New 40 gallon aquatop!

[flampton]

Welcome welcome welcome to the r2r!!

 

[Macbalacano]

I'm Brandon. I'm in Utah and years ago my father had salt water tanks. Both a 55gallon with countless fish over the years and my mom had a 15 gallon nano with a clown and a goby. 20 years later and after getting bored of fresh water I got my first tank!

It's an Aquatop recife 40 gallon AIO!

After doing some aquascape, sand and water I added a bottle of Fritz turbo start and 2 clowns later here I am!

I do have some questions with water quality and flow. Been trying to do some research but it's easier said then done.

The stock return pump claims over 400gph (for it's size and price I don't believe it) and it keeps the water barely moving but with a 3-4 times turnover rate only puts my tank needing 120-160gph. I added an old aquaclear power head in a corner and changed the big black sponge the tank comes with over to filter floss and the water seemed much clearer but after adding the clowns it looks like the flow is just super high for the little guys (this pump is a hose stream so very direct). I turned off the powehead for the night. Not sure if it's actually too much flow or if they are just hanging out in the current because they can. It's only day 1.5 so the clowns are SUPER new and so am I

Clarity has gone down since the power head has been off. Also I have the two sponges and the two ceramic rings the tank came with in the filter area

Welcome! Nice tank!

 

[G Santana]

Welcome to R2R

 

[ShepherdReefer]

Hello Brandon and welcome to the channel.

 

[Salty Rambler]

Welcome to R2R! The aquascape looks great. I don't have any experience with that powerhead, but if you worried the flow may be too direct/strong, you could try angling it so the flow bounces off of a wall versus shooting towards the other side of the tank.

 

[Jeffcb]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

 

[MERKEY]

Hello and welcome to R2R and great start!

 

[Hincapiej4]

I'm Brandon. I'm in Utah and years ago my father had salt water tanks. Both a 55gallon with countless fish over the years and my mom had a 15 gallon nano with a clown and a goby. 20 years later and after getting bored of fresh water I got my first tank!

It's an Aquatop recife 40 gallon AIO!

After doing some aquascape, sand and water I added a bottle of Fritz turbo start and 2 clowns later here I am!

I do have some questions with water quality and flow. Been trying to do some research but it's easier said then done.

The stock return pump claims over 400gph (for it's size and price I don't believe it) and it keeps the water barely moving but with a 3-4 times turnover rate only puts my tank needing 120-160gph. I added an old aquaclear power head in a corner and changed the big black sponge the tank comes with over to filter floss and the water seemed much clearer but after adding the clowns it looks like the flow is just super high for the little guys (this pump is a hose stream so very direct). I turned off the powehead for the night. Not sure if it's actually too much flow or if they are just hanging out in the current because they can. It's only day 1.5 so the clowns are SUPER new and so am I

Clarity has gone down since the power head has been off. Also I have the two sponges and the two ceramic rings the tank came with in the filter area

I have one of these! But it's the smaller one, I use it for my QT It's nice!

 

[Neffly4u]

Thanks for the warm welcome! Just an update on the tank for anyone interested. A bottle of Fritz turbo start. A few days and a new nero 3 and I've got a happy little tank. My clean up crew really only exists at night except one crab who hangs out on the beach all day

 

[longbeachjw]

Lol. Like 400 welcomes.
here is my 40

 

[longbeachjw]

I have 2 600 gph eflux power heads on the left side of tank. One closer to back is low on glass. One closer to front is midway. I have them on wave mode at 50%floow. I’m trying to find the matching eflux return pump

 

[longbeachjw]

I’m about 4 months in. First tank. Lots of mistakes. I ditched sponge and all media baskets expect for one quartz ring box.

have about 35lbs of live rock.had to do a 50^ water change tonight as can’t get nitrates under 20 but my fault for over feeding reef roids.

 

[longbeachjw]

Added a ai prime hydra 36 light.

 

[Neffly4u]

I have 2 600 gph eflux power heads on the left side of tank. One closer to back is low on glass. One closer to front is midway. I have them on wave mode at 50%floow. I’m trying to find the matching eflux return pump

Looks good! Ive already ditched the sponge and am in the process of building a media holder for that first chamber if you're interested let me know! I wanted something to hold some filter floss or a filter sock and some chemical bags (like chemi-pure).

 

[Neffly4u]

Added a ai prime hydra 36 light.

What made you choose the hydra over anything else? Been highly contemplating the hydra due to price and integration with my Nero 3 wavemaker

 

[longbeachjw]

Looks good! Ive already ditched the sponge and am in the process of building a media holder for that first chamber if you're interested let me know! I wanted something to hold some filter floss or a filter sock and some chemical bags (like chemi-pure).

yes. I think i saw maybe you in another thread. I would buy one. I tried to buy one though a guy on Instagram but he hasn’t responded to me.
Right now I cut filter media and make a teepee and stick it in the first chamber.
I want something to attach a sock

 

[longbeachjw]

What made you choose the hydra over anything else? Been highly contemplating the hydra due to price and integration with my Nero 3 wa

What made you choose the hydra over anything else? Been highly contemplating the hydra due to price and integration with my Nero 3 wavemaker

Couple guys with same tank on face book group recommended it plus my lfs who I consider to be 90%god said to do buy it. I briefly considered the 16 to be cheap but the 36 is definitely the power this thing needs. Plus when I go bigger in a few months I can take it with me. I’m sorry I went with this aio as a starter. Should have went big from the beginning.

 

[Neffly4u]

I can 100% understand that. I would have preferred like a 65-90 gallon but my wallet was already hurting on just a 40 lol so this is my test tank and if the hobby sticks and I'm successful with it (equally important) then I'll probably go bigger later.

 

[longbeachjw]

I’m with you. My attention span lasts a few months but don’t like half assinng ****.
by no means knocking the tank set up just saying I should have gone bigger and in the long run could let it sit without much work after it stabilized. This small ****** will constantly need thinkering. And you are limited with customization.

 

[lelandmarine]

WELCOME!
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