Sparklefresh Posted August 21, 2014 Share Posted August 21, 2014 First off let me start by saying hello to everybody!!!! I am not new to Austin but I just moved back two years ago and I'm finally in a place to have a tank again. I have had a few tanks over the last 5-10 years and learned a great deal but always ended up moving (jobs and whatnot) and having to sell off my stuff : (. But I'm 31 now engaged and we own our own house so it's time! After owning a few small tanks and a large tank I realized even though the size is nice I much prefer small tanks. To me they are just much easier to care for and keep looking nice. Ok so now onto the tank but first let me ask a question. -Where can I buy glass in Austin? I would prefer a place that would cut it for me. The tank is going to be 23"l x 13"d x 10"h The display will be 23x10x10 with the back 3" being a built in sump kinda like you would see on a biocube. As of now we have the planes drawn up but need to get the glass, i was hoping someplace around here would have starfire glass for the front and sides. I guess I should ask, what do you think a good size glass would be? It's not to big so I was thinking 1/4" thick but maybe something more thick would look nicer? I'm open to all suggestions. I'll work on a 3d photo so you guys/gals can see what I'm talking about but in the mean time check out some of my older tanks or builds. This was my first tank ever 14 Biocube, this tank made me fall in love with nano's. Doesnt look like much but this tank started with nothing and really turned into a great grow tank, zoa's were growing like crazy. I made a custom stand for a 40 breeder and it turned out great Thanks for looking and hopefully we can get this sucker going soon!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jolt Posted August 21, 2014 Share Posted August 21, 2014 I have used Binswanger glass in the past for custom cut pieces. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted August 21, 2014 Share Posted August 21, 2014 Very nice work on the stand! Welcome back to Austin and welcome to the club! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jestep Posted August 21, 2014 Share Posted August 21, 2014 Lot's of people have good results with binswanger. I've used alamo for some small stuff and they were good as well. Not sure if either carries starfire though. 1/4 should be fine on that size tank. Also, you will probably want the edges to be beveled which will look a lot better than just ground. If you're doing the whole thing from scratch, you may want to look at doing an external coast to coast overflow with a sump. Takes up no space in the tank at all and you would have a lot more options as far as equipment goes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+KimP Posted August 21, 2014 Share Posted August 21, 2014 Welcome to the club! I've always wanted to do a tank in those dimensions or even longer. So many neat things you can do with it. I'm really looking forward to this build! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparklefresh Posted August 21, 2014 Author Share Posted August 21, 2014 Lot's of people have good results with binswanger. I've used alamo for some small stuff and they were good as well. Not sure if either carries starfire though. 1/4 should be fine on that size tank. Also, you will probably want the edges to be beveled which will look a lot better than just ground. If you're doing the whole thing from scratch, you may want to look at doing an external coast to coast overflow with a sump. Takes up no space in the tank at all and you would have a lot more options as far as equipment goes. Thanks for the info so far will look into Binswanger. I have had both in the past, internal and external sumps and for the smaller tank I like the internal. I don't plan on having a skimmer just doing weekly or by weekly water changes with small amounts of water. The internal sump still lets me have an ATO, heater, maybe some filter media, and a place for micro algae while remaining out of the way. I have a few more questions but i'll wait till I get the 3d imagine to ask those. Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jellyfish Posted August 21, 2014 Share Posted August 21, 2014 Welcome! Your tanks look great. I'm so happy you started this thread, ill be watching your build. I just got my daughter a biocube and are in the process of getting it set up. I've never had a smaller tank so I have a lot to learn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victoly Posted August 21, 2014 Share Posted August 21, 2014 Why would you not want a sump?! I'd kill for a sump. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard L Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 Why would you not want a sump?! I'd kill for a sump. Sure, but you'd also kill for a nice pair of slacks. Btw, welcome back to Austin Sparkle! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparklefresh Posted August 22, 2014 Author Share Posted August 22, 2014 Why would you not want a sump?! I'd kill for a sump. Mostly because of the setup I am using. I have had the best results in the past (for mostly softie tanks) from just taking things slow and letting time do my work for me. With water changes I will accomplish exactly want I want so no need for anything else. I have ran tanks in the past with everything you could ask for and they were clean and the sps grew like crazy. But I have learned from personal experience soft and some hard coral like things much different. Yes you will have people on both sides telling you what ways are the best but nothing beats what you can see with your own two eyes. I studied a good bit when I got into the hobby about where the corals I got were from and what the water was like there and I was pretty surprised. I remember in one of my older 14 gallon tanks it did best at 84 degrees, it was almost all zoa's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparklefresh Posted August 23, 2014 Author Share Posted August 23, 2014 So just like that I think I changed my mind. I had a few talks with different people and it seems acrylic is going to be what I make the tanks from. Does anybody know a place to get some quality acrylic? I have been to a couple years back but have forgot which ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparklefresh Posted August 23, 2014 Author Share Posted August 23, 2014 My how fast things can change. So I had so people tell me I should get the IM Fusion 20 because it's almost the same size and I honestly think it might be the best bet. The only reason we where going to build was to