mhart032

Im on hold for the time being untill i can either build or have a stand made, but ill start curing the LR this weekend. Im thinking of having a removable skin made to wrap around a 2×4 stand so i can work on the equipment in the bottom and access the controllers. But im just not sure what to really do about that yet.

Im hoping so, i have a lot more patients in my old age lol, so as long as i can stay the course it should be pretty decent. I really like the Waterbox products, the build quality amd attention to detail is pretty nice. Im going to have to kick the stock media to tue curb to fit the skimmer, probes and top off equipment. Im thinking of swapping it out for some marine pure in the botton of the center chamber vs the bio balls.

Wow, i just went through this thread and im so jealous this is awesome. nice job so far.

So, im starting a new build after being out of reefing for almost 10 years, so far i have bought the tank which i think is a good size for my reintroduction to this hobby, I have pulled the trigger on a 20gal Waterbox kit with AI Prime HD leds, Tunze 9004 skimmer, 2 Vortech Mp10s i still had from my 40g build several years ago, I still had 20lbs of Marco rock still new and in the box from before as well as ordering another 20lbs to give me some other pieces so mix for nice aquascaping. I have also picked up a ecotech radion XR15 g4 pro just incase i dont like the AI Prime HD . This build will be a mix reef tank focusing on higher end to rarer species of LPS and SPS, a pair of Onyx clowns once established enough and progressed enough to add these. i wont be using any quick start additives to start this tank ill be going through the natural cycle, so its going to take some time to get it established. Equipment List 20G Waterbox Kit AI Prime HD / Ecotech Radion XR 15W G4 Pro w/ defuser (not sure what light im going to use yet. probably the Radion) 2X Ecotech Vortech Mp10s Tunze 1074 Silence return 650 gph (didn't like the stock ump didn't like the way it fit) Tunze Nano ATO Tunze 9001 nano skimmer Apex Controller ( New Version) 2X peristaltic pumps for dosing Eshopps 2 chamber dosing container (to dose 2 part B-ionic ) Eshopps 2 Gal ATO reservoir NEEDS Tank stand ( i cant find a tank stand for this footprint, they have a standard stand but its just a box, and its not very attractive)

Ok, sounds good i appreciate that. They all look awesome and very healthy. That would be a great start.

Can you house them for a couple months?

lol

I'm having second thoughts about the Apex (i guess its a classic now) being that I'm not using a stand I'm not sure i can hide all the pieces parts to this unit, granted i don't have to use them all, even though i kind of want too, is it worth upgrading to the new Apex series, it looks to be 2 pieces, use tablet or phone for controller ( which i do with the old apex anyway) but can i justify the costs somehow to upgrade? I have pretty much everything w/ exception to the new modules and dosing pump options. it sure would be a ton easier to set the new apex behind the tank and forget about it though. thoughts?

Well your awfully tough on yourself, I'm allowed one a day, and if its not used that day I'm allowed to carry it over, sad to say I'm all out of them for today.

Speaking of salt... i had switched to Tropic Marin before i shut the tank down, But i hear good things about this FritzPro RPM salt anyone use or used it? i was thinking either that or trying the B-ionic as I'm thinking of dosing their 2 part this go around, with this small a tank i don't really think i need to buy bulk chems from the start like i was before.

I honestly don't know, I used there salt regularly the coral sea pro, I used to get all kinds of stuff in them, test kits, t-shirts ( never my size). I would say if its not something you regularly dose and like your current results then don't change anything. we all know stability is the key.

it will be a couple months before I'm ready for corals and additives, going to be a long start up process, I appreciate the info for sure and ill remember that.

I've had it happen as well. same laziness to push the little button on the BRS meter at the time. I was doing 20% water changes with 37 TDS before I caught it, so I can def relate.

maybe an inline digital TDS meter?

I was looking at the KZ products I'm thinking ill pick up the KZ Nano package and see how that works, science has really come a long way the more I read and research things and coral foods come way down in price and there is a specific set of equipment built now for things that were not exactly proven at that time but people saw great results with, vs it more less a DIY type thing which now its a lot more plug and play. that's great for the hobby and the livestock we all keep. as always I appreciate the advice. Matt

What is everyone doseing now days? I was using mostly Poylp Labs, and some new aminos Callahan turned me on to a while back, cant remember the name right now. But is there anything new thats better? Just trying to get a head of the curve while i think about what species im thinking about keeping when i do the aquascaping in the new 20g nano.

Ok, so I pulled the trigger on the 20Gal waterbox, it came with the AI Prime HD for 400, ordered some sand, decided to replace everything except apex. everything has been sitting for 8 years so figured its all prob needs to be rebuilt or cleaned and what not. better safe than sorry. ordered a new tunze skimmer. probes for the apex and another 20lbs of rock to make sure I have the pieces I want for the aquascaping not looking forward to the diatoms or new tank syndrome cycling but eh oh well I want to start fresh, no stabilizers or prime this go around, it too small a body of water to play with, no room for mistakes.

I like the H20 Overflow option over the other option myself, I wonder how it would be on microbubbles and or slurping. will the canopy or cover be built to hide them? I wouldn't want to see them or hear them.

I would venture to say it might have been coast to coast or some type of calflo . but 1" would be roughly 700+gph that's some serious water moving, the elbows on a 45 might have been to reduce the turbulence and slightly modify the flow rate into the system. depending on what a good deal is, I've never had much luck with this kind of system. but you having a basement means you can run much bigger pumps and not worry so much about the heat dispersion into the system.

Can I ask why you went with this particular light over say the Kessil 360? I'm thinking of buying the AI Prime HD or the Kessil for a small 10g nano reef I'm going to start working on. both of these look like great options for lighting. I understand the price difference b/t the two is a big jump.

Well, that just feels like cheating lol, it looks nice the options are fantastic they did a great job putting that systems together Red Sea has come along way, but bigger than I really want to go with, here's what I have put together. being that its small want to concentrate on the high end coral and a pair of onyx or Darwin clowns. 10Gal Waterbox Tunze 9004 Skimmer (already have from before) Kessil A360WE OR AI Prime HD w/ mount 1 Vortech MP10 (already have from before, might use might not have to) Apex , (already have from before) 40Lbs Marco Dry rock (already have, never used still in box)

Hey buddy, its going good, been a little while. I just happend to see the jawdropper monti in my email a few days ago had me thinking of how much i missed the beauty of a reef tank. No place better than ARC to catch up and get advice being out of it so long.

I have been looking at this setup this morning, maybe the 4gal option or this 7gal option. Im not really up to date on the led fixtures to know if the kessil brand is any good. But it looks like enough room in the overflow box for a micro skimmer as well. https://www.saltwateraquarium.com/7-gallon-starphire-cube-w-kessil-a80-mount-waterbox/

Hey guys, its been a very long time since ive been on this forum, im looking to start another tank up, i still have my custom 40g starfire breeder in storage, but im looking to get back in small to start, i understand small tanks big issues more drastic changes and so forth, but alas i still want a nano a couple clowns and some zoas and a coupe little soft corals, and a small clean up crew. I know things in this hobby change dramatically over the last few years with leds and new equipment, can anyone suggest a small nano type setup that has seen good results. Thanks Matt

Wow thats pretty.