55 Gallon Re-boot Mixed Reef

[D_Reep1106]

First build thread. I've been in marine aquariums for 6 years,starting with a 20 long and then 55 gal. FOWLR turned to Mixed reef. Ive built and re-built tanks ever since, every time running out of patience and setting up a tank too soon. I've been working on this build for about 5 weeks now. I wish I had progression pics but didn't think about posting a build thread until this morning. Well all that being said heres some pics hope they load correctly. I've gotta remove the sump to re-build it slightly (water level too high for skimmer) dumb oversight but hey set-backs happen, but this time I'm trying this new thing called patience and getting everything how I want it before hitting the go ahead.

 

[D_Reep1106]

My plans in the next week are to build my filter sock tray and re-build my sump at the same time. Later pick up a BRS Reactor I'm debating on one deluxe reactor running GFO and C and a separate Bio-pellet reactor or do ya'll think THe GFO and C would be enough. BTW I am filling it all with RO water and don't plan on stocking it very fast at all. Already have my DR. Tim's One and only to cycle it once it's ready to go.

 

[D_Reep1106]

Alright, so my equipment so far is as follows:

2x 54W T5 fixture
Mag 7 return
Eshoppes 5" in-sump Skimmer
Custom built Sump
Heater is an Aqueon 150W

For rock and substrate I had about 100lbs of dry rock from previous tanks so i got to pick and choose my favorite pieces.
Sand is gonna be Tropic Eden reeflakes. I had a different sand in before I put the water in but once the water was in and the pumps were running I realized the sand was like an aragasnow awful stuff. It just blew around and stayed suspended in the water column so I had to take my rock out and pull all the sand out.

So far no Livestock But I plan on getting a pair of ORA Goldflake Maroon clowns!!! I have a gorgeous RBTA in a system my cousin runs and he has some Gold dot clowns aka goldstripe maroons that were labeled as white stripes at petco and he picked the up for $11 each with full stripes and dots on their tails and they grew up and colored up to be Gold stripe which was a happy surprise for him.

 

[Flameback Pair]

Subscribed.

 

[D_Reep1106]

Awesome, So quick update The sump has been re-siliconed(probably not a word but ya'll get it) and is curing at the moment. Tomorrow I'll get a 160gallon bucket of Reef Crystals from a trade and I'll be ready to role. Also gonna be building my filter sock tray this weekend the same way I did it on my last tank in a pretty inexpensive way so I'll post pics.

Forgot to addmy American DJ power module in the equipment list.

 

[D_Reep1106]

Sump is almost finished but sand is in and everything is almost ready. Heater died the other day so im borrowing one from my cousin for a while until I can go pick up a Neo-Therm heater.

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

Looks good!

 

[D_Reep1106]

A quick Couple shots of my aquascape with the lights on. Still haven't hooked up my sump. Also I'll add a pic of my stand I used a basic primer and paint for the outside of the stand but I used a white Bottom Boat boat paint for the inside that is water proof as it gets and also sealed it off so any spills can be quickly cleaned up.

 

[vlangel]

Original aquascape.

 

[D_Reep1106]

Thank you, Im a big fan of arches and tunnels

 

[D_Reep1106]

Were up and running finally!!! I attached a couple pics of how I built my filter sock tray. Also I have a question on my cycle. I have roughly 75 gallons of water and I used enough Dr. Tim's for 60 gallons. Everything's looking good I'm thinking about getting 2x green reef chromis tomorrow and letting it run a few weeks. What are ya'lls thoughts

 

[D_Reep1106]

Forgot to add the finished filter sock trey.

 

[D_Reep1106]

Picked up 2 pro-aquatix gold stripe maroons today and a couple snails to see how things are kicking off. I'll post pics later

 

[trido]

Good looking filtersock holder and nice layout on your sump. Your aquascaping is nice too.

 

[D_Reep1106]

Good looking filtersock holder and nice layout on your sump. Your aquascaping is nice too.

Thank you thank you

 

[D_Reep1106]

I've got my CUC and clowns and everyones happy 0 algae in the display which is weird to me seeing as ive always our well water that adds phosphates. added my first coral last night it was some palys i got years ago that arent very colorful but they've made it through everything with me so they are my testers. Also I'm adding LED's this weekend pretty stoked about that.

 

[D_Reep1106]

My lights just came on to a copepod EXPLOSION. I haven't seen a copepod in this tank yet but wasn't really looking. so when my lights came on today i thought i had microbubbles in my tank from my skimmer being weird or something. no the water was literally crawling with copepods i tried taking a picture but since i don't have the best camera it just looks cloudy but holy cow.

 

[ManOfSalt]

cool setup! can't wait to see how life settles in to that aquascape. That ceramic pot totally looks like a home for a crab or something lol

 

[vlangel]

I can see a pistol shrimp or serpent star in the pot too. Actually the pistol shrimp would probably dig under the pot!

 

[vlangel]

I've got my CUC and clowns and everyones happy 0 algae in the display which is weird to me seeing as ive always our well water that adds phosphates. added my first coral last night it was some palys i got years ago that arent very colorful but they've made it through everything with me so they are my testers. Also I'm adding LED's this weekend pretty stoked about that.

I don't know if you are a fan of softies and LPS but they do alright if you have phosphates. I use water straight from our tap and have for years and it also has phosphates. I skim and run carbon but have never used a phosphate remover and my corals do great and I typically don't have algae problems. I also have a clam and they also utilize phosphates. Of course I am sure with a phosphate remover you wouldn't have trouble with SPS.