My 65g Glass Cages Build

[RossB]

Ok, I have order my 36x18x25 inch tank from Glass Cages. I have my RO/DI system setup and have received the booster pump and the water saver add-on. Will be setting that up sometime in the next week or two.

I am not knew to the hobby, I had a 120g FOWLR reef tank from That Fish Place about 20 years ago but sold everything off as I was travelling M-F for work and just didn't have time. Now I am retired and home all the time. So much has changed with the amount of information available and the technology. Have spent the last few months doing my research on equipment and I think I have a plan but I would like to get other, more experienced folks inputs.

Tank will be fish and soft corals, mostly zoanthids at this point. I tried a corals many years ago but did not have any luck. Probably water quality and lack of knowledge on my part were the reasons I was not very successful.

Here is my equipment list that I have collected or ordered so far:

- 36x18x25 inch tank from Glass Cages with internal overflow (bean animal configuration) and a light mount (centered back wall) with royal blue for back of tank and the tank also comes with a mesh lid
- Trigger Systems Platinum v2 26" sump with their 8" fleece roller
- Neptune Apex Pro controller
- Helio PTC heater (2x200W)
- Neptune Core15 (1500 gph) return pump
- NyosATI Straton X for main tank light
- Still need to decide on refugium light (I plan on ordering refugium starter kit from Algae Barn)
- Lid from TopLids
- Two VorTech MP10mQD power heads
- Fiji pink sand bed
- Aquascape from David at ChandlerRocks
- Not sure which protein skimmer to use. I am waiting on the delivery of the sump to make my decision

More to come for sure.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Following along!

 

[craftycamper]

For powerhead, the Jecod DMP/GMP line is a clone of the MP10, I ended up going with those over the ecotech ones. They're about a third of the price and work very well for me. I think there are a decent number of people here who have tried and like them

 

[Rocks reef]

- Looking at the Radion XR15 G6 Blue for lighting. I was also looking at the AI Hydra Prime 16HD. Big difference in price. Not sure if the Prime is enough or if the Radion might be too much? I guess it is probably better to go too much and just adjust levels with their app.

The XR15 has a "maximum" spread of 24x24. Truthfully, anything outside of 18x18 will not get much PAR. Have you considered the Reefi lights? Way better quality, spread, PAR, less expensive, etc.

- Not sure about what powerheads to get. I like the VorTech MP10mQD as the in-tank footprint of the powerhead is smaller. Probably need 2. I will be mounting on the sides of the tank since the tank will just be about 2 inches off the wall. Any other recommendations?

I think you will be good with 2 powerheads. Are you opposed to something like Hygger or Tunze?

- Aquascape - probably going to get something from ChandlerRocks.

Are you able to get some actual live rock? Maybe from a friends established tank or a small box from TBS?

- Undecided about getting/needing a protein skimmer.

While not needed, they do offer the benefit of better gas exchange and if you need to boost your export methods in the future, this will help.

- Looking at the N-Clear M Fleece Roller Filter to replace the filter socks in the future. If anyone has a video of the sock area on the sump for an R75, could you let me know. Customer support at Nature Dimensions is not sure if there is enough space to run the main and extension roller skimmer in that sump model.

Here is a picture of the sump.
https://buceplant.com/products/uns-reef-system-r75

Once I have the tank in place and ready to go, my plan would be to place aquascape in tank, add the live sand, and then add pre-mixed and correct temperate salt water to system. Can I let that go for a couple of days before I get the refugium/tank starter kit or do I need to do I need to wait to setup until I have the starter kit?

You can set the tank up and get it running while you wait on the refugium kit.

 

[RossB]

The XR15 has a "maximum" spread of 24x24. Truthfully, anything outside of 18x18 will not get much PAR. Have you considered the Reefi lights? Way better quality, spread, PAR, less expensive, etc.

Thanks - the Reefi Uno 2.x Pro look promising. Looks like I have to purchase directly from them.

 

[RossB]

Just as I was finalizing on my tank of choice (the UNS R75 in white), it is now out of stock. So I started looking again. The UNS was not the ideal choice for me as the left side of the tank where the controller board and drawer are forces me to move the tank further to the right on my wall which is not ideal.
I had been looking at the Nyos-ATI Straton X as the light for the tank. I went and looked at the OPUS G2 250 tank and liked what I saw with it but the only good option for me would be to hang the light over the tank and that is not a good option for my setup. The sump with the OPUS is also pretty tight and I have read some reviews about challenges with getting the overflow and return dialed in. So I think I am back to hunting for the right tank with the right sump. I want to be able to have both refugium and skimmer chambers.

 

[RossB]

Got my RO/DI system setup.

 

[JumboShrimp]

Hello, fellow Glass Cages owner! (FOWLR fan, too.) If you go for a skimmer, you should definitely investigate a "recirculating" skimmer; you won't have to mess with constant adjustments due to water level fluctuations. So much simpler/less hassle.

 

[RossB]

Hello, fellow Glass Cages owner! (FOWLR fan, too.) If you go for a skimmer, you should definitely investigate a "recirculating" skimmer; you won't have to mess with constant adjustments due to water level fluctuations. So much simpler/less hassle.

Thanks for the heads up. I did not know about "recirculating" skimmers. I will need to see what kind of room I have in the sump area to see if one would fit. Any recommendations on brand/model?

 

[RossB]

Need some "bean animal" overflow design help. My internal overflow in the tank will be setup with three 1.5" bulkheads for the drains and one 1" bulkhead for the return. I am using a Trigger Systems Platinum v2 26" sump that has three 1" returns. My thoughts were to reduce all of the 1.5" to 1" size both inside the overflow and under the tank. Is that the best approach? I have tried to follow several "bean animal" threads both here and on reef central, but there are just so many different ways mentioned. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[RossB]

What center mounted light fixture would you recommend for a 36x18x25 tank with an internal overflow centered on the back wall? Tank will be mostly fish with a few soft corals. I have been looking at the Radion XR30 G6 Blue LED, Hydra 64 HD LED, and the ATI Straton X LED. The Straton seems like it might be too wide and will end up casting a far amount of light on the overflow chamber, but I really love German engineering and their app looks sweet.

 

[JumboShrimp]

(Octo Classic 150-EXT) (external, but of course most people still use it in the sump.)

 

[RossB]

Just about done with my control tower. Hopefully the tank will arrive in a few weeks. Still need to order some stuff for the sump area but waiting until I get the tank and stand.
Also in the queue at Chandler for my aqua scape.

 

[RossB]

Getting serious now. Stand and tank arrived today.

 

[JumboShrimp]

Dry beautiful... and I see you got right to work!