50gal reef tank

[BoomDraw301]

Been lurking for a while as my tank cycles but starting to get there. Its a 50 gal main with 30 gal sump, no fish or coral yet but I have added two 16 oz of copeopods, amphipods, chaeto in the overflow, one piece of liverock from the lfs. Also 6 red leg hermits and 6 marg. snails.
Ultimately want to have a few anemones, some chalice and torches.

For light Im currently using a Hamilton 250w metal halide. Just a cheap seaclone skimmer right now but plan on upgrading as I add livestock

 

[JumboShrimp]

Welcome, congratulations, and enjoy!

 

[NashobaTek]

Nice!

 

[NashobaTek]

And welcome to the party!

 

[BoomDraw301]

Starting to get overloaded with amphipods, almost time for a few small fish

 

[BoomDraw301]

First fish, a very small mandarin, already out on the hunt for the pods, the tank has been seeded with amphipods, copepods, and planktons twice in the last few months

 

[BoomDraw301]

Newest additions to the tank

 

[BoomDraw301]

First coral to the tank, LFS had it labled as ORA Bird of Paradise

 

[BoomDraw301]

Been a while since last update, almost had a big issue 2 months ago, learned my lesson on a cheap dc return pump, turned off to feed one day and it never turned back on. Took 2 days to get another "different brand and better quality" pump. I think that has caused another mini cycle and dealing with some patches of hair algae.
Brighter note after spending almost an entire day tinkering, I have gotten a Raspberry Pi running reef-pi and got the controls working, now to order some sensors and try my hand at some Diy controls

 

[BoomDraw301]

Been a while since last update, almost had a big issue 2 months ago, learned my lesson on a cheap dc return pump, turned off to feed one day and it never turned back on. Took 2 days to get another "different brand and better quality" pump. I think that has caused another mini cycle and dealing with some patches of hair algae.
Brighter note after spending almost an entire day tinkering, I have gotten a Raspberry Pi running reef-pi and got the controls working, now to order some sensors and try my hand at some Diy controls

 

[BoomDraw301]

 

[BoomDraw301]

Making some progress with the reefpi setup, starting to work on the board

 

[BoomDraw301]

Temperature probe is up and running, waiting for the relays to show up in the mail to do the powerboard

 

[BoomDraw301]

4 days in and temp sensor failed, then after looking thru all the specs on the ds18b20 sensor thats recommended on the reef-pi tutorial,(which in hindsight is years old) it isnt fit for saltwater, im thinking i could use a temp probe from a controller or get another adafruit and coat in a plastic

 

[BoomDraw301]

Picked up a purple tip sebae while out running errands today, also have a pump and water level sensor up and running so the reef-pi is doing ato, new temp sensor and a redsea wavemaker are ordered and should be here by thursday