"Embarking the Journey" Reef Build by Clayton

samnaz · May 4, 2020

Ya how're thing coming along @Clayton Jessup got updates for us?

Clayton Jessup · Aug 25, 2020

Ok I am sorry!!!! I have been horrible I have not been getting on R2R in awhile truthfully! But the tank is wet and there are some coral in it . I will post all updates . So let’s get to the main point and update you all !

Clayton Jessup · Aug 25, 2020

So next up from where I last left off was plumbing , I went a head and used a lot of what I currently had off hand and didn’t buy to much new.
So from the overflow they are both 1in drains , one gets reduced to 3/4” right at the sump and the other stay 1in as the emergency drain.
With the Return line it is all 3/4in pipe the pump is connected to 1/2in vinyl tubing that leads into 3/4in pipe all the way up to the tank. I made one single manifold valve with a ball valve that I had .
I also post a picture of what I am useingn for my ATO it’s the @Innovative Marine Aqua Gadget Hydrofill 5g ATO. So fare I absolutely love this ATO , and I thought it would be nice to stay with the @Innovative Marine line up.

Clayton Jessup · Aug 25, 2020

Ok so now the next step from plumbing , next little update :

Got my self some mores gear to help with my little fuge section. I knew that I had been wanting to try my hand with a fuge in this tank.
So once again why not try another @Innovative Marine product ! I got my self the ChaetoMax and truthfully I was quite impressed with this little light. It lights up my fuge section perfectly ! Nice little 8.4in x 4.5in.

Clayton Jessup · Aug 25, 2020

So from here was one of my favorite parts to do with this little tank of mine , Aquascaping!!!! Coming from the planted tank world I loved this step! Here are some pics :

Clayton Jessup · Aug 25, 2020

So with aquascaping I went ahead and divide the aquarium into even section all around the tank to help me get the feel for the tank and to try and use the golden ratio on this tank. I feel like I did , and was pleased with the scape. I used some rock that my brother gave to me @Txdragonslayer from one of his old tanks. I kinda of just placed them into the tank how I liked it . When I felt comfortable and happy with it , I busted out the super glue and went to town on the rock! I want to say I used about 12 to 13 bottles of this super glue, but it came out very strong and I was happy with it .

Clayton Jessup · Aug 25, 2020

So once the aquascaping was done and I was pleased with it , I started with the next step

water ! I started water testing for about 2 weeks I want to say . I just used some RO water from my Mixing station :
It’s fairly simple it’s Two 55g drums that I got from my old works a while ago . The White battle is RO water and the Blue is Saltwater . Powering the mixing station is a mag 12 for the pump and now most recently I added a Tunze 6045 Nanostream Blue edition to my Saltwater barrel to help provide additional power to mix up in the barrel. I have to say I am loving the little 6045 in the barrel. I am planning on updating the Mixing station but for right now it will do .

Clayton Jessup · Aug 25, 2020

So from that point on I added RO Fresh water to the tank and started the water test process on my nano tank . The tank finally got water

Once I noticed that there where no leaks I went ahead and added salt that I had which was the RedSea Coral Pro and then once I finished with that bucket I used RedSea Salt ( Blue Bucket ). I mostly used theses two Salts for my cycling process of my system. I wanted to truly exercise patience with this system and follow the @Bulk Reef Supply /WWC hybrid 4 month cycle time on this tank . Truthfully that was so brutal to wait that long before adding anything but I do feel it was worth it in the ended

Just a reminder this is a Bare Bottom system as well , and that’swhy I felt to do the 4 month cycle process.

About 1.5 months in I added my first little pair of fish some clowns , that I got here locally .