29 Gallon Build

[Flyboy450r]

So I set up a 6 months or so back and its doing amazing so i'm now taking the task of doing what I consider a none tank. I came across a marine land/ instant ocean kit at pet co the other day for 110 bucks so i bought it. Since then I've decided to scrap the eclipse 3 hood and go with a differnt lighting and filtration system. I bought a remora aqua c protein skimmer with maxi jet 1200 pump. And two 240 gph nano koralia power heads. Thats all I have at the moment. Im planning on buying a wet/dry sump, overflow, and mag drive pump tomorrow. Im not to sure on lighting I had one but it fell threw so im rethinking it. Im planning t-5 or metal halide. So if anyone can suggest anything id be grateful before i I blow to much money. Im just planning a small reef thank with some inverts, coral, and a clown or something. Also going to get 1 pound per gallon of live sand and 1 to 1 1/2 pounds of live rock. I live right down the road from live aqua.com. I hope to have this tank cycling by the forth and ill start posting pics asap.

[Flyboy450r]

What size pump should i buy for my sump should i 4et the 480 power heads instead of the 240 and wil that remora c be enough

[Parrothead]

The remora C will be fine on the 29 gallon, I use one on my 55, the powerheads will get you started, that will eventually be determined by what you ultimately want to keep in the tank, e.g. SPS corals require more flow than LPS and softies. As for the return pump, I'd look at a mag 5 with a overflow box to match, that would give you about 350 - 375 gph after head loss, more than enough with the powerheads, skimmer and return pump.

[Flyboy450r]

Im hoping to do sps one day id like to reurn the powerheads if i need bigger right away i went with two 240 to keep any dead spots away should i go with one big one or two a little bigger also can i have to much flow

[metalhead]

Im hoping to do sps one day id like to reurn the powerheads if i need bigger right away i went with two 240 to keep any dead spots away should i go with one big one or two a little bigger also can i have to much flow

I'd probably go with two vs. one, I would think the 240's would be OK for your 29 as well. Four would be even better so if you find that two aren't providing the amount of flow you want you can always add more later as you go along.

Your main concern with the amount of flow will probably be disturbing the sand bed if you have one. You'll pretty much want as much flow as you can get w/o blowing the sand everywhere constantly, especially if you're keeping SPS corals. Wave-makers or alternating current is also a good thing IMO if you can afford it.

One other thing you may want to consider at this point is that it's generally not a good idea to keep soft and stony corals together in the same tank (there are a few exceptions). You'll probably want to make a decision early on about what corals you intend to keep and stick with it unless you plan to keep soft corals exclusively (which can make a beautiful tank btw) and start another system or convert to stony corals later. This choice will also affect the type of lighting you'll need, flow, nutrient levels, etc.

One more thing... I've been trying to talk pirate Steve down but he's starting to get pretty upset about those pics you promised earlier. I'll do what I can for now, but pretty soon he'll be gettin' pretty cranky...



JK - Welcome to ReefLand! ;)

[Flyboy450r]

Yeah i'm thinking soft corals only for now. I have some pics just need to upload them I am in the early stage of this project so it will be a short time before shes cycling. So i've found a overflow and pump but Im struggling what kind of sump I should get. I dont need a wet dry if i'm not going to do bio balls so should i just get a reef one. Or should I get one with a built in refugium? Im also struggling with a light. Is more bulbs better? I have read so much my head hurts? Id like to go with t-5 to save some money but I will go with Halides if its worth the money to improve my corals. My gf says it has to have a lunar lights. Anyone have any good suggestions? Also im looking for some live rock in the south wi northern il area. And that eclipse 3 hood is for sale if anyone wants it lol.

[metalhead]

Yeah i'm thinking soft corals only for now. I have some pics just need to upload them I am in the early stage of this project so it will be a short time before shes cycling. So i've found a overflow and pump but Im struggling what kind of sump I should get. I dont need a wet dry if i'm not going to do bio balls so should i just get a reef one. Or should I get one with a built in refugium? Im also struggling with a light. Is more bulbs better? I have read so much my head hurts? Id like to go with t-5 to save some money but I will go with Halides if its worth the money to improve my corals. My gf says it has to have a lunar lights. Anyone have any good suggestions? Also im looking for some live rock in the south wi northern il area. And that eclipse 3 hood is for sale if anyone wants it lol.

You should be fine with T5 lighting for any type of corals in that size tank. There are many good T5 fixtures available, some things to look for when making a choice are individual reflectors for each bulb and good cooling. Try to go for one with at least four bulbs too. You can get separate moon lights if needed so don't let that influence your decision too much.

