1bite’s IM 40ext SPS Dominant

[1bitereefer]

After getting into the hobby about 3 years ago and having several tanks from, Red Sea Reefer 250 to a 350. Then downsizing to a nuvo 20 while we remodeled the basement. It is finally done and I am back with a Nuvo 40EXT. I’ve kept tanks with tons of LPS and soft corals and the plan to go SPS dominate on this tank. This will be my first time keeping SPS. This will also be my first refugium. I’m hoping to use this build thread as a way to get help on the venture to sticks.

Equipment List:
-40EXT
-DIY stand
-MP10
-Apex
-Cor20
-Kessil a360we (do I need 2 or could I supplement with a T5 hybrid setup?)
-Trigger 20C sapphire
-Neptune Dos
-20lbs Life rock branch
-20lbs Life rock
-Tropic Eden sand
-Neptune Trident (whenever I can find one)
-Deltec 1351 skimmer

The plan is to take this tank very slow. To go about 3 months with just the 2 Clowns I have in Quarantine until I see some coralline algae and the tank feels like it is starting to become sustainable enough to add Sticks

 

[fishguy242]

hi imo t5 set up,sounds like you know what you are doing,one stickhead to another

 

[fishguy242]

keep us posted happy reefing

 

[1bitereefer]

Plan is to start building the stand this weekend hopefully, will update with pictures. I plan to make an ADA style stand. I have also relived that I will have to change my stand build a little from the original due to the sumo being 20”x20” and the tank being 24”x19.8.

I also picked up another 360we and MP10 after doing more research I thought the one Mp10 would not be enough and having to a360we running at lower intensity would be better than the 1 at close to 100%

 

[1bitereefer]

Just built the stand today, had to build the stand 2” deeper to fit the trigger sump for the tank. Used the technique we used when painting our cabinets to use spackle on the wood to cover up the grain. The plan was to make an ADA style stand where besides the door it looks like one piece. Going to primer and paint tomorrow. Will look to make equipment cabinet to match but smaller next weekend.

 

[1bitereefer]

Painted the stand and put the tank in place with the sump in stand. Super happy with how it turned out. Plumbing comes Tuesday. More research and work to be done. As well as build equipment cabinet for Apex. Hope to have it wet in 2-3 weeks.

 

[fishguy242]

nice job

 

[1bitereefer]

nice job

Thanks bud, I built it to mimic my old Red Sea reefer stand

 

[1bitereefer]

Little update, the equipment cabinet is finished, tank was plumb. But then when I wet tested I realized that the black glass had a crack. You could not tell since the inside back has a piece of acrylic and the the back glass is cover with black vinyl. Good thing is Marine Depot is mailing me a new one. Also I put plenty of unions so should be able to re plumb the pieces that are short directly from the bulkheads. Hope to have it wet and put together in another week

 

[1bitereefer]

A little update, tank is wet, Controller cabinet is finished. I’ll take some pictures of the sump area to show you guys tomorrow, happy with how everything turned out. The plan now is to order some more fish and let tank settle and cycle over the next 2-3 months before adding some test corals.

 

[1bitereefer]

Took some more pictures of the tank, sump, and Apex cabinet. Right now the skimmer is going crazy. I heard that sometimes the life rock tends to do this to the skimmer. Going to let it run a couple days over flowing and do some water changes through the skimmer. Any ideas, would be appreciated. Now just in the sit and wait phase of the tank. Plan to not run lights for at least next month or 2 and run it with just fish until coralline starts to grow.

When should I put the Fuge online?