15yrs in the hobby.. 1st build thread XXL750

[Jase4224]

Well it’s about time I did a build thread. Never done one before and this tank is now nearly 1 1/2years old but has been a very slow (and patient!!!!) build. I’ve had fish in here for close to a year but corals went in less than two months ago. So far so good. My aim is LPS with some softies: whatever the angels allow really. And a bunch of fish.

Equipment:
Tank - RSRXXL750
Lights - 5 x Coral Box Moon LED V3
Flow - 2 x Maxspect Gyre 130
Skimmer - Tunze (OLD lol) modified with reef octopus collection cup
Filtration - Sump is full of Chaeto and Caulerpa Brachypus algae for Nitrate/Phosphate control. Also a fuge for all sorts of pods etc
Carbon changed monthly.
Sump light - 55watt hydroponic LED
Heat - 300w + 150w Eheim Jager controlled by Inkbird controller
Return - Sunpole Magnus 6000L DC

Maintenance:
Monthly - 20% water change mostly with seawater I collect myself, always use this opportunity to vacuum my sand. Change carbon. Pull out excess algae from fuge. Clean pumps or inside skimmer if needed.
weekly - Clean out filter socks and skimmer cup 1-2 times per week. Water test. Clean glass.
KISS
method.

 

[Jase4224]

Current livestock

Fish:
Majestic Angel
Flame Angel
Coral Beauty Angel
Dispar Anthias (originally 3..)
Pair Bangaii Cardinals
Blue Star Leopard Wrasse
Pair wild caught Percula clowns
Harlequin Tuskfish
Royal Gramma

Corals:
3 x Hammers
Frammer
Frogspawn
Torch
Duncan
2 x Elegance
2 x Lobophytom
Pectinia
Turbinaria
2 x Goniopora

Future Livestock

Fish:
Blue Hippo Tang
Yellow Tang
Chocolate Mimic Tang

Corals:
MORE HAMMERS
Some other softies and LPS
Might even try some chalice and see how the Angels react.

Angels and Corals so far..
The Majestic picks on the Elegance corals but leaves the others alone. The purple tip Elegance coral came with orange sponge attached that the Majestic Angel loves to eat and once it finished that off it started on the coral. I have put the coral into a mini hospital to recover peacefully and I’ll re-introduce it once it fully recovers. The Flame Angel had a few pecks of the orange tip Elegance early on but hasn’t touched it or any other coral for weeks. The Majestic occasionally pecks at the orange tip Elegance in the evenings but doesn’t seem to be doing damage.

 

[Devaji]

love the scape, fish and corals. I do hope the elegance makes it.

hows the flame and coral beauty getting along?

 

[Injoynit]

I really like the rock scape also. Looks good!

 

[Jase4224]

love the scape, fish and corals. I do hope the elegance makes it.

hows the flame and coral beauty getting along?

Thanks! The Flame definitely dominates the Coral Beauty by chasing occasionally but there has never been an actual fight. The Majestic occasionally chases both the other angels to remind who’s boss. I’m hoping this settles once I get some other fish in there and there’s more distractions.

 

[Jase4224]

I really like the rock scape also. Looks good!

Cheers! I have the rocks on dark coloured polystyrene to keep them off the sand. It’s really not noticeable and prevents detritus building up. There’s no sand I can’t vacuum easily.

 

[metzer]

I noticed the white "board" around your sump. Is that for thermal insulation or some other purposes? Just curious...

 

[Jase4224]

I noticed the white "board" around your sump. Is that for thermal insulation or some other purposes? Just curious...

Thanks for asking. It’s polystyrene for thermal insulation because our house gets quite cold during winter. I don’t know if it makes much difference but every 1% adds up. As a bonus it reflects light back into the sump to grow macro algae. I also have acrylic covers on top of the tank to keep heat in.

 

[metzer]

Thanks for asking. It’s polystyrene for thermal insulation because our house gets quite cold during winter. I don’t know if it makes much difference but every 1% adds up. As a bonus it reflects light back into the sump to grow macro algae. I also have acrylic covers on top of the tank to keep heat in.

When i saw it, i was like why didn't i think of that DIY hack, clever!

 

[Jase4224]

When i saw it, i was like why didn't i think of that DIY hack, clever!

I thought of it after seeing my power bill lol

 

[Poseidon's snail]

hey!!! nice tank!
like me - no coral in at the 7 month mark

 

[Jase4224]

hey!!! nice tank!
like me - no coral in at the 7 month mark

Honestly don’t rush it. My tank has taken so long but I’m super happy with it. It’s very resilient to high amounts of food input and my rocks stay nice and clean. When your tank is mature corals have no issues and adding new fish doesn’t give you spikes in nutrients.

 

[Jase4224]

Update

I added a UPS to power my return pump in case of a power outage. I should get a couple of hours out of it.

I have also ordered the following fish from Ocean Reefs Marine:
Blue Hippo Tang
Yellow Tang
Chocolate Mimic Tang
Harlequin Tuskfish
Pair Percula Clowns
Royal Gramma

All will be going in together after ORM QT them for me. I’ll design and build a dripper system that can house all 7 fish so I’ll get pics of that and post here.

 

[Poseidon's snail]

lokkin forward to the fish arrival!

 

[Jase4224]

New Fish!!!

Two Days ago I received part of my fish order QT’d and ready to go from Ocean Reefs Marine, Perth. The sent them in the morning and they arrived only a few hours later in perfect condition as usual.

I got a pair of wild caught Percula clowns..

A monster 7” Aussie Harlequin Tuskfish and a tiny 1.5” Royal Gramma

To be honest I was not happy that the Tuskfish was so big, not only is he out of proportion to the other fish but I was concerned he’d gobble up the Royal Gramma. Luckily he’s a very chilled out and peaceful fish, just cruising around the rocks and very respectful. After 24 hours the other fish are cool with him!

The clowns are awesome, I love their colour and pattern and they have perfect shape unlike the captive breds around here that often had weird heads and are sold a .5” long.

The Royal Gramma is tiny but not intimidated by the other fish. A little champ.

Hopefully my Chocolate, Yellow and Blue tangs arrive soon!

 

[Jase4224]

 

[Nigel35]

Terrific build! Love the scape and residents. Keep up the good work!

 

[Shanel]

Love It! Looks Awesome!

 

[Jase4224]

Cheers guys, should be getting more fish mid October!

 

[Jase4224]

2022 has been the year of learning through death and despair.

Very different system and goals now. Very different methodology.

I would like to thank the following podcasts for getting me back on track and teaching me more in the last 6 months than I learned in the previous 19 years of this hobby:

- Reef Therapy (Reef Builders)
- Reef Bum
- Reef Beef

Also a thank you to the following YouTube channels:

- BRS tv (Biome Cycle series and Saltwater fish health with Elliot and Ryan)
- Humblefish

The goal is to go with a leather dominated reef and allow the corals to get large. I want to collect as many colour strains of leathers and display them together. And have fat healthy fish that are disease free.