Greg's New Tank Build

[GMay]

Hi All,

This is my first post on the forum. I thought a good way to get started is to introduce my new build.
This is not my first marine tank. I have had several others over the years and as you will see, this build incorporates components from a tank begun in May 2014.

Equipment List
Crystaline 65 Gallon Tank 36"x20"x21" Low Iron beveled edge with Durso drain #
Crystal 30 3 chamber sump 30"x12"x15" #
Return Pump Sicce Multi 2500 #
Maple cabinet #
Maxspect Razor R420R 15K LED 180 Watt Fixture #
Coral Box D300 Skimmer #
Tunze Osmolator Nano *
(2) Hydor Koralia 600 Circulation Pump *
Accela Ocean Pulse Pump Controller *
Ebo Jager 250 Watt heater *

* Equipment already in hand
# Package purchase

System volume is ~ 73 gallons

Start Date January 14, 2016
Tank was filled and flow adjusted after adding 40 Lbs. live sand (Caribsea Aragg-Alive) and 22 lbs Pukani live rock. Added Fritz Zyme 9 Live Nitrifying Bacteria Bottle was sufficient for 80 gallons.

Here is a picture of the tank on day one also showing sump area.

I have since moved the skimmer to the middle compartment to make it easier to replace filter socks.

On January 26 (day 12) there was no detectable ammonia, or nitrites and the nitrates were at about 10 ppm. I did a 30 gallon water change at that point. and a day later another 20 gallon change.

At this point I moved about 20 pounds of rock from my established tank with corals (mostly zoas, a favia and GSP) and one yellow tailed blue damsel.

A few days later I added a clean up crew of mostly snails and few hermits that were in my other tank.
I have started to see some diatoms and film algae on the glass but nothing surprising.

Here is what the tank looks like today.

The current conditions in the tank are:
SG 1.025
PO4 < 0.03 ppm
NO3 < 0.2 ppm
76F

Tests are done using Salifert kits.

Yes that is macroalgae in the tank! I use it to help control nutrient levels in the tank and I like the way it looks. It also provides food to some of the critters.

I look forward to comments and suggestions. I will post periodic (or possibly idiotic) updates for those of you interested in following along.

Happy reefing everyone!

 

[dbl]

Welcome to R2R and way to come out firing on your first post. Great write up and it looks like this tank is off to a great start. I'll enjoy watching this one mature. Thanks for posting.

 

[GMay]

Thanks for the interest.

Just edited because pictures got posted twice. New to the posting system.

 

[Wiz]

Awsome set up. gonna be sweet. Not worried about macro algae in the display? I like some varieties in display. But that type looks like it could get out of hand

 

[Chrisfish]

Welcome, nice Christmas gift. Looking forward to seeing more.

 

[GMay]

The main algae in the display is Caulerpa prolifera and it is supposed to be fast growing but I have no trouble controlling it. When is gets going, I just pull a bunch of it out. I'v had that source for almost 2 years and it has not been a problem. I think if you had excess NO3 and PO4 then you would have a problem.

 

[Wiz]

Yeah, I have a nice big fuge where I keep most of my macros but I do like some of the single stem red ones in my display. I know ripping the caulerpa out is easy enough I just worry about the root systems getting all over the tank. That's why I like the single stems as opposed to the vine types In the display. Certainly not judging though and I agree it looks good

 

[Reeflogic]

You can always tell an old school fishhead, when they talk about Fritz products! I haven't lived in Texas for roughly 12 years, so I rarely see or hear that name anymore, but I certainly grew up using Fritz stuff! Again, welcome to R2R, nice start to your newest tank! I haven't been around the hobby quite as long as you, I'm in the 30-35 year range, but the great thing about this hobby is you can learn something new every day and it NEVER gets boring!