My 55 Gallon Mixed Reef Build

[Agsellers04]

Here is my 55 gallon build that I started back in February 2020. I think I am doing pretty well. Sorry for the three pics sewn together...

Tank Information​

• Age of aquarium – 9 months
• Type of aquarium – Mixed Reef
• Actual volume of water in aquarium system – 50 gallons
• Number of Fish/Inches of fish – 11/30 inches = One inch per 1 2/3 gallons
• Number of Corals – 95
• Number of Inverts – probably 100 or more not counting pods.
• 
  
• Equipment
• Lighting – 2x Mars Aqua 165W LED on left and right, 1 full spectrum Luxbird floodlight and one actinic Luxbird floodlight in center.
• Main Filtration – Marineland CF 100 Canister filter
• Media – 2x polishing filters, 1 large bioball, 1 small ceramic bio ball, 1 course plastic filter, and two Clearmax media bags.
• Powerheads – 1 800GPH on front right pointing toward rear left, 1 1056 GPH on left-center pointing 20 degrees to forward right on 5 second alternating pulse with 480 GPH on rear left pointing to forward left, and one 1600 GPH mini-size 360 degree pump on 1 second pulse. TOTAL FLOW = 2,300GPH = 50X volume of tank cycled per hour.
• Cylinder hang on back reactor with carbon and phosphate reducer.
• Copepod refugium hang on back with Chaeto and Pod breeding bottle.
• Hang on back cylinder scrubber.
• In – tank 25g (undersized) Green Machine UV filter
• 200W Aqueon in – tank heater.
• Digital Thermometer
• Ammonia Indicator
• 2x Digital Thermometers on each side of tank

 

[Subsea]

Impressive. At nine months set up, you have a very large bioload. No wonder you had accumulated so many insulated shipping boxes to give away.

 

[Bellasmith]

Amazing! It looks stunning. Is Marineland Canister filter work well?

 

[Jen1978]

Wow! Looking great so far. I have a 6 month old 55 gallon and have only put 3 corals in so far. I hope to get more soon. So envious of yours.

 

[lilithereefer]

you are my person, this is what you call a budget build, until you get 95 corals!!!!

 

[Agsellers04]

Here is an update on my 55 gallon. I added a sump to the system which boosted it considerably. Everyone is doing great and the corals are growing well. She had her one year anniversary last month and I am very pleased with my efforts.

 

[AirIck]

Could you list your fish by chance? I’m starting a 55g and would love some ideas!

 

[lilithereefer]

i have a 55 and i have a temporary hippo blue tang, a coral beauty, a longnose hawkfish, a gladiator clown, and a mandarin goby

 

[Agsellers04]

i have a 55 and i have a temporary hippo blue tang, a coral beauty, a longnose hawkfish, a gladiator clown, and a mandarin goby

I have a Coral Beauty Angel, a Scopas Tank, a pair of Mocha Clownfish, a Yellow Watchmen Goby paired with a Tiger Pistol Shrimp, four Pajama Cardinals, an Orchid Dottyback, Lawnmower Blenny, and a Scooter Blenny.

My tank seems overstocked but everyone has a purpose. Thats also why I installed the sump after the canister filter because the bioload is huge but the sump taked care of it well. That and I try to feed high quality variety of frozen foods so nothing is left on the table to decompose.
It took a year of trial and error as a beginner and the loss of many fish and corals along the way but it seems to have stabilized well.

 

[AirIck]

I keep reading the coral beauty is recommended for a 70 or larger. Would I need to rehome him when he gets bigger? I really want him but I’m scared off by the recommended tank size

 

[Agsellers04]

I keep reading the coral beauty is recommended for a 70 or larger. Would I need to rehome him when he gets bigger? I really want him but I’m scared off by the recommended tank size

I have had mine since I set the tank up and he has done fine. They are a dwarf angel and don't get that big. He has only grown maybe a half an inch in the year I have had him. Even the Scopas Tang is happy and I have had him in there for about 7-8 months as well.

 

[Agsellers04]

Here is an update to my 55-gallon reef build. Everyone is doing fine since the last update. No fish deaths or major coral losses.

Haven't changed much. No sense changing what works am I right?