Gulf Live Rock Instant build (sorta)

[kevgib67]

I finished my QT today, about to make water and fill it. It’s a 29 gallon aqueon with a 20 gallon sump. Drilled it and put a 400gph fijicube overflow on it. My return pump is a Jebao MDP DC pump. Max flow of 924gph - way to overpowered but I can dial it down to 7%. If it’s still too much flow I put a ball valve in the return line to dial it in further. I also added 2 stackable filter trays to hold floss and carbon.
This was a fun build while I wait for my live rock order for the big tank. Will order some fish soon to quarantine for a month at least.

Not sure I can call that a QT. More like a cycled observation tank.

Off to a great start! Are you going to paint back wall so you can’t see the plumbing?

 

[alpenreef]

Off to a great start! Are you going to paint back wall so you can’t see the plumbing?

Probably at some point. Part of me is proud of my handiwork, part of me doesn‘t trust my handiwork just yet so I need to see it in operation. But good call!

 

[kevgib67]

Probably at some point. Part of me is proud of my handiwork, part of me doesn‘t trust my handiwork just yet so I need to see it in operation. But good call!

Your plumbing looks great to me, I’m not handy so it’s way better than anything I could have done. Keep up the good work, Im following.

 

[alpenreef]

Probably at some point. Part of me is proud of my handiwork, part of me doesn‘t trust my handiwork just yet so I need to see it in operation. But good call!

Also jeez, just looked at your thread. Stunning that transformation from 2022 to now. I love this site.

Your plumbing looks great to me, I’m not handy so it’s way better than anything I could have done. Keep up the good work, Im following.

don‘t praise me just yet. Hope it doesn‘t leak Or make horrible noises. Making water right now, both for this tank and the big one. I need approx 300 gallons. That‘s a lot of buckets from the basement.

 

[kevgib67]

Also jeez, just looked at your thread. Stunning that transformation from 2022 to now. I love this site.

don‘t praise me just yet. Hope it doesn‘t leak Or make horrible noises. Making water right now, both for this tank and the big one. I need approx 300 gallons. That‘s a lot of buckets from the basement.

My back hurts just reading that!

 

[JM302]

I need approx 300 gallons. That‘s a lot of buckets from the basement.

An Iwaki pressure pump and a long a** hose........ yep. LOL. I don't have a basement but I do all my mixing in the garage. I implemented this solution because carrying the buckets got real old real fast.

 

[alpenreef]

An Iwaki pressure pump and a long a** hose........ yep. LOL. I don't have a basement but I do all my mixing in the garage. I implemented this solution because carrying the buckets got real old real fast.

That‘s funny. I am hovering over my brute bucket right now trying to figure out if my 1/6 hp utility pump has enough oompf. If not, off to lowes in the morning. What rating on your pump?

 

[JM302]

That‘s funny. I am hovering over my brute bucket right now trying to figure out if my 1/6 hp utility pump has enough oompf. If not, off to lowes in the morning. What rating on your pump?

This is what I use... it's a beast.

PAN WORLD MODEL 200PS EXTERNAL PUMP (md70R equivalent) | Premium Aquatics

Aquarium & Fish Supplies Superstore. Guaranteed Low Prices. Free Shipping for qualified orders. Aquarium supply for your aquarium fish, saltwater aquariums, freshwater aquariums and ponds. The best aquarium lighting, protein skimmers, aquarium chillers, calcium reactors, aquarium pumps for fish...

premiumaquatics.com

I didn't use an iwaki - I'm too cheap. The pan worlds have been really good to me over the years.

 

[alpenreef]

This is what I use... it's a beast.

PAN WORLD MODEL 200PS EXTERNAL PUMP (md70R equivalent) | Premium Aquatics

Aquarium & Fish Supplies Superstore. Guaranteed Low Prices. Free Shipping for qualified orders. Aquarium supply for your aquarium fish, saltwater aquariums, freshwater aquariums and ponds. The best aquarium lighting, protein skimmers, aquarium chillers, calcium reactors, aquarium pumps for fish...

premiumaquatics.com

I didn't use an iwaki - I'm too cheap. The pan worlds have been really good to me over the years.

Thanks, i‘ll look into those. My son just calculated max head pressure and vertical lift of my 1/6hp pump. I might have a chance. He is studying fluid dynamics

 

[alpenreef]

Thanks, i‘ll look into those. My son just calculated max head pressure and vertical lift of my 1/6hp pump. I might have a chance. He is studying fluid dynamics

Thanks, i‘ll look into those. My son just calculated max head pressure and vertical lift of my 1/6hp pump. I might have a chance. He is studying fluid dynamics

1/6hp submersible pumps just fine from basement

 

[alpenreef]

Running out of space before I even started. Big ole stand with so much room. I wonder what made them choose a sump that’s almost as long as the stand with this kit. I guess I will have to build a cabinet outside the tank to hide all the cables and controllers

 

[alpenreef]

Feeling rather clever about filling the tank. put a remote controlled 1/3hp sump pump in the basement rodi tank. Takes about 5 minutes to suck the 45 gallons upstairs. Now waiting for next batch. No bucket carrying.

 

[alpenreef]

I ordered 150 lbs of premium rock and 200lbs of sand from Gulf Live Rock, airport shipped! @Gulf Live Rock
Can’t wait!

 

[alpenreef]

Built controller boards for my DT and QT. The cable messes drove me crazy.

 

[alpenreef]

My @Gulf Live Rock order arrived today. 150 lbs rock and 200 lbs sand. I had it shipped airport to airport, doesn‘t look there is too much die off. The rocks look phenomenal - covered in coralline and sponges. Also some unidentified corals and anemones. I found quite a few hitchhikers, mostly snails and hermits - and a few wormy things. I removed nothing - except a few mussels that looked dead (they were open). Here are some pictures.

 

[X-37B]

My @Gulf Live Rock order arrived today. 150 lbs rock and 200 lbs sand. I had it shipped airport to airport, doesn‘t look there is too much die off. The rocks look phenomenal - covered in coralline and sponges. Also some unidentified corals and anemones. I found quite a few hitchhikers, mostly snails and hermits - and a few wormy things. I removed nothing - except a few mussels that looked dead (they were open). Here are some pictures.

Nice. Love to see what 150lbs looks like as I have a 170 that im trying to figure out how much I need.

 

[alpenreef]

Here is my preliminary scape, I want 3 distinct pillars of different height with channels in between. 150 pounds is just about right. I may glue an arch between two of the islands. 200 lbs of sand was pretty much the right amount to cover the bottom evenly 1 to 2 inches (3 in some places). Hope this picture helps, no lights above tank yet.

 

[KrisReef]

That's all coming together nicely. The sand and rock are amazing.

 

[Naekuh]

I have 2 xr30's on a 4 foot tank... i think honestly, its pushing it for a 4 foot wide tank.
The intensity is not a problem, its the light spread and shaddows.

I would probably suggest 3 x xr30's or im hearing photon v2 48 inch light is a very good light and being 48 inches long, should give you nice coverage.

 

[alpenreef]

I have 2 xr30's on a 4 foot tank... i think honestly, its pushing it for a 4 foot wide tank.
The intensity is not a problem, its the light spread and shaddows.

I would probably suggest 3 x xr30's or im hearing photon v2 48 inch light is a very good light and being 48 inches long, should give you nice coverage.

I ended up getting 2 xr30s and hung them 12 inch above the waterline. You are right, intensity is not a problem, I get 120 par in the sand on the corners of this 5 ft tank. When I have recovered financially I will add at least 2 blades to take care of the shadows - or buy a 3rd radion and hang them perpendicular..