Red_Beard's 75 Tank Build

[Red_Beard]

Can we call it poly p? way too much PP talk in here tonight.

You been spending too much time with the little dudes

Poly P living her best life

 

[JoJosReef]

I have one acro "bouncing" or blistering as you call it as well.. should I consider this a warning of something more sinister in my tank?

I'd see a doctor about that.

 

[TheNative192]

Following!

 

[Red_Beard]

Following!

 

[Red_Beard]

The time has come, and that time is now (soonish at least). Need to make space in my 75 display for more acros. I may have become somewhat addicted...
Anyways, the anemone island needs to go, that would open up the sand below for plates and other things that i have worried would be stung if placed to close too, so added bonus. The sad part, is that everyone loves the anemones and clowns, it was a fight to talk the wife into this plan, but she is finally on board.

The plan:
Get a ~30 cube tank for my daughter. 30 is big enough she can put zoas and other stuff in there too, but not too big it wouldn't fit in her room. I have a red sea gyre, a couple xr15's, spare skimmer etc etc so it won't be too bad to get going.

The question:
For those of you with experience one way or the other, would you go with an AIO or a sump? This will be a fairly low demand tank, nems and softies, i thought even about just going raw and putting a HOB skimmer in it even. Right now, petco is doing their tanks half off sale, so i could get a 35 gallon cube for $100. That is just a raw glass cube though, so my thought was, do i make an overflow/sump (i already have a spare 10 to use for a sump)? Do I get it, black the back and just stick a heater and hob skimmer in it? Or, do i skip this deal entirely and go with something like a JBJ or IM 20 AIO?
Kind of stuck :/

 

[TheNative192]

The time has come, and that time is now (soonish at least). Need to make space in my 75 display for more acros. I may have become somewhat addicted...
Anyways, the anemone island needs to go, that would open up the sand below for plates and other things that i have worried would be stung if placed to close too, so added bonus. The sad part, is that everyone loves the anemones and clowns, it was a fight to talk the wife into this plan, but she is finally on board.

The plan:
Get a ~30 cube tank for my daughter. 30 is big enough she can put zoas and other stuff in there too, but not too big it wouldn't fit in her room. I have a red sea gyre, a couple xr15's, spare skimmer etc etc so it won't be too bad to get going.

The question:
For those of you with experience one way or the other, would you go with an AIO or a sump? This will be a fairly low demand tank, nems and softies, i thought even about just going raw and putting a HOB skimmer in it even. Right now, petco is doing their tanks half off sale, so i could get a 35 gallon cube for $100. That is just a raw glass cube though, so my thought was, do i make an overflow/sump (i already have a spare 10 to use for a sump)? Do I get it, black the back and just stick a heater and hob skimmer in it? Or, do i skip this deal entirely and go with something like a JBJ or IM 20 AIO?
Kind of stuck :/

I would go with the IM 25 AIO for sure or an AIO or some type. The lagoon is nice as it gives you horizontal space & it just makes life easier on smaller tanks.

If you plan to heavily stock it then a sump would make more sense.

 

[tharbin]

The time has come, and that time is now (soonish at least). Need to make space in my 75 display for more acros. I may have become somewhat addicted...
Anyways, the anemone island needs to go, that would open up the sand below for plates and other things that i have worried would be stung if placed to close too, so added bonus. The sad part, is that everyone loves the anemones and clowns, it was a fight to talk the wife into this plan, but she is finally on board.

The plan:
Get a ~30 cube tank for my daughter. 30 is big enough she can put zoas and other stuff in there too, but not too big it wouldn't fit in her room. I have a red sea gyre, a couple xr15's, spare skimmer etc etc so it won't be too bad to get going.

The question:
For those of you with experience one way or the other, would you go with an AIO or a sump? This will be a fairly low demand tank, nems and softies, i thought even about just going raw and putting a HOB skimmer in it even. Right now, petco is doing their tanks half off sale, so i could get a 35 gallon cube for $100. That is just a raw glass cube though, so my thought was, do i make an overflow/sump (i already have a spare 10 to use for a sump)? Do I get it, black the back and just stick a heater and hob skimmer in it? Or, do i skip this deal entirely and go with something like a JBJ or IM 20 AIO?
Kind of stuck :/

I would go HOB on it, preferably one that also handles the heater. I like in-tank solutions but not with nems. The sump will be more maintenance if it is an 'out of site' tank and the AIO is just more stuff for the nem to get in trouble messing with. I like nem tanks to be as stuff-free as possible

 

[Red_Beard]

That is kind of where i was leaning. Just go raw with a HOB skimmer. There are already at least 10 nems and only 2 fish so bioload is going to be super low, might have to dose nutrients even kind of thing. The AIOs are sweet, and my girl is pretty responsible, but i doubt she would regularly maintain the socks or anything. It does give a great space to stash a heater though. With the sump, i was worried about the in sump skimmer overflowing and making a salt spray mess, because i'm sure she is going to bury that tank in her room to where it wont be easy to get into a sump. it also frees up storage space underneath it too.

