Waterbox 20AIO - 2nd Attempt at a Reef!

[FloridaMan007]

This will be my second attempt at my own saltwater reef. I've tried this once before, about 4 years ago with a 40g breeder. I enjoyed more disappointment than I did success at the time with it. That tank was disassembled within the first 3 months because I joined the military. Now that I've learned patience and have a more stable income, I want to try again but with a different mentality. Gonna play this really slow and be as methodical as I can. I welcome all advice/input.

Here is the list of current equipment. The light and powerhead were leftover from the pervious tank.

Tank - Waterbox 20AIO (Included Filtration)
Stand - Coralife Biocube Aquarium Stand
Grow Light - Red Sea Reef LED 50 (90 Arm)
Return Pump - Basic 365 GPH (Included)
Powerhead - 1* Uniclife 10w IPX8
Heater - Aqueon 100w Preset

Sand - CaribSea Arag-Alive 20lb
Rock - 3.5lbs of Purple Rock

After setting the tank up, I quickly realized that I'd be making some immediate changes and additions.

I don't think I got nearly enough rock..

The Uniclife Powerhead is much too loud for my taste. Has a pretty audible motor hum. I'm guessing it's just the vibration of the motor. I cleaned it the other day. It will work for now.

The return pump that was included with the tank also has the same issue. Too loud.

So I've ordered a replacement for each with the folowwing. Goal is a quieter operation of both the return pump and powerhead combines.

Powerhead - Hygger Mini 1600gph
Return Pump - Sicce Syncra Silent 1.0

Rock - Gonna get another 10lbs +/-

 

[Peace River]

Congratulations on the new adventure!

 

[FloridaMan007]

Congratulations on the new adventure!

Thank you! I'm nervous but excited. I'm sure everything will go smooth in the end if I'm just patient. Will keep this thread updated along the way.

 

[steveschuerger]

Nice tank and solid setup. WaterBox was high on my list heh looking at tanks when replacing a little Biocube even though I went IM at the end.

 

[FloridaMan007]

Nice tank and solid setup. WaterBox was high on my list heh looking at tanks when replacing a little Biocube even though I went IM at the end.

I originally planned on drilling a blank tank and running a sump. Decided on the AIO because it would be less expensive to start and much simpler if I went with an AIO. Innovation Marine was on my radar as well.

Now that i got the tank set up, im just gonna run it without any livestock for a month or so. Haven't added any bacteria yet. Just waiting to get the equipment and scape dialed in before I start cycling.

How's your tank coming along?

 

[what_the_reef]

Welcome back to the hobby!
Only advice I can give is don’t stuff the back chambers too much restricting flow. It will cause tons of detritus build up!

 

[steveschuerger]

I originally planned on drilling a blank tank and running a sump. Decided on the AIO because it would be less expensive to start and much simpler if I went with an AIO. Innovation Marine was on my radar as well.

Now that i got the tank set up, im just gonna run it without any livestock for a month or so. Haven't added any bacteria yet. Just waiting to get the equipment and scape dialed in before I start cycling.

How's your tank coming along?

Haha I’ve gone from small tank to 90 gallon and now that I’m moving soon sold the 90 and running the 20 long(AIO). It’s a nice little thing that I just have some digitata and Stylophora plus a few nems as well as a hitchhiker coral or two. After I get resettled I’ll add a few more corals and a couple more small fish to go with my clowns and Hectors goby

 

[Peace River]

Thank you! I'm nervous but excited. I'm sure everything will go smooth in the end if I'm just patient. Will keep this thread updated along the way.

Patience is important and it usually limits the challenges, but please realize that things will go wrong. Being connected to this community is important because there is probably not anything that we collectively haven't experienced and found a way through!

 

[FloridaMan007]

Welcome back to the hobby!
Only advice I can give is don’t stuff the back chambers too much restricting flow. It will cause tons of detritus build up!

Here's how I've got the chambers set up. I'm not using the filter sock just yet. Using the black filter foam to stop the waterfall sound effect at each section.

Bag of ceramic rings and some more filter foam at the bottom of the center, larger chamber.

Each chamber following the first is about 2 inches shallower than the previous.

 

[FloridaMan007]

I received the Slicce return pump and installed it. Unfortunately the hum is just as bad. Returning it to try a different brand/style.

The Hygger Mini HG951 however is whisper quiet compared to the previous Uniclife powerhead I had installed. I ordered a second hygger powerhead as well as one of their vertical 20w 396gph return pumps. I figured if I had good results with their powethead, maybe I'll experience the same with one of their return pumps and one that's a different style vs the others.

I placed the Hygger on the back wall to try and keep the head and wire hidden against the black. The second pump i ordered will be used on the other side.

2 of 3 noise related issues taken care of. Getting close.

Now I'm going to play with the Reef LED 50 and my new PAR meter! Back when I had my first tank, I didn't have one of these and never got the chance to use one. Excited for this part as well.

 

[what_the_reef]

Raise the water more if you don’t want to hear so much trickling. From my experience those foams pads are bad news get filled with detritus!
How I had it setup was filter sock/ skimmer and media / heater, ato, return

Beginning stage so just go with the flow and see what works and doesn’t !

 

[FloridaMan007]

Raise the water more if you don’t want to hear so much trickling. From my experience those foams pads are bad news get filled with detritus!
How I had it setup was filter sock/ skimmer and media / heater, ato, return

Beginning stage so just go with the flow and see what works and doesn’t !

I cut them pretty thin so there barely touching the water. For now I'll let it ride since it keeps the noise down but the flow is still good. Can replace them pretty easily if they get nasty. The first one at the intake will be removed once I put the filter sock in. But I don't know if the sock will effect the waterfall sound. I'll find out eventually.

With that being said, I'm going to avoid a skimmer at all costs. I tried one in the past and although it was a relatively cheap and small one, it was not my favorite piece of equipment..

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Following along! Can't wait to see how your tank progresses over the coming months!

 

[FloridaMan007]

Yesterday I went out to the local shop and grabbed one more rock to add to the scape. The tank looks much better now. Less empty and the extra rock gave many more options for future coral placement.

I also went ahead and kick started the cycle process by adding Dr.Tims Bacteria and Ammonia. Day 2 of the cycle period.