Don’s 75 Gallon Mixed Reef

[dunkindon]

Howdy folks,

I am going to start documenting my delve into the hobby by following along with my first reef build. First things first with any tank build, right? We are going to need a tank.

I turned to the used marketplace on local Facebook groups/forums, and sifted through a few offers. Some tanks were sketchier than others but I bit the bullet on a used 2018 Marineland 75 gallon display tank with an in-tank corner overflow, matching black Marineland stand, skimmer and 15 gallon H2Pro acrylic sump. Here is what it looked like:

Next up: Getting it home and cleaned out.

 

[SaltyT]

Let the journey begin! Are you keeping the fish that were in it or starting from scratch?

 

[dunkindon]

Let the journey begin! Are you keeping the fish that were in it or starting from scratch?

The seller had it all emptied out so I started from scratch! Mostly utilitarian but some others just for fun as well.

All cleaned out with muriatic acid and ready to paint the back glass black.

 

[kevgib67]

I will be following, excited to see this be transformed. I’m sure you probably already know this but your going to need more rock than was previously in it for your biological filtration.

 

[dunkindon]

I will be following, excited to see this be transformed. I’m sure you probably already know this but your going to need more rock than was previously in it for your biological filtration.

Should have enough in the display and I have some sump rubble as well. (Not sure the amount in the sump actually helps, I primarily use those pieces for remounting coral frags)

Ended up finding some AI Hydra 26HDs for lighting and Ice Cape Gyre 2K for flow.

In hindsight I wish I had painted the bottom as well but we will get to that later.

Up next is building the scape, going with what’s “in style” NSA/shelf scape with dry rock.

 

[dunkindon]

I ended up going with CaribSea shelf rocks and TwoLittleFishies Stix mortar to put together the aquascape. In hindsight I would have made more individual, smaller shelves rather than singular larger shelves like I did here, but I didn’t realize I would gravitate towards SPS as quickly as I did.

 

[Jim Gomoll]

Nice setup in the works. I like the aquascaping.

I have a 75 display myself but it is an all glass Oceanic...because of the following.
Beware of the 4yr old 2018 Marineland. Had a 7yr old 55g Marineland some years back and the center cross brace cracked in all four corners along sidewall. Tanks was fine first 6yrs set run and running fine. I moved and after filling it up, the following day I heard a loud pop. Rushed to the tank looking for a crack and leaks to noticed the sides bowed out because the glass cover had gaps in the center by cross brace. Fortunately it held long enough to go get a couple brute cans to drain and save the saltwater I just filled it with. Thus the replacement with larger 75g Oceanic.

Strongly consider adding a 3-4" wide glass or plexiglass cross brace to reinforce yours to not have some catastrophic failure worse than mine.

Good Luck and Happy Reefing

 

[dunkindon]

Nice setup in the works. I like the aquascaping.

I have a 75 display myself but it is an all glass Oceanic...because of the following.
Beware of the 4yr old 2018 Marineland. Had a 7yr old 55g Marineland some years back and the center cross brace cracked in all four corners along sidewall. Tanks was fine first 6yrs set run and running fine. I moved and after filling it up, the following day I heard a loud pop. Rushed to the tank looking for a crack and leaks to noticed the sides bowed out because the glass cover had gaps in the center by cross brace. Fortunately it held long enough to go get a couple brute cans to drain and save the saltwater I just filled it with. Thus the replacement with larger 75g Oceanic.

Strongly consider adding a 3-4" wide glass or plexiglass cross brace to reinforce yours to not have some catastrophic failure worse than mine.

Good Luck and Happy Reefing

Good lookin out. I wasn’t too worried before but I think I will do just that next opportunity.

 

[dunkindon]

Move to the new place went well. Tank filled up and cycle started.
Next up going to add some “bullet proof” soft corals to add biodiversity.

 

[OldRed1]

Can’t wait to see what you do with this tank! Looks like it’s gonna be awesome!

 

[dunkindon]

Here you go, and some will cringe but some CLASSIC green star polyps and pulsing Red Sea xenia frags to seed the tank. Also will mention this was the first time adding a piece of NEW equipment to the mix. Upgraded the skimmer to a Bubble Magus Z8 for the quiet operation of the DC pump.
Next up is dealing with the ugly phases and adding an automatic top off to keep salinity stable.

 

[dunkindon]

Added a 5 gallon container with a ReefBreeders prism ATO for evaporation and some more coral from a local swap.

 

[TigerReef]

I ended up going with CaribSea shelf rocks and TwoLittleFishies Stix mortar to put together the aquascape. In hindsight I would have made more individual, smaller shelves rather than singular larger shelves like I did here, but I didn’t realize I would gravitate towards SPS as quickly as I did.

Great job with the aquascape!

 

[dunkindon]

my “mixing station” 20 gallon brute hooked up to the faucet with BRS 75gpd unit. Warmed and circulated to 1.027 salinity with instant ocean reef crystals. I like the availability, price, and high dKh of the RC salt.

 

[dunkindon]

This is what we had together up to this point. Still going through the uglies and figuring out coral placement.

 

[dunkindon]

At this point I ended up adding an orphek or3 led bar for added blue/uv and local reefers SPS along with my first battlebox from @Battlecorals

 

[dunkindon]

Here’s my attempt at a DIY canopy and modular mixing station. Condo living calls for brutes on wheels and portable RODI unit. It’s not the prettiest solution but it gets the job done. Next going to add another OR3 and paint the inside of the canopy white and outside black to match the stand.

 

[dunkindon]

At this point I started dosing all for reef, added supplemental lighting and painted the canopy to match the stand.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I like the aquascape in your tank!!!

 

[dunkindon]

Replaced the lenses and fans on the primes and added a battery backup in case of power outage