2016 Reef Paradise

[JurongKid]

Hi all,

After 3 years if doing nano tanks (less than 20 gallons), im finally ready for the first big tank. Well not too big for some but considering current new hdb bto spaces, my new 322 is quite huge to me; esp my wifey . 

Nevertheless, i have been a silent reader in this forum that has lots and lots of info sharing from many shifus. I benefitted from thr knowledge attained here. Thank you so much guys. 

As a favour to all new reefers and to give back to the forum, im sharing this current new tank setup. Im goin to try my best to document the step by step. Its not only to allow you guys to learn from the potential mistakes i make but also for seniors here to advise me if i have been doing things wrong. Anyway, this forum is meant to help each other right. Hee. 

Thank you once again all. 

PS: mods, if this is in the wrong section please help to move to the right one ya. Newbie la. Sorry. 

[JurongKid]

Just some final shots of my new tank before it is goin down. It is a 2x1.5x1.5 tank. Being an ios, the swimming space is made even smaller. My chromis has been with me the longest-3years and about 2.5-3inches each. Yup quite big (thats why need new tank) ahakz. 

Will be porting over everything except the live sand. 

[JurongKid]

My new tank was ordered in Nov but due to me being overseas for a few weeks in dec, only managed to get it delivered last week. 

This is one of the most expensive gifts i ever got for myself my whole life. Haha. But if not for the members here, i would have spent much much more while trying to learn the hobby. 

[JurongKid]

The tank is a 322 with sump. Managed to get a reasonable price with good length of warranty against leaking.

Overall service by tank maker: 9/10

Found some shabby silicone work after the setup upon close up inspection. The tank maker came down my place a few hours later to rectify it. Very very good service!! And all the while, never missed my phonecalls or stopped answering the many many questions i have. 

Workmanship: 7/10

As said earlier, the siliconc thing along all the perimeter of the tank plus the laminate for the cabinet a bit not there. Hee. But its my fault cos i never opt for abs trimming since i wanna cut costs. If can order again, confirm will ask for it. However, the cabinet is very very sturdy and well built (as tested by my 3 year old). They even gave me a soft closing cabinet door. 

Its a custom tank so i tried to be funny and incorporate a waterfall algae scrubber in the sump tank. Will update more about it later. 

Overall satisfaction with tank maker: 8/10

[JurongKid]

Just a random thought....for big tanks, how do u guys do the scaping? As in:

1) substrate then live rock then water

or

2) live rock then substrate then water

or

3) water then substrate then live rock

read so many ways and got confused. I want the one that help the particles settle down and clear the water the fastest. 

[azlindaza]

For me substrate,live rock then water.

[Admiraltian]

First method will hv less detritus flying around and let water clear off fastest.  to Ah Heng!!

[leong_rei]

Bro u buy from who and how much can pm me I going to make 322 also

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[kohanson]

For me is live rock, substrate then water. Took me the whole day to scape and then epoxy. Actually not whole day lah, just scape and sit down one side and look if all angles look ok as mine is 3 side viewable. After live rock epoxy dried, i add in substrate as I want to make sure my sand shifting snails and goby do not shift my rocks and the rocks sit at the bottom of the tank. If the rocks shift, they might topple and cause damage to the glass or kill the fishes. I added the water over the rocks to ensure the waterdo not stir up the substrate too much.

[JurongKid]

Thanks guys for the pointers. So basically, water is last. But i think this time round must put water first?? Lan lan cos need to check for leakage and also im using my live rock from current setup. If wanna do scaping, not possible to let the live rock out of water for too long right?

or issit ok to do so? I wud prefer no 2 if not for my live rock issue. 

Leong: i cant seem to go to ur message board. Do pm me. Naming of shops might get me into trouble with mods right? Ahakz. 

[josephwzr]

Best is to go liverock, substrate then water. Mainly to prevent the rocks from falling over and hitting ur glass.

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[JurongKid]

Thanks guys. Anyway just an update on my ats incorporated sump. Been researching about ats and uas for weeks. In the end, decided to do a waterfall ats. 

If u noticed the first level of my first sump compartment is slunted. It is to put the plastic mesh to act as ats. I requested the bottom and top cover for that compartment to be black acrylic. Im gonna place a submersible led for the plastic mesh to grow the algae. 

 

[f16driver]

Do let us see your ats!

[Fjdam]

How is your 6mth tank? Care to share?

[Soleh Joe]

Whose the tank maker? Anywhere sell those egg crate plastic in large piece?

[Admiraltian]

Most big store lfs will sell those egg crates plastic.