d2mini's 25g Office Lagoon

[d2mini]

Your boss S...S lol :p
My boss is inviting a bunch of reefers to celebrate the Annual Christmas on the Diesel Reef again 12/19/2015 at 3pm to whatever.

oh, you mean my other boss haha... not moved in yet but you're welcome to stop by over xmas if you are in the area. ;)
Maybe grab some Gatlin's bbq!
My kids have a christmas shindig on that saturday but not sure what time... will have to check with that boss! lol

 

[cpllongjk]

Great build, sorry to hear about the 200. We moved a little over a year ago and I never set up the tank. Things just got to busy and honestly over complicated with the hobby.

I've been looking to get back in on a nano level. About 10 years ago I had a flourishing 20L all sps tank. Since then I could never replicate the success I had with that tank. It just seems like with every new tank things get more complex and more expensive.

I'm looking for a tank in the 20-30g size that will be next to my desk in my home office. I like your build because it's technically sump less, one less thing to worry about.

Have a few questions...

1. How do you like the MH /LEDs for lighting? My intent would be full sps would this be advisable or should I go with radion xr15 or 30pro?

2. How is the noise from return, skimmer, and mp10?

3. Any microbubbles from the skimmer?

4. How do you like the tight space behind the display? Is there enough "room to work" to access the skimmer and drop in chemical bags?

5. Do you see yourself needing more power heads as the tank grows with mostly sps?

Thanks for any advice you can give.

 

[d2mini]

Thanks! :) Answers below...

Have a few questions...

1. How do you like the MH /LEDs for lighting? My intent would be full sps would this be advisable or should I go with radion xr15 or 30pro?
Love it. This is my first time with the MH/LED combo. I usually do MH/T5. But since 24" t5 were too long for this tank, this seems to be the next best thing. Still plenty of light spread from the MH.
LED might work fine but plan on at least an XR30w for coverage if you are doing SPS.

2. How is the noise from return, skimmer, and mp10?
Return is quiet, mp10 is quiet (i don't run mine over 50% i think), and the skimmer makes some noise. That's definitely the noisiest of all three.

3. Any microbubbles from the skimmer?
During the first week or so. A lot. Not after it's broken in, though. Now the water is clear.

4. How do you like the tight space behind the display? Is there enough "room to work" to access the skimmer and drop in chemical bags?
Yes, there isn't really anything major to access. Everything lifts right out from the top. The only thing that i haven't tried yet and would be a bit more difficult is getting the return pump out for maintenance.
There is plenty of room for a heater, marine pure spheres and places to attach my Tunze ATO and the lines from my dosing pumps.

5. Do you see yourself needing more power heads as the tank grows with mostly sps?
Not sure. I definitely have the room for another one on the opposite wall. I also installed the spin streams on the return outputs so those help a little with randomizing the flow.

Thanks for any advice you can give.
No problem. :)

 

[cpllongjk]

Thanks for replying.

If you ever get a chance try out the Phoenix 14k 150w de bulb. Many online stores sell it for around 40 bucks and it gives off a crisp blue-white light. I used to use one and because it was so cheap I would change it every 4 months so my corals weren't shocked by a brand new light.

Forgot to ask. What are the actual display dimensions, not including the sump area?

 

[d2mini]

Thanks for replying.

If you ever get a chance try out the Phoenix 14k 150w de bulb. Many online stores sell it for around 40 bucks and it gives off a crisp blue-white light. I used to use one and because it was so cheap I would change it every 4 months so my corals weren't shocked by a brand new light.

Forgot to ask. What are the actual display dimensions, not including the sump area?

Cool, i had picked up two knock-offs from Amazon. An Ushio 20k which is what I currently have in there, and a Pheonix 14k. I can only assume they are pretty close and they were cheap... like 12 bucks a piece. I figured at that price I couldn't lose. lol
Actual display is 16" front to back.

 

[Quinn]

What stand are you using?

 

[d2mini]

What stand are you using?

I was going to get the IM glossy stand in white but IM was out of it. So my LFS gave me a good deal on a JBJ nano stand that fit just about perfectly.
There is about a half inch of extra platform in the front.
This is in my office so I didn't really care. For the house I would have waited to get the IM glossy white stand.

