Matts JBJ 45 build
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- Thread starter Whisnantrider
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Whisnantrider
Active Member
I was in the same boat. I used the flex arm mount and it was high enough to give a good spread. Looks nice to. I think a 52 would be a little over kill but 2-3 prime hds would be a good option if you have shading issues. If you want the clean minimal equipment look the 26 is just fine.
SeaWorthyKC
Community Member
Like you said 52 is over kill thought about the 3 prime but then I'm spending as much as the 52 . Only advantage of the 2 prime is could spread them out a little more then then 26 but that's also $40-50 more plus now 2 mounts it's kinda a pickle. And the only reason I want to change my ocean revive is I want to use it on my other tank
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Whisnantrider
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Coming up in a year for the tank. Everything has done well. I ended up changing the rock work around about 2 weeks ago and I ditched the goldflake maroon clown for a pair of snowflake ocellaris. Always wanted a pair, they have a metalic bluish color around their gill plates. Plus the the maroon clown was a d**k so it was time to go.
One of the Aqamai pumps gas failed and been replaced by Hydor. Now the second is in the process of being replaced by then as well due to it starting to fail in the same manor as the previous one. Not a good sign for Aquamai to have 2 of the 2 pumps I purchased fail in less than a year. It is worth mentioning though that the replacement for the first pump does appear to have some changes so maybe they have corrected the issues. Time will tell I guess. I have also added a second Sicce 1.5 return pump and ordered the Vivid Aquatics RFG return nozzels but they haven't arrived just yet.
I am thinking of changing out the Aqamai pumps to two Sicce XSteam-E, Tunze 6095, or Vortech Pumps. Just haven't made up my mind yet.
Any way here is a current photo
One of the Aqamai pumps gas failed and been replaced by Hydor. Now the second is in the process of being replaced by then as well due to it starting to fail in the same manor as the previous one. Not a good sign for Aquamai to have 2 of the 2 pumps I purchased fail in less than a year. It is worth mentioning though that the replacement for the first pump does appear to have some changes so maybe they have corrected the issues. Time will tell I guess. I have also added a second Sicce 1.5 return pump and ordered the Vivid Aquatics RFG return nozzels but they haven't arrived just yet.
I am thinking of changing out the Aqamai pumps to two Sicce XSteam-E, Tunze 6095, or Vortech Pumps. Just haven't made up my mind yet.
Any way here is a current photo
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Whisnantrider
Active Member
Had to turn on all the lights because my phone wouldn't adjust to all the blue so some things are closed up. I will try to post better pics tomorrow.
Bob Escher
Welcome to Saltwater
Nice
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Whisnantrider
Active Member
I decided I wanted to over haul the tank and over the past few weeks I have changed some equipment:
Swapped the Tunze 9004 to an Aquamaxx NF-1
Swapped the failing heater to a Eheim Jager
Swapped the Aqamai KPS power heads to 2 IceCap 1K Gyres
Added a second Sicce 1.5 to the return
Added a second InTank media basket
Added 4L more of Pond Matrix
Added AutoAqua Smartlevel and Smartemp
Added IceCap battery back up for 1 of the gyre pumps
I also made a "control panel" which helped hide some equipment and clean up some cords.
As of last week I started dosing Oceans Blend 2 part as well as RedSea Reef Energy Coral Nutrition A and B. The response since adding these has been awesome. Colors are awesome and everything just looks happy.
I also rearranged the rock scape and moved some corals around.
So far I'm pleased with the changes. The only thing negative has been the magnet mount for the skimmer. It's simply not strong enough. It needs a second magnet or a much stronger magnet like the Tunze skimmers. It has performed very well though.
Swapped the Tunze 9004 to an Aquamaxx NF-1
Swapped the failing heater to a Eheim Jager
Swapped the Aqamai KPS power heads to 2 IceCap 1K Gyres
Added a second Sicce 1.5 to the return
Added a second InTank media basket
Added 4L more of Pond Matrix
Added AutoAqua Smartlevel and Smartemp
Added IceCap battery back up for 1 of the gyre pumps
I also made a "control panel" which helped hide some equipment and clean up some cords.
