Flex 32.5 for homeschool

[Lsusaints7]

Started my first saltwater tank for homeschool this year. Tons of mods on the way. Eventually will house corals and Mandarin dragonet. Everything else is decided by the kids. Rebekah 14 on the left Elisabeth 11 on the right.
This is something i have wanted to do for 20 years. I even bought and sold a 75gal in the past, but the new nano stuff pulled me back in. Never even built up the old 75

 

[Lsusaints7]

 

[AsraeaMitsane]

This is such an amazing idea!!! They'll learn so much

 

[Lsusaints7]

We decided to add more sand and live rock. Bought the refugium kit from algaebarn. Red ogo, sea lettuce, copepods, bio bricks, copepods, and phytoplankton. Put in the macros and copepods and then did some heavy modifications.

We added a cpr refugium large 4.7gal. It took a lot longer than I thought, but I am happy. I don't think it has ever been done, so we will call it the "Grant Mod".

 

[Lsusaints7]

The girls pulling out the macroalgae and relocating to the refugium.

 

[Lsusaints7]

 

[Lsusaints7]

Had to trim down the plug and put a twist tie through the holes and fish it up the channel with a BBQ skewer.

 

[Lsusaints7]

Cut three ribs and a vertical section out of the bottom strainer. Ran the plumbing and electrical for the refugium supply pump through the vertical channel created for the the heater.

 

[Lsusaints7]

Added 30lbs more sand. Pulled out dry rock, and added 30lbs ocean direct live sand. After everything settled, Rebekah (older) got to aquascape the front tank, Elisabeth (younger) the refugium. They did a great job.

Ran tests: salinity 1.020, nitrate 14ppm, ph 7.8. So we added tons of salt to get up to 1.023. Bought the saltwater from lfs. Thanks for shorting us, lfs!

 

[afrokobe]

Nice fuge! I am using the small CPR aquatics fuge on my 25g cube and I love it. I wish I had room to fit the medium or large one.

 

[Lsusaints7]

It really makes the tank IMO. Elisabeth did a great job on it. Same for Rebekah and the display tank.

 

[afrokobe]

It really makes the tank IMO. Elisabeth did a great job on it. Same for Rebekah and the display tank.

Completely agree, check out IPSF if you want to add some biodiversity to your fuge. You might also consider adding some black vinyl to the sides or back. I run my fuge on opposite hours of my display and I don't want the pink light to bleed.

 

[Lsusaints7]

View from front porch

 

[afrokobe]

View from front porch

never mind, dont cover the back. That fuge looks awesome! Mine is backed up against a wall... so I can never see it

 

[Lsuhunter]

That is the coolest mod I have seen for this tank so far.

How are you lighting the fuge?

 

[Just a Wrasse.]

This is such an amazing idea!!! They'll learn so much

Agreed!

 

[Just a Wrasse.]

never mind, dont cover the back. That fuge looks awesome! Mine is backed up against a wall... so I can never see it

 

[Lsusaints7]

That is the coolest mod I have seen for this tank so far.

How are you lighting the fuge?

I didn't get the factory led, but a fluval 24" marine led does great to go above. I already have the fluval app for the other display tank lighting. I just leave the gap at the back.