JL first marin tank

JL2309 · April 17, 2011

Hi everybody,

Finally had my first marine tank filled up with water and live rocks. The specs of my tank as below.

1. Tank size - 4 X 2 X 2 ft by CR Aquarium

Thickness: 12mm Material:low-iron glass for front panel, Black silicon.

2. Condensor from Chilldown (Very nice and neatly done)

3. 2 X Eheim 1264 pumps

4. Deltec Protien skimmer TC1655 - Pending installation

5. Deltec Phosphate Reactor FR509- Pending installation

6. Deltec NF511 - Pending installation

7. Sump tank - Still very empty

I'll let the pics do the talking. Rock scaping done by Iwarna (Live rock 57kg). Feel free to comment or correct me if you all find anything wrong with this tank.

Thank you.

hotsoup · April 17, 2011

Nice . Is that a chiller beside your tank?

JL2309 · April 17, 2011

Nice . Is that a chiller beside your tank?

Thanks.

Yup. Thats a condensor from Chilldown beside my tank

cool guy · April 17, 2011

Nice scaping... Wont ur arowana jump out of the tank n landed on ur reef tank... Jus kidding... Hehehe

Maybe in e future can change tat arowana tank to fowlr tank with many beautiful angel fish...

tunicate · April 17, 2011

Hi bro,

Nice tank. I notice a few things:

(1) Once the protein skimmer is in place, think you might need to add bubble traps before the 2 return pumps.

(2) The chiller coil should ideally be position in the last compartment same as the return pumps.

(3) The high rise tower LR design may be ideal for fishes to swim around them, but has limited real estate for coral placement at the top.

hotsoup · April 17, 2011

The position of the chiller might restrict hot air from coming thru, making the culler losing its efficiency

JL2309 · April 17, 2011

Nice scaping... Wont ur arowana jump out of the tank n landed on ur reef tank... Jus kidding... Hehehe

Maybe in e future can change tat arowana tank to fowlr tank with many beautiful angel fish...

Hopefully the arowana don't jump out!!! It already did once from the old tank -_- " Had been with me for around 10 years :lol:

In the future, I was hoping to tear down both tank and make a 8 ft length tank ...dream on~ lol.

Hi bro,

Nice tank. I notice a few things:

(1) Once the protein skimmer is in place, think you might need to add bubble traps before the 2 return pumps.

(2) The chiller coil should ideally be position in the last compartment same as the return pumps.

(3) The high rise tower LR design may be ideal for fishes to swim around them, but has limited real estate for coral placement at the top.

Hi bro,

Thanks for the info. I do notice lotsa micro bubbles when the water from the outflow goes into the sump tank. However upon reaching the side of the return pump, the micro bubbles seem to had dissolve as I can't see them anymore.

My protein skimmer is Deltec and is external meaning it would be sitting outside the sump tank? Correct me if I'm wrong. How does a bubble traps looks like? Just some filter sponge media?

The chiller has to sit there because the whole thing is too tall (The coil) unless I cut away some part of the rear cabinet.

Regarding about limited real estate for coral placement at the top, I think I'll have to make do with it until after starting of June to make changes and get live stocks. Too busy with work at the moment zzz.

JL2309 · April 17, 2011

The position of the chiller might restrict hot air from coming thru, making the culler losing its efficiency

Reason for putting the condersor there is because I do not have anymore real estate.

I was advised by Chilldown that it won't be a problem but I had to cover the back and top of the condensor if not the hot air might get suck in back by the condensor. Thus when the condensor kicks in, the hot air can only come out from one way. Please refer to the pic attached. I am quite confident with Chilldown but if someone really finds that this is wrong, do let me know and I'll bring it back to Chilldown. Don't want my money to go down the drain~ :angry:

chercm · April 17, 2011

Reason for putting the condersor there is because I do not have anymore real estate.

I was advised by Chilldown that it won't be a problem but I had to cover the back and top of the condensor if not the hot air might get suck in back by the condensor. Thus when the condensor kicks in, the hot air can only come out from one way. Please refer to the pic attached. I am quite confident with Chilldown but if someone really finds that this is wrong, do let me know and I'll bring it back to Chilldown. Don't want my money to go down the drain~

I would nOt place the compressor there

hotsoup · April 17, 2011

the speed of hot air escaping determines/plays a important part of chilling time. U can improvise a fan to suck out the hot air whenever the chiller kicks in.

tunicate · April 17, 2011

How does a bubble traps looks like? Just some filter sponge media?

