The JBJ 45

[RX_]

Welcome to my build thread. I previously have had a few tanks for a few months to a year each and have had to shut them down and switch to a different tank for different reasons from moving houses, to moving rooms in a house, and a number of different things. In the past 2 years I've had a 55G Column with a sump, 120G with a sump, 65G, and 40G Breeder. Decided over the past few months that it was time to change things up one final time and buy a tank that I would keep for a while, an AIO.

I was torn between the NUVO 50, JBJ 45, and the Waterbox 35.2. In an ideal world I would have a tank that was about 5 feet wide, with a sump, etc. However, due to space restraints and a number of other factors, I needed to keep it less than 30 inches wide, 24 inches deep and 20 inches high. Each of those AIO systems have their pros and cons. However, in the end I set my mind on the JBJ. Despite liking the build quality of the Waterbox, its dimensions were a little too small for my liking at just 23 inches wide, 19 inches deep, and 17 inches tall. . The NUVO 50 seems like a great lagoon style setup, but I wanted something a little bit taller and a taking up a little bit less space front to back (nearly 24 inches). I set my sights on the JBJ 45. It had a blend of each of those other aquariums at 26 inches wide, 22 inches deep and 19 inches high. The newer edition also has a flat panel front instead of the rounded edges, which seemed to have failing characteristics over time.

The tank has been ordered and is currently in transit. Once it gets here I will take pictures of it how it arrives, unboxing, setting up, etc.

Index:

Shipment Received - Unboxing the JBJ 45
Setting up the Tank
Adding the First Fish
Adding the First Coral

 

[RX_]

Current Equipment List: 2/23/21

Tank - JBJ 45
Heater - Eheim Jager 125W
Lighting - 2 AI Prime 16
Return Pumps - Stock
Wavemaker - Hydro Koralia 3G 1950GPH
ATO - Tunze Osmolator Nano 3152
ATO Reservoir - Aqua Gadget 5G Hydrofill - IM
UV - AUQA Sheild UV Sterilizer Universal 10W
Media Reactor - Minimax Pro Midsize Media Reactor
Protein Skimmer - Icecap 1K Nano or 50
Controller - Apex Neptune with Temp probe/pH probe

​

 

[RX_]

Livestock List: 2/22/21

Fish:
2 Black Ice Clownfish

Coral:
Have purchased some that is in a holding tank until the other is setup

 

[RX_]

Yesterday was delivery day for the JBJ 45. Delivered by Fedex Freight. Everything seemed to go well with the delivery and transit of the tank. As you can see, it arrived in a JBJ Box, no additional packing just that box wrapped in plastic wrap.

Weight for the entire deliver was 125 lbs for the pallet and tank. Tank itself weighs just under 90 lbs. In order to get the tank into the house. I opened the box and then carried it into the house solo. Everything went well with the move into the house. It is not in its final resting place yet, but temporary at least. Here are a few more pictures of the opening and how everything comes packed.

 

[Tan_The_Man805]

@RX_ I have 1 HD 32 on my JBJ45 so pretty similar and I love it, so good choice!

Interested in how you like the IceCap K1 as I was planning on getting one. Want to get away from the very fussy Tunze 9004.

 

[RX_]

@RX_ I have 1 HD 32 on my JBJ45 so pretty similar and I love it, so good choice!

Interested in how you like the IceCap K1 as I was planning on getting one. Want to get away from the very fussy Tunze 9004.

I have my IceCap K1-50 hooked up. It actually will fit in either the first chamber on either side in the JBJ 45 or in the middle. I'm still working on getting my ATO to operate correctly in the setup, so I have not turned it on continuously but I did make sure that it was working and I am liking it after having it run for about half a day. Love the drain option off of the cup and will most likely utilize that option. I built a little temporary stand to make sure it is at the right water height and will build a permanent one out of egg crate when I get some.

 

[RX_]

I'm a little behind on my updates, but I will post a couple now:

March 6th Update:

After receiving the tank I finally got it setup where I wanted it in our basement. I have an issue with the quality of the build of my particular JBJ 45. The baffle all the way to the right on the tank is extremely crooked. I'm trying to contact JBJ and the store I purchased it from to see what can be worked out to fix the issue. In the meantime, I need to get the 40G breeder off of where it is and out of the house, so I have to transfer everything over. Currently have the 40G breeder with rock and snails etc and my corals that I purchased from a sale on WWC. I'm going for more of an insta-tank and hoping that helps diversify the bacteria etc in my tank quicker.

I did add 2 bottles of the coralline from Algae Barn. We shall see how it goes and what develops in the next 8-12 weeks.

Apologize for the all-blue pictures.

Few pictures of the corals that I added to a frag rack on the side.

And my two Black Ice Clownfish that have made the journey over to the JBJ 45.

I finally have everything hooked up to my apex and transferred it all over. I am currently going to be running the two filter sock setup to start. I'm not sure how long that will last and may add different stuff later.

 

[RX_]

March 11th Update:

We have our first stage for the new tank and its...the ugly stage. I did dose some Microbacter 7 as well as Fritz Zyme 9 to start out the tank in order to try and avoid some of this but it seems that it is inevitable. I have diatoms on the sand, but it also looks like I have some dinos developing on the rockwork (bubbles which develop during lighting hours and dissipate during the overnight hours). I have decided to try and combat it by turning on my UV and seeing if that helps. I will also avoid doing some water changes and try to just change my filter socks since I don't want to just feed it.

Hopefully I can turn the corner with this and it doesn't irritate the coral too much.

and the fish wanted to say hi...

 

[RX_]

March 13th Update:

Still seeming getting a little bit worse. i've shrunk down the lighting schedule and that seems to be helping a little bit. I also think I honed in the UV correctly hopefully.

Need to pick up a flipper for this tank that attaches to the glass. I previously had the Flipper with the long handle but with the height of this tank, it makes it pretty tough to get onto the glass effectively since this tank is in a little nook in my basement with a lower ceiling.

A few coral updates as well for monitoring. I'm thinking about picking up some Reef Roids in the next few days in order to adequately feed my corals. I'm not a very heavy fish feeder at the moment, especially since I don't have the protein skimmer on right now and when I'm battling these dinos.

 

[RX_]

March 20th Update:

I think I have come through the dinos, however, now I think I have some hair algae, lol. It isn't too bad at the moment, but we shall see how everything comes along. I think putting on the UV and dosing microbacter 7 was a good combination to try and outcompete the dinos.

 

[Tan_The_Man805]

I have my IceCap K1-50 hooked up. It actually will fit in either the first chamber on either side in the JBJ 45 or in the middle. I'm still working on getting my ATO to operate correctly in the setup, so I have not turned it on continuously but I did make sure that it was working and I am liking it after having it run for about half a day. Love the drain option off of the cup and will most likely utilize that option. I built a little temporary stand to make sure it is at the right water height and will build a permanent one out of egg crate when I get some.

Excellent, good to know. Ordering mine soon.

 

[TxReefer21]

How’s this tank? I’m looking into ordering a jbj45 and moving out of my fluval evo 13.5

 

[casey012293]

I’m thinking of getting this tank. What’re your thoughts on it? Do they still come with rounded glass or are they pretty squared up now?

 

[TxReefer21]

I’m thinking of getting this tank. What’re your thoughts on it? Do they still come with rounded glass or are they pretty squared up now?

I ended up trying to order it months ago through saltwater aquarium but they where on back order forever so I canceled and did a 40 breeder instead. They are all squared up now