My custom 233

griff500 · Dec 23, 2018

mfinn said:
I introduced a pink tip majano with a frag and that turned into a few dozen, which turned into hundreds, etc.
The rock and corals were infested with majanos. Hundreds, even thousands.
I tried a couple different butterfly fish, several matted file fish and nothing seemed to work.

I had a similar thing happen - completely infested, rocks, sand, in the overflow... everywhere. On the plus side, it's a good excuse for a bigger tank.

mfinn · Dec 23, 2018

griff500 said:
I had a similar thing happen - completely infested, rocks, sand, in the overflow... everywhere. On the plus side, it's a good excuse for a bigger tank.

Yeah, I ended up taking down the tank and going with new rock.

Blue Spot Octopus · Oct 20, 2019

Following along I have a similar size tank and I am about 1/3 through your build thread. So I have received my tank and it is in the garage. So now I want to do a closed loop, I rather do it through the back like you have through the bottom. I was surprised that you were going to use an Eheim 1262 pump for a return pump but I guess you have upgraded to BK's.

Thanks for the picture of the closed loop, I was going to use a Dolphin pump but I have chosen to use a DC pump instead so I can slow it down at night.

mfinn · Oct 20, 2019

Blue Spot Octopus said:
Following along I have a similar size tank and I am about 1/3 through your build thread. So I have received my tank and it is in the garage. So now I want to do a closed loop, I rather do it through the back like you have through the bottom. I was surprised that you were going to use an Eheim 1262 pump for a return pump but I guess you have upgraded to BK's.

Thanks for the picture of the closed loop, I was going to use a Dolphin pump but I have chosen to use a DC pump instead so I can slow it down at night.

I like a slow flow through the sump and at the time, I had a new Eheim 1262.
THen I went to the Vectras for both return and closed loop, then on to the RD3's.

My first idea for the closed loop was a powerhouse Reeflo.
I was assured by everybody that it was a quiet pump, but one persons quiet can be another persons noise maker.

Blue Spot Octopus · Oct 20, 2019

I have a Fluval SP4 for my return and I am trying to buy a Varios 8.
What percentage are you running the BK for the closed loop?

mfinn · Oct 20, 2019

Blue Spot Octopus said:
I have a Fluval SP4 for my return and I am trying to buy a Varios 8.
What percentage are you running the BK for the closed loop?

100%

Blue Spot Octopus · Oct 21, 2019

I am about halfway through your thread. So on the close loop, since you had the issue with the BTA where would you now put your inlet/strainer?

mfinn · Oct 22, 2019

I made a 2 stage strainer, coming through the back wall in the same place.
The 1-1/2" pipe coming out of the bulkhead goes into a tee with a short length of pvc ( both sides) to a back to back 90 another short length of pvc and a cap. Then about a 1000 holes drilled into all this.

Then I took a 12" x 8" x 6" plastic basket ( from Hobby Lobby) and cut 1/8" slices length wise in it.
Then siliconed this over the pvc pipe contraption, to the back wall.

Blue Spot Octopus · Oct 22, 2019

Thanks I was thinking about putting the inlet on the right side of the tank, because that side will be open, then maybe half way down and inside about 6", I think that I can reach that if it was needed.

mfinn · Nov 30, 2019

It's been a long time since I updated this thread with pictures.

I did another reboot.
Bought new rock. Hit a sale early in the year for 200lbs of Real Reef rock.
I used maybe 120 of it.

Have kind of gone back to mostly softies.
I have a few branching lps, but those will be moved soon.

CL_ · Nov 30, 2019

Love that BTA. Sorry if it’s mentioned somewhere in the thread - what kind is it?

mfinn · Nov 30, 2019

CL_ said:
Love that BTA. Sorry if it’s mentioned somewhere in the thread - what kind is it?

Thanks
There are 2 of them and they are rainbows.
I got one a couple years ago in a trade for a Potters Wrasse that I got from live aquaria. Ordered a small 1-1/2" to 2".
Came in at nearly 5". It was a monster. Not at all what I wanted. So I put it up for sale/trade in a local FB group and ended up with a rainbow anemone.

SteveMac84 · May 30, 2022

mfinn said:
It's been a long time since I updated this thread with pictures.

I did another reboot.
Bought new rock. Hit a sale early in the year for 200lbs of Real Reef rock.
I used maybe 120 of it.

Have kind of gone back to mostly softies.
I have a few branching lps, but those will be moved soon.

Amazing