JBJ 45 rl Advice on set up

[bwitchn]

I set up my JBJ 45 rl a week ago. It is going thru the cycle. Ammonia now is at 50

I modified the filtration and chambers based on Marine Depot's Tank Hack video as follows:

Left chamber:
Aquamaxx FR-S Filter Media Reactor w/ROX 0.8 Carbon

Return Chamber/Middle:
Far Left near left chamber: Aquamaxx FR-S Filter media Reactor with Phosphate Out PRO FGO Gilter Media

Replaced both standard pumps for 1 Tunze Silence Recirculation Water Pump with Insert Y-Fitting

Far right of middle return chamber - Cobalt Aquatics Neo-Therm Heater

Right Chamber:
In-Tank Basket:
---Bottom and Middle chambers of InTank basket - Pond Matrix
---Top chamber of InTank Basket - Filter Pad

I have a ten gallon reservoir with RO water in the cabinet with a Smart ATO micro installed. The sensor is in the middle chamber.

Also 2 Vortech MP10s

I will be adding a protein skimmer. I had ordered the Aquamaxx HOB-1 but I'm concerned with overflow so I'm thinking of switching it to the Aquamaxx WS-1 In-Sump skimmer. It will have to be placed middle return chamber.

Does anyone have any advice as to this set up? I was concerned whether the InTank basket should be in the left chamber and the reactors in the right chambers. But does it matter?

Also, I notice there is good water flow in to the left and right chambers and out to the display tank from the returns. But when I look in the back chambers, the middle chamber water doesn't appear to have much flow and looks like it is just stale not moving.

Any thoughts? Advice? Concerns? Comments on the above?

Really appreciate any advice.

Thanks.
Mary

 

[Tahoe61]

Well Mary it's obvious you've done your home work, excellent.

I have the same tank and yes the middle back chamber water does look as you described.

IMO it really does not matter where the media baskets is placed.

What lighting type are you going with?

Personally I love the Smart ATO.

HTH

 

[bwitchn]

Well Mary it's obvious you've done your home work, excellent.

I have the same tank and yes the middle back chamber water does look as you described.

IMO it really does not matter where the media baskets is placed.

What lighting type are you going with?

Personally I love the Smart ATO.

HTH

I have 2 AI Prime HD's for lighting. I was researching skimmers last night. Looks like the Aquamaxx WS-1 may not fit in the rear chambers of the JBJ 45 rl. What skimmer are you running?

Mary

 

[Tahoe61]

I was running a Tunze 9001 Doc but it broke so I am not currently running a skimmer. I will probably get another Tunze though when the tank becomes more sps dominate.

 

[bwitchn]

I've decided to keep the Aquamaxx HOB-1 over the WS-1 in sump. I was concerned the WS-1 would not fit in the rear chamber of the JBJ45. Far superior skimmer. The new one has a tube that in the event it were to overflow, it returns back into the skimmer box. I can also attach tubing to this tube and run it back into the tank. The HOB-1 is a far superior skimmer. And, I don't mind that it is visible as long as it allows me to maintain a high performance display tank with all types of corals and bioload.

I've now redesigned the entire rear chambers as follows:

Left first chamber - InTank Media basket with bottom and middle/Pond Matrix; top/filter pad

Left second chamber - Aquamaxx FR-S Filter Media Reactor w/ROX 0.8 Carbon

Middle - upgraded and replaced both standard pumps for 1 Tunze Silence Recirculation Water Pump with Insert Y-Fitting

Right second chamber (next to return chamber) - heater and Aquamaxx FR-S Filter media Reactor with Phosphate Out PRO FGO Gilter Media (it is turned off right now during cycling). Aquamaxx HOB-1 skimmer return is going into this chamber

Right chamber - Aquamaxx HOB-1 skimmer intake in the first right chamber and the JBJ stock media basket: Bottom carbon; middle pond matrix; top filter pad.

Running 2 - AI Prime HD lights

Running 2 Vortech MP10's.

Live sand - 20# was Carib Sea and 15# was from another display tank
Live rock - 30#'s - all cured

Tank is currently cycling 10 days now. I started cycle with 2 raw shrimp. one has already disintegrated, the other one there are just little pieces still left in the tank.

Ammonia tested as of yesterday at 50 - I didn't see Ammonia go any higher, but today it is down to 0. Nitrites are showing 0 and Nitrates are showing 0. Not sure if tank has cycled or if Nitrites are taking some time. The sand and live rock I placed was really good. Especially the sand.

I have the skimmer also off for the first week or two of cycling, then I will turn it on to break it in and ghost feed a little. The first inhabitant will be a clown fish from my 20gallon Fusion.

Mary

 

[Tahoe61]

^ Something tells me this is not your first rodeo, I take it.

I which I would have changed out the stock pumps for the Tunze but I had not seen the video. I did however change the stock out to MJ1200/295 gph with a MP10 and a Tunze Turbelle in the display.

 

[bwitchn]

No. I've been in the hobby since the late 1970's. In and out of the hobby. It was much more difficult back then with canister and under gravel filters. I've all kinds of tanks and set ups. Left the hobby in 1980 returned to in 1988 - then in 1992 left the hobby for 17 years and returned to it in 2010 with a 29gal biocube and a 132 gallon cube. I was shocked and surprised to see how much had changed and advancements in biological filtration, technology, etc. Really had to re-educate myself and learn so much because the way we used to do it was all outdated and really wrong. I returned to the hobby last year with a 20 gallon. Now I've upgraded to the JBJ 45 rl. I know several people who have had great success with this tank. And it is just the perfect size. I can't handle the upkeep and maintenance of larger tanks.

I am going to keep my 20gal Fusion and deciding on whether to use it for seahorses or just as a quarantine. I am not a fan of Innovative Marine Tanks. Hated the Fusion. Just not well designed.

Mary

 

[Tahoe61]

And here I was just going to get the IM 20, wanted a shallower tank, thanks for the heads up. I had the frag JBJ 20 RL is was awesome, but I went bigger with the 30 and then to the 45 gallon, now I want small again.
Currently running the AI Hydra 52, it was excellent on the 20 and 30 but I have had issues on the 45, going back to MH.

Your right it's hard to keep up with all the new technology and products.

 

[THX1138]

Any pics of how this tank is doing?

Why pond matrix instead of the regular matrix?

What settings are you using on the Prime HD's?

Thanks!

Lou