KC's 55gal

[Kworker]

So I wanted to start a thread to document some of my progress throughout this build in the living room of my first SW tank. I have been really taking my sweet time with this and its at the 3 month mark of when I have decided I will be starting a SW/reef tank. I've been doing research research and research with conservative buying (most of if has been recent). The 55gal I purchased from a family friend for 20 bucks that he bred african cichlids in. I will be using a 20gal long for the sump.

I will start with the sump since it is the first thing i did for the tank.
My drain from the tank will be in the Right portion, return pumps in the middle and protein skimmer in the right portion. My skimmer is rated for 250gph so i T'd off my drain from the DT and placed a ball valve to control flow into where the skimmer is. (octopus 110nw)

Next I drained the 55gal and had to scrape off all the paint :sad: scraping too a bit

Next was constructing a stand for the tank, ATM i do not have a completed shot of it but here is the skeleton of it!

The most updated pictures was from yesterday. Very busy day completing the plumbing the two pumps are rio 1700's that at 4 feet produce 352 gph each (my overflow is rated for 700) but I feel that 352 will diminish with the 3 90 elbows and 2 45's i have for the returns.

Than getting my scape down with the 40pounds of aragonite sand and 35-40 pounds of the BRS reef saver Dry rock. The shoplight is not permanent its just so i can see :wink: eh and the glass is very dirty sorry about that. I did not glue the rock, but whenever I try to wiggle the only big rock on the right side thats actually stacked it does not budge, infact if i do it hard enough the entire tank/stand shake lol. So i feel its not too necessary.
Front:

 

[bknapp]

Good start! What are your lighting plans? Mixed reef?

 

[Kworker]

Good start! What are your lighting plans? Mixed reef?

Thanks, I really cant stress how patient i was during the put together of this build. Compared to my FW setups that i would wing together in a day this really is taking a lot of time, research.. and oh! money! lol

Funny you mentioned the lighting plans! i just started a thread because im stuck between DIY LED or T5's. I'm leaning more toward LED's but love the fact that with the T5's i would get a fixture with everything i need just plug and play for the same price as DIY LED.

And as for what type of coral I am going to keep i'm not to sure haha.. Ive been researching everything about starting a tank the right away the first time around (some may argue sand is not optimal but its a must for looks) and types of fish/cuc's that I havent really looked at coral yet. I am most likely going to start with whatever is known to be easiest and simple for first year at least but its a must that whichever light source i go with that it would allow me to keep things like SPS, clams and anemones. I do feel i have the capabilities to care for the harder stuff as I have with most of my FW species of fish as well as plants but want to also keep things to a minimal maintenance level since I got to college full time, work and play a sport (I stay at home so dont think im starting this tank and ditching it )

Also like to mention i just ordered my RO/DI unit from BRS, their 75gph 4 stage plus unit. Can't wait to get it and flood this tank. than go purchase a few pieces of live rock to seed the dry.

 

[bknapp]

I have the same RO/DI unit. You can't really go wrong with either the LED's or T5's. I haven't ran a LED tank but I have seen some that are stunning, same as with T5's. The sand doesn't pose issues if you keep it up and either go with an all out deep sand bed or stay shallow. I understand the patience, I just got my 110 filled over this past weekend after seeing it empty for close to six months!

Don't be afraid to ask questions there is an abundance of amazing reef keepers on this site.

 

[notxes11]

Holy Moly! Man that was a ton of work to scrape that off i bet! For that blue background paint, acetone takes it off in like 2 seconds. I learned that the hard way scrapin too . Wish I could have told you that prior to the work.

Great job on the build so far. I can tell you are really workin hard to get it right the first time. Good luck.

 

[skinz78]

Looking good, keep us updated!

 

[Kworker]

How do you like the unit?

I plan on when i do siphoning to remove some of the sand, than after a year do larger scoop out/add in's for portions of the sand so it does not get too funky. I have read alot about how sand beds can be a nuisance but than some that say it gives no problems. So I have to give it a try for myself first hoping i can maintain a good system with it.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Looking good! Keep it up!

 

[bknapp]

How do you like the unit?

