KennyWiz's JBJ RL30

[kennywiz]

I've had a 65g up for a year in my 2nd floor home office. Maintenance and care for that "midsized" tank on a 2nd floor, (water source in basement), is too much for me. The 65g system loses about a gallon a day and filling the ATO, along with biweekly waters changes is a real PITA.


I was thinking of leaving this hobby and putting more time/$ towards my shooting sports, (traveling to some national matches and upgrading equipment), but, after talking it over with my wife... We both really enjoy spending time in front of the tank. She gets the better end of it because I take on all the expense and maintenance. WAH!


We discussed going to a fake coral insert setup for the ease of maintenance and lower equipment expense, but, we both do love the color and movement of live corals.


I wanted a larger AIO setup. The 65g was noisy and I wanted a near silent system in my office.
I looked at the Innovative Marine 38g, but settled on the JBJ RL30. I liked the "wide" view rather than the square BioCubes and IM30. The designs are very similar, and the footprint in nearly identical. The only difference is the JBJ is a couple inches shorter and $150 CHEAPER! I got it for $250 from Marine Depot.
JBJ Nano Cube RL Rimless Biotope Aquarium


I have a few "pricey" hobbies and keeping expenses down is always welcome. The lower priced JBJ made putting a new setup together much more enticing.


I read several horrible reviews of the JBJ stand and the $250 IM stand didn't make me swoon either. I searched for something 24" long and at least 20", that could support 400lbs, and preferably less than $150. I priced several options which included building one, (wife wanted a more "finished" look), and adding support to an unfinished kitchen base cabinet. Either way, the cost would be around $120 and involve more time than I wanted to dedicate.


I searched and found that garage base cabinets are built to support the weight and mostly price in under $200. I settled on this one because of price, load, and most importantly, it matches my office furniture.
Talon Garage 2-Door Charcoal Stipple Base Cabinet | Overstock.com


Tank and stand should be here Tuesday.


I will reuse the RKL from the 65g to monitor, control the system, and run the ATO. I researched a good number of skimmers and settled on the Hydor Slim Skim Nano. I read many reviews and watched many review videos. Most were very positive, and considering Foster and Smith had them on sale for $99, SOLD.
I looked at the Eshopps and several HOB, but wanted to keep things as visually "clean" as I can.
Hydor Koralia Nano/Slim-Skim Internal Protein Skimmer


I want to stay with LED. My wife didn't want a fixture/pendant hanging from the ceiling, or a flat fixture sitting on top. I'm thinking Kessil Ocean Blue. Although, new cost for the light and goose-neck is little more than I wanted to spend and a single par38 may not give the coverage needed. I'll be scouring all the classified forums for a pre owned one. Another option may be this one from China. I had the 36" version over my 65g. The only thing I didn't like was the white and blue are not independent, and there weren't enough blues for my liking.
LED Reef Bright Clamp On Quad




As for rock and substrate, I'm thinking of starting new. The rock in my 65g has alot of coral overgrowth that I don't want in the new, smaller setup. No more fine sand either! WAS thinking of black substrate, but read several horror stories about keeping it clean looking. The current plan is dry rock. I want to design an aquascape that uses positive and negative space while providing multiple locations/levels for mixed corals.

I'll probably reuse a Tunze 6045 or 6025 from my 65g until a preowned, reasonably priced MP10 comes along.



Will update with pics and such when the equipment arrives.

 

[kennywiz]

It ARRIVED UNBROKEN!

Check out the MASSIVE box MarineDepot shipped it in.

Stand, rock, and everything else should be here later this week!
:moil:

 

[Mrussell]

Following along, I am very interested to see what lighting you are going to go with. I am looking into a similar set up when I upgrade. My main concerns are similar to yours I want a very clean look and a stand with stability. After seeing the kessil 150 in person and talking to several people I wouLd probably go with something different for a tank your size, maybe the 350. Can't wait to see some pics of this thing with water, be sure to include the stand in a pic as I would love to see how it looks all together, gonna be a cool tank!

 

[kennywiz]

Thanks!

I can't wait for everything else to arrive so I can get started.

The Kessil is out. It's looking like the JBJ 54w Unibody will be the winner.

 

[kennywiz]

Thanks!


Got the stand together. Not a perfect match to my office furniture but close enough. I stood on it and bounced. Seems strong enough (I weight 300lbs).
Not totally pleased with the finish, or, lack there of on top. I guess what can you expect for less than $150 shipped?

Rock arrived from Marco Rocks.

Was playing around with scape ideas. Thinking of an overhang on the right side and maybe something else on the left. Picked up some fiberglass rod and cement from Marco Rocks.

Skimmer and heater arrived too. Gonna try out the Hydor because everyone says it's completely silent. Which is something my current tank is lacking.

