Checkered Pants’ Waterbox 5526 Build

[CheckeredPants]

I still haven’t gotten a lens for my phone, but figured I’d share a couple pics.

My mushroom garden:

My first leap into higher end mushrooms. A Candy Crush and a JawBreaker:

 

[Ultijekyll]

How are you liking the lid? With the opening at the end of the peninsula? I was looking at them but I wanted to see how someone liked the lid at the far end and not on the sides

 

[CheckeredPants]

How are you liking the lid? With the opening at the end of the peninsula? I was looking at them but I wanted to see how someone liked the lid at the far end and not on the sides

I like having the feeding door on the short end.

At first I thought I’d regret not getting more feed doors installed. Before the lid arrived I made it a point to only feed from the short end since I knew that’s where it’d be and the fish would learn to come there to eat. Also, that’s where I reach in to put my nori clip for my Tang.

As a bonus, when I walk, sit, or stand on the long ends to view the tank the fish know I’m not feeding them so they return to cruising the tank.

I was also worried that food might not get blown around enough, but with two MP40s running at 100% in Reef Crest mode it isn’t a problem.

 

[CheckeredPants]

I’ve added an Orphek OR2 Blue Plus strip to the AquaticLife fixture. It is sexy! LoL. Also got the Orphek Lens Kit that I’m starting to play with.

 

[CheckeredPants]

Got to use a Seneye Par Meter today and I’m happy with the results. Sandbed was getting 100 throughout the tank and the highest points were getting 200-230. This is the range I had hoping for since I’m only keeping softies and a few low light LPS. The only SPS I have is a neon green pavona that is has been growing great for me over the years I’ve had it and seems to tolerate a wide range of lighting.

 

[Billldg]

Tank is looking great!!!

 

[Devaji]

nice build thread I am thinking of the same tank.
questions:
do you wish you went with the 6026?
do the doors open on both sides or just one?
does it come with an ATO res.


mind sharing a pic of your sump area to get a better view?

 

[CheckeredPants]

nice build thread I am thinking of the same tank.
questions:
do you wish you went with the 6026?
do the doors open on both sides or just one?
does it come with an ATO res.


mind sharing a pic of your sump area to get a better view?

Let me start by saying, please don’t judge me for my birds nest of wires. LoL.

Initially the location the tank was going to go could only fit the 5526 (there’s a pic above of the place I thought it’d go). That location looked awkward and had limited space to work under the tank once it was there so I moved it to its current location. I’m happy with the way it turned out, and think the 6026 would have been too big for the room. As you can see, any longer of a tank and it wouldn’t have blocked the view of my dining room.

On the left side of the tank all three panels are doors.

On the right side two of the three panels open.

The ATO reservoir in attached on this model. I know the 7226 has a separate one and I’m not sure if the 6026 is attached or not. I think it’s the same sump as this tank.

Here are some other pics of the sump. My heaters are in the first chamber which is the drain chamber. Again, please don’t judge me for my poor cable management. LoL. One day, one day.

 

[CheckeredPants]

Another quick but sad update...
I came across a great deal on a Powder Blue Tang and bought it. This was a bad move. It introduced ich that ended up wiping out half my fish. I’m upset with myself as I didn’t QT the PB and regret it daily.

The fish I have left, and the only fish that will live in this tank are:
Purple Tang
KwaZulu Fairy Wrasse
Red Head Solon Fairy Wrasse
Exquisite Fairy Wrasse
Yellow Watchman Goby

I will not be adding any other fish to this tank. I’m now “living with ich” and don’t want to mess things up again.

 

[CheckeredPants]

Here’s some newer pics using the Orphek lens kit that I’m still learning to use.

 

[mmw64]

What a bummer

Another quick but sad update...
I came across a great deal on a Powder Blue Tang and bought it. This was a bad move. It introduced ich that ended up wiping out half my fish. I’m upset with myself as I didn’t QT the PB and regret it daily.

The fish I have left, and the only fish that will live in this tank are:
Purple Tang
KwaZulu Fairy Wrasse
Red Head Solon Fairy Wrasse
Exquisite Fairy Wrasse
Yellow Watchman Goby

I will not be adding any other fish to this tank. I’m now “living with ich” and don’t want to mess things up again.

! So sorry.

 

[CheckeredPants]

What a bummer

! So sorry.

Thanks. All this rushing I told myself I wouldn’t do this time, I did.

 

[irish02bk]

i just got the same tank, however i'm going to run it close to a wall can the right side and left side doors be swapped?

 

[CheckeredPants]

i just got the same tank, however i'm going to run it close to a wall can the right side and left side doors be swapped?

There are holes on that side for hinges, so I don’t see why you couldn’t.

 

[irish02bk]

There are holes on that side for hinges, so I don’t see why you couldn’t.

Thank you, i was thinking that but you got me concerned for a minute.

 

[irish02bk]

update? what are you using for flow?

 

[CheckeredPants]

update? what are you using for flow?

The tanks doing ok. I haven’t been taking photos really.

For flow I’ve got two MP40s on the back wall. They’re up at like 80% Reef Crest, but I’m considering turning them down to 60% since the front has a bit too much flow.

 

[platinumreef]

Got my canopy built and hung! Still waiting on the correct gate valve from WaterBox that is shipping today. Just a few more days and I can start to cycle!!!

Hey man, nice canopy! Can you tell me where you got it? Or can you please tell me how you built it? Looking at getting a WB myself but need to make sure I can have a canopy on it first.