My first build. 75 gallon mixed reef

[bdouglas119]

I have always wanted to own a reef tank, after years of being in school and having different apartments my wife and I moved into our first home. I knew this would be the perfect time to finally commit to starting a reef tank. I had been to all the local fish stores well before even owning my home just to window shop and dream.

The first obstacle was getting my wife on board with starting such an expensive hobby. All it took was one trip to my LFS and she was game. All she asked was that she could have some of “the cool little red shrimp” and a nice stand/cabinet.
the first thing I did was purchase the display tank and got to work on the stand and cabinets.

After the stand was complete we slowly purchased all the equipment. I spent hour and hours doing research on all things related to reef tanks. BRS was super helpful and I decided I would do all my business with them.

 

[bdouglas119]

Next I purchased some of the equipment and chemicals. Here is what I went with

• Trigger Sapphire 34 Sump
• Red Sea RSK300 skimmer
• Eco tech vectra S2 return pump
• 2 skimmz SS9.0 DC Powerheads
• Finnex heater controlled by an inkbird temp controller
• 2 AI Hydra 26hd’s for the display running eco techs coral lab ab+ spectrum
• AI prime fuge light
• Caribsea life rock and live sand
• Full Red Sea program of supplements (2 part, trace colors, NOPOX, reef mature, Reef energy A&B)

 

[bdouglas119]

After the tank cycled using the Red Sea Reef Mature I added my first livestock

• 2 clowns (one snowflake and one ocellaris)
• 3 emerald crabs
• 5 trochus snails
• And 2 “cool little red shrimp” blood red fire shrimp
  
  
  

 

[bdouglas119]

Next I added my first coral. My local fish store had this great green tip hammer.

 

[bdouglas119]

Next up is making a removable panel to neatly mount all the electronics. The panel will be removable so I can service anything that needs to be serviced. Currently all of the electronics are kinda just tossed in the lower right cabinet because I was super impatient and just wanted to get it all installed to start the cycle.

Before changing to my current job as an electrical engineer I worked for 8 years in High end car electronics. I love wiring things super neat so I desperately want to tidy up what I have right now.

 

[VB313]

Wow nice work!!! the side cabinets and canopy is a really nice touch

 

[pgammon]

WOW, this has to be one of my favorite builds, very nice work, love the aquascape!!

 

[keystoneckp]

Looks great, May have to use some of your layout for my next build.

 

[jsker]

Great design on the stand. I like how you built the stand, it incorporates all you need in one place.

 

[Ruben's Reef]

Great build !!! Love the stand..Well done. Awesome rock scape. Following thread.

 

[Streetdoc77]

Great looking tank !

 

[Studio Deep Dive]

Sweet setup! Always love a diy stand! Following thread

 

[bdouglas119]

Great design on the stand on the stand. I like how you built the stand, it incorporates all you need in one place.

Thanks! I wish I left a little more room in the cabinets for electronics and storage, but overall I’m really happy with it

 

[bdouglas119]

Question: what kind of head pressure can a RODI unit support without some kind of pump?

I have a BRS 6 stage deluxe RODI in my laundry room. I’d like to run the output up to the ceiling, and across to the closet next to it. It’s about 6 feet up and probably 8 feet horizontal.

Anyone have experience with this?

 

[jsker]

Question: what kind of head pressure can a RODI unit support without some kind of pump?

I have a BRS 6 stage deluxe RODI in my laundry room. I’d like to run the output up to the ceiling, and across to the closet next to it. It’s about 6 feet up and probably 8 feet horizontal.

Anyone have experience with this?

65 to 80 depending on your water pressure. I have a pump and have stopped using the pump. I fond that with the pump I was burning through DI a lot faster although my water TDS did not increase. I was advised before I added the pump to just let the filters do they're job. If you are below the 65 thresh hold, lets say in the 5o's I would suggest adding a pump and dial the pressure back

 

[bdouglas119]

Built a quick panel for mounting the electronics. It easy pops off to access all the wiring in the back for equipment to be removed or serviced. I just need to find a nice rubber strip to go down the side of the power strip to conceal the back area

 

[bdouglas119]

Harvested some chaeto today. Nitrate and phosphates has dropped down to 0. My hammer coral wasn’t to happy about it. My chaeto has grown from the size of a baseball to filling my entire fuge. Today I removed 2qts of chaeto

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Excellent work!! Looove this!

 

[bdouglas119]

Picked up 2 new fish this week from my LFS. A Coral Beauty Angel and a Foxface. The foxface is very timid. He seems to get spiked when the moonlights come in or people get near the tank. He turns brown and hides, starting very still.

Also I’ll be participating in the WWC live sale this weekend to pick up some more frags

 

[bdouglas119]

Any one have experience with a foxface? How long did they take to get comfortable in your tank? Mines been in since Tuesday and he’s getting better but still turns brown a lot. It can’t be very good for it