As of last week I started dosing Oceans Blend 2 part as well as RedSea Reef Energy Coral Nutrition A and B. The response since adding these has been awesome. Colors are awesome and everything just looks happy.
I also rearranged the rock scape and moved some corals around.
So far I'm pleased with the changes. The only thing negative has been the magnet mount for the skimmer. It's simply not strong enough. It needs a second magnet or a much stronger magnet like the Tunze skimmers. It has performed very well though.
Bob Escher
Welcome to Saltwater
Looking good
How do you like the skimmer? And what made you pick that skimmer? How do you like the skimmer in your middle return chamber? Does it not fit in the skimmer chamber? Do you see issues since the water level in the middle chamber can fluxuate a little due to evaporation and ato fill?
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Whisnantrider
Active Member
I like it! It definitely needs a better magnet mount but it pulls some gunk and is quiet. I picked it because it was small enough to fit where I wanted and not stick up out of the sump area like a hang on back. I really wanted the Aquamaxx HOB-1.5 but knew the look would drive me nuts. The Tunze is a good skimmer but only pulls water from the top which made the middle chamber the best option but the together fit and light mount I have made it difficult to empty the cup. Plus I always thought it was pretty loud.
The NF-1 has done great in the middle chamber. I run an AutoAqua Smart ATO Micro so there is very little water fluctuation.
I did get some micro bubbles the first few days but they were mostly gone within a week. I also needed to wrap some thread tape around the pump output in order to keep it in place when moving the skimmer. The pumps doesn't fit real tight into the body of the skimmer which is how it's secured.
The skimmer does pull water from the bottom and it runs out of an exit cut into the top/side of the skimmer body.
All and all I'm happy with it, I'm sure a HOB would be better but this one fits what I want from the total package of this tank.
Adam Kuhn
Community Member
Hi Matt, Love your build, especially the stand/tank area you put together. I have a JBJ 45 as well that I’m putting together and would love to get your input. I just tried an icecap 3k and even though I loved the product it was WAY too much for my tank. I am trying to decide between an icecap 1k and an MP10. How do you like you 1k’s? Could I get away with one? I loved the 3k situates vertically in the back corner and would try either that or on the back wall below the returns. Thanks!
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Whisnantrider
Active Member
Thanks for the kind words.
I really like the 1k, I have had vortech pumps in the past, not this tank, and really liked the flow, controller and programs but I never could make it past the noise they made. That said I do not have any experience with the newer quiet drives. The price was to much for me to risk the noise.
The 1k's I have are silent but I don't run them full ouy wither. I had the maxpect 230s on a previous tank and they did make noise. I don't really need 2 of the 1k's but I have them run at opposite times to help vary the flow and the tank has responded well.
Good luck with your build, this is a great tank!
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Whisnantrider
Active Member
I wanted the RN-1 but couldn't find them in stock anywhere! The new reefoctopus pump is interesting as well but it's just as $$$ as the vortechs.
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Whisnantrider
Active Member
Welp it was time for an upgrade. Decided to go with a RedSea Reefer 250!
Bob Escher
Welcome to Saltwater
That’s funny that’s what I’m going with,
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Whisnantrider
Active Member
Kindda weird haha
Bob Escher
Welcome to Saltwater
Well I’m lucky if I’m going to get that. If it was up to the wife it would be nothing.
She’s so scared of water damaged and water going down into the first floor condo
She’s so scared of water damaged and water going down into the first floor condo
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Whisnantrider
Active Member
I found a deal on mine, second hand which is the only reason I was able to talk the wife into it and even then she wasn't super thrilled but I think she has accepted the fact that once I have decided something its not going away and its just easier to part with the money lol.
This tank is about the perfect size for what I wanted. I am very happy with it so far, just waiting on things to settle in so I can post up a build thread.
Bob Escher
Welcome to Saltwater
Well the other issue is size and length. We really have no room for it and we have to move things around and that’s another reason why she’s moaning and groaning OH well
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