Very thorough with all details and pictures so far. Will be checking in on this in the future, keep it up 
Cliff & Plateau
UPDATE 06/26/17
It was time to give all those extra tanks their own names and to decide on the final layout, stone, fish, shrimp and plants:
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Hey guys,
this will be my first journal, and my first tank. I spent quite some time over the last 4 or 5 years reading into reefs, but changed my direction when I saw some of those astonishing Iwagumi setups.
Needless to say, my tank will have a Iwagumi "style" layout. I won't adhere to all the implied rules, but stick to simplicity, perspective, scale, San Sui stones and lot of carpet.
All that being said, I'm still waiting for some parts.
I hope some of you guys come along for the ride, I will have plenty of questions and can use all the help.
Here is my equipment, plant and inhabitant list:
UPDATED: 06/08/17
Main Tank:
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Refugium:
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Took the following photo last week, this is one layout I came up with. Cliff to the left and an elevated "Plateau" to the right, bordered by that wall of rocks. Short carpet in the main / left area, a bit longer carpet or hair grass on the Plateau. I don't want any long plants. Going for a really clean and simplistic look.
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Here I tested the tank for leaks and the Eheim filter. At first the pump didn't circulate the water and I had to force water into it, in order to get it started. I love the electronics of the Eheim which allow me to adjust the flow or even simulate waves. I know that the pump is overkill for my 90 x 30 x 30 tank, but if I ever want to upgrade, I won't have to exchange all the equipment.
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The Giesemann LED light and Bluetooth controller arrived a couple days later. Border control ripped the package open for inspection and just smashed everything in the large box, what a bunch of asshats.
Man is this light powerful. Glad I'll be able to adjust color channels and output. Haven't figured out yet how to connect my iPhone.
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Some of my second order of San Sui stones arrived today. This is another layout I just came up with. The right side would be still elevated past that small wall of rocks.
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I spent even more money in the past couple days. I have 50 pounds of San Sui stone on the way to give me more options for the scaping and also some for the "refugium".
Talking about the fuge, I will put everything in quarantine before moving it to the main tank. That being said, my fuge will be a dedicated display tank. It will also be my backup tank if things don't go right in the main tank.
For the fuge I have ordered a JBJ Saltwater tank with build in filter / heater housing and LED. This will allow me to run this tank with no visible tubes, wires or equipment hanging around. This is a photo with a saltwater setup:
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It holds 8 gallons, plenty for my needs. Will sit on the kitchen countertop. When things are settled in the main tank I'll keep mainly shrimp in it and maybe a few fish.
I also ordered the glassware: small ADA Violet in- and outtake, 4 double union ball valves, all tubing for the PH probe and silicon hoses.
Only pieces missing are the cabinet, reactor, plants, shrimp and fish. The custom cabinet should be ready in about 10 days.
It was time to give all those extra tanks their own names and to decide on the final layout, stone, fish, shrimp and plants:
Hey guys,
this will be my first journal, and my first tank. I spent quite some time over the last 4 or 5 years reading into reefs, but changed my direction when I saw some of those astonishing Iwagumi setups.
Needless to say, my tank will have a Iwagumi "style" layout. I won't adhere to all the implied rules, but stick to simplicity, perspective, scale, San Sui stones and lot of carpet.
All that being said, I'm still waiting for some parts.
I hope some of you guys come along for the ride, I will have plenty of questions and can use all the help.
Here is my equipment, plant and inhabitant list:
UPDATED: 06/08/17
Main Tank:
Refugium:
Took the following photo last week, this is one layout I came up with. Cliff to the left and an elevated "Plateau" to the right, bordered by that wall of rocks. Short carpet in the main / left area, a bit longer carpet or hair grass on the Plateau. I don't want any long plants. Going for a really clean and simplistic look.
Here I tested the tank for leaks and the Eheim filter. At first the pump didn't circulate the water and I had to force water into it, in order to get it started. I love the electronics of the Eheim which allow me to adjust the flow or even simulate waves. I know that the pump is overkill for my 90 x 30 x 30 tank, but if I ever want to upgrade, I won't have to exchange all the equipment.
The Giesemann LED light and Bluetooth controller arrived a couple days later. Border control ripped the package open for inspection and just smashed everything in the large box, what a bunch of asshats.
Man is this light powerful. Glad I'll be able to adjust color channels and output. Haven't figured out yet how to connect my iPhone.
Some of my second order of San Sui stones arrived today. This is another layout I just came up with. The right side would be still elevated past that small wall of rocks.
I spent even more money in the past couple days. I have 50 pounds of San Sui stone on the way to give me more options for the scaping and also some for the "refugium".
Talking about the fuge, I will put everything in quarantine before moving it to the main tank. That being said, my fuge will be a dedicated display tank. It will also be my backup tank if things don't go right in the main tank.
For the fuge I have ordered a JBJ Saltwater tank with build in filter / heater housing and LED. This will allow me to run this tank with no visible tubes, wires or equipment hanging around. This is a photo with a saltwater setup:
It holds 8 gallons, plenty for my needs. Will sit on the kitchen countertop. When things are settled in the main tank I'll keep mainly shrimp in it and maybe a few fish.
I also ordered the glassware: small ADA Violet in- and outtake, 4 double union ball valves, all tubing for the PH probe and silicon hoses.
Only pieces missing are the cabinet, reactor, plants, shrimp and fish. The custom cabinet should be ready in about 10 days.
8
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Very thorough with all details and pictures so far. Will be checking in on this in the future, keep it up
Thanks.
By the way, my inspiration comes from the old oo7 movie The Man with the Golden Gun and the set in Phang Nga Bay.
My refugium just arrived. It has 3 color channels (and 10 brightness settings).