 

[tharbin]

That is kind of where i was leaning. Just go raw with a HOB skimmer. There are already at least 10 nems and only 2 fish so bioload is going to be super low, might have to dose nutrients even kind of thing. The AIOs are sweet, and my girl is pretty responsible, but i doubt she would regularly maintain the socks or anything. It does give a great space to stash a heater though. With the sump, i was worried about the in sump skimmer overflowing and making a salt spray mess, because i'm sure she is going to bury that tank in her room to where it wont be easy to get into a sump. it also frees up storage space underneath it too.

I think too many people discount HOBs. They are still a viable solution and in many cases the best alternative but I guess many view them as too low tech. AIOs in small tanks look nice but are a maintenance and equipment nightmare. Sumps are too easily ignored or misunderstood for casual reefers. In-tank is nice if you have the room and don't have silly critters like nems.

 

[TheWB]

It’s not HOB but Tunze has an in tank filter that has a place for the heater and for their ATO. Pretty clean looking in an undrilled cube. It’s the Tunze 3162.000 Comline Internal Filter.

 

[tharbin]

It’s not HOB but Tunze has an in tank filter that has a place for the heater and for their ATO. Pretty clean looking in an undrilled cube. It’s the Tunze 3162.000 Comline Internal Filter.

The comline is very nice. I almost set up a 25 gallon UNS tank with the comline and a 9004 skimmer but went waterbox 15 AIO instead. Kind of wish I had gone with the initial idea. Much more reusable and flexible.

I'm kind of interested in the new 3163. It is like the 3162 except it has a flow pump output; an interesting idea.

 

[TheWB]

The comline is very nice. I almost set up a 25 gallon UNS tank with the comline and a 9004 skimmer but went waterbox 15 AIO instead. Kind of wish I had gone with the initial idea. Much more reusable and flexible.

I'm kind of interested in the new 3163. It is like the 3162 except it has a flow pump output; an interesting idea.

I thought about doing the same thing in a 20g long at one point. Ended up using the ill fated Tenecor AIO conversion kit on it instead, lol.

 

[tharbin]

Ended up using the ill fated Tenecor AIO conversion kit on it instead, lol.

Best we don't go there...

 

[Stang67]

Id go HOB as well. Easier to maintain and is she out grows it your not super invested.

 

[08TRDOFFROAD]

The time has come, and that time is now (soonish at least). Need to make space in my 75 display for more acros. I may have become somewhat addicted...
Anyways, the anemone island needs to go, that would open up the sand below for plates and other things that i have worried would be stung if placed to close too, so added bonus. The sad part, is that everyone loves the anemones and clowns, it was a fight to talk the wife into this plan, but she is finally on board.

The plan:
Get a ~30 cube tank for my daughter. 30 is big enough she can put zoas and other stuff in there too, but not too big it wouldn't fit in her room. I have a red sea gyre, a couple xr15's, spare skimmer etc etc so it won't be too bad to get going.

The question:
For those of you with experience one way or the other, would you go with an AIO or a sump? This will be a fairly low demand tank, nems and softies, i thought even about just going raw and putting a HOB skimmer in it even. Right now, petco is doing their tanks half off sale, so i could get a 35 gallon cube for $100. That is just a raw glass cube though, so my thought was, do i make an overflow/sump (i already have a spare 10 to use for a sump)? Do I get it, black the back and just stick a heater and hob skimmer in it? Or, do i skip this deal entirely and go with something like a JBJ or IM 20 AIO?
Kind of stuck :/

I like WB AIO's. You could do a 20 cube, 25 peninsula, or 35.2! All awesome tanks! I have a 20 Cube I might set up on my nightstand so I can snag a nem from you!

 

[Red_Beard]

It’s not HOB but Tunze has an in tank filter that has a place for the heater and for their ATO. Pretty clean looking in an undrilled cube. It’s the Tunze 3162.000 Comline Internal Filter.

I am going to have to check those out, thank you!

I like WB AIO's. You could do a 20 cube, 25 peninsula, or 35.2! All awesome tanks! I have a 20 Cube I might set up on my nightstand so I can snag a nem from you!

You just say the word! I have 6 in an acclimation box just chillin right now.

 

[Red_Beard]

Here we go, her blank slate! 20x20x20 35gallon cube:

 

[08TRDOFFROAD]

Here we go, her blank slate! 20x20x20 35gallon cube:

You didn't waste any time! Did you have the stand pre-made?

 

[Red_Beard]

You didn't waste any time! Did you have the stand pre-made?

Nope :) I even had to go to Lowes for lumber.

 

[Red_Beard]

Sand in, leveled and wet.
I'll need a new heater, all i could find was a 50watt. I'd have the light on too but have too make some brackets, they are printing currently.
I used 15 gallons from my 75, so it should be pretty close when it's time to move stuff. Also did a 40 gallon wc in my tank too.