55 Gallon Automated SPS Nano Tank

[aqua_code]

This is my build thread for a nano I started about 3 weeks ago. I seeded it with an old tank and am slowly moving over the inhabitants. The display is a 25 Gallon mr. aqua drilled low iron. The stand is custom made brushed steel. Cost me $400 but totally worth it.


Here are the primary points to my current setup.

• Automatic Water changes with DOS
• Apex New unit
• BM Doser (BRS 2 Part, Chaeto Grow, Microbacter7, Ammino Acids)
• ATO
• UV Sterilizer
• MP10
• Chiller
• Reef octopus skimmer
• Avast Marine Reactors

The goal is to automate everything to the highest degree possible. I have a mindstream on it's way soon. I've traditionally used triton, but I'm going to give 2 part a dry with the mindstream. I almost never do any tests and try to gauge phosphate by looking for hair algae. I may purchase a nitrate test for this new tank to make sure the sand bed is in check. I currently have some turtle grass on the way and am planning to juice up the refugium.

Planning to add a bonded pair of clowns and a four line. Feeding Oceanmagik, PE Mysis, PE Pellet Mysis, Reef Roids.

 

[BigTex1836]

I am curious to see how the turtle grass works. Keep us updated

 

[aqua_code]

I am curious to see how the turtle grass works. Keep us updated

Thanks I'm dead set on making this refugium super efficient and hopefully removing the skimmer long term. I've read about farmers using nitrogen fixing plants to help soil quality and plant growth. I'm hoping the turtle grass has a similar positive impact if grown with mangroves or other macroalgae. Many people describe sandbeds as phosphate sponges, hopefully the sea grass roots can help mitigate that and absorb waste.

 

[aqua_code]

Tank Update

SC Orange , RR Firecracker, Oregon Tort, Futurama
More to be added soon.

Four Line Wrasse

Turtle grass settling in:

Healthy Mangrove Roots:


Dealing with Dinos (have them mostly isolated to the tonga branch), Aptasia, GHA, Flatworms, so will be working on that in the upcoming weeks. Also waiting on a mindstream.

 

[aqua_code]

Lots of changes and work on the tank since the last update. My original SPS died because I think wasn't measuring ALK well. Dosed vibrant and that seemed to add some stress too. Since then, bought a trident and some new SPS. Feel alot more confident with the trident in keeping SPS with the automated ALK tests. I was terrible at doing them previously.

TCG cherry bomb on the right



Plumbing updates and put in the 30 gallon sump:

The mangroves were moved to a separate tank, because they weren't exporting enough phosphate for my bioload. I had lots of different types of macroalgae but only one root of seagrass, caulerpa prolifera, and a few strains of chaeto are thriving now. Been battling GHA and went back to using GFO instead of vibrant.

Had ick in this tank for a long time and finally decided to treat it and go fallow for 79 days. Dosing Trisodium phosphate and sodium nitrate.


Have 2x quarantine tanks setup now. Copper Power at 1.75 for 30 days than planned observation period. Clowns in a 10 gallon :

Wrasse in another 10 gallon:

 

[aqua_code]

Coral closeups with iPhone 11 pro, reef lens, flipper:

 

[aqua_code]

These are cool, but really didn't want to spend $250 on a tiny thing for my cords and fish room.

Next project, create a controller board.

Screwed in some vertical beams into the studs, painted them. Made sure the top two were level.

Got a piece of plywood and screwed in a "lip" on the top. Made sure this was level.

Sits on the wall nicely and has alot of space. Will add some screws to secure it and drill some holes for wire management.

Will use a hole drill and prob put in something like these 2" wire organizer grommets:

Should be quick to finish up now that the structure is in place. Will post more updates, welcome to suggestions if anyone has any. Also looks like I have aefw:

 

[Graffiti Spot]

Looks like maybe an acro eating spider also.