Initial setup:
On my previous tank, I experimented with some of the methods popular in the hobby, including ULNS via running biopellets, a zeovit based system, and the high nutrients lazy method. For this setup, I decided to take it back old school, filtration via skimmer and fuge. As stated, I received this tank in a trade with a local reefer, with the intentions of removing the rear AIO section and drilling the tank for a ghost style overflow, and return. All this completed just days before IM announced their EXT line, lol. Other plans for the new setup were an aluminum stand, and custom sump. To accommodate a larger sump, I designed the stand to have a footprint of 36x24 and 36 height. The sump has final dimensions of 24x21 and 16 height, giving it a max capacity of ~34 gallons, and running capacity of 21 gallons. Through the summer and fall, parts and materials were ordered and I began assembling the tank and stand through September and plans were made for the tank transfer. On the first weekend of October, the transfer was made. I had to empty the running tank, move it over, put the new tank in place, fill it and transfer everything over.
To make the transfer as smooth as possible and minimize a cycle, several months prior, I threw about 50 marine pure spheres into the sump of the running system. About 2 months before the transfer, I removed all the corals, from the rockwork and threw them on a frag rack. On the day of the transfer, I set up a 30 gallon tube, drained the tank and moved all the corals and fish over. Things went as smooth as I could hope for. Shifted the tank over, slid the new tank in place and began filling it with water. I got the system running, and up to temperature, and by that evening, threw all the corals and livestock in. Over the next week, I got the corals glued into place, and filtration and calcium reactor dialed in.
It's been about a month now, and everything has gone fairly well with minimal if any hick ups. After the first week, the tank went through a cycle if you can call it that. There was a turf algea outbreak on the rocks but that has pretty much been handled by a tuxedo urchin and team of snails. Corals have settled in and most are showing signs of growth. The goal if this system was to be as low maintenance as possible, so I opted to go predominantly SPS. A few acans have been placed to fill in the bare areas of the tonga. Hopefully it is smooth sailing from here.
In planning the sump, I knew I wanted to maximize fuge space, so the minimal areas were given to fit the skimmer and return, and the rest will be home for macro algea.
Previous tank:
This is my previous tank, a little bit of everything, was always a struggle balancing nutrients, and keeping everything happy. For this new tank, I have sprung for all sps and just a few others that stayed. Couldn't quite let go of the micromusas so I have placed a few here and there as fillers.
FTS at it's prime:
Build thread:
El Kae's RSR 170
Stand:
1" extruded aluminum. In hindsight, I may spring for a little thicker 1.5x1.5 or 1.5x3 with larger gussets for the stand to be more stable and add some piece of mind. This one has no problems supporting the weight, but a bump and it moves a little horizontally.
Sump:
I wanted as big of a sump as possible, so I designed the stand to be 6" wider than the tank with an overall width of 36". The final sump was 24" wide x 21" deep and 16" tall.
Plumbing:
I drilled the tank for Eshopps' Eclipse Large overflow. I probably could of gotten away with the M or even Small version. With the back black, you can't even see it.
