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iTzJu's Rimless 34 Gallon Frag Tank Build

iTzJu

Officer Emeritus
NJRC Member
Background: A little background on this upcoming build and me since it looks like a bunch of new people are on NJRC compared to the last time I was really active on here (2011 - 2015ish). I've been in and out hobby for the past couple years due to tank crashes, available time, and life in general. Fast track to a more present time, I setup a Deep Blue 80 Gallon winter 2016 upgrading from a 57 Gallon but ultimately had to break down last April due to a hectic work schedule. Sold off most of the corals and livestock and just kept the equipment. Now, renovations are being done in the basement so this gave me a perfect scenario to try and setup the 80 Gallon again.

Main Tank Equipment List:
  • Deep Blue 80 Gallon Rimless RR 48x24x16
  • 30 Gallon DIY Refugium
  • Trigger Systems Crytal 30 Sump
  • 46" AquaticLife XS-US Series LED
  • 4 x T5 36" Retrofit
  • 2 x sBar 36" Actinic LED Bars
  • 2 x Ecotech Vortech MP40
  • Jebao DCP5000 Return Pump
  • 2 x 300w Cobalt Neo-therm Heaters
  • Reef Octopus Regal 150 or Reef Octopus 110sss (Depending on Fish Load)
  • AquaMaxx Star S-1 Calcium Reactor
  • Aquarium-plants Regulator with 20lb CO2 Tank
  • Cole Parmer MASTERFLEX 7520-40 Continuous Peristaltic Pump
  • Apex Classic System
Future Frag Tank Equipment List:
  • Deep Blue 34 Gallon Rimless 36x18x12
  • 2 x Kessil 360we
  • 2 x Jebao CP25
  • Apex Junior System
The above list is all the equipment on hand. Once I have everything setup, might change out a few things but the above list is pretty much what will sum up the equipment planned. The frag tank, I am undecided if i will be plumbing that with the main system or will be running independently. I am leaning towards independently so I will have a sort of "quarantine" tank for new coral arrivals.

Planned Livestock List:

Fish/Inverts:
  • Blue Hippo Tang
  • Yellow Tang
  • Sailfin Tang
  • Pair of Clowns (Designer Variant)
  • 2 x Fire fish
  • 2 x Banghaii Cardinals
  • Algae Blenny
  • 2 x Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
  • Various Snails for CUC
Corals:
  • Mixed Reef, SPS Dominant
I will be really sticking to the fish list, going to try not to make any spontaneous additions to the list. Also, for the tang police out there, those tangs will be small and will eventually move them out to bigger homes once they out grow the tank.

As far as the corals go, this tank will be a bare bottom SPS dominated reef tank. I will be mostly looking for basic sticks that I have always enjoyed and may splurge on some of the hyped up ones currently on R2R.

I will try to keep this thread updated but don't expect anything soon. I just wanted to get this thread started for now and once the renovations in the basement are done. I can focus on the (re)Build.

Below is a pic of the 80 before I tore it down:
yr1f25V.jpg
 

iTzJu

Officer Emeritus
NJRC Member
Welcome back!!! Tagging along

welcome back and good luck with the build

Welcome back neighbor.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks guys! looking to get this rolling quickly.


on another note, the forum has really declined since I was here before. what happened to everyone? did everyone in NJ stop reefing? where are all the coral frag deals? there use to be coral frags for sale on a daily, weekly basis and equipment too! also new topic discussions all the time. every time i log in, its always the same and nothing new....
 

iTzJu

Officer Emeritus
NJRC Member
Everyone needs to do their part in bringing this forum back to life.

I get that but it seems like no one is around anymore. I get that people move on and leave the hobby but usually new people come in and fill in those spots. I remember going in to Red Sand, Feng's old store before he moved down the street and an NJRC member was there too, he told me to check this place out and gave me a toadstool frag since I was just starting out, been a member ever since. This place and the generous, helpful members were the reason I kept up with the hobby as long as I could.

just kinda sad knowing how active this place once was. It makes it feel like NJ doesn't have an established Reef community.

If I recall correctly, the last time I was really active there was something happening with the BOD and some established members in regards on how the forum should move forward in the future. I guess that was never really resolved?
 

iTzJu

Officer Emeritus
NJRC Member
I think it'll take more than that. I mean yeah, new members are always good but I feel like the forum is missing some of the greater wisdom that helped me get through some of my issues when I first started. Not saying no one here is knowledgeable but just feels that way.
 
I'm sure there were a lot of people who were knowledgeable that have left the hobby or are not active anymore, but there is definitely a handful of people that could answer your questions/troubles on here if you had any pressing matters.
 

iTzJu

Officer Emeritus
NJRC Member
time for an update..

