

Alright!!! So Santa came early and brought all my new reefing supplies. Currently working on breaking down the planted tank and getting my old equipment and tank cleaned up. I decided to bleach the pukani to help the curing process. I started with a strong hose bath. I left it in a bleach solution of 20:1 for about 48 hours. Today I will be removing the rocks and rinsing thoroughly and start soaking in Prime/tap to neutralize all the bleach. Next up is heated saltwater! I need to start planning my aquascape and get an idea of how this will look. I am thinking something with a cave or two islands of rock.

 

[najer]

Nice rocks, look forward to seeing it scaped.

 

[Husker]

Do you have a picture of the tank? Sounds like it could be a pretty cool system. Wha is the plan for the livestock?

 

[bcarl77]

Here is a picture of the tank as it currently sits. I am still in the process of breaking everything down. I threw the HOB skimmer and filter on just to get an idea. I will be applying a black window film to the tank as well.

As for the live stock thinking a pair of clowns, some cleaner shrimp of sorts and some other inverts. The ultimate goal is for me to get familiar and comfortable with the world of reefing before starting a 100gal reef.

 

[Husker]

There are a lot of cool inverts that work best in smaller tanks (because you never see them in big tanks, or the fish in big tanks tend to eat them). This should be a good way to find out what you want to do with a bigger tank in the future.

 

[bcarl77]

Okay, got the rocks in a dechlorinator bath as we speak. I will take them out in the morning and let them dry out during the day. I did some cutting and scaping today. I will put everything in the tank tomorrow and use the dremel to get everything how I want it. Hoping to start the heated salt water tomorrow night or tuesday.

 

[bcarl77]

Cure has been under way. Decided to wait and scape/glue rocks together when I do the final 2 weeks of the cure in the tank.

 

[InfamousAquatics]

Going to be fun to see what you decide to do and why. Tagging along.

 

[bcarl77]

Welcome! I want to share a picture of the tank as a planted aquarium. I am excited to be able to compare and contrast the two sides of the hobby.

 

[bcarl77]

Alright, so why this rock is curing it give me plenty of time to design and figure out the remainder of the set-up. I want some input on how to create the flow in this tank without a wave maker. I have set up the Skimmer and HOB filter to move the water from Right to left. I have 2 Korlia 240 Circulation pumps that I can use. Would love some suggestions.

 

[bcarl77]

I got my Hanna Phosphate checker in today. Levels are at .47ppm. I want to start cycling the rocks in the tank, (no lights, no fish) is it okay with the phosphate that high still?

 

[bcarl77]

Update time! No pictures for this one as they would be pretty boring. So the tub of rocks have a phosphate reading of .38ppm. If I can get it around .3 I would feel comfortable with those levels with the addition of chemipure elite, and a skimmer. Here is the game plan. Since I am moving in September I am going to hold off on livestock for a bit. I am going to scape the rock and place it in the tank, bear bottom for now. This will allow some time to build the biological diversity on the rock. I will also begin to try to get some coraline algae going in the mean time while the tank cycles a bit. My goal is to have this going by the end of next weekend.

I have my Hyrda 26 HD in and should be getting the mounting arm early this week. I would love to hear some settings for this light. I would like to simulate the natural day as much as possible so any settings or threads you could point me to would be great.

Project for this week is to finish rigging up my DIY auto top-off that I made with an aqualifter and also mod my Aquaclear HOB into a refugium. Info to come!

I am also considering some kind of apex I can use with this tank. I travel a bit for work and I think this would give me an extra layer of security. Is that overkill for a mixed reef nano tank?

 

[bcarl77]

Alright, progress on this tank was made! I got the light mounted. Nothing to crazy here... Just followed the directions. Only thing I did was put some foam behind the screws so they are not directly on the glass. Light is mounted about 12 inches above the estimated water line. I am going to run the Saxby Preset dimmed by about 60%. Here are some pictures! Aquaclear Mod project will be tomorrow and ATO late this week/weekend followed by scaping the rock in the tank.

 

[Reefing Madness]

 

[bcarl77]

So I will make this update in two separate posts. The filter mod was crazy easy. Scissors, DAP Aquarium Silicon, and a toothpick. I simply used the media basket provided to create a baffle and something to prevent the chaeto from flowing out the top. Check it out!