Captain’s Log

[Captain Redbeard]

I’ll take your word on it Sean lol! And be sure to give you the credit.

as you can tell I borrow a lot from freshwater. I really feel like there is so much untapped potential for crossover etc. and a lot of the gizmos and gadgets we all use for our reefs truly aren’t necessary to have a beautiful tank. Not hating on any of it or saying it doesn’t work, just saying there are multiple ways to shear a sheep so to speak.

 

[Captain Redbeard]

Finally got 60lbs of CaribSea Fiji Pink today.
Managed to shatter one of the glass lily pipes, so I’ll have to either re order those or re evaluate how I’m going to do this filtration.

 

[Captain Redbeard]

Alright @Sean Clark since you appear to be my one dedicated follower I'll ask you lol.

Should I order new lily pipes, or scratch that idea all together. Redo the plumbing and sump.

I could go a couple different ways -

1. Cannister filter it and convert it to a chaeto tumbler ( Oase makes Biomaster canisters with built in heaters, and I could just remove media and add a submerged LED. )

2. Order a rimless low iron SR Aquaristik 10gallon glass tank, get plastic inlets and outlets, and make the sump a chaeto and clam tank using SR Aquaristik LEDs, VIV Glass nano skimmer, etc.

3. HOB refugium or Power filter like an Oase Biostyle Thermo or Aquaclear and skip plumbing all together.

 

[Sean Clark]

Alright @Sean Clark since you appear to be my one dedicated follower I'll ask you lol.

HAHA Aye Captain.

Those pipes are elegant and beautiful but as you know very fragile. I like the idea of moving on in another direction. Here are my takes on your options:

1. Cannister filter it and convert it to a chaeto tumbler ( Oase makes Biomaster canisters with built in heaters, and I could just remove media and add a submerged LED. )
I think this would prove overly difficult long-term and not being able to see inside means constantly opening up the filter to check on the chaeto growth.

2. Order a rimless low iron SR Aquaristik 10gallon glass tank, get plastic inlets and outlets, and make the sump a chaeto and clam tank using SR Aquaristik LEDs, VIV Glass nano skimmer, etc.
I am a sucker for clams so this sounds amazing. I would want my clams to be front and center on display and not tucked under the stand though. This would need to be next to your display tank to be appreciated. I like this concept a lot.
One of my next tanks will be a side by side Non-photosynthetic/clam system with one of these 20gal tanks:

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3. HOB refugium or Power filter like an Oase Biostyle Thermo or Aquaclear and skip plumbing all together.
This would be simple and probably the most cost effective solution (aside from just replacing the lily pipe). It will limit your equipment options a lot though. If you go this route then you could use your current sump as a QT or hospital tank.

Would you consider drilling your tank? You could use one of TLFs "in/out" things and it would look great on this tank and the plumbing would be as simple as the lily pipes once the tank was drilled.

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[Captain Redbeard]

Sean all valid points, and excellent ideas.

I'd never seen that XAqua in/out before, certainly something to consider!

I have a slight obsession with the glass situation though lol. I could skip the lily all together and do a VIV glass overflow, and a VIV glass skimmer into a side displayed rimless glass clam and Chaeto tank. Hmmm

 

[Sean Clark]

I have never seen one one of these glass overflows before. Pretty cool. I have always liked how the lily pipes look on planted/shrimp tanks. Is the back of your tank going to stay clear or do you plan on covering it with something to hide the plumbing?

 

[Captain Redbeard]

I’m extremely OCD and a minimalist so trying to make the tank appear as unencumbered as possible is the goal.

 

[Captain Redbeard]

I have never seen one one of these glass overflows before. Pretty cool. I have always liked how the lily pipes look on planted/shrimp tanks. Is the back of your tank going to stay clear or do you plan on covering it with something to hide the plumbing?

It's a pretty nice little overflow, does a great job surface skimming, primes well and easily and no worries about flooding if power goes out as the siphon breaks high. Plus its in/out in one. about 350gph is the sweet spot for noise/function, though I believe they're rated up to 800gph.

I'd have to buy new tubing, not a big deal.

I'm liking the idea of picking up another SR tank.

Eventually I will swap the MaxSpect Gyre out as well for an MP40. I do really like the flow style of the gyres, but the stupid wire in the tank drives me insane.

 

[Captain Redbeard]

Ok Sean I ordered new lily pipes. For now I’ll stick with them until I break another lol.
I will be swapping the 20g long out as I want to do the rimless SR tank with a clam and a variety of macro algae. I’ll put a 10g in temporarily so I can remove it without tearing apart the stand.
im on the lookout for a used mp10 to replace the gyre as well.
also ordering some rock this week , time to finally get it salty.
I am ordering custom skid plates for the Subaru and doing some other things and admittedly the overland build is my first priority. I appreciate your patience Sean. Lol.

 

[Sean Clark]

I need to dig up some old pics of the sti getting some upgrades.

 

[Captain Redbeard]

Just ordered a couple buckets of Red Sea coral pro salt that should arrive next week. Goal is to have her wet and salty by 4/16. She’s sea worthy, so time to pick up the pace.

 

[mattm]

Any updates on this? I have been dragging my feet on starting my SRA 32g so I am interested to see yours!