As for your sump, try to get one with room for a fuge built in unless you plan on having a seperate fuge. If you go with an in-sump skimmer you'll also need room for it too. Check out melevsreef and look at some of his designs to get an idea.

[Parrothead]

+1 Metal on the send to mel, he could get a 20 set it beside his tank, and have a nice fuge

stick with T-5's, MH will more than likely over heat a tank this size unless you got deep pockets and want to add a chiller

[Flyboy450r]

Current USA Nova SunDial T5 Aquarium Lighting Fixture, 4X24 Watt, 30 inch

Thats the light im thinking any thoughts?

[metalhead]

Current USA Nova SunDial T5 Aquarium Lighting Fixture, 4X24 Watt, 30 inch

Thats the light im thinking any thoughts?

I use a aquactinics fixture, not sure about the sundial but I do know that ati makes some good ones and a lot of people also use the nova etreme which is also made by current.

[Flyboy450r]

Yeah its a 30 inch tank the extreme wouldn't work but I bought the one above its on back order till the 11th but got it for 230 shipped so its not to bad. Now its time for the sump, pump, overflow and a stand. Then cycling

[metalhead]

Now its time for the sump, pump, overflow and a stand. Then cycling

...the stuff that dreams are made of!

[Flyboy450r]

Well before I go to bed Im thinking a mag 5 pump with a Eshopps overflow 300 that will flow 800 gph a hour a a Eshopps Reef Sump RS-75 which is all I have space for. Im going to build a Refugium in it which shouldnt be to bad to do. Thats my thoughts for the night. Now I have to work this weekend to afford all this. And maybe a little longer

[Flyboy450r]

So I'm up getting ready to leave from work and Ive decided to build my own sump out of a ten gallon tank and drill my 29 with bulk heads. Anyone ever drilled glass? Can I go to any home improvement store and have them cut me glass? Also whats everyone got for a light on there refugium?

[Chasman]

Flyboy

This is just my two cents worth from the 29 I have. I use two K-1's and a Nano and a 240 gph canister filter for carbon filtering only and my inline heater. There is also a Rio 600 pump in there for my HOB refugium. That sounds like alot but it works pretty well. I have no dead spots and things aren't blowing all over the place. Two Nano's would be OK but you can go more if you like. If you are just starting get the K-1's. You will be glad you did.

As far as lighting goes, 30" fixtures are a problem. I couldn't tell which one you ordered but if the lamps are 24" you may be a bit dissapointed. I bought the 30" AquaticLife fixture for $250, tried for less than a day and sold it to 7digits (who you will find on this forum) and he used it for a bit and sold it to somebody else. The 24" lamps leave the ends of your tank pretty dark. The only T5 fixture I found with true 28" lamps is made by Coralife. As they are only 2 bulb fixtures, I use two of them and they fit pretty well and I use two timers to stager the on/off times. The down side to them is finding the replacement lamps. Marine Depot and Petco sell the fixture but not the lamps. I did find and bought one set but my fear is that could be the end as they are an odd size. I know that sounds like doom and gloom but 30" fixtures are a problem.

If you look at the "30 gal update with pics" thread you can see my tank.

Welcome to the forum and good luck with your tank.

Chasman

[Flyboy450r]

I bought a 30 inch light so im set but that is alot of flow i think i might upgrade but not that much

[Flyboy450r]

Well I bought a 10 gallon for a sump so now I have to go to ebay and buy a carbine bit to drill them. Can anyone suggest a bulk head size. Also bought a under gravel filter figured it would be better to put my live rock on it and I hear it helps keep dead spots down can any one confirm that. Also has anyone built a sump out of a ten gallon if so did you use glass or plastic panels? anyone know were i can find the dimensions i need to cut it at or is that kinda a guess? Also for plumbing is pvc better or hose. I would think flow rate wise the hose would flow better and get ride of the need for so many bends.

[Flyboy450r]

YouTube - 29 gallon nano reef water run

This is what I have in mind but the right way. Whats does everyone think

[Parrothead]

Before you drill, make doubly dam# sure the bottom of your tank is not tempered glass. If I remember correctly you can't drill tempered glass. check and make sure

[Steve McKay]

Before you drill, make doubly dam# sure the bottom of your tank is not tempered glass. If I remember correctly you can't drill tempered glass. check and make sure

I believe most commercial tanks are tempered glass. Do not drill.