All white LEDs on, will be my standard setting for this fresh water setup:
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Half white, half blue setting. Might work too.
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All blue LEDs on. Only for coral reefs. Might switch some blue LEDs with reds.
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I'll start setting up this tank soon since it will house every fish and shrimp before they go into the main tank. Will be ordering plants soon.
All white LEDs on, will be my standard setting for this fresh water setup:
Half white, half blue setting. Might work too.
All blue LEDs on. Only for coral reefs. Might switch some blue LEDs with reds.
I'll start setting up this tank soon since it will house every fish and shrimp before they go into the main tank. Will be ordering plants soon.
3
Now that's some good info for me. I'll keep the hardscape to a minimum and probably only use 1 plant which will be a carpet.
The cabinet is being build and should be done in about a week. Basically a RedSea style cabinet made of sanded plywood and laminated in- and outside, matching the furniture in my living room. It will be completely flush with the tank and hold all the equipment.
Just in case somebody finds this and wants to build the same stand:
2
Just to add to the shrimp thing.
I got shrimp after the fish. I have 50+ Cardinal tetras, 15 platies, 6 C.Sterbai and 5 juvenile BN pleco's. I mainly just wanted the shrimp for clean up crew so got some cheap "wild" Cherry shrimp. Turned out to be pretty interesting shrimp though, there is whites, clear, black, red, yellow and blue in there. Only seen one blueish, but its there
I bought 70 shrimp, and there is at least 50 still there and last time I took a closer look I had at least 4 berried females. If I actually get any increase in population, I doubt it. If the fish don't get the shrimplets, the FX6 will. To start with they where constantly hiding, almost seemed like I lost most of them. But after a while they started to appear more around the tank. I guess the fish just finally realized they where not gonna be able to catch them (healthy shrimp are fast buggers!) and stopped harassing them. Now if you just had, say 10 shrimp. They might be able to wear them out and finally catch them.
So if you don't get a good colonie before fish, you can just add a lot and they should be able to establish if there is enough hiding places/plants.
I got shrimp after the fish. I have 50+ Cardinal tetras, 15 platies, 6 C.Sterbai and 5 juvenile BN pleco's. I mainly just wanted the shrimp for clean up crew so got some cheap "wild" Cherry shrimp. Turned out to be pretty interesting shrimp though, there is whites, clear, black, red, yellow and blue in there. Only seen one blueish, but its there
I bought 70 shrimp, and there is at least 50 still there and last time I took a closer look I had at least 4 berried females. If I actually get any increase in population, I doubt it. If the fish don't get the shrimplets, the FX6 will. To start with they where constantly hiding, almost seemed like I lost most of them. But after a while they started to appear more around the tank. I guess the fish just finally realized they where not gonna be able to catch them (healthy shrimp are fast buggers!) and stopped harassing them. Now if you just had, say 10 shrimp. They might be able to wear them out and finally catch them.
So if you don't get a good colonie before fish, you can just add a lot and they should be able to establish if there is enough hiding places/plants.
Just to add to the shrimp thing.
I got shrimp after the fish. I have 50+ Cardinal tetras, 15 platies, 6 C.Sterbai and 5 juvenile BN pleco's. I mainly just wanted the shrimp for clean up crew so got some cheap "wild" Cherry shrimp. Turned out to be pretty interesting shrimp though, there is whites, clear, black, red, yellow and blue in there. Only seen one blueish, but its there
I bought 70 shrimp, and there is at least 50 still there and last time I took a closer look I had at least 4 berried females. If I actually get any increase in population, I doubt it. If the fish don't get the shrimplets, the FX6 will. To start with they where constantly hiding, almost seemed like I lost most of them. But after a while they started to appear more around the tank. I guess the fish just finally realized they where not gonna be able to catch them (healthy shrimp are fast buggers!) and stopped harassing them. Now if you just had, say 10 shrimp. They might be able to wear them out and finally catch them.
So if you don't get a good colonie before fish, you can just add a lot and they should be able to establish if there is enough hiding places/plants.
Just making sure.. the fish I have in mind is "Rummy Nose Rasbora".
Animal World writes this: "Shrimps, Crabs, Snails: Safe - not aggressive"
Rummy Nose Rasbora, Sawbwa Barb, Sawbwa resplendens, Asian RummynoseCyprinidae
Am I missing something?
I did test the refugium for 3 days and the pump started acting up. Turned very loud and was vibrating on and off. Looks like the impeller or the housing isn't straight. Cheap crap made in China... what can you expect. Will send it in for a replacement but also ordered a Mini Eheim pump that should fit into the small filter housing.
Talking about that in-the-tank-filter housing, I'll also ordered a stainless steel diffusor which I will place right inside the housing and under the pump. I'll figure out how much CO2 comes out the nozzle after going through the pump. Really trying to keep everything out of sight.
Getting the aquascaping done in the fuge was much easier. I tried a larger stone but it looks crowded quickly. Also trying to keep it simple for the occasional "fishing".
![]()
![]()
Talking about that in-the-tank-filter housing, I'll also ordered a stainless steel diffusor which I will place right inside the housing and under the pump. I'll figure out how much CO2 comes out the nozzle after going through the pump. Really trying to keep everything out of sight.
Getting the aquascaping done in the fuge was much easier. I tried a larger stone but it looks crowded quickly. Also trying to keep it simple for the occasional "fishing".
2
PS: I want to take a bunch of high quality tank and fish photos, so I also upped my game in the camera department.
Arrived yesterday: full frame SONY A7R II and 90mm 2.8 Macro lens.
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Arrived yesterday: full frame SONY A7R II and 90mm 2.8 Macro lens.
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