jt8791
Active Member
I don't have any pictures just yet, working with the basic Aqueon 30 and 20 high tanks and stock black pine stand. Only have the 30 so far, still gathering equipment and planning the whole thing but height will be the same. A few questions really, for a light stand I'm half tempted to just run it as is, but maybe take it easy on the live rock, heavier on the sand. So I'm debating on DSB in one or both tanks. 30 will have 2 Hydor nano 425, 2 240s in the 20. Thinking fiji pink in the 30 and oolite for the 20. By easy on the rock, 1lb per gallon is the least I would prefer but also never setup a fish tank on an open top stand before. No fancy bells and whistles, trying to keep it simple for now and add equipment as I go.
Each tank will have its own heater, figure at the opposite ends, thinking 150w and 100w. So far I'm debating on maybe trying Xenia but I also like a lot of the polyp corals, thinking filter feeders would be the simpler bet although I would like to have a large pod population. Only macro planned for the 20 so far is chaeto, which would probably work just fine. But I suppose if nutrient export is the main goal xenia and chaeto may be the simplest option, as long as it's nice to look at, the xenia, chaeto can fill the 20 for all I care but im not sure if there will be enough flow to keep it spinning
On lighting just for simplicity I'm thinking Fluval Marine 3.0 and the Plant 3.0
Was thinking about 3" gap between the tanks, really basic plumbing, I rent and my landlord will barely allow this much. Plumbing idea was a simple pvc water bridge I guess you could call it. From the little bit of information I've gathered on plumbing tanks together this way 1" piping with some type of screening material on each side should suffice and common practice seems to use two of them. Figure about 8" long each side to be safe, plus whatever for the top pieces. Doesn't sound too likely to fail that I know of, at least as far as leaks go, correct me if I'm wrong.
Only thing I have so far is the 30 and the 2 425 pumps, I haven't ordered the rest yet, trying to lock down the plan. Only things I'm unsure of is sand depth in each tank, I like the idea of a dsb, if not 2" but really not sure how dsb works. Wouldn't you have to bury the rocks? Suppose it depends on the size of the live rocks, haven't decided what I'm using for live rock this time. Last time I got the stamped reef rocks at petco and I have seen some of those still around a few stores recently but they are smaller, think the employees always said 3-5 lbs each. And according to their website Easy Aquariums has their new location at least set, not sure if it's open yet, may be my best bet on live rock. Had 3 freshwater tanks before the last sw, finally in my own place and trying to get back into the hobby.
Sure I may have missed a few things, Let me know if any of this makes any sense to you or if it sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. Tried going right for a 50, stand I had wasn't cut out for it and my landlord saw it and got nervous, he wasn't eager on a 40 either but he settled on a 30. I'm hoping to not end up with a headache so simple solution seems to me to add a 20 next to it, was hoping to do two 30s but he is determined to put a closet in the corner. I figure 50 gallons saltwater, plus water for water changes and top offs is enough weight for one room. Figure later a 10 gallon tank for ato and return pump, not sure if I should hard plumb that and just have it sit over the water surface. I buy all my water at petco, although I will see about an rodi filter here. Just assume use the boxed saltwater than artificial, as long as I keep my stocking low enough that water changes don't run me broke. Was thinking 15 gallons a month was reasonable but maybe low depending on stock.
Thanks for reading, let me know if you have any suggestions. For stocking I'm planning on simple as possible, primarily captive breed species. Kids want ocellaris clownfish again, I'm thinking about Bangai or Kauderns Cardinals and possibly yellow watchman goby and or court jester goby. Not sure which my last ywg was but saw the gobies other day on algaebarn. Ultimately I'm leaning towards fish that serve a function and a reasonable easy to maintain tank, I figure either clowns or cardinals could end up breeding so hard to say if I should do two pairs in the 30, or both gobies. Also not sure what if anything I should put in the 20
Each tank will have its own heater, figure at the opposite ends, thinking 150w and 100w. So far I'm debating on maybe trying Xenia but I also like a lot of the polyp corals, thinking filter feeders would be the simpler bet although I would like to have a large pod population. Only macro planned for the 20 so far is chaeto, which would probably work just fine. But I suppose if nutrient export is the main goal xenia and chaeto may be the simplest option, as long as it's nice to look at, the xenia, chaeto can fill the 20 for all I care but im not sure if there will be enough flow to keep it spinning
On lighting just for simplicity I'm thinking Fluval Marine 3.0 and the Plant 3.0
Was thinking about 3" gap between the tanks, really basic plumbing, I rent and my landlord will barely allow this much. Plumbing idea was a simple pvc water bridge I guess you could call it. From the little bit of information I've gathered on plumbing tanks together this way 1" piping with some type of screening material on each side should suffice and common practice seems to use two of them. Figure about 8" long each side to be safe, plus whatever for the top pieces. Doesn't sound too likely to fail that I know of, at least as far as leaks go, correct me if I'm wrong.
Only thing I have so far is the 30 and the 2 425 pumps, I haven't ordered the rest yet, trying to lock down the plan. Only things I'm unsure of is sand depth in each tank, I like the idea of a dsb, if not 2" but really not sure how dsb works. Wouldn't you have to bury the rocks? Suppose it depends on the size of the live rocks, haven't decided what I'm using for live rock this time. Last time I got the stamped reef rocks at petco and I have seen some of those still around a few stores recently but they are smaller, think the employees always said 3-5 lbs each. And according to their website Easy Aquariums has their new location at least set, not sure if it's open yet, may be my best bet on live rock. Had 3 freshwater tanks before the last sw, finally in my own place and trying to get back into the hobby.
Sure I may have missed a few things, Let me know if any of this makes any sense to you or if it sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. Tried going right for a 50, stand I had wasn't cut out for it and my landlord saw it and got nervous, he wasn't eager on a 40 either but he settled on a 30. I'm hoping to not end up with a headache so simple solution seems to me to add a 20 next to it, was hoping to do two 30s but he is determined to put a closet in the corner. I figure 50 gallons saltwater, plus water for water changes and top offs is enough weight for one room. Figure later a 10 gallon tank for ato and return pump, not sure if I should hard plumb that and just have it sit over the water surface. I buy all my water at petco, although I will see about an rodi filter here. Just assume use the boxed saltwater than artificial, as long as I keep my stocking low enough that water changes don't run me broke. Was thinking 15 gallons a month was reasonable but maybe low depending on stock.
Thanks for reading, let me know if you have any suggestions. For stocking I'm planning on simple as possible, primarily captive breed species. Kids want ocellaris clownfish again, I'm thinking about Bangai or Kauderns Cardinals and possibly yellow watchman goby and or court jester goby. Not sure which my last ywg was but saw the gobies other day on algaebarn. Ultimately I'm leaning towards fish that serve a function and a reasonable easy to maintain tank, I figure either clowns or cardinals could end up breeding so hard to say if I should do two pairs in the 30, or both gobies. Also not sure what if anything I should put in the 20