I plan on when i do siphoning to remove some of the sand, than after a year do larger scoop out/add in's for portions of the sand so it does not get too funky. I have read alot about how sand beds can be a nuisance but than some that say it gives no problems. So I have to give it a try for myself first hoping i can maintain a good system with it.

Its a good unit, just slow. It tested my patience while I was filling the tank. LOL. I would suggest an inline TDS meter to help make sure its still working at it optimal level. I would just stir up the sand before you start your water changes and help keep things clean.

 

[Kworker]

Holy Moly! Man that was a ton of work to scrape that off i bet! For that blue background paint, acetone takes it off in like 2 seconds. I learned that the hard way scrapin too . Wish I could have told you that prior to the work.

Great job on the build so far. I can tell you are really workin hard to get it right the first time. Good luck.

Haha, its wasnt as bad after i figured a system to it i was just being dramatic .. lets be realistic what better does a college student having the summer off have better to do but drink beer, workout and sleep?
And thanks hopefuly i get the RO/DI unit by end of the week (even though i just ordered it a few hours ago) and i get this **** filled and on the way

Looking good, keep us updated!

Thanks, most certainly will!

 

[Kworker]

Its a good unit, just slow. It tested my patience while I was filling the tank. LOL. I would just stir up the sand before you start your water changes and help keep things clean.

ughhh I'm gonna be cussing away than lol. Will do with the stirring up, hopefully the future gobies wont mind it too much with me fiddling around with their territory.. be funnier with jawfish spitting rocks at me but i still dont know what stock i'm going with lol

 

[bknapp]

If you're planning on some sand sifters you might want to consider some fail safes to your rock work to keep it from tumbling down. I wouldn't mess too closely with their holes and tunnels it wouldn't really cause any issues but it could stress the fish out unnecessarily.

 

[coralrunner]

This is going to be a nice tank. Great start.

 

[Kworker]

If you're planning on some sand sifters you might want to consider some fail safes to your rock work to keep it from tumbling down. I wouldn't mess too closely with their holes and tunnels it wouldn't really cause any issues but it could stress the fish out unnecessarily.

I was just thinking of this last night before I went to bed.. for the most part all the rock is placed on bottom glass than sand laid out around it I'm Pretty sure. When i get home from class later tonight I'm going to work on making sure all the rock is sitting directly on the glass so nobody can budge it.

 

[Kworker]

This is going to be a nice tank. Great start.

Thanks

 

[bknapp]

I also wouldn't put all the rocks against the glass either, it restricts flow and creates dead spots. I would get the epoxy putty from your LFS and putty the rocks together and it helps make sick aquascape it helped a lot on my 110. Hope this helps, I am not trying to be a jerk just trying to help!

 

[Kworker]

I also wouldn't put all the rocks against the glass either, it restricts flow and creates dead spots. I would get the epoxy putty from your LFS and putty the rocks together and it helps make sick aquascape it helped a lot on my 110. Hope this helps, I am not trying to be a jerk just trying to help!

I was planning to put a powerhead in back corner on bottom to have a flow behind all that, you think that won't work? I'm trying not to glue any rock together just incase I need to get behind or under them.

 

[bknapp]

That would definitely help eliminate dead spots. But I would try and keep as much of the rock off the back and sides of the glass as possible. With my latest scape I have no rocks touching the glass, it will make it easier to clean the glass as well.

 

[Kworker]

That would definitely help eliminate dead spots. But I would try and keep as much of the rock off the back and sides of the glass as possible. With my latest scape I have no rocks touching the glass, it will make it easier to clean the glass as well.

Only one that is touching the glass is midway up the tank stacked on other rock, other than that it would be ne impossible to keep the rock a reasonable distance from glass since the tanks so **** skinny. I want to reframe from breaking the rock but now it may seem a possibility in order to try and narrow the rock pile.

 

[bknapp]

I just looked at the pics again that should be fine, for some reason I thought there was more rock against the glass than there was. Yeah narrower tanks suck to scape. This is all from experience my 29 (my first reef tank) was just a rock pile that touched three sides and was always kind of a pain.