 

[Quinn]

I was going to get the IM glossy stand in white but IM was out of it. So my LFS gave me a good deal on a JBJ nano stand that fit just about perfectly.
There is about a half inch of extra platform in the front.
This is in my office so I didn't really care. For the house I would have waited to get the IM glossy white stand.

Does it seem sturdy?

 

[d2mini]

Does it seem sturdy?

Sure, as sturdy as any of these pre-fab stands. Not like a DIY 2x4 stand. But good enough.

 

[KingTriton]

Looks good Dennis. Love the layout of both the rock work and corals. This is actually giving me some inspiration to turn my grow out frag tank into a mini display :)

 

[d2mini]

OVERALL UPDATE:
The tank is hanging in there. Made it through the holidays just fine.
Since the last major update we moved out of the old house and into the new house so I am now much closer to the office. This made stopping by every few days over the xmas break a lot easier!
A lot of my sps have shifted color or are just plain dull/brown right now. New tank syndrome, getting it dialed in, different lighting... it wreaks havoc. But there is PE, there is some growth... things will improve over time. I just can't tell what half of it is! LOL!

As far as equipment goes, the Tunze Nano ATO has worked perfectly since day one. Much better than my old "smart ato". The ghost skimmer is what it is... but it is skimming. Really like the In-Tank media tray with the filter floss on top. Will eventually get a second one for the other side so I don't have any more filter socks. I just don't have an easy way to clean those. Much easier to toss the filter floss every few days and put in a new piece. Plus the added benefit of being able to put carbon or other media in there. And both BRS dosers are hooked up and running for two-part. I miss the calcium reactor but don't feel like putting it on this tank, saving it for a future home tank.

Here's a few pics from today...

And a few FTS...

 

[tomxreef]

How are you liking the light? Is it too much light? I have been looking at the reefbrite or a 4 bulb ati for my lagoon.

 

[d2mini]

How are you liking the light? Is it too much light? I have been looking at the reefbrite or a 4 bulb ati for my lagoon.

Not too much at all, in fact I've been wondering if I should try the 175w mh instead of the 150w. This ballast can handle both.

 

[Reefrookie220]

@d2mini , I've got some questions regarding your experience with Tampa bay saltwater. Would like to chit chat sometime soon.

 

[docjason2]

I love it. Mines moving much slower, but I hope it catches up to yours! Great job.

 

[JadeM]

cool :)

 

[d2mini]

@d2mini , I've got some questions regarding your experience with Tampa bay saltwater. Would like to chit chat sometime soon.

Sure, message me any time.

I love it. Mines moving much slower, but I hope it catches up to yours! Great job.

haha, thanks! I had a head start on mine. ;)

cool :)

thank you :)

 

[LILBUDDHA]

So how many gallons of water did it take to fill that tank up ?
I found it pretty annoying that I have a IM40 that holds only 26 gallons of water . Pretty shady imho of IM .
Yah I know ,they are not the only ones doing these grave miscalculations .
Ny who the tank looks great . I see all that coralline spotting on the back wall, which is pretty good for just 3 months .
I am sure the colors will pop back in pretty quickly .

 

[d2mini]

So how many gallons of water did it take to fill that tank up ?
I found it pretty annoying that I have a IM40 that holds only 26 gallons of water . Pretty shady imho of IM .
Yah I know ,they are not the only ones doing these grave miscalculations .
Ny who the tank looks great . I see all that coralline spotting on the back wall, which is pretty good for just 3 months .
I am sure the colors will pop back in pretty quickly .

I think it took around 19g.
If you take the dims of 24x20x12, that works out to 24.94 gallons I believe. So it's measured just like any other tank.
But when you take into account you are not filling it to the top, glass thickness, the acrylic dividers, water displacement from rocks and sand, you end up with much less.

Thanks, though... hope its sooner rather than later that my colors come back! :)

 

[tautog83]

tank looks awesome man!did you you keep stock pump? i found it wayyy too loud. went with the eheim compact 600 and its dead silent now . i stuck 2 rw-4 to the back wall and use the finnext titanium heater which is perfect for that one column. sweet job