Tim's JBJ 45 Rimless Build

Timothy Davis · Mar 2, 2018

Hey fellow reefers!
About a month ago, I decided to break down, and break down sell off a 65 gallon tank after the heater had failed and tank got to fatally low temps, all while I was on a two week vacation. It was not the ideal tank, and I decided to just restart.

I purchased a second hand JBJ 45 Gallon Rimless tank. I have a big weakness and love for the rimless look! The biggest thing I learned from my last tank.. is patience is key.

I cleaned out the tank to the best of my ability, and purchased various things.
1. Dry rock from BRS
2. Bio-Spira
3. Marine Pure Block
4. A reactor and pump, for future GFO reactor
5. JBJ ATO
6. New return pump (more powerful to replace the two current return pumps)
7. New hosing, cause who likes trying to clean old hosing?
8. Dr. Tim's Ammonia

In the future, I would like to get a Aquamaxx HOB-1. So it anyone is parting with one... PM me.

Big shout out to CJ's aquarium on Youtube. He gave me inspiration on this tank. A lot of people follow him here already, but if not.. Check out his channel! https://www.youtube.com/user/cjfaulk03

Timothy Davis · Mar 2, 2018

All of the items took a couple of weeks to get to me, and after a month or two since buying the tank I have now assembled my aquascape, filled, and started my tank cycle! Once again, shout out to CJ's aquarium. My scaping is quite similar to the one he had.

Cycle:
Day 1- Filled tank, and got it to temp.
PH- 8.3
Ammonia- .25
Nitrite- 0
Nitrate- 0
Added bottle of Bio-Spira
Added 180 Drops (as instructed on the bottle) of Dr. Tim's Ammonia

Timothy Davis · Mar 2, 2018

Cycle:
Day 2- Tank looks clean, temp is good. No algae.
PH- 8.2
Ammonia- 4ppm
Nitrite- 5ppm
Nitrate- 20ppm
Added nothing
Signs the bacteria/cycle is working?

Timothy Davis · Mar 2, 2018

Timothy Davis · Mar 2, 2018

Cycle:
Day 3- Tank looks clean, temp is good. Still No algae.
PH- 8.2
Ammonia- 0-0.25
Nitrite- 5ppm
Nitrate- 5ppm
Added more ammonia to the tank. So far so good!

Denisk · Mar 2, 2018

Great start!

Timothy Davis · Mar 2, 2018

@Denisk, I hear different things in different places.. but what would you consider "cycle complete"? I like hearing other peoples opinions.

Denisk · Mar 2, 2018

To me a cycle is complete when I can safely add a little bit of ammonia and I still get no ammonia and or nitrite reading. Having nitrate doesn’t really bother me. But in a new tank, I always recommend to start slow. Get yourself a fish or a pair like two clownfish and or whatever you had planned.

Timothy Davis · Mar 2, 2018

Denisk said:
To me a cycle is complete when I can safely add a little bit of ammonia and I still get no ammonia and or nitrite reading. Having nitrate doesn’t really bother me. But in a new tank, I always recommend to start slow. Get yourself a fish or a pair like two clownfish and or whatever you had planned.

Yea, that is what I planned. Thanks for the input!

Denisk · Mar 2, 2018

Timothy davis said:
Yea, that is what I planned. Thanks for the input!

Of course and any time!

What coral do plan to keep? The only reason I ask is due that one fairly large rock you have at the top. It may in the future restrict flow towards the back corner of the tank.

Otherwise great start and I look forward to the progress.

Timothy Davis · Mar 2, 2018

Denisk said:
Of course and any time!

What coral do plan to keep? The only reason I ask is due that one fairly large rock you have at the top. It may in the future restrict flow towards the back corner of the tank.

Otherwise great start and I look forward to the progress.

Really, I have no exact corals in mind. I am still looking and deciding. The flow did come to mind, but I am just gonna have to adjust flow from the returns, and pump to avoid the 'dead' spot.

Tahoe61 · Mar 2, 2018

Congrats on the tank. I had the same tank for about 2 years. Excellent job on upgrading the back pumps.

What lighting fixture is that?

Timothy Davis · Mar 2, 2018

Tahoe61 said:
Congrats on the tank. I had the same tank for about 2 years. Excellent job on upgrading the back pumps.

What lighting fixture is that?

It is a ORBIT Marine LED fixture. It is the one that came with my tank. I am considering changing it up. What did you have on your tank, and would you recommend it?

Timothy Davis · Mar 3, 2018

Tank Cycle
Day 4- Tank still looks good, No algae.
PH-7.8 (wonder why it dropped)
Ammonia- 0.25ppm
Nitrite- 5ppm
Nitrate-20ppm
Added More ammonia since it cycled in a day, going to check again mid-day to see where it is at.
Added PH buffer, just to experiment with it.

Timothy Davis · Mar 4, 2018

Tank Cycle
Day 5- Tank is looking great, no algae!
PH- 8.0
Ammonia- 0-0.25
Nitrite- 5ppm
Nitrate- 15ppm
Added more ammonia
Tank is cycling, but not fast enough yet.

Would love some feedback!