An Update on my 40Br Mixed Reef Tank (Pics!)

Electrobes

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Tank: Aqueon 40BR


Stand, Canopy, and Light Canopy: The stand is a nice entrance piece of furniture and the "half-canopy" and fixture cover was made by me. The actual Light Canopy was also made by me.


Controller: Apex Jr. (Without Display, I use my iPhone 5/Computers to monitor the tank) + Apex VDM for LED dimming + EB8 + PM1 (pH monitoring)


Light: RapidLED parts giving me 20 X Royal Blue, 14 X Cool Whites, and 2 X Moonlights (royal Blues on low voltage).


Sand: Marine Gravel (NEW!)


Rock: Reef on the Rocks


Water Movement: 2 X Vortech MP10 (Yellow mode at about 1/2 power, Yellow Mode at 1/8th power)) + AquaClear 110 with magnetized overflow + MJ900


Filtration: - Reef Octopus BH-90 Skimmer + 10% weekly water changes via I.O. Salt


Fish Feeder: Used when on Vacation, hand feed when I am home.

Fish Feeding: APBreed medium pellets daily (2nd feeding with Mysis shrimp every two days)

Coral Feeding: Every two days, at night I randomly use Coral Frenzy, two diff. sized Golden Pearls, or Reef Chilli.


ATO: BRS Doser (50mL/min) used in custom set up (7G tub that is hidden). (I use Kalkwasser)

Dosers: 2 X BRS 50mL/min for both Calcium and Alkalinity (Via Apex Controller)


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Changes:


- Added back second Vortech, but at much lower power.


- Redone rock work in tank out of personal preference.

- Removed quite a bit of corals to allow others more growing room.

- Added Red/Green Acro and Blasto Welsi


- Switched to I.O. Salt. Red Sea Coral Pro angered me as I hadn't realized you could overly mix and aerate it. I got a bunch of "stuff" left in the bucket for the past two years, but ignored it as the tank was happy. I now find out it was precipitated out calcium, etc... thrown out money basically. I adjust to lower Calcium and Alkalinity via the dosers.

- Added two Dosers for two part (Calcium and Alkalinity). Much more accurate and consistent than I, and a lot less work.

- Added a "High Noon" program to the LEDs.

- Started using Prodibio about a month ago (I am about to dose for the third time). The reason? I wanted to use the bacteria regimen, but did not want to add more equipment to my already cramped tank, via Bio-Pellets. Prodibio is easy and costs me about $6/month. I only have to dose it every 15 days.. which is fine by me. I only use the BioDigest and Bioptim (Bacteria and Bacteria Food).

P1040137 (Custom).jpg

P1040145 (Custom).jpg

P1040148 (Custom).jpg

P1040149 (Custom).jpg

P1040150 (Custom).jpg
 
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revhtree

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Wow tank is gorgeous! Great job!
 

solitude127

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40B are my favorite dimensions for tanks. You've done a great job with the real estate that you have.
 

Duffam3434

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Beautiful!! Very Clean! Looks like you left enough room for everything to grow too!!
 

droblack

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Your tank rocks.! Lovin it. Who says you gotta go big?
 
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Electrobes

Electrobes

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Looking good Christian, I'm glad to see the blue Squamosa still in there!

I'm telling you what, it's been so good in the tank. My only issues is that I had to take it out every now and then and brush out the "funk" algae that it brought with it from Diver's Den. Aside from that, it's definitely a happy clam. :)
 
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Electrobes

Electrobes

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Beautiful!! Very Clean! Looks like you left enough room for everything to grow too!!

Thank you! I feel like the tank is in a good spot to really be left alone and grow out. A pruning here and there and I'll finally feel like I got "there", in reefing.
 

vetteguy53081

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Tastefully done
Tank: Aqueon 40BR


Stand, Canopy, and Light Canopy: The stand is a nice entrance piece of furniture and the "half-canopy" and fixture cover was made by me. The actual Light Canopy was also made by me.


Controller: Apex Jr. (Without Display, I use my iPhone 5/Computers to monitor the tank) + Apex VDM for LED dimming + EB8 + PM1 (pH monitoring)


Light: RapidLED parts giving me 20 X Royal Blue, 14 X Cool Whites, and 2 X Moonlights (royal Blues on low voltage).


Sand: Marine Gravel (NEW!)


Rock: Reef on the Rocks


Water Movement: 2 X Vortech MP10 (Yellow mode at about 1/2 power, Yellow Mode at 1/8th power)) + AquaClear 110 with magnetized overflow + MJ900


Filtration: - Reef Octopus BH-90 Skimmer + 10% weekly water changes via I.O. Salt


Fish Feeder: Used when on Vacation, hand feed when I am home.

Fish Feeding: APBreed medium pellets daily (2nd feeding with Mysis shrimp every two days)

Coral Feeding: Every two days, at night I randomly use Coral Frenzy, two diff. sized Golden Pearls, or Reef Chilli.


ATO: BRS Doser (50mL/min) used in custom set up (7G tub that is hidden). (I use Kalkwasser)

Dosers: 2 X BRS 50mL/min for both Calcium and Alkalinity (Via Apex Controller)


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Changes:


- Added back second Vortech, but at much lower power.


- Redone rock work in tank out of personal preference.

- Removed quite a bit of corals to allow others more growing room.

- Added Red/Green Acro and Blasto Welsi


- Switched to I.O. Salt. Red Sea Coral Pro angered me as I hadn't realized you could overly mix and aerate it. I got a bunch of "stuff" left in the bucket for the past two years, but ignored it as the tank was happy. I now find out it was precipitated out calcium, etc... thrown out money basically. I adjust to lower Calcium and Alkalinity via the dosers.

- Added two Dosers for two part (Calcium and Alkalinity). Much more accurate and consistent than I, and a lot less work.

- Added a "High Noon" program to the LEDs.

- Started using Prodibio about a month ago (I am about to dose for the third time). The reason? I wanted to use the bacteria regimen, but did not want to add more equipment to my already cramped tank, via Bio-Pellets. Prodibio is easy and costs me about $6/month. I only have to dose it every 15 days.. which is fine by me. I only use the BioDigest and Bioptim (Bacteria and Bacteria Food).

P1040137 (Custom).jpg
P1040145 (Custom).jpg
P1040148 (Custom).jpg
P1040149 (Custom).jpg
P1040150 (Custom).jpg
 
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Electrobes

Electrobes

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Thanks vette, I was worried it would be a bit overwhelming for people to look at. I would hate to scare people away from the photos! :smash:
 

Keeping it clean: Have you used a filter roller?

  • I currently use a filter roller.

    Votes: 21 29.6%
  • I don’t currently use a filter roller, but I have in the past.

    Votes: 3 4.2%
  • I have never used a filter roller, but I plan to in the future.

    Votes: 16 22.5%
  • I have never used a filter roller and have no plans to in the future.

    Votes: 27 38.0%
  • Other.

    Votes: 4 5.6%
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