So the main tank will be taking a little longer than I expected but since I really want to take my time on the build to make it perfect. I'm wrestling with a few new ideas that I'd like to do but still not sure yet if it would be worth it in the long run but i'll ask some of you guys opinion when we get there. In the mean time, I've thrown all my focus on setting up the 34 Gallon Frag Tank. This will give me the opportunity to collect and grow out some corals and fish to scratch my itch until the main tank is ready. I detailed some of the equipment up top but below is the final equipment list.

Frag Tank:
  • Deep Blue 34 Gallon Rimless RR Tank
  • Trigger Systems Crystal 30 Sump
  • 2x Kessil A360We
  • Apex Jr w/ EB8, PM1, & VDM Module
  • Cobalt 300w Heater
  • Ice Cap ATO
  • RO 110SSS or Eshopps S120 Skimmer
  • 2x Ecotech Vortech MP10Wes
  • Jebao DCT6000 Return Pump
  • Korallin C1502 Calcium Reactor
  • UFO Refugium Light

Plan on plumbing everything this week and should be wet by early next week. have some cycled live rock already that I will be putting in the refugium section of the sump and will also be adding some MarinePure bioballs as well to help with surface area. I'll be growing cheato as well to help with nutrient export.

I have the following coming in for livestock thanks to some of our awesome sponsors.

From Philadelphia Aquatics:

  • Acropora humilis – PA Candy Cane Humilis
  • Acropora Coral - Vivid’s Rainbow Delight
  • Acropora plana
  • Acropora Spathulata - Red tips 134
  • Acropora Coral – Raspberry Limeade
  • Magenta Magic Mille

16500-65548d83f34f76118e33dad4dd98a7f0.jpg


They were kind and awesome enough to hold the frags till i'm set up, loving their customer service and shop. highly recommend these guys. Looking forward to these frags especially the PA Magenta Magic - @Philadelphia Aquatics am I the first person to have purchased this signature SPS from you guys? lol

From Ultimate Corals:
  • UC Yellow Dragons
  • FF Red Robin

looking forward to picking these up and catch up with @hcker99 and see what else he has in his shop. Also can't wait for this grow out comp!
 
Last edited:
time for an update..

So the main tank will be taking a little longer than I expected but since I really want to take my time on the build to make it perfect. I'm wrestling with a few new ideas that I'd like to do but still not sure yet if it would be worth it in the long run but i'll ask some of you guys opinion when we get there. In the mean time, I've thrown all my focus on setting up the 34 Gallon Frag Tank. This will give me the opportunity to collect and grow out some corals and fish to scratch my itch until the main tank is ready. I detailed some of the equipment up top but below is the final equipment list.

Frag Tank:
  • Deep Blue 34 Gallon Rimless RR Tank
  • Trigger Systems Crystal 30 Sump
  • 2x Kessil A360We
  • Apex Jr w/ EB8, PM1, & VDM Module
  • Cobalt 300w Heater
  • Ice Cap ATO
  • RO 110SSS or Eshopps S-100 Skimmer
  • 2x Ecotech Vortech MP10Wes
  • Jebao DCT6000 Return Pump
  • Korallin C1502 Calcium Reactor
  • UFO Refugium Light

Plan on plumbing everything this week and should be wet by early next week. have some cycled live rock already that I will be putting in the refugium section of the sump and will also be adding some MarinePure bioballs as well to help with surface area. I'll be growing cheato as well to help with nutrient export.

I have the following coming in for livestock thanks to some of our awesome sponsors.

From Philadelphia Aquatics:

  • Acropora humilis – PA Candy Cane Humilis
  • Acropora Coral - Vivid’s Rainbow Delight
  • Acropora plana
  • Acropora Spathulata - Red tips 134
  • Acropora Coral – Raspberry Limeade
  • Magenta Magic Mille

16500-65548d83f34f76118e33dad4dd98a7f0.jpg


They were kind and awesome enough to hold the frags till i'm set up, loving their customer service and shop. highly recommend these guys. Looking forward to these frags especially the PA Magenta Magic - @Philadelphia Aquatics am I the first person to have purchased this signature SPS from you guys? lol

From Ultimate Corals:
  • UC Yellow Dragons
  • FF Red Robin

looking forward to picking these up and catch up with @hcker99 and see what else he has in his shop. Also can't wait for this grow out comp!
Going to be a sweet frag system!! Great planning. No skimmer though?

You’re the first proud owner of that piece!! And you didn’t see the sweet freebie yet either:eek: one of my personal favorites as a classic species acro.
 
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