The White Build- 167 Minimalist Crystal Dynamic Reef

[InsaneClownFish]

OK, I mean to each his own but IMO with the PVC it looks like a high end QT tank.

Hah that's fair. I'm picking up some additional Live Rock from a friend today. I'm going to see if it's a candidate for cutting and forming pillars.

 

[InsaneClownFish]

Update-
I picked up some free live rock from a friend today who had decided not to use the rock in her system. It's excellent dead, live rock- nearly 8yrs old. I'd have to guess it's a mix of Pukani and Fiji. I rinsed it and the used a concrete sander to make flat bases and fit pieces together to form the future pillars. I'll seal them tonight and then start curing in a 40g Brute.

 

[InsaneClownFish]

Pillars glued down-

 

[InsaneClownFish]

A better look at the pillars before they go into cure-

 

[InsaneClownFish]

Let the cure begin!

 

[InsaneClownFish]

Tonight on the reef

 

[InsaneClownFish]

Rose Urchin- welcome home!

 

[InsaneClownFish]

Tonight's shots-

 

[InsaneClownFish]

 

[InsaneClownFish]

I took a slow motion video of my maniacs feeding today- enjoy!

 

[InsaneClownFish]

Filtration
The total system volume is approximately 222g. The sump is 100g Stock tank with approximately 50lbs. of additional live rock.
Skimming is handled by a Nyos Quantum 160- when dialed in it's an excellent skimmer. I have a homemade algae scrubber I built for $9. I also keep a small amount of ulva and cheato in food grade cheese baskets I picked up off of Amazon. I have a single AI Prime that runs from 9pm to 5am. I also run a combination of generic carbon, matrix carbon, BRS ferrous oxide, and phosban in a filter sock for water clarity. *The sump was established nearly 2 years ago.

 

[InsaneClownFish]

Update-
5 days in the 40g Brute with heat and circulation with no ammonia. The water was clear so I did a water change and tested again 24hrs later. Still no cycle. There didn't seem to be any appreciable die off from the Rick so I placed everything in the display last night. Here's some quick shots with a video to follow. I hope you like my aquascaping work and "floating" coral island vision!

 

[InsaneClownFish]

 

[InsaneClownFish]

Here's some of the corals I picked up at the Frag Farmer's Market. Connecticut puts on the largest single day frag swap in the country.

Pink Japanese Nephtea- true blue-

 

[InsaneClownFish]

Blue Cespitularia- acclimating under 18k and opened under 15k

 

[InsaneClownFish]

Raja Rampage Chalice flanked by my Miami Vice, Mummy Eye and some hair algae lol

 

[InsaneClownFish]

I'm back and saying bye to this build. The tank has been long sold. At some point I'll post videos of how good the tank had started to look and my reasons for eventually breaking it down.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I'm back and saying bye to this build. The tank has been long sold. At some point I'll post videos of how good the tank had started to look and my reasons for eventually breaking it down.

Sorry you had to sell the tank!

 

[InsaneClownFish]

Sorry you had to sell the tank!

Thank you. It really wasn’t a tough decision. I realized how much I missed having a shallow reef.