Brekel's 5x2x1.5
Introduction:
After having the front glass of my first tank crack and around 200l of salt water spill all over the floorboards (see here) a few months back, I had a decision to make: was this a sign that I should get out of the hobby, or a sign that I should upgrade? After the initial despair faded, I took it as the latter. Lets hope this tank holds, or I will not be popular with my wife...
As much as I would have liked to get a custom built tank, finances are a bit tight and I needed a replacement ASAP, so I had to pickup something currently available within the state.
Reefing Since: May 2012
System Objectives: Bring a bit of the ocean into the home. Have some fun with the kids and learn/teach them some stuff along the way
Type of reef: Mixed reef
Display System:
Initial Fill Date: Temporarily set up and filled 2nd March, to keep things alive and healthy. Had to drain it and move tank out for about a week and run everything in an 80l tub while the floors were sanded and resealed due to waterdamage.
Refilled and set up 26th April, 2013.
Display Tank Dimensions: 5'(L)x2'(H)x1.5'(W)
Display Lighting: Currently running on 3 x 40w flouros in tank hood - will retrofit my LED's soon, and add a few extras.
Stand: "5 Star" cabinet, came with tank. Terrible cabinet really, but got us out of trouble.
Hood or Rimless: Hood, came with tank.
Sump Design: None at the moment. In a few days I'll temporarily install a plastic tub in the cabinet to act as a sump. Then I'm thinking of cutting up the glass from the old tank to buiild a sump to fit. Already used one of the old glass covers to make an internal weir in one corner of the new tank.
Filtration: Live rock and skimmer
Support systems:
NSW or ASW: NSW
Display Water circulation: JVP pump and a Heto powerhead.
Return Pump: Weipro
Skimmer: Aqua One G216 from the old tank. May have to upgrade.
Evaporation Top Up: Manual ATM, will make an auto system once sump finalised.
Chemical additions:
Calcium & Alkalinity Addition: partly limewater, partly CaCl & NaCO3 solutons
Magnesium Addition: None at present.
The next steps are:
After having the front glass of my first tank crack and around 200l of salt water spill all over the floorboards (see here) a few months back, I had a decision to make: was this a sign that I should get out of the hobby, or a sign that I should upgrade? After the initial despair faded, I took it as the latter. Lets hope this tank holds, or I will not be popular with my wife...
As much as I would have liked to get a custom built tank, finances are a bit tight and I needed a replacement ASAP, so I had to pickup something currently available within the state.
Reefing Since: May 2012
System Objectives: Bring a bit of the ocean into the home. Have some fun with the kids and learn/teach them some stuff along the way
Type of reef: Mixed reef
Display System:
Initial Fill Date: Temporarily set up and filled 2nd March, to keep things alive and healthy. Had to drain it and move tank out for about a week and run everything in an 80l tub while the floors were sanded and resealed due to waterdamage.
Refilled and set up 26th April, 2013.
Display Tank Dimensions: 5'(L)x2'(H)x1.5'(W)
Display Lighting: Currently running on 3 x 40w flouros in tank hood - will retrofit my LED's soon, and add a few extras.
Stand: "5 Star" cabinet, came with tank. Terrible cabinet really, but got us out of trouble.
Hood or Rimless: Hood, came with tank.
Sump Design: None at the moment. In a few days I'll temporarily install a plastic tub in the cabinet to act as a sump. Then I'm thinking of cutting up the glass from the old tank to buiild a sump to fit. Already used one of the old glass covers to make an internal weir in one corner of the new tank.
Filtration: Live rock and skimmer
Support systems:
NSW or ASW: NSW
Display Water circulation: JVP pump and a Heto powerhead.
Return Pump: Weipro
Skimmer: Aqua One G216 from the old tank. May have to upgrade.
Evaporation Top Up: Manual ATM, will make an auto system once sump finalised.
Chemical additions:
Calcium & Alkalinity Addition: partly limewater, partly CaCl & NaCO3 solutons
Magnesium Addition: None at present.
The next steps are:
- Modify plumbing and get sump up and running.
- Fit the LED lighting
- Put some backing in place to hide cables/plumbing.