We need a build thead, so here we go!
This is our 4th reef system having upgraded from a 60gal to 220gal to the current 300gal display. With the 60gal we learned the importance of stability but fought nitrates like it was going out of style. With the 220 we learned about planning & redundancy. We purchased the tank used, & it leaked on the bottom seal & it created a big mess...lesson learned. We also had to tear out the carefully planned aquascape when we brought the 300gal online in January.
This photo is about 1 month old. Everything is about the same although we have seen some good coral growth.
Here's the display under the whites (the bubble blast on the top is from a modified Carlson Surge Device...more later):
The tank is a feature in our finished basement with all filtration installed in the fish room (stairwell) behind the wall:
Here's a current view of the fish closet:
The DT is supported by a custom 75gal 3 chamber sump (intake / live rock, skimmer & return chamber...no filter socks or removable media), 50gal refugium with DSB, live rock, DIY algae scrubber & chaeto factory). A 20gal Brute with a gatevalve is used for a gravity top-off of Kalk.
Aside from the livestock, my favorite feature is the surge device using an 18gal bucket from the farm supply store:
Every three minutes this dumps about 12 gallons of water into the DT though 1 1/2" piping in 30 seconds. This is a great way to broadcast feed phyto, & trace elements.
This is pretty much where the journey stands today. Next steps are:
This is our 4th reef system having upgraded from a 60gal to 220gal to the current 300gal display. With the 60gal we learned the importance of stability but fought nitrates like it was going out of style. With the 220 we learned about planning & redundancy. We purchased the tank used, & it leaked on the bottom seal & it created a big mess...lesson learned. We also had to tear out the carefully planned aquascape when we brought the 300gal online in January.
This photo is about 1 month old. Everything is about the same although we have seen some good coral growth.
Here's the display under the whites (the bubble blast on the top is from a modified Carlson Surge Device...more later):
The tank is a feature in our finished basement with all filtration installed in the fish room (stairwell) behind the wall:
Here's a current view of the fish closet:
The DT is supported by a custom 75gal 3 chamber sump (intake / live rock, skimmer & return chamber...no filter socks or removable media), 50gal refugium with DSB, live rock, DIY algae scrubber & chaeto factory). A 20gal Brute with a gatevalve is used for a gravity top-off of Kalk.
Aside from the livestock, my favorite feature is the surge device using an 18gal bucket from the farm supply store:
Every three minutes this dumps about 12 gallons of water into the DT though 1 1/2" piping in 30 seconds. This is a great way to broadcast feed phyto, & trace elements.
This is pretty much where the journey stands today. Next steps are:
- Rebuild the aquascape
- Paint the surge pipe (white is hard on the eyes)
- Improve nutrition
- Add livestock
- Tie in a frag tank
- Find something else to DIY
- Refuse to stop improving in whatever form that might be