ATX 55gal build

Psychfish · Nov 28, 2017

I got a 55 gallon cube, cabinet and some equipment locally and will be working on setting it up as a mixed reef. I hope to have a lot of movement and color.

So far I have:
Bubble Magus Curve 5
Maxspect led light
10 gallon sump
Plumbing
3 Koralia powerheads (planning to upgrade to a Tunze 6040)
BRS 5 stage RO/DI

Next to get:
Jebao DC adjustable return pump
Auto top off
Dead rock
Coral pro salt

DLHDesign · Nov 28, 2017

Woot! Following along.

Psychfish · Nov 28, 2017

Here is a picture of the tank as I got it and the results of a long weekend's worth of work!

DLHDesign · Nov 28, 2017

Much improved, IMO! Great job.

Psychfish · Nov 28, 2017

DLHDesign said:
Much improved, IMO! Great job.

Thanks. I can't stand that 1980s oak look. It is a solid oak stand though which is great!

Psychfish · Nov 28, 2017

Here is the plumbing so far. Full siphon with a back up. Return hanging on the back of the tank. Will have to dial it in with the ball value once I get my pump.

Psychfish · Nov 29, 2017

My BRS 5 stage plus came in the mail yesterday. Now to set it up. Any tips with the setup?

Psychfish · Dec 11, 2017

I modified anextra skimmer and reef octopus skimmer pump into a media reactor! Planning on running carbon in a filter bag. Anything else you would put in there?

Psychfish · Dec 11, 2017

Also got my pump today! I overkilled it but I guess I have a pump that can handle a bigger tank when I need an upgrade.

Fudsey · Dec 11, 2017

Nice job on the tank ! ! Are you going to paint the back?

Psychfish · Dec 11, 2017

Fudsey said:
Nice job on the tank ! ! Are you going to paint the back?

Thanks. Yes I will be painting the back on either side of the overflow black. I will also be painting the bottom white. It is going to be a bare bottom tank so the white will show through!

FarmerTy · Dec 11, 2017

Good work! Are you on ARC?

Psychfish · Dec 11, 2017

FarmerTy said:
Good work! Are you on ARC?

I was not aware of ARC. I just looked it up. Thanks! I will be soon!

Psychfish · Dec 13, 2017

Got my rock! Now aquascaping time!

Psychfish · Dec 27, 2017

I've been busy the past couple weeks! Built the aquascape. I'm happy with how it turned out. Overhangs and islands. The barebottom with a ton of flow is working well. All the sand/debris gets put in a nickel sized spot that I can siphon out. All the equipment is setup. Water is flowing and now just have to wait for the cycle.

Psychfish · Jan 14, 2018

Coral time! Had a great local frag swap. Picked up most there but a few at Austin Aqua Dome. Here is the list so far:
Mystic sunset monti
Seasons greetings monti
Purple monti cap
Miyagi Tort
ORA Chips acro
FarmerTy Tricolor acro
Purple Bonsai
Setosa
YG Yellow acro
Tyree Pink Lemonade
Red monti cap
Green with blue polyp monti cap
Green Aussie acro
Jedi mind trick
Mystery acro
ORA green planet
Tyree Undata monti

Psychfish · Jan 16, 2018

FTS

Psychfish · Jan 23, 2018

An update on the tank. I had been using Rea Sea Coral Pro salt. Well the Alk lands between 11.7-12 when mixed. That might have been fine once the corals were growing and in a well established tank but in my young tank some of the corals got burnt tips. So in order to up the Nitrates and Phosphates I got a couple fish. A fairy wrasse and clown. The wrasse is doing great but the clown hid and was never seen again The Alk is slowly coming down with water changes with another salt. Almost all of the burnt tips of the corals have healed or begun to heal!