First time reefer, trying to it the right way

brett_schn · May 9, 2017

drawman said:
Nice start! Also look into quarantining fish this forum has a great section for fish diseases and some wonderful stickies.

Yeah listen to this guy ^ I learned the hard way lol

dbl · May 9, 2017

Not much I can do to help with the plumbing, but I can certainly pray for you and your family.

Reef_Tank_Fan_SC · May 14, 2017

So over the last day or two I have been in the process of plumbing in the tank. I am really happy with how it turned out, especially since it is the first time I ever done one. This thing started out as a Aqueon 54 gallon bowfront tank. It is still a 54 gallon but I have drilled it out for overflow myself, I built the sump tank in the bottom myself, and did all the plumbing for it myself. I am honestly so proud of this thing right now that I can't stop talking about it, lol. Just in case you haven't read everything in my thread I have installed an Eshopps large overflow box, I turned the 10 gallon tank in the bottom into a sump that will hold my reef Octo classic 110 skimmer, and my return pump is a ehiem 3000 compact. I also have put a aqualife macro flow swing on the end of my return pump just for the fun of it. Next steps will be taking the water out off it (right mow it's full for leak test) and moving it inside so I can start the cycling process. As always I am open to any and all opinions and advice. Thanks so much lot looking guys. Now on to the pictures.

Full view

Plumbing on the back

Eshopps overflow box plumbed to bean animal style overflow. ( yes it is actually very quiet)

My very first attempt at a sump tank

Return side. I used the flex hose to try and keep the vibration down as much as possible.

And last but not least here is a shot of my little Macro flow swing.

I hope you guys enjoy the progress I have made and can't wait to here back from you guys...

Maritimer · May 14, 2017

Lookin' good - that overflow, especially! Nice work there!!

~Bruce

Reef_Tank_Fan_SC · May 25, 2017

Well guys... after all my hard work and time I have put into this aquarium I was finally able to get it into the house. Tank is in place, all the plumbing has been finalized. Sump install completely done with everything in it except socks and blue filters. I got 45 lbs of live sand put in the tank and after much trial and error my wife and I finally got the aquascape done. I wanted a minimalistic aquascape but the wife of course wanted more places that we could put corals later down the road. So we had to compromise as all good marriages do. I am happy with the final result and so was she so that's a win win. Now I am just filling it up with water and getting ready to enter the cycling process. I know I have been dragging it along lately but I try not to rush into things without a proper plan in place and I will be doing the same with the cycle. Nothing will be placed into the tank until I am 100% happy with the parameters and the stability of my new eco-system. So now is when my patience will really be tested because the wife and son want stuff in it asap.. lol. However my OCD will not allow that to happen. I will post some pictures up as soon as the water starts to clear a bit to get some thoughts on't the scape... thanks for looking

Reef_Tank_Fan_SC · May 26, 2017

Alright guys and girls here is the final aquascape product... tell me what you think of it. Hopefully it will do well inside the tank, I really want this tank to look good when it's stocked up..

Front View

Top View

I laid it out so that the fish will be able to swim around it on all sides and would also have plenty of holes and caves and whatnot for hiding. I also wanted it to have enough places to place coral without it being one big jumbled mess.

Doing an aquascape on this reef tank was very hard for me because of my OCD. It was hard not to have all of it exactly symmetrical and as level as possible. I did finally talk myself into this one because it gradually got bigger as it curved around the tank. Hopefully you guys like it.. If you have any suggestions please let me know so that I can adjust it before the cycle gets to far along.. Thanks everyone

Reef_Tank_Fan_SC · Jun 12, 2017

So over the last month while I was cycling the tank I was looking at my aquascape and honestly I wasn't all that happy with it. Keep in mind I do have OCD to the extreme that I have to be medicated for it, lol. Put 8 years in the USMC on top if that and I really have a hard time settling for something. If I'm not 100% happy with it then I will keep tinkering with it until I am. With that said here are some pictures of the new scape I came up with.. I feel like it filled up the tank better and and it just seems more aesthetically pleasing then the last attempt. Tell me what you guys think.. any suggestions you guys have are welcome..

P.S. I don't have a clue why my dang pictures always come up sideways.. sorry about that.

cloudisback1997 · Jun 12, 2017

There will always be something you want to change. I think it will look awesome in time! Great job on your build!

Reef_Tank_Fan_SC · Jun 12, 2017

cloudisback1997 said:
There will always be something you want to change. I think it will look awesome in time! Great job on your build!

You right about that.. i have noticed that i am spending more time working in my sump and stand lately than I am the display tank, lol. Always something to change or improve

brett_schn · Jun 12, 2017

Imo I would add more rock to it

Reef_Tank_Fan_SC · Jun 12, 2017

brett_schn said:
Imo I would add more rock to it

Thanks for the input, where would you add more rock at? The left side is up at about 6 inches from the water line. I didn't bring the right side up as high so that the fish would have some room to move around. I was just thinking that anymore will eliminate the free space in there.. NO?

brett_schn · Jun 12, 2017

Wait never mind. I was looking at an older picture ig. I just saw the latest one

Fishhands · Jun 12, 2017

You're going to need a power head to push water around the back of that scape. There will be lots of detritus settling behind with out it. Dead spots are a bad thing.

Reef_Tank_Fan_SC · Jun 12, 2017

Fishhands said:
You're going to need a power head to push water around the back of that scape. There will be lots of detritus settling behind with out it. Dead spots are a bad thing.

I've got 2 powerheads in there. They are on the backside behind the rocks push water from the back corner out to the front of the tank. Their tunze 6045 I believe.. they moving 550 gph

Reef_Tank_Fan_SC · Jun 12, 2017

brett_schn said:
Wait never mind. I was looking at an older picture ig. I just saw the latest one

Right on my man, I have added a good bit since that first shot.

Fishhands · Jun 12, 2017

Nice! Those tunze pump of yours are more than double that. Almost 1200 a piece. Plenty o' flow. Might eve have to "hide" zoas and lps in your little cove to stay away from it a little.

Reef_Tank_Fan_SC · Jun 14, 2017

So I have gotten the tank cycled and I added a few shrimp in there just to have something running about while I await my son to be born. After the Fin man get here I will move forward with stocking the tank with fish. I figured while I was waiting it would be a good time to start my saltwater mixing station. Starting out 2 32 gallon brutes and some plumbing supplies. Also have some 2×4 s and some plywood on hand.. now I am just waiting on my BRS RO/DI system to show up and this thing will be up and going. Here's a little picture of what I dine so far as a teaser. Just added a little clear tubing on the sides as a means to measure how full the drums are..