DB's 57 Mixed Reef Build

[Reeflogic]

Hello R2R,

I've finally made the full transition to these awesome forums! Up until now I've been a lurker and seen so many amazing tanks. I've been a fishhead since I was a kid and a reef enthusiast since the mid 80's, when I purchased my first wet / dry filtration! The evolution of reefing in the last 10 years is very exciting to me and forums such as this, with reefers sharing so many experiences and trial and errors makes my life so much easier! First I would like to thank all the reefers here for their passion, dedication and support for the best hobby in the world.

:clap2:

I got back into reefing in march of this year (after a 4 year "life gets in the way" break) , picked up an awesome 90g Oceanic TECH tank and had BIG plans. I then realized I was going to transfer to Michigan and decided I would downsize, temporarily, to make it an easier move. I snatched a 57g Oceanic Illuminata, reef ready and traded off the 90g. I moved everything over to the 57g on October 1, 2013 and finally have my tank stabilized (after the move) and on cruise control. This will be my main display tank until I design and put together a larger build in my new house, hoping for 200+ on the next build.

Tackle Box:
I have a DIY LED W/ T5 supplement (LEDgroupbuy 36" build) (Geisemann Actinics)
(2) MP40's (running at like 30% lol)
Reef Dynamics ins80 Skimmer (love this beast)
Speedwave DC return pump
Eshoppse 36" sump with fuge
Neptune Aqua Controller
JBJ ATO (for now)

Salt & Stuffs:
I was using Red Sea Coral Pro and just switched to Seachem Salinity, because I can get it local for a decent price. (will post my findings after a few months use)
Also started using Seachem Fuel, liking the results so far
Currently adding Kalk to my ATO and having great success (eventually will switch to a dosing system, when / if it's necessary)
I dose biofuel and microbacter when needed and I run Extraxphos

QT:
I have (2) 40g breeder set up with custom steel stand that I use as a full time coral & fish QT. Bad habits are in the past, I REFUSE to deal with Crypto or Pests EVER again.

Livestock:
I have around 18 species of SPS currently and some mixed LPS, BTA's (I had one split and they are growing FAST, I may have to set them their own tank at some point). I only purchased VERY small frags this go round to actually save money and enjoy their growth. As they start to grow, I'd love to swap some frags with any Michigan folks! I'm going to start focusing on more zoas and maybe some yuma / rics for the lower rocks.

I lost several fish back in August to a nasty Crypto outbreak (yeah bad habits), so I went fallow for 2 months, saved about half my fish and am ready to start adding a few more to finish out my fish collection. I currently have a pair of black Occ. clowns, 3 blue / green chromis, a small kole tang (which was in my 90, hopefully he does ok in the 57 until I get my next build done), and a cleaner shrimp. I want a few more fish, mystery wrasse, tail spot blenny and maybe a few more smaller reef fish (undecided) I'm raising 3 kids, so my "allowance" is limited lol.

Sorry this got so long winded, but hey, it's my new reef build, Jack! I'm inspired by many of the reefers here on R2R and hope to get any feedback from you guys, positive or negative, I'm here for the long haul and hope to share my experience and knowledge and soak up as much as I can from you guys. I just started using a camera I picked up a few months ago (Nikon D-3200 - no macro lens yet), so any tips on my photos would be GREATLY appreciated. My pics are finally starting to look better and are getting closer to being true color. I should probably take a photography class lol, harder than it looks... (Maybe Zibba will share his secret recipe lol, or any other other fantastic photographers here!)

Anyway, thank you for looking and hopefully commenting! Oh and thanks again Albert Thiel, for all your dedication over the last 25+ years!

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Wow this is a super nice build! Great job!

 

[Reeflogic]

Wow this is a super nice build! Great job!

Thanks rev! I assume you can see the photos lol, was afraid I messed them up! It's technically only a few months old, so hopefully it grows to something beautiful over the next few years

 

[ShippD]

Great build for sure.

 

[Reeflogic]

Great build for sure.

Thanks Darren! A fellow Texan! I was born and raised in Texas, grew up not far from you in North Mesquite, off I-30 near Ray Hubbard (years ago lol) I used to fish Tawakoni all the time, ahhh I miss Texas!

 

[best3175]

Clean, Clean, And Clean. Nice build.

Do you see any problems not running the return through bags? How is your water noise level?

 

[Reeflogic]

Clean, Clean, And Clean. Nice build.

Do you see any problems not running the return through bags? How is your water noise level?

