Question on tank makeover

[wkcheah]

Hi,

I currently have a Juwel tank (diamond-shaped) which I am using as my goldfish tank now. Its dimensions are 70cm x 70cm on the sides (width), with 3 sides glass panels in front (20cm x 70cm x 20cm), and 45cm depth. The two sides are stuck with fiber boards (now completely covered with algae) and the tank has a compartment built-in for internal filter.

Considering a complete makeover to turn this into a marine reef tank. Wondering if anyone has any pointers on what to look out for in converting a freshwater tank into a reef tank? And does an internal filter compartment makes sense for a reef tank?

Thanks in advance.

-WK

[Vinoth]

What's the thickness of the glass?

[lightningstrike]

hi wkcheah,

take a look at my signature and u will know converting a Juwel tank to a marine tank is possible. i used to rear discus b4 converting my Juwel tank into a marine tank and hv not looked back since.

I hv disabled the internal filter compartment, only using the pump for flow. as for the fibre boards (which i believe is styrofoam), take them out if they r too old. in the long run they might absorb nutrients, toxins and whatsoever, and who knows it might juz leech back into ur system. but i m still using one for my backdrop though, juz 2 lazy and troublesome to take it out as i hv oredi siliconed it to my rear tank panel.

if u hv any doubts, can juz drop me a line again. will juz try to give u my 2 cents worth.......

bro vinoth, u forgotten that i used a Juwel tank. no worries abt the tank thickness as all Juwel tanks r made from tempered glass. some reefers hv doubts over it, but it works fine for me so far.

[wkcheah]

Hi Vinoth & Lightningstrike,

I just dug up a dusty old specs of my tank. It is the obsolete Delta 100 tank by Juwel. Approx 150 ltr. The thickness of the glass is 0.5cm.

I'm still reading up on how to begin the setup. Yes, I'm also considering emptying out the internal filter compartment - and using it to host my suction tube for outflow. But the problem with that is the top covers. There's not much room to hang the tubing or anything for that matter. Maybe I'll have to cut a hole on the top cover? hee hee hee... that'll be interesting.

Currently, I'm on still using the default Multilux lighting that came with the tank. It has 2 x 18W tubes with one reflector broken, while the other had its clips broken (these plastic things are so fragile after awhile).

I estimate the water level to be approx 40cm depth. Heard that 40cm is quite shallow for reef tank. Not sure if it will work. I'm also not too sure whether I need extra lighting for corals. If necessary, thinking of getting a second Multilux piece and mounting them side-by-side. Put a higher output lighting on the second one, place them on 2 different timers, sequence them on and off by an hour from each other.

The styrofoam boards seemed to have been siliconed on the glass. Gonna be tough to tear them out. Do you know if it is gonna be a problem if I leave them as there are? They're completely covered with algae and behind them seemed like a lot of dirt / waste materials (stuck around the part where the silicon gels are).

What equipment shall I need besides the following?

- External canister filter? (instead of a sump tank?)

- Protein skimmer

- pump?

- chiller? (is this necessary?)

Thanks for all your advise.

-Wai Kit

[RAV-65]

Bro, depends on your budget, if it's tight, suggest you get a good skimmer 1st! Coz instead of using a chiller, you can use a fan for the time being!

Vincent Ho

[lightningstrike]

I just dug up a dusty old specs of my tank. It is the obsolete Delta 100 tank by Juwel. Approx 150 ltr. The thickness of the glass is 0.5cm.

my Juwel Rio 180 is 6mm all round tempered glass.

I'm still reading up on how to begin the setup. Yes, I'm also considering emptying out the internal filter compartment - and using it to host my suction tube for outflow. But the problem with that is the top covers. There's not much room to hang the tubing or anything for that matter. Maybe I'll have to cut a hole on the top cover? hee hee hee... that'll be interesting.

errr...... i dun quite understand this part. care to elaborate?

Currently, I'm on still using the default Multilux lighting that came with the tank. It has 2 x 18W tubes with one reflector broken, while the other had its clips broken (these plastic things are so fragile after awhile).

I estimate the water level to be approx 40cm depth. Heard that 40cm is quite shallow for reef tank. Not sure if it will work. I'm also not too sure whether I need extra lighting for corals. If necessary, thinking of getting a second Multilux piece and mounting them side-by-side. Put a higher output lighting on the second one, place them on 2 different timers, sequence them on and off by an hour from each other.

