ChrisQ's Humble Reef

[ChrisQ0904]

Ok, I finally was able to accomplish something. Ended up getting one of my spare 40b tanks and made a new sump. I kept it simple and have a skimmer/fuge/pump section.

For this new tank i wanted to go BB because it will mostly be sps and can live without most sand dwelling fish. I just hate the look of bare glass in a reef and starboard is too pricy. I wanted to have somewhat of a sand look and tried multiple ideas I had but the one I liked the most was placing 4x6 travertine tiles on the bottom. Doesn't look like grains of sand but the color is pretty close at least.

Today I was able to plumb the tank and so far I am pretty happy with it. Just a little upset I never wiped the dripping glue but what is done is done.

For lighting I was able to pick up a used MH setup from Adam at battlecorals. Going to be running 2 x 250w on lumenbright fixtures. On top of that I will be running 4 x 48" T5 and if I can squeeze them in then some LEDs for some added pop. For the MH I plan on running radium 20k, T5's will most likely be blue+.

I have been going crazy trying to decide what skimmer I wanted to run on this tank and after a lot of reading and countless YouTube videos I decided to go with lifereef. I emailed him couple of hours ago with a few questions I had and hopefully will have everything sorted out by tomorrow and I can place my order.

Lastly, I have 3 anthias in QT at the moment and seem healthy and super active. Currently doing ttm then observation for a week or 2 and hopefully by then I will be able to add them as my first fish.

 

[ChrisQ0904]

I love/hate doing aquascape. Here is what I have so far with some donated rock. I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to buy some more.

I'm pretty content with the left but I want to work on the right and make it taller

 

[ChrisQ0904]

Well I made it through most of hurricane Irma and can report that the tanks seem to be doing good and have about 135g in my new tank that the lifereef is going in. Should I empty the tank if I filled it with RO, or will the life reed be able to pull out whatever nastiness may be there from standing water?

 

[ChrisQ0904]

The tank finished cycling and was able to at my first fish (scribbled rabbit fish and lyretail anthias). They were doing good for a few weeks in the DT so I went and purchased my second batch which includes the flowing: blue eye kole tang, 2 wrasses and a yellow assessor basslet. The assessor spends most of its time upside down and I love it! I hope it doesn't stop.

I got my 2 halide fixtures hung over the tank and they look great and don't heat up the room too much, currently working on getting my t5 retro floating canopy ready. I have most of the t5 retro done but just have some small wiring things to do and I should hopefully have it done this weekend.

 

[Tahoe61]

Really, really like the tiles.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

nice!

 

[Edd29]

Any updates!?

 

[ChrisQ0904]

Any updates!?

I know I'm long overdue. I'll try to get to the update ASAP the short update is that I transferred all the coral and everything seems to be doing good so far!