29 gal tank build

V

vman181

Hello everyone, first off I just want to give you a little bit about myself. My name is Kevin and I have lived in Abilene for the last 10 years. I’m a military working dog handler in the USAF. Since I am in the USAF, I deploy a lot to overseas. I had a 120 gal RR tank for about three years and had to get rid of it do to personal problems that left no one to take care of it for me while I was in Iraq. Finally after two more tours in Iraq I should be home for about a year or so and I decided to set up a new saltwater reef tank.

I had a 29 gal tank sitting in storage the whole time I was gone and I finally got around to trying to clean it up and see how she would look and hold water. Well after about 20 min today I said the heck with trying to clean it up anymore and I bought a new 29 gal tank from Pam’s Pets that is 30” wide, 18” tall and about 13” deep deep (I would rather have a RR tank but I don’t care to pay the extra money from the LFS nor do I care to try and drill a tank). I also bought a new stand, 30 pounds of regular sand, 20 pounds of “live” sand and 27 pounds of live rock. I bought an AquaC Remora Pro with a Mag 5 from a member of the DFWMAS last summer and I kept all my lights heaters and power heads from my old tank.
It took me about a good four hours to set everything up and put water in the tank. Everything is running smoothly as we speak. Tomorrow I will go to HD and buy some wood to make a canopy big enough to hold some VHO’s and one MH. Right now I have an IC 660 ballast with eight end caps and two SE IC 250w ballast with reflectors, sockets and one old bulb.
I’m not sure how much light to run on this tank just yet. I don’t know if one 250 MH and two VHO’s will be too much. I’m thinking I should drop down to either a 75 or 175 MH. I plan on keeping a little bit of everything in this tank if I can. I know it might be to much to ask for as it is only a 29 gal.
Other than building a canopy and waiting for the cycle to get done I think I’m all set for now. The other thing is, is if I have to go anywhere for 6/7 months, who would like to have a 29 gal tank to take care of till I get back hahaha.
Here are some pictures of everything I have done so far. I'll add more pictures as I make more progress.



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I put 50 pounds of sand in the tank. I really didn't want deep, deep, DSB as I will need to move it to a friends when I deploy back to Iraq or another place next year. I wanted to be able to leave the sand alone but I don't think it will happen as there is about three and a half inches in there now. I did buy 27 pounds of LR but took seven pounds back as it was just too much.
I also had a slight problem with the pump for the AquaC. It came lose from the skimmer and shot water up over the tank the first night. Luckily not to much came out before the impeller broke on the pump and stopped pumping water. I'm still not sure why it broke, but I'm sure glad it did.
Right now I have a Mag three running till I can get another Mag five impeller.
I did buy all the wood I need for the canopy, but I didn't really feel like starting on it just yet and it will have to wait till Monday. I'm working 12 hour shifts all weekend.
I will take some pictures when I start the canopy and post them as well. It's not going to be too fancy as my wood working skills are not the best but I'm descent, it should look okay. The other thing is I have no idea when I will get around to staining it. I didn't want and really can't stain the stand as it's already set up. Only if I can fine something similar to it, I hope.
I still need to decide what I want to do about lighting this tank. Whether to go with just a 75W MH set up or a 175w set up, both with VHO's or PC. What do you all think?
 
Looks good so far.
I am not an expert in lighting by any means, but I would think the 75 would be fine for a 29g. The 175 would work, but I would imagine you would have to be careful with certain coral that don't like that much light, and with limited space that might be hard...

Also, you may have to plan the height of the canopy carefully, to maintain a safe tank temp.
Best of luck, and thank you for serving, we appreciate it!
 
I got the canopy done today, it turned out good if I don't say so myself. I'm not the best at wood work. I did have a last min change to the plans. I wanted the whole front and top to open, but once I looked at it I fig it was just better to go with just the top opening. I still need to stain it, but that will come later, more than likely way later. I also need to figure out what lighting I'm going to use still.
I also took about 7 pounds of LR back, so now I have 20 pounds in the tank. I think everything looks good and now I just need to wait out the cycle.
More to follow..........



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Well as of right now the tank still sits as it has been after the last update. I am going on leave for the next 35 days and will be driving all over the country visiting friends and family. I hope when I get back I will have decided on what light to get for this tank and maybe have it waiting on me at the house. I'll see you guys in a month or so.

I do have a friend that is taking care of the take while I'm gone. There is nothing in it other than the LR so it should be easy for him unless something breaks.....
 
Well, it took me quite a bit of time but I'm on my way. I added my first fish today. Now I need some corals :) I had an Ice Cap 660 left over from my 120gal, I went with two, two foot VHO's for right now. I'm still thinking about one 75watt MH. I just wanted to get this moving, I can always change lights. Anyway I just wanted to give a small update until next time.


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Looking good!

I like the canopy. I just made one myself for my 100 gallon. I couldn't find a stain to match the stand but oh well.

Anyway, thanks for serving and keep posting pics as you progress!
 
Here is the latest and greatest from my little old 29 gal. Starting to move along. I picked this Finger Leather up from Pam's Pets yesterday afternoon. It oped up nicely today.


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