My JBJ 45 Build!

nagreen · Oct 22, 2016

I'm pretty new to the forums but after reading others build threads i thought i'd make my own! So here goes!!
I'd been wanting a JBJ 45 for awhile but said I was going to put it off until the New Year when I'd have a little more time on my hands.. then.. i checked Drs. Foster and Smith and they had a 25% off 12 hour sale!! That's $100 off of a $400 tank!! I had to do it!
So I did it..

I started planning my filtration and what i'd do with it and here is what i am thinking.
On one side, water overflows into first column, flows through either matrix or just liverock rubble, and then flows up through a small refugium with chaeto in the next column before it overflows to the return area.
On the other side, water overflows into filter floss and then through carbon. Then in the second column will eventually be a protein skimmer (Tunze 9004??) before it overflows into the return area.
How does that sound?

I eventually want to get my protein skimmer and ATO but can't decide if i should go ahead and get them or wait a few months and save up some extra money.

I have about 30 lbs of Marco Rocks dry rock and 30 lbs of Aragalive Reef Sand.

I also just finished my stand! Build from oak plywood!

Ask any questions you'd like and give me advice! This is my second reef tank! An upgrade from a 29 gal with solely a HOB filter. I'll post more pictures and give updates along the way!

Scip150 · Oct 22, 2016

Nice work with the stand! It looks tall. I love having an auto top off and I think it's essential unless you want to be adding water every single day by hand.

Chrisfish · Oct 22, 2016

Welcome to R2R

Bob Escher · Oct 22, 2016

Welcome to REEF TO REEF we have a JBJ 45 gallon forum on here. A lot of people go to Intanks LLC ( http://shop.mediabaskets.com/ ) and get larger baskets and well worth by the way. Most folks also put the skimmer in the middle section. I didn't I actually added a sump
But look up our forum and please check out me and my videos. ( the link is below)

Your stand looks greatt

Nano101 · Oct 22, 2016

looking forward to more pics

nagreen · Oct 22, 2016

Thanks! I actually have a family friend that owns a cabinet making business so he let me use his shop and helped me make it! Turned out even better than i'd hoped.
Going to be setting it up tomorrow night hopefully. I'll be sure to post a pic once i do.
I played around with the rock the night i bought it and this is the best scape i got. I tried to mimmick CJs Aquariums scape from his jbj 45 on youtube!

I'm sure i'll play around with it and move some things before i stick with a scape. I love the MarcoRocks though! Fit together so nicely

Bob Escher · Oct 23, 2016

I'm in Wisconsin gee can you give my a recommendation. I need a bigger stand for my 45. Got a stock stand but ended up putting 1x3 in it for support and I need space I'm thinking same same front to rear but another 8 inches side to side ( mainly for my apex)

Tahoe61 · Oct 23, 2016

Welcome

What lighting are you going use?

Bob Escher · Oct 23, 2016

Tahoe61 said:
Welcome

What lighting are you going use?

Do you like your Hydra's Tahoe61? Do they cover nicely? I'm using a Zetlight 6500 I like it but I don't think I'm getting good coverage

Tahoe61 · Oct 23, 2016

Yes I the like the fixture, but I am going to add a retro T5 for more coverage. Ideally if in the end game you want to keep an sps dominate system it would be better to have two AI 52 over the 45 imo.

Chrisfish · Oct 23, 2016

nagreen said:
Thanks! I actually have a family friend that owns a cabinet making business so he let me use his shop and helped me make it! Turned out even better than i'd hoped.
Going to be setting it up tomorrow night hopefully. I'll be sure to post a pic once i do.
I played around with the rock the night i bought it and this is the best scape i got. I tried to mimmick CJs Aquariums scape from his jbj 45 on youtube!

I'm sure i'll play around with it and move some things before i stick with a scape. I love the MarcoRocks though! Fit together so nicely

Your rockscape is looking good.

Bob Escher · Oct 23, 2016

Tahoe61 said:
Yes I the like the fixture, but I am going to add a retro T5 for more coverage. Ideally if in the end game you want to keep an sps dominate system it would be better to have two AI 52 over the 45 imo.

Wow I looking at maybe a Radion xr30 or two primes what do you think

nagreen · Oct 23, 2016

Tahoe61... for the time being i'm going to use the Current Marine that is on my 29 gallon. I know i'll need to upgrade but i'm going to wait a few months/as long as i can get away with it. I like the Ocean Revive T247s though and you can't really beat that price. What do you think?

Bob.. My stand is just 3/4 inch Oak plywood frame with trim around the top and bottom and it is very sturdy. I couldn't begin to tell your about the doors though. The man who owns the cabinet shop just went from machine to machine cutting out pieces that fit together to make these doors! The doors took him 5 minutes. He'd built a door or two in his time!

Bob Escher · Oct 23, 2016

Gee I thought that for a 45 gal but it's a 20 or 28?
I have a current-marine USA marine light I used when I had my freshwater and used it for a while on my marine. I liked it just didn't give me the depth I needed. ( and the color)
Where are you at. I don't have anyone around me that makes cabinets

Is it sturdy, I'm looking at close to 650 lbs with my tank and sump
That doesn't look it although I'm probably wrong

Tahoe61 · Oct 23, 2016

Bob Escher said:
Wow I looking at maybe a Radion xr30 or two primes what do you think

Both sound like excellent choices.

Bob Escher · Oct 23, 2016

Tahoe61 said:
Both sound like excellent choices.

But you have two hydra 52,s wow that's a lot of light I was also looking at the 26's mainly cause of cost

Tahoe61 · Oct 23, 2016

No I only have one AI 52. And one worked really well on my JBJ 20-30, for sps dominate I would prefer two or a retro on the 45.

Bob Escher · Oct 23, 2016

Tahoe61 said:
No I only have one AI 52. And one worked really well on my JBJ 20-30, for sps dominate I would prefer two or a retro on the 45.

Oh I thought you said two. What do you mean by your retro 45

Chrisfish · Oct 23, 2016

Tahoe61 said:
No I only have one AI 52. And one worked really well on my JBJ 20-30, for sps dominate I would prefer two or a retro on the 45.

I have 2 kessils on my 30 gal. JBJ 1 360 and the 160 tuna blue mostly soft corals no SPS. Do you think that's to much lighting? It seems with just the 360 there's to much shadow.