get the size we wanted. Seems like I could save some time and money if I bought that tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparklefresh Posted August 26, 2014 Author Share Posted August 26, 2014 So a few updates, things I have ordered - Tank, IM Fusion 20 - 25lbs dry rock - Cobalt 75w heater - MJ1200 to replace return pump Still undecided on the light, at this point I think I am going to get two of the Current Orbit 24" systems because they are low profile, have good controls, and are not to powerful. Most units I have looked at are much more power, and lack the controls and ability to rest on the tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bpb Posted August 27, 2014 Share Posted August 27, 2014 Following along. Saw your LED posts on RC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparklefresh Posted August 27, 2014 Author Share Posted August 27, 2014 Thanks! It's so hard to find information sometimes because everybody has such different opinions. The best answer really would be the study your *** off and fully learn everything you would need to know about coral and light requirements. Even then you would need to learn about where the coral you got came from. It's so much!! A part of me just wants to take a easier and more enjoyable route and the other wants to bury his face in information. Maybe I can't find a place in the middle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparklefresh Posted August 28, 2014 Author Share Posted August 28, 2014 Tank came in today, way faster than I thought. I honestly can't believe they could ship that big of a box at free shipping. Anyway is was packaged really nice and feel they could have dropped it a few times and nothing would happen. Overall the tank looks quality! Seems look good and clean and everything is in order. The Media baskets look cheap however so I will probably get new ones. Also ordered a cobalt 75w heater, 25 dry rock, and a MJ1200 to upgrade the pump. Still thinking about lighting and will have to make a hard choice in the next week or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparklefresh Posted September 2, 2014 Author Share Posted September 2, 2014 Got the tank in and I must say the build quality is pretty dang good, glad I went with this instead of building my own. Nothing really going on right now just got the rock in and using the old shrimp to cycle. I have been going back and forth about lights for a long time now and decided to get the Current Orbit led x2. Not what I wanted but exactly what I wanted at the same time, my only wish is that they were a little stronger. That being said this will not be a full blown hard coral tank so I don't think i will have any issues. A few others that have the light have even bleached some coral (I find it hard to believe but it happened) and had to turn the leds down. As of now I only have the tank, mj1200 return, and a cobalt 75w heater, I plan on get these other things. - Current Orbit LED's x2, they will be sitting side by side - IM reactor, not sure if I will run GFO or Carbon yet - Some kind of power head, again something I don't want to add but I think I will need to. They are such an eyesore. - A light for the Refuge If anybody has any suggestions please let me know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jolt Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 Sometimes dry rock leaches phosphates. I think it depends on the type of rock. Mine did, it was BRS pukani rock. I had to run GFO for quite a while to tame it until the rocks got good biofilm. If I had to choose between GFO and carbon I would have chosen GFO for sure and then switched to carbon later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparklefresh Posted September 2, 2014 Author Share Posted September 2, 2014 Yes I heard that as well I was gonna get the same rock as you but decided to get reef cleaners rock. I heard they don't leach po4 because he lets them sit for months in water. Hopefully that is correct, I used his rock in the past without issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jestep Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 My pukani leached PO4 as well. I would think if it sits in very clean water it would help a ton. But if the water has PO4 in it, it could work the other direction since the Ca will bind the PO4 in the rock. I wouldn't run carbon at all unless you have a reason to such as keeping a bunch of soft corals or if there's something you know needs to be removed from the water and carbon is appropriate for it. I don't know why it's so common to use, but it seems completely unnecessary as a general chemical filtration method. GFO if you start registering PO4, but realistically I would wait through the cycle and start using it at the subsequent algae and cyano blooms if necessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparklefresh Posted September 2, 2014 Author Share Posted September 2, 2014 Thanks for the info! Maybe I will hold off on the reactor then. I personally feel most people use carbon for water clarity. But I would like to keep this tank as simple as possible I really want to try and not put anything in it. My goal is to dip corals and do water changes and hopefully after enough time that's enough. I've put additives in my tanks before and it can be a pain, to me weekly water changes on a tank this small is much easier. I will be using the Red Sea pro salt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bpb Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 I ONLY use carbon because I have a very large toadstool leather, and a "becoming" large Palau neptheila leather. Were it not for those two I'd see no point in carbon use Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jolt Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 One thing to keep in mind is that these open tanks can pick up a lot of stuff from the atmosphere. My system is really close to the kitchen, and my wife is an avid house cleanser as well. So, I believe there is value in running GAC in my situation ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bpb Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 Good point indeed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparklefresh Posted September 2, 2014 Author Share Posted September 2, 2014 Yes good point, this tank is in my office area behind closed doors but I'm not sure how much that will matter. Forgot to mention I need to get an ATO, was thinking about the Tunze Nano. Any input? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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