24 Gallon Build Thread

[retroreefing]

My tank started with a 24 gallon aquatop aio I purchased for $200 on marketplace. The tank came with an AI prime and a return pump.

I placed my tank in my office second story of my house. For easy maintance I installed an RODI setup under a bathroom sink close by.

I purchased some dry rock from my LFS and went with a slw-10

On 4/6 my tank was finally filled and ready to be cycled.





On 5/15 I confirmed my cycle was finished and added a watchman and pistol shrimp.



On 6/11 I added a firefish. I made a DIY lid from aquatic mesh and a screen kit to keep him from jumping.





A candy cane and gsp were added on 6/22





I decided I wanted more from my aquascape. I found about 60-80lbs of dry rock on marketplace for $40. I crushed some the rock and created a negative space aquascape with some inspiration from BRS.I pulled about half of the cycled rock and made room for my new staple piece of rock on







7/16. Luckily the removal of some rock did not crash the cycle. This was definitely not ideal and I do not recommend.

Over next few months I bought some coral from local reefers.





On 8/23 there was an amazing coral swap. I ended up spending a few hundred on around 20 frags and we are pretty stocked.









Time to let it grow out and plan my next build.

 

[Aquadude1]

Looks fantastic! We used to sell those tanks all the time where I worked

 

[retroreefing]

Looks fantastic! We used to sell those tanks all the time where I worked

Thanks! It’s a great little tank, highly recommend.

 

[kevgib67]

Looks great, well done!

 

[retroreefing]

My tank started with a 24 gallon aquatop aio I purchased for $200 on marketplace. The tank came with an AI prime and a return pump.

I placed my tank in my office second story of my house. For easy maintance I installed an RODI setup under a bathroom sink close by.

I purchased some dry rock from my LFS and went with a slw-10

On 4/6 my tank was finally filled and ready to be cycled.





On 5/15 I confirmed my cycle was finished and added a watchman and pistol shrimp.



On 6/11 I added a firefish. I made a DIY lid from aquatic mesh and a screen kit to keep him from jumping.





A candy cane and gsp were added on 6/22





I decided I wanted more from my aquascape. I found about 60-80lbs of dry rock on marketplace for $40. I crushed some the rock and created a negative space aquascape with some inspiration from BRS.I pulled about half of the cycled rock and made room for my new staple piece of rock on







7/16. Luckily the removal of some rock did not crash the cycle. This was definitely not ideal and I do not recommend.

Over next few months I bought some coral from local reefers.





On 8/23 there was an amazing coral swap. I ended up spending a few hundred on around 20 frags and we are pretty stocked.









Time to let it grow out and plan my next build.

Official https://www.reef2reef.com/posts/14481486/

 

[retroreefing]

My tank started with a 24 gallon aquatop aio I purchased for $200 on marketplace. The tank came with an AI prime and a return pump.

I placed my tank in my office second story of my house. For easy maintance I installed an RODI setup under a bathroom sink close by.

I purchased some dry rock from my LFS and went with a slw-10

On 4/6 my tank was finally filled and ready to be cycled.





On 5/15 I confirmed my cycle was finished and added a watchman and pistol shrimp.



On 6/11 I added a firefish. I made a DIY lid from aquatic mesh and a screen kit to keep him from jumping.





A candy cane and gsp were added on 6/22





I decided I wanted more from my aquascape. I found about 60-80lbs of dry rock on marketplace for $40. I crushed some the rock and created a negative space aquascape with some inspiration from BRS.I pulled about half of the cycled rock and made room for my new staple piece of rock on







7/16. Luckily the removal of some rock did not crash the cycle. This was definitely not ideal and I do not recommend.

Over next few months I bought some coral from local reefers.





On 8/23 there was an amazing coral swap. I ended up spending a few hundred on around 20 frags and we are pretty stocked.









Time to let it grow out and plan my next build.

Tank update 9/1/26- the tank is really hitting a stride. Stability is key.