15G Zoa's Ark

Losungen · 10/21/2009, 08:42 PM

Allo Allo Reef Central! This bein my first post here thought I'd make er useful (or try hehe). I'll start off with my newest addition to the glassbox family, a handcrafted with love (and LOTS of patience from the wife) starfire frag tank STRICTLY for zoas.

I wanted her front and center in my living room so It was abit of a challenge to create a "nice" looking, wife friendly prop system... I was up for the challenge. I don't have any build pics, was in a hurry what can I say

This new setup was an upgrade from my older prop system that did quite well but had too many nagging issues for me to let go of.

These pics are from October 16th, 2009. I'll get a few updated ones tomorrow if any interest in them. I've moved over alot more stock since then.

Tank Profile (updated October 21st, 09)

I bought this tank used and it leaked pretty badly, after ripping it all apart I redid it with black silicone and replaced the bottom pane.

Dimensions - 20x20x8 3/8" thick starfire
Overflow - drilled with 2 3/4" bulkheads for herbie overflow
Return - single 3/4" bulkhead for return
Size - 15G Aprox.

Filtration (updated October 21st, 09)

Since I plan on doing strictly zoas in this tank, I'm not gonna bother with a skimmer, in 14 years of this I've realized one thing: I'd much rather be drinkin a beer stairin at my tank then sluggin buckets of water, emptying skimmer, changin out floss etc etc. Keepin it simple was the goal with this tank. Water changes every 2-3 weeks.

Liverock - 25 lbs(15lbs in the display & 10lbs in the sump) mixed rubble, most of which is atleast 5 or 6 years old
Livesand - 15lbs in the sump all of which is again atleast 5 or 6 yrs old
Other - I run a TLF reactor with Chemi-Pure Elite ( I change it every two months or so. Cheato that grows like crazy (good!) and needs to be trimmed every couple days

Lighting (updated October 21st, 09)

Was a challenge finding something that actually "looks good" and not like it belongs in a spaceship or over a store display. Wife had serious opinions about this too

In the end I got a wicked deal on a used pendant that looks good and IMO one of the best looking pendants around.

Fixture - Coralife 150W MH Pendant
Bulb - 14k Coralife, trying to decide on a 14k Phoenix or a 20k Ushio right now
Refugium - opposite cycle of main lighting, a 65w 6500k cfl in a "dome" fixture

Misc (updated October 21st, 09)

Circulation - AquaEuro USA 290G (pure poo but I had a spare) for the return pump, puts about 150G into the tank as it shared with my reactor
Flow - 2 x 6025s, they run for 13 hours each opposite cycle except for 2 x a day when they overlap for an hour, controlled by
ATO - simple 3G reservoir feeding an aqualifter controlled by my RKL
Controller - RKL LVL3 with switch kit, looks better then my acjr... but not as useful control wise
Heater - Stealth 150w controlled by RKL
Cooling - simple fan mounted to the wall behind the pendant controlled by RKL

Parameters (updated October 21st, 09)

I'll do this later, I'm lazy hehe.

Stand

The stand I made out of 3/4 ply. Its 24x24x35 I like my stands about 2" wider then the tank, I think it just looks better. Finished the outside with black Formica and the inside with several coats of KillX primer then gloss white. Mounted my RKL head unit in the header and all the guts under a false panel under the bottom shelf.

Sump

I wanted it real simple and lots of room for a refugium. Couldn't find a 15G High anywhere so I went with a 10G for now. Will build another sump another day for sure but for now it'll do. Built a bubble wall out of 2" acrylic and a bracket to hold it, looks and works pretty good. Also built a baffle to keep sand out of the return pump and a holder for all my sensors, floats and ATO return.

Lemme know what ya think!

Cheers.

Losungen · 10/21/2009, 08:43 PM

Reserved for stock shots

ziyaadb · 10/22/2009, 03:06 AM

love it

Kostrab · 10/22/2009, 03:44 AM

Very nice and clean setup...

benjabba · 10/22/2009, 09:09 AM

Nice looking setup for sure.

Gator Pit · 10/22/2009, 10:27 AM

Wives have a lot of power.

kmacartney · 10/22/2009, 12:34 PM

Nice!

Losungen · 10/22/2009, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gator Pit

Wives have a lot of power.

Yes Yes they do hehe.

Thats a schweet lil setup you got goin on there, you got a thread on her somewhere?

Losungen · 10/22/2009, 06:48 PM

thanks for all the props guys/gals, Gracias!

Gator Pit · 10/23/2009, 04:26 AM

Thanks! No build thread. DFS Ecocube and stand with the Coaral Life pendant. Wiring for the light goes through the ceiling into our bedroom (!) for a cleaner look around the tank.

Love your starfire cube. Very bright and clear.

mikejones · 10/23/2009, 01:08 PM

How many gallons is the fuge tank?

Losungen · 10/23/2009, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikejones

How many gallons is the fuge tank?

My fuge/sump is a standard 10G AGA.