My plan is to have the rock work done and tank leak tested by the end of the weekend.
Was hoping to add rock and water Sunday afternoon.


Sure is small next to the 65

 

[kennywiz]

The rock work proved a more daunting task than I expected. Drilling and rodding aren't as easy as one might assume. It seemed every rock it drilled into broke. So, I found hole already in the rock to use. I have a couple "bases" done. Waiting for them to dry/harden to add the tops.

My thoughts of dramatic overhangs have been crushed. Either I have not the steady hand or patience to pull off such a display. Probably the latter.

My current thought is two towers so that I can get the sps up high and much room below for lps and zoas/palys.

I'll be using some coral from my 65 but will be purchasing a few more high end pieces to fill things out. Haven't fully decided what yet but I have time.

Here's what I've done this morning:

 

[kennywiz]

Yup! Rod and cement rock work is NOT easy!


I had, what I thought, was a pretty solid scape going. Wife came in a noted that it needed more height. :nono:


The piece WAS a cool overhang that I spent a couple hours on earlier today. Paying mind to her insistence, i took it down to add about another inch in height. I wanted to be careful NOT to make the rock work too high as the sps needed space to grow upward and not out of the water.


To immediately jump of topic: This is where the JBJ falls very "short" when compared to the IM38. The footprint of both tanks in nearly identical. The IM makes up the extra volume in height. That height leaves you the ability to make rock work that seems more "visually pleasing" in contrast to the dimensions of the tank.


Anyway, I took it down and in the process of securing additional rubble to gain height, the piece broke. Quite magnificently I might ad. I was, as carefully as I could, slowly, gently drilling a natural hole larger for the rod when it shattered at every joint. :cry:
All I can say it was very, very firm after setting for 12 hours. I put a decent amount of pressure on it to test the joints out prior to the re work and it was solid.


That's what I get for listening.


I reworked it and now there's a lot more of the cement visible, but it should hold better than before. I'll see in the morning.


Also, the stand I purchased was not as strong as I figured. I measured about 1/8" of deflection when a 300+lb static load was applied. Rather than toss it or try to sell it for a loss, I will attempt to run a couple "joists" tomorrow and see how it goes.


New tank... Yea!:mad:

 

[SloppyJ]

Cool tank! Looks like my nuvo.

I've found that using the water safe epoxy from the hardware store is easier for making rock structures.

 

[kennywiz]

Cycle starting! Pulled the media baskets and left the skimmer off.

Really hope InTank gets a basket for these tanks in the near future. I want to run Chemi Pure Elite, Purigen, and maybe some floss when needed. Thinking of using a nano reactor as well.


At LFS recommendation, I'm using Quick Start by API. According to LFS and the product, "allows instant addition of fish." I'm not adding ANYTHING right away other than some food to keep the bateria eating.


I settled on that rock work. Should provide a lot of spots for a mixed reef. Also, should provide a good amount of hiding spots for the livestock.

Thinking about a naked and midnight clowns, a couple banggais from my 65, and a Midas blennie.


I'll try to get some better pics once my light arrives. Gonna try the JBJ54w. The JBJ guys said they have 2 over their RL30 for better coverage. I'm hoping to get away with one.

 

[kennywiz]

A little better that the water cleared up.

Removed the basket and placed the skimmer in the right return chamber. Only trouble is the sound of the water rushing in is quite loud. I sent JBJ a message about this. They previously said they run the same tank in their office without baskets or floss/sponges.

Turned the Hydor Nano Skim on it makes more noise than I would have thought based on the reviews. With the media baskets in and both pumps running, the tank is nearly silent. You have to remove a basket to fit the skimmer. The Hydor pump is easily audible.

Gonna let it run for a couple days, (sitting high and the air turned off), and see if it quiets down. If not, I may look into a different skimmer.

 

[Fatmike92]

Nice stuff! Keep it comin!

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

The rock work looks great!!

 

[kennywiz]

Been a little while and my tests have all shown 0 amm/trite and <5 trate.


Picked up the new Tunze nano Osmolator. LOVE IT! Tiny, ready to go and less than $100!


Also ordered a NEW MP10 and put it in today.

I've been running the Hydor Nano Skimmer for over a week and it has not quieted down, or at least my idea of quiet. Thinking of selling it and getting an Aquamaxx or Coralvue/Reef Octopus HOB. I wanted to keep the look of the tank as clean as possible but removing the tray from one of the overflows makes for a loud falling water noise. Plus the Hydor is rated for this size tank but I want to +2 and never worry about skimming.


I would have started adding coral but my attempts to find a light have always fallen through. Every time I set up a deal, the seller flakes and backs out or still needs it for their tank all of a sudden. Anyway, as soon as I find something, I will start the shut down of the 65g.

