FatBastad's tank - Jebao WP-10 Installed / early review

Hi yall,

Well folks, after much anticipation from me, months and months and months of research, lots of it here too so thanks to all for their questions and great answers across many threads, some saving and lots of planning, my build is just about underway!

So not only will this be a great repository for me to document my progress with data/updates/and of course beloved pics, it's obviously a great place for other like minded folks to ogle, give input and perhaps learn any tips and tricks along the way as well.

Because this tank is on the 3rd floor, one of my goals was to keep it "just" the right size and sump-less. The ol' 29 gal standard (or High to some folks) seemed the perfect size. Furthermore, the lady and I still happen to have one sitting around on standby since she reluctantly took down her freshwater tank when she moved in. Months ago, I came across an awesome deal on a new 30" light fixture due to a shipping dent it acquired. Well, I bought it on the spot not realizing just how elusive actual 30" bulbs are! I believe they are around 27.5" total length from "pin to pin" if I remember. As far as the T5 light bulb research on 30" bulbs brought me a few months ago when I picked it up, only the fixture manufacture which is Coralife, makes them; and only in the 10,000K and Actinic spectrums...

If anyone has data on where I can get "high end" bulbs for this thing, please, let me know!

So, without further blathering, here is "the list" of what I've got so far.

*****************************
Tank
29 gal - 30L x 13W x 18H

Stand
Custom made by me

Lights
30" Coralife Lunar Aqualight 4x T5 and 2 LED moonlights
Modified to fixture to use 24" bulbs - 2 ATI Coral Plus and 2 ATI Blue Plus
http://www.3reef.com/forums/t5-aquarium-lighting/30-24-coralife-fixture-mod-done-pics-pg-2-a-147322.html

Sump
Standard 10 gallon Aqueon

Protein Skimmer
SCA-301

Refugium
Custom 12" Hang on fuge, hanging on back of Sump. 3 gal or so
Wave-point Mirco Sun High Output: 8 - 1Watt 6500K LED Fixture.
(Brought online 8/31/13)

ATO
JBJ

Powerheads
1 Jebao WP10
1 Hydor Koralia Nano Evolution 425 (leaving in tank while I evaluate the Jebao...

Substrate
20# x 2 bags of Caribsea fiji pink live sand.

Bio Filtration
30# of Reef Saver rock and 7# of lfs live. Sac of rubble rock (mostly for fuge)

Return pump
Deep Blue Triton (1050GPH / 10.5FT / 40W)
Plumbed into pcv manifold which runs return, reactors and fuge.

Mechanical and Chemical filtration
Filter socks
BRS Deluxe reactor - GFO
Rox carbon sitting in filter sock

Power
Large plug in GFCI adapter, Chauvet 8 switch DJ style power strip, more power strips and timers.

Heater
Deep Blue 200 watt

Water
BRS 5 stage RODI unit

Inhabitants
2 Ocellaris Clownfish
*Royal Gramma - 2Part (RIP - carpet surfing)
Yellow Tail Damsel
Mated pair of Golden Coral Banded Shrimp
Green Spotted Puffer
Red Mandarin
Clean-Up-Crew - usual suspects (decimated by puffer need to reorder...)


Goals:
To get the tank on cruise control.


Coral
Pulsing Xenia
Ricordeas
Zoas
Duncan
Green Slimer
Birdsnest


Who doesn't want it all?
But I do plan to start slowly so hopefully I can eventually get a bunch in there.
Prob start with the typical things like zoas, torch or hammer or frogspawn then acans and what not and depending on if I can make my scape pretty high, maybe some birdsnest and the like. We'll see what the tank allows. Hopefully a good mix and and a well balanced environment.


Thanks for reading.

FB

updated:
09/30/2013
03/04/2013
05/22/2013
06/18/2013
08/29/2013
08/31/2013
01/06/2014
01/23/2014

 

Sounds like you are set for an excellent start.

You may be stuck with Coralife's bulbs. The good news is that you should be able to support just about any animal you want in your tank though if you have a "W" shaped reflector. It may work with a flat one possibly.

 

Can't wait to see some pics , Not sure what tell you about the corallife bulbs as I have always run ati's with my t-5 setups.

 

There are many more pic to come, but here is a quick update.


My RODI unit has to be mobile so I build a quick frame for it.


Start of the stand...


Stand framed...


Stand almost complete...



I could only put a coat of pre-conditioner on the stand today so stain will hopefully go on tomorrow. I'm happy with the way it came out so I hope the stain and poly turn out nice too.

 

The stand is beautiful, even unfinished.

 

Beautiful work on the stand.

 

Nice carpentry

 

Thanks folks.

Once it's done and I bring it inside, I'll get some nice finished shots.

Sometime soon to come will be the rest of the equipment and scape pics.

 

Great start, that stand is awesome! You mentioned you were going to stain it espresso, correct?

 

i sure wish i could be handy like that. if i cant buy it, i dont even try to make it i would totally butcher a beautiful stand like that. looks fantastic by the way cant wait to see the final product.