10/21/2009, 08:42 PM	#1
Losungen Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 110	15G Zoa's Ark Allo Allo Reef Central! This bein my first post here thought I'd make er useful (or try hehe). I'll start off with my newest addition to the glassbox family, a handcrafted with love (and LOTS of patience from the wife) starfire frag tank STRICTLY for zoas. I wanted her front and center in my living room so It was abit of a challenge to create a "nice" looking, wife friendly prop system... I was up for the challenge. I don't have any build pics, was in a hurry what can I say This new setup was an upgrade from my older prop system that did quite well but had too many nagging issues for me to let go of. These pics are from October 16th, 2009. I'll get a few updated ones tomorrow if any interest in them. I've moved over alot more stock since then. Tank Profile (updated October 21st, 09) I bought this tank used and it leaked pretty badly, after ripping it all apart I redid it with black silicone and replaced the bottom pane. Dimensions - 20x20x8 3/8" thick starfire Overflow - drilled with 2 3/4" bulkheads for herbie overflow Return - single 3/4" bulkhead for return Size - 15G Aprox. Filtration (updated October 21st, 09) Since I plan on doing strictly zoas in this tank, I'm not gonna bother with a skimmer, in 14 years of this I've realized one thing: I'd much rather be drinkin a beer stairin at my tank then sluggin buckets of water, emptying skimmer, changin out floss etc etc. Keepin it simple was the goal with this tank. Water changes every 2-3 weeks. Liverock - 25 lbs(15lbs in the display & 10lbs in the sump) mixed rubble, most of which is atleast 5 or 6 years old Livesand - 15lbs in the sump all of which is again atleast 5 or 6 yrs old Other - I run a TLF reactor with Chemi-Pure Elite ( I change it every two months or so. Cheato that grows like crazy (good!) and needs to be trimmed every couple days Lighting (updated October 21st, 09) Was a challenge finding something that actually "looks good" and not like it belongs in a spaceship or over a store display. Wife had serious opinions about this too In the end I got a wicked deal on a used pendant that looks good and IMO one of the best looking pendants around. Fixture - Coralife 150W MH Pendant Bulb - 14k Coralife, trying to decide on a 14k Phoenix or a 20k Ushio right now Refugium - opposite cycle of main lighting, a 65w 6500k cfl in a "dome" fixture Misc (updated October 21st, 09) Circulation - AquaEuro USA 290G (pure poo but I had a spare) for the return pump, puts about 150G into the tank as it shared with my reactor Flow - 2 x 6025s, they run for 13 hours each opposite cycle except for 2 x a day when they overlap for an hour, controlled by ATO - simple 3G reservoir feeding an aqualifter controlled by my RKL Controller - RKL LVL3 with switch kit, looks better then my acjr... but not as useful control wise Heater - Stealth 150w controlled by RKL Cooling - simple fan mounted to the wall behind the pendant controlled by RKL Parameters (updated October 21st, 09) I'll do this later, I'm lazy hehe. Stand The stand I made out of 3/4 ply. Its 24x24x35 I like my stands about 2" wider then the tank, I think it just looks better. Finished the outside with black Formica and the inside with several coats of KillX primer then gloss white. Mounted my RKL head unit in the header and all the guts under a false panel under the bottom shelf. Sump I wanted it real simple and lots of room for a refugium. Couldn't find a 15G High anywhere so I went with a 10G for now. Will build another sump another day for sure but for now it'll do. Built a bubble wall out of 2" acrylic and a bracket to hold it, looks and works pretty good. Also built a baffle to keep sand out of the return pump and a holder for all my sensors, floats and ATO return. Lemme know what ya think! Cheers. Last edited by Losungen; 10/21/2009 at 08:46 PM. Reason: spelling

10/22/2009, 09:09 AM	#5
benjabba Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,350	Nice looking setup for sure. __________________ Ben Member of Jeff's "How to deal with Reef Addiction" class. Anybody got any corals??? Current Tank Info: 34g Solana, 50g frag tank, 65g sump/fuge

10/22/2009, 12:34 PM	#7
kmacartney Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Athens, OH Posts: 1,444	Nice! __________________ <--That's my boy! To see my tank, click the...Oh wait! Where did it go? Current Tank Info: 75 gallon display, 20 gallon sump/refugium, 6X54W T5, ASM G2, Mag 9.5 return, 2X Gulf Stream II Maxi-Jet Mods

10/21/2009, 08:43 PM	#2
Losungen Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 110	Reserved for stock shots

10/22/2009, 03:06 AM	#3
ziyaadb Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: South Africa - JHB Posts: 733	love it

10/22/2009, 03:44 AM	#4
Kostrab Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Munson, Ohio Posts: 592	Very nice and clean setup...

10/22/2009, 10:27 AM	#6
Gator Pit Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Peoria, IL Posts: 102	Wives have a lot of power.

10/22/2009, 06:48 PM	#9
Losungen Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 110	thanks for all the props guys/gals, Gracias!

10/23/2009, 04:26 AM	#10
Gator Pit Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Peoria, IL Posts: 102	Thanks! No build thread. DFS Ecocube and stand with the Coaral Life pendant. Wiring for the light goes through the ceiling into our bedroom (!) for a cleaner look around the tank. Love your starfire cube. Very bright and clear.

10/23/2009, 01:08 PM	#11
mikejones Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Oxnard Posts: 714	How many gallons is the fuge tank?