MoshJosh's BIGGEST tank yet! 29 gallons!

MoshJosh · Mar 5, 2023

I wasn't quite satisfied with my 24 gallon AIO tank so decided to upgrade things a bit. New tank is 29 gallon Aqueon that I drilled myself, 2 1" bulk heads. "Sump" is a Home Depot heavy duty work bucket (basically a tiny version of the HDX totes they sell). I used a magnetic frag rack to mount the pump, and it conveniently also holds the ATO sensor. I used window/glass door tint on the back (too cold to spray pain in my area ATM), and a black foam kitchen mat under the tank (mostly to make the bottom look black). At first both the return and L bulkhead were leaking, I switched out the return hose and used the old monkey wrench on the bulk head. . . seems to be working (fingers crossed). Same scape as the previous tank plus a new branch rock I made. Only inhabitants are CUC and a coral banded shrimp. . . not sure what fish I will put in.

Still needing to dial a few things in but at least she is up and running. . . only took all weekend haha

MERKEY · Mar 5, 2023

Great ingenuity!

MoshJosh · Mar 5, 2023

Also added a piece of plastic to hide the sump:

MoshJosh · Mar 13, 2023

So I think I finalized the scape, for the most part. and I have realized I have "too many" corals (is there such a thing?). I did not do a ton of planning ahead, and pretty soon many of the corals will start to grow together. . . Think I will need to bring some into the LFS, and move the "keepers". I will start a thread soon about what corals too move where. . .

Also, having a bit of a vermetid snail issue, not as bad as I have seen some tanks get, but it is annoying me. . . think I will add some bumble bee snails and emerald crabs soon (despite the risk to the corals).

Obviously I need one more light. . . will get that next pay day. . . also want to get one more wave maker. . . again gonna have to wait until I get paid!!!

Gumbies R Us · Mar 13, 2023

I like the way the tank looks!!!

MoshJosh · Mar 14, 2023

Just wanted to share some picture. They aren't at their happiest, but the zoas and mushrooms are gonna battle it out for this rock. I am worried the zoa's may disturb the duncans, and that little cyphastria chunk, but I guess time will tell.

Here you can see my rainbow monti making a B-line for that green birds nest. . . also if you look close you can see where my pavona has overgrown it's plug. It's hasn't grown as fast as I thought, but maybe a good thing considering I am starting to see it's sweepers. . .

Also I took a "calculated risk"/a bad decision and went ahead with the all damsel tank. . . so far so good though they have a lot of growing too do. Oh and the smaller ones seem to like picking at my green monti digi. . . which I am not happy about.

Oh, I also added a bunch of bumblebee snails in hopes of killing some of the vermetid snails. . .

MoshJosh · Mar 16, 2023

New corals I have no room for haha

MoshJosh · Apr 2, 2023

LegalReefer · Apr 2, 2023

Looks great! There's always room for more corals, don't let anyone tell you differently!

MoshJosh · Apr 2, 2023

LegalReefer said:
Looks great! There's always room for more corals, don't let anyone tell you differently!

As long as I can keep them alive long enough, I am about to have a battle royal as all the corals grow into each other. . .

Many on are plugs I can move hahah but there are a couple that will just have to duke it out.

LegalReefer · Apr 2, 2023

Survival of the fittest. The corals you get growing will be hardy and strong! It will be interesting to see who wins out in the end. This tank will look absolutely incredible when it starts really filling in

MoshJosh · Apr 25, 2023

Not everybody is looking happy ATM, but working on my low nutrient issue to see if that changes things:

MoshJosh · Jun 13, 2023

Tank is doing well for the most part, changing the food and trying to up the nutrients resulted in some cyanobacteria, but I am trying to rein it in. Think all the corals are still "alive", though my elegance has been looking shriveled/unhappy. I ended up moving it to my other tank (my LPS seam a bit happier in their) to see if it can bounce back.

Got a little hammer garden going on (that's the hope anyway).

Also here are the wasp fish.

MoshJosh · Jun 20, 2023

Wanted to upload some photos, some corals doing GREAT others meh.

Also I will try to spot all the "volunteer" pocillipora I can find (keep in mind there are a few repeats as you can see the same ones in different angles):

Also, original photos should be uploaded if you care to see without the circles haha!!!

The little chunk of cabbage coral I shoved in the rock is doing fine. . . until the hammers sting it. . .

Some cool white whispy sponge growing. . . and my 3 clove polyps. . . Was just talking about these guys in another thread. . . historically they have refused to spread. . . but now I am worried I jinxed myself

MoshJosh · Aug 3, 2023

So tore down one of my systems and had to move a few corals to this tank. . . it was full before and now it's REALLY full haha. Also, I plumbed in a 5 gallon tank for frags.

MoshJosh · Sep 24, 2023

Tank tops s still alive though having a few issues. . . namely some tissue recession on my galaxea. . . I am starting to see some polyp extension on the affected portions, so hoping she bounces back. . . That said, if things start heading the other way I will dip or frag. . .

MoshJosh · Oct 1, 2023

Tried to snap a few better pictures today. For the most part, the corals are looking good. There are a few that seem a bit grumpy, but I am hoping they are on the road to recovery. Will continue to shoot for stability!