My build so far 2 months in.

[mark freshwater]

Hi,
i have got back into reef after a 10 year break , here is where im up to.
(thanks to all for the help on here)

Tank: 4x20x20
Lights: Mars aqua 165w x 2
Heaters: 300w x2
Skimmer: Aquaone g216
Reactor: Fluidised bed filter converted to reactor with continuum reef bio pellet fuel
Rock: Mix of stored dry old dry liverock (base) and fresh live rock.
Substrate: Crushed coral mix
Salt: Aqua forest reef salt
Pumps: Jeabo/Jecod cp-40 crossflow, Aquatopia 1500lh wave pump, 1800lh powerhead ( running reactor and also its T pieced so still adding flow to tank).
Auto top up: Aquaone ATU for sump converted for tank.

Future plans: To replace powerhead/reactor with a Aquamedic internal reactor to tidy up the messy look i've made with pipes etc.
Add another small powerhead like the Aquatopia.
Re aquascape the corner where the pipe mess is.
Upgrade to a drilled and sumped 5x20x20.

 

[mark freshwater]

Lights on home made stands, also home made lids using window screen frame and 4mm square clear mesh

 

[mark freshwater]

Skimmer working well

 

[mark freshwater]

Converted bedfilter/reactor

 

[mark freshwater]

Auto top up mounted to a clamp i found

 

[mark freshwater]

A few pics of tank

 

[NY_Caveman]

Nice job. I really like the lid.

 

[mark freshwater]

thanks lid was fun to make and is also easy to clean just a spray with the hose , also is very light .

 

[SPR1968]

Great looking system so far and thanks for sharing your pictures with us, very nice Mark!

 

[Zeal]

Makes me want to get a breeder...

 

[mark freshwater]

Thanks

 

[mark freshwater]

HI,
in regards to my light as my corals acclimatise , since they are a fair way above the tank , would i be better off lowering the lights? or turning them up?.
thanks
mark

 

[Zeal]

HI,
in regards to my light as my corals acclimatise , since they are a fair way above the tank , would i be better off lowering the lights? or turning them up?.
thanks
mark

I aways started on the far right side of the tank on a frag rack way at the bottom for a week then on day 8 move them to where I want to put them

 

[mark freshwater]

Good idea thanks

 

[mark freshwater]

Update
I tidied up the power head and hoses running the reactor and also rearranged the rock in that corner

 

[mark freshwater]

HI
A quick update , i got some glass cut for baffles and built a sump from a 3ft tank and plumbed it over the last week.
Also added a UV steriliser and a filter sock with excellent results , water is much cleaner and was a fun build.
My only complaint is the tank was a 3x18x8 not a 3x15x15 when i picked it up , but hey it was $20 , just not much room to get my hands in , but i can get everything in and out and reach the bottom from the sides.
Just need to tidy up the hoses in the return section and add some chaeto , also take a bit of substrate out of the fuge as i want a thinner layer.