Having used the bags for a few years, I found them a horrible chore, so I don't incorporate them in my builds anymore. Some folks swear by them, I find them tedious and not really necessary. I get a small amount of detritus accumulation in that first chamber, that I siphon out every few weeks, which, to me, is much easier to deal with and much less expensive.

As far as the noise, I have ZERO. I used the "Herbie" style overflow, which allows me to dial in a direct siphon, with the second drain line for emergency overflow. The only thing I hear from my tank, which sits behind me in my office, is the fans on my lights, so very similar to a computer noise. The "Herbie" overflow allows me to create that direct siphon and eliminates any gurgling and / or unwanted splash or bubbles. It's absolutely dead silent. This overflow changed my life on my previous 90g build, which had 1400 gph going through it and I could not hear anything but the humming of the Mag 9.5's (x3) that were installed. Since switching to a DC pump, I do not even hear the humming anymore. I'm a huge advocate for "Herbie" or "Beananimal" style overflows. No more durso stand pipes for this guy!

Thanks for the compliment!!!

 

[ReeferMan420]

Awesome build man!

 

[Reeflogic]

Awesome build man!

Thanks Reefer!!

 

[DAS212]

Looking great Doug. Glad to see the build is coming along nicely. I will be starting a thread here on R2R myself as soon as my new tank gets here. Cheers!

 

[Reeflogic]

Looking great Doug. Glad to see the build is coming along nicely. I will be starting a thread here on R2R myself as soon as my new tank gets here. Cheers!

Thanks Dave I'm eagerly awaiting that build, it's going to be killer.

 

[zibba]

Clean and well thought out design! Great equipment and a I like the aquascape, which I think is going to fill in beautifully under that light! Excellent start, I'll be sure to follow along.

Very nice pictures too! You don't need any tips from me, you already take much better FTS! What's your flickr handle? Mine's ..:EZ:.. or something like that.

 

[Reeflogic]

Clean and well thought out design! Great equipment and a I like the aquascape, which I think is going to fill in beautifully under that light! Excellent start, I'll be sure to follow along.

Very nice pictures too! You don't need any tips from me, you already take much better FTS! What's your flickr handle? Mine's ..:EZ:.. or something like that.

Yeah Right! lol, thanks Zibba, I appreciate your kind words, but my photos can't hold a candle to yours! Maybe in time

I think my handle is Reeflogic. I literally just signed up last night, so not sure how it all works, I made my album private, I think. Any tips you have, as always, are greatly appreciated.

 

[ShippD]

Thanks Darren! A fellow Texan! I was born and raised in Texas, grew up not far from you in North Mesquite, off I-30 near Ray Hubbard (years ago lol) I used to fish Tawakoni all the time, ahhh I miss Texas!

Haha i grew up in Garland went to Lakeview

 

[Jimbo662]

I'm going to have the same set up...got the same sump and planning to use the herbie method too. I was going to make a custom bracket for the return / sock holder becuase the one that comes with it doesn't allow the tubes to be extended down into the water. After seeing this I think I'll try without them and see how it goes. Question...I was going to use the flex pvc for the drains also. Is there a reason you didn't use the flex on the drains?

James

 

[Reeflogic]

I'm going to have the same set up...got the same sump and planning to use the herbie method too. I was going to make a custom bracket for the return / sock holder becuase the one that comes with it doesn't allow the tubes to be extended down into the water. After seeing this I think I'll try without them and see how it goes. Question...I was going to use the flex pvc for the drains also. Is there a reason you didn't use the flex on the drains?

James

James, it would make your life much easier using the flex lines on the drains. I've built numerous systems over a 30 year span and I always used rigid pipes on drains, so I guess it's just habit. But, every time I make a new build and have to set there and figure out those exact cuts to get the angles right, I kick myself and ask "why didn't you use flex?" lol. So I guess it's really just aesthetics and nothing more. Are you doing a build thread? I'd love to see it!

 

[Reeflogic]

Haha i grew up in Garland went to Lakeview

Lol, no way. I had lots of friends from Lakeview! Seems like everyone I knew growing up is either in Tawakoni, Forney or Frisco lol. I was a NM Stallion of '89!

 

[Jimbo662]

I'm accumulating all the components right now. I'm in the process of selling my house so I want to get the "setup" stage done before I move so that it's ready to go in the new place. I'll probably start a thread in the next week or so.

 

[typicaltony]

very nice indeed, any shots of the lighting?

really like that cave structure in the middle.

 

[ShippD]

Lol, no way. I had lots of friends from Lakeview! Seems like everyone I knew growing up is either in Tawakoni, Forney or Frisco lol. I was a NM Stallion of '89!

Class of '82 here