A couple of vertical pieces of glass. 1st piece has gap below forcing water to flow downwards.(while bubbles rise) 2nd piece forces water to flow over it ejecting the remaining bubbles.

The chiller has to sit there because the whole thing is too tall (The coil) unless I cut away some part of the rear cabinet.

Best if can get Chilldown to extend your chiller to bend the coil towards the right side of your sump. Bro hotsoup is right about your condensor ventilation. Moving it outwards along the wall will also require longer chiller pipe. Overall you need to think this thru'. Will your living room get too warm for your family?

Regarding about limited real estate for coral placement at the top, I think I'll have to make do with it until after starting of June to make changes and get live stocks. Too busy with work at the moment zzz.

That's cool. If your tank is still cycling, don't need to turn on chiller nor lights. In fact, you can even turn off one return pump.

JL2309 · April 20, 2011

A couple of vertical pieces of glass. 1st piece has gap below forcing water to flow downwards.(while bubbles rise) 2nd piece forces water to flow over it ejecting the remaining bubbles.

Best if can get Chilldown to extend your chiller to bend the coil towards the right side of your sump. Bro hotsoup is right about your condensor ventilation. Moving it outwards along the wall will also require longer chiller pipe. Overall you need to think this thru'. Will your living room get too warm for your family?

That's cool. If your tank is still cycling, don't need to turn on chiller nor lights. In fact, you can even turn off one return pump.

Thanks alot for all info. Will see what I can do. BTW, I saw a white small thing, flat and with two small dots eyes in my tank...shall I net it out???? Its the only living thing moving in my tank now. lol.

ambystoma82 · April 20, 2011

Thanks alot for all info. Will see what I can do. BTW, I saw a white small thing, flat and with two small dots eyes in my tank...shall I net it out???? Its the only living thing moving in my tank now. lol.

something like a amphipod?

JL2309 · April 20, 2011

something like a amphipod?

Nope it don't look like that. Its kind of flat and the two eyes really two small dots at the front. My iphone can't seems to capture it. Whenever I on the light, it will go into hiding in the gravel or rocks.zzzzz

ambystoma82 · April 20, 2011

Nope it don't look like that. Its kind of flat and the two eyes really two small dots at the front. My iphone can't seems to capture it. Whenever I on the light, it will go into hiding in the gravel or rocks.zzzzz

could it b a chiton ??? but u mention it hides fast? chiton rather slow moving

dun remb seeing anything flat with small eyes as hitchhiker...

JL2309 · April 20, 2011

could it b a chiton ??? but u mention it hides fast? chiton rather slow moving

dun remb seeing anything flat with small eyes as hitchhiker...

ermm checked its not chiton. It don't hide fast but it will hide away when I on the light.

The two eyes are apart not like the first pic u shown which are close together.

ambystoma82 · April 20, 2011

omg is it in anyway it is a worm? haha any feelers?

peacemaker · April 20, 2011

Isopod?

JL2309 · April 20, 2011

Isopod?

YES!!! very very much alike. I think this is the one. harmful??? It don't not look like a worm...erm..my eyes not very sharp..didn't notice any feelers though. THanks!!!

peacemaker · April 20, 2011

Yes, it will be harmful to your livestock. Try to get rid of it.

ambystoma82 · April 20, 2011

omg what a guessin game...

try to chk your fish for the pods, they can enter the fish body n stay as a parasite for quite sometime

JL2309 · April 21, 2011

omg what a guessin game...

try to chk your fish for the pods, they can enter the fish body n stay as a parasite for quite sometime

Gosh! Lucky thing is that the thing is the only moving thing in my tank now. If I can't net it out or finds it again, what the possibility of it dying after a month of cycling with no fish in it?

tropic · April 21, 2011

the compressor is going to get pretty hot...

JL2309 · May 24, 2011

Hi all,

Finally got some time to take some pics of my newly added corals. Pardon my lousy pics and placement of the corals -_- "

Pls feel free to comment and do provide me with the names of the coral if possible :X

BTW, anyone can teach me how to target feed corals? When I place some mysis near the coral mouth, it always get swept away by the current from my output flow (Running 2 X 1264 Ehiem). Should I off both pump during feeding?

The last picture shows my updated sump tank with equipment.

Thanks all.