2024-2025 Pocket Burning Frag Build!

[Northern Flicker]

Looking good!

For filter - I am not sure I see the point other than flow, or for filter media like carbon. I suppose you could stuff it with live rock rubble since you aren’t putting a lot of rock in the display.

I originally ran one on my 60 breeder but realized it’s not really doing much and eventually removed it. The surface skimming on the Tidal was a big draw for me but it doesn’t really work well.

I ended up running wavemakers for flow and an Eheim Skim350 for surface skimming. Works much better.

 

[JTP424]

Looking good!

For filter - I am not sure I see the point other than flow, or for filter media like carbon. I suppose you could stuff it with live rock rubble since you aren’t putting a lot of rock in the display.

I originally ran one on my 60 breeder but realized it’s not really doing much and eventually removed it. The surface skimming on the Tidal was a big draw for me but it doesn’t really work well.

I ended up running wavemakers for flow and an Eheim Skim350 for surface skimming. Works much better.

Might have to look into that!
I'm having some issues with keeping it clean... and finding a ATO that works with the rim while keeping the bubbles down from the filter.
I do have a small comline 9001, I wonder if I would be able to drop that in?
Also going to transfer some Asterinas from my DT into it....

 

[JTP424]

Looking good!

For filter - I am not sure I see the point other than flow, or for filter media like carbon. I suppose you could stuff it with live rock rubble since you aren’t putting a lot of rock in the display.

I originally ran one on my 60 breeder but realized it’s not really doing much and eventually removed it. The surface skimming on the Tidal was a big draw for me but it doesn’t really work well.

I ended up running wavemakers for flow and an Eheim Skim350 for surface skimming. Works much better.

Also, thank you!

 

[Northern Flicker]

Might have to look into that!
I'm having some issues with keeping it clean... and finding a ATO that works with the rim while keeping the bubbles down from the filter.
I do have a small comline 9001, I wonder if I would be able to drop that in?
Also going to transfer some Asterinas from my DT into it....

I like those little combines. I think it would be a good option, even though it takes up a little tank space.

I couldn’t stand the noise or bubbles from the today’s tbh. They do sell little attachments for the outputs on Etsy which help with the bubbles. I’ve used them before in fw tanks.

 

[JTP424]

I like those little combines. I think it would be a good option, even though it takes up a little tank space.

I couldn’t stand the noise or bubbles from the today’s tbh. They do sell little attachments for the outputs on Etsy which help with the bubbles. I’ve used them before in fw tanks.

So it wasn't a comline but an aquatic life. I got rid of the comline a while back because I never used it
Going to swap my filter floss in the fluval for some biomedia I keep cooking in my DT
Waiting on the microbubble breakin period to end on the skimmer.
Good call!

 

[JTP424]

Ok! Ran into a couple of hiccups but in the process of correcting.
I think I lost the DragonSlayer, there are a few polyps surviving.... but it's going to be my last "difficult" Acro for a while, My stylos seem to be doing well!
Going to look into turning this tank into an AIO. Now figuring out what equipment to build it around!

 

[JTP424]

Ok!
Moving this tank to another room as I'm doing some house renovations.
Going to attempt to build a stand for it using Reef Engineers Template.

 

[JTP424]

Supplies collected!

I grabbed some free lumber off a dude on nextdoor a few months back that was dumping it for free.
Previous home owners left some plywood in the attic, going to be perfect for the top and some shelves.
Using Rocket Engineers template as stated previously... BUT with a limited amount of wood... I need to make sure I can get what I need out of what I have....
Found this cool cutting calc....
linear cutting calc
Using that....
and these two.... (a quick calculator I threw together from @RocketEngineer information)

I can get exactly what I want out of the lumber I have!!!
I only needed some screws.... I have plenty of 1 5/8", which will work for the top/shelves.... but I need some 2 1/2".... for the verticals etc.
Quick Menards run solved that... Although I didn't pay attention to bit size.
Apparently I am eating my drill bits... I can't find any of my T25 impact bits.
Cutting to come tomorrow!

 

[JTP424]

Have a bunch of solid wood bamboo flooring... maybe clad the stand with this.....

 

[JTP424]

Had just enough 2x4s to build how I wanted it.
Going to scrap the flooring cladding for now. Would make it a bit heavier than I want. Probably going to pick up some sintra (expanded pvc) from a vendor i work with at my day job. That and a few velcro strips and it'll be a cheap clean cover.
Going to add some shelves (bottom and middle) as well as a back panel (plywood) to add a BIT of structure. It's pretty robust but the screws are the weak point.
Probably won't get around to much of it this weekend. Have some stuff around the house to do and heading up to Wisconsin tomorrow for the Reefing Usa show (don't have anything I really want right now, but I could pick up some pods without paying shipping)
More to come!

 

[JTP424]

Tank rinsed and moved!
The previous spot it was on was a shiny white coffee table... decided to drop some black plastic sheets under the new tank spot. Hopefully this will cut down on algae from light reflection.
Currently making saltwater to fill it!

 

[JTP424]

Working on filling the beast!
I am really happy with the height, I don't like my DT and how low it is I have to hunch over to look at it, this one is just about right. Gives me an idea for the stand I want to build for my DT (welded metal etc)
I've got my two AI Primes for now, picking up some T5 hybrids next month from @DIFish (woot!) will be my first time with hybrids so we'll see how it goes.
Rocking a HOB filter from the fabulous @mjszos (thanks man!)
RODI is rolling along and more salt is mixing.
Next will be some shelves for my dosing setup, as well as building out a mini phyto/copepod culture area in the "cabinet"

 

[mjszos]

Coming along slowly but surely!

The boot print on the stand is the real piece de resistance.

 

[JTP424]

Alright.
We have water.
Lights.
Filter.
Need to rerun my dosing lines and drop in some bio media.
I plan on some small copepod and phyto jars underneath. Hoping copepods will help me avoid another "crash"

 

[mjszos]

Let me know how you end up setting up your pod/phyto cultures... I am super intrigued by the idea, but I am also super lazy..

 

[JTP424]

Dropped in my Aquatic life skimmer, it's not THE best by any means, but I figure it won't hurt. It'll at least help keep some gunk out until I get Pods in there.
Confirmed in another thread that they won't strip dosed nutrients.
Currently planning on dosing Ammonia Bicarbonate (For Nitrates) And NeoPhos (until I run out and switch to Trisodium Phosphate for Phosphates)
Also dosing AFR as I have plenty of powder.
I've got an acclimation box with some Matrix media in there for mushrooms, varying rack heights, as well as pod hotels.
HOB filter has a BUNCH of biomedia I was cooking in my DT. Tracking Phosphates and Nitrates now just to see where things land, (dosing 1ml of Ammonia Bicarb and Neophos until I get corals in there) I'm seeing detectable nitrates (Hanna) so the media is working.
Cultivating some phyto as I plan on dosing it in this tank as well as my DT. Need to get another micro fridge for the Frag tank to house both phyto and Reef energy for dosing.
- Picked up a bottle of Phyto from the Reefing USA show, but they weren't sure what it was, so we'll see how long/much I can produce with it. Otherwise I have a cart ready to go from @TopShelfAquatics for some pods, phyto, Reef Energy (will be dosed at some point) and some AI Prime hanging hardware for when I get the T5 Hybrid in.
Once I get some pods I'll dump half in here and start culturing the other half.

Going to start transferring corals back in a week or so, heading to my folks place this weekend to go beat on a car.....

Still need to get the ATO reservoir up... just need to rinse out the tub....

 

[mjszos]

You're wasting no time with this one bud, coming along nicely.