 

[kennywiz]

Livestock plan was a Midas blennie, banggai from my 65, and... A naked and midnight clown. Having a heck of a time finding the midnight or extreme misbar black. Sustainable and Ora don't have any.

Still thinking of what else to do.

Ordered a Midas and its in qt at a lfs.

 

[kennywiz]

Kessil 350 arrived and I couldn't be happier! Love the color and especially love... LOVE the shimmer. It's small and quiet. LOVE IT!

The Aquamaxx skimmer should be here tomorrow.


I'll be adding a few corals tonight and see how they do.

 

[Reefer831]

Well done! I just bought one of these tanks also to house some baby clowns and some softies and stuff…is it a JBJ or innovative marine? It looks exactly like my nuvo... Tagging along!

 

[kennywiz]

Well done! I just bought one of these tanks also to house some baby clowns and some softies and stuff…is it a JBJ or innovative marine? It looks exactly like my nuvo... Tagging along!

LOL! The thread is titled "JBJ RL30".

 

[kennywiz]

Picked up an Aquamaxx HOB1 on R2R. The guy said it was clean and like new. He, turns out, is a lying deadbeat on a pox on him and his. The thing was filthy and had a broken screw. It spent 2 days in a vinegar solution with pumps agitating. Scrubbed, rinsed, rinsed in RO, and dried. NOW it looked like NEW!


I decided on a HOB because the back of the tank does not allow for a larger skimmer than the Hydor Nano or the like. I didn't want to have anything hanging off the back. I was hoping for a clean look, but, when it comes to skimming... +2 and function supersedes form.


I did, however, play around with a wrap from 3M. It is used in wrapping cars and, I've found, it to be very forgiving and easy to work with. I so happen to know a distributor and got a small sample of flat black. It nearly matches the black covering used on the tank. I wrapped the back and sides. the front will be another time as I did not have enough in the sample.


Before

After

In tank

The HOB1 is already producing tons of foam and running near silent. The wife is not happy with the HOB, but, again, function before form.




I had some issues with the Kessil I picked up from another reefer. It seems the connection into the light housing is coming loose, or is corroded. The seller, was happy to refund, but suggested I call Kessil first as it was still under warranty. I AM GLAD I DID! Kessil support is amazing. A new light will be here Wednesday and they even pay the shipping for the faulty light's return. They did take a credit card number but did NOT place a hold. Awesome!


I'll get a FTS tomorrow after the water clears up. I moved some frags from my 65 and stirred things up a little bit.


Thanks for following.

 

[kennywiz]

Moved some corals from my 65 today and picked up a few at a local frag swap. I'll move them around but I am happy to have something in this tank.

Cute little plate my wife had to have.

 

[kennywiz]

I had a bit of an algae bloom and removed the sponges in the filter trays as being suspect of "nitrate factories". I tested trate and got 20! Been doing 5g WC the past 2 days, each day. Trate tested today at 10. I hate removing the sponges though because it made the overflows SO loud with the sound of falling water.


Hit most of the algae on the rocks with a toothbrush and sucked it out. Added a few snails and its fun to see the trails they take on the rock as they leave a clean path.


I'm also running a Chemi Elite and a Purigen. In a few days, the Aquamaxx pulled out some of the nastiest smelling, and LOOKING gunk I have ever seen. I highly reccomend this skimmer, but, it is far from silent. After doing some research, the community opinion is the Maxx is the quietest of the HOB style. It is what it is I guess. Again, function before form.


I almost forgot that with these smaller tanks, you must be on your toes with parameters. My 65g had about 80g of water volume and was quite forgiving.




I've been looking and trying to order a naked and a midnight clown with no success. I finally gave up yesterday when I was in a LFS and found these two Picassos. The one had very distinct markings, were fat/healthy, paired, mature, and best of all a pretty good price. I couldn't say no and really wanted the one with the facial markings.
They do not stay still or pics.

Now I'm trying to capture the Chromis I started the tank with as a bioload. The new clowns could care less about the net, but he is hip to the game. I'm trying a waterbottle trap too. Won't go near it.


Did I mention that I love the Kessil? Well, I do. the spectrum is great, it's never warm to the touch, and it's silent. The only downside is that it's on or off. You can't ramp up from dawn/dusk. The new controllable model resolves this, but was out of my price range at this moment. Kessil support is amazing as well. I bought this pre owned, and have some issues with the connector shorting out. Kessil 3 day'ed a replacement that should be here today.

Wife had to have this Goni from the swap last weekend. Tank needed a little yellow.

The plate she picked out too is great. Terrific orange with yellow tentacles. I haven't had great luck with plates. Fingers crossed.