IMHO, the Juwel reflectors sux, the finishing of the reflectors is poor. i wld say it does not much good. and to add on, using the existing multilux lighting is not going to be enuff to keep even most of the less light demanding lps. not even if u add another multilux coz they r FLs after all. i wld suggest u do away wif the multilux FLs and go for T5s or MH. it will be better and cost saving for u in the future case u wanna upgrade ur lights. might as well do things right the first time.

The styrofoam boards seemed to have been siliconed on the glass. Gonna be tough to tear them out. Do you know if it is gonna be a problem if I leave them as there are? They're completely covered with algae and behind them seemed like a lot of dirt / waste materials (stuck around the part where the silicon gels are).

well, i hv had advice to take them out, coz in the long run might absorb toxins according to some reefers, but i hv left them there for over a yr. no problem so far. but to be on the safe side, u might wanna remove them. since they r completely covered with freshwater algae and dirt. highly likely to contribute to high nitrate levels in future. u dun want that to happen wif precious corals lying ard in ur tank. juz use a pc of razor or penknife blade to remove the silicon. wash ur tank thoroughly b4 u begin ur marine setup.

What equipment shall I need besides the following?

- External canister filter? (instead of a sump tank?)

- Protein skimmer

- pump?

- chiller? (is this necessary?)

well, u can utilize a cannister filter, but it might oso lead to a nitrate factory, unless u do frequent maintenance on it. a sump tank will be a better choice. if u decide on a cannister, u might wanna consider juz putting rowaphos, carbon, polyfilter into the cannister. no ceramic rings, filter floss whatsoever as they will highly likely to trap detritus and lead to high nitrates.

without a sump, u can only go for a hang on skimmer........ which IMHO, the best by far will be the AquaC Remora or the new Deltec hang on skimmer. it will be good enuff for ur 150L tank.

pump? r u talking abt recirculation pump or return pump? well, i would strongly recommend the use of recirculation pumps, good water movement, avoid having dead spots, etc. return pump will depends whether u utilise a sump or not.

chiller. depends on what lights u use and what u r going to keep. most reefers will go for a optimum temp of 27 to 28 degrees. u might wanna check out using a fan first. but be forewarned of high evaporation rate if u do use one.

juz me 2 cents worth of poor advice. for more info, u might juz wanna check out my signature and search for threads to my tank, there r pics of some of the equipments i used in my tank's threads. hope all these helps.

happy reefing.

LS.

[wkcheah]

Bro, depends on your budget, if it's tight, suggest you get a good skimmer 1st! Coz instead of using a chiller, you can use a fan for the time being!

Vincent Ho

Hmmm.. a fan... a good suggestion.

Is that good enough to lower the temperature in Singapore's weather?

[wkcheah]

errr...... i dun quite understand this part. care to elaborate?

Well, sorry for the confusion. I'm not very good at explaining a physical concept. I'll go figure it out first... (Attached a picture of my tank now).

IMHO, the Juwel reflectors sux, the finishing of the reflectors is poor. i wld say it does not much good. and to add on, using the existing multilux lighting is not going to be enuff to keep even most of the less light demanding lps. not even if u add another multilux coz they r FLs after all. i wld suggest u do away wif the multilux FLs and go for T5s or MH. it will be better and cost saving for u in the future case u wanna upgrade ur lights. might as well do things right the first time.

I agree - but trying to figure out how to mount third-party lights on my tank. The shape (diamond) is not a very ergonometric shape to place lightings or anything else for that matter. Unless I custom make some brackets or scaffolding on top of my tank to support or hold these lights.

pump? r u talking abt recirculation pump or return pump? well, i would strongly recommend the use of recirculation pumps, good water movement, avoid having dead spots, etc. return pump will depends whether u utilise a sump or not.

I'm still not too sure how to connect or setup the sump tank, recirculation flow, skimmer, etc. But thanks for your advise. I will read up more before posting anymore else i'll make a fool of myself further.

[lightningstrike]

for ur tank's special shape (diamond), u might wanna consider going for 1x MH. ceiling mount or clip on. but wif MH, u will most probably need a chiller, again depending on environment (e.g. air con room) and the corals u keep.