40 Breeder Mixed Reef

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This post will be updated with current FTS and specifications as changes occur.

Current FTS (04-26-18)
IMG_20180426_195311.jpg


40G MIXED REEF / MACRO ALGAE DISPLAY TANK
Established Friday April 13th, 2018

No sump, no protein skimmer, no filter, no media, no reactors, no dosing. Tank relies on the biodiversity of the rock, sand, macroalgae, inverts, fish and coral.

An empty canister and custom overflow are used for surface skimming and to hide the heater. Nothing is in the canister, not even the plastic trays.


Current specifications as of 4/26/2018:

MACROALGAE:
Rhipocephalus phoenix (Pine Cone)
Portieria
Gracilaria Hayi
Galaxaura
Hypnea Pannosa
-----------------------------------------
CORAL:
Green Star Polyps
Purple Brush Gorgonian
Purple Frilly Gorgonian
-----------------------------------------
INVERTS:
Florida Cerith Snails
Nassarius Vibex Snails
Nerite Snails
Dwarf Cerith Snails
Brittle stars
-----------------------------------------
SAND:
~60lbs. Tropic Eden .5mm Aragasnow
-----------------------------------------
ROCK:
37lbs. Marco Rocks Key Largo dry rock
6lbs. Walt Smith Pukani liverock
4lbs. Fiji liverock
-----------------------------------------
WATER:
~39g of distilled water + IO salt at 35ppt
2 gallon water change weekly
-----------------------------------------
TEMPERATURE CONTROL:
JBJ 15Ow on Finnex HC-810M controller
Set To 75°F (swings 74.3°-75.7°)
-----------------------------------------
FILTRATION:
SunSun HW302 canister & overflow box
-----------------------------------------
FLOW:
VCA Random Flow Generator
265gph nozzle on canister return

**Current-USA Bluetooth Loop controller
(2) 1050gph Eflux wavepumps
1-100% antisync Gyre on 90s interval
**1-70% during moonlight phase
(1) 660gph Eflux wavepump
100% steady stream mode
**70% during moonlight phase
-----------------------------------------
LIGHTING SPECS and SETTINGS:
Current-USA Dual Ramp Timer
(2) 24" Orbit Marine Pro X2 LED strips
B 445nm/453nm/UV415nm
W 6,500K/8,000K/Magenta-Indigo
11-11:30am ramp to B100%, W5%
9:30-10pm ramp to B6%, W1%
2:30am B=off, W=off

**Current-USA Bluetooth Loop controller
(2) 24" Orbit Marine IC LED strips
Blue 445nm/460nm
Red 640nm + Green 560nm
Whites 6,700K/10,000K
11:15-11:30am ramp to sunrise:
B=100% | W=25% | R=50% | G=50%
12:30-12:45pm ramp to daylight:
B=100% | W=50% | R=50% | G=50%
**50% sunrays until 8:15pm
08:15-08:30pm ramp to sunset:
B=100% | W=10% | R=50% | G=50%
09:30-9:45pm ramp to moonlight:
**100% moonrays until 1:45am

**The Current-USA Bluetooth Controller synchronizes the wave pumps, lights and speakers for weather effects during the daylight and Moonlight phases.

PAR on sand during daylight phase with lights mounted ~21" above the sandbed:
DualRamp PRO X2 = ~100
Bluetooth IC LOOP = ~50
-------------------------------------------------


SOME CHANGES SINCE MY ORIGINAL DESIGN:
- I changed the canister return to the VCA Random Flow generator instead of the dual flare nozzles.
- I decided to use a JBJ 150watt titanium heather in the overflow box rather than plumbing the Hydor inline heater on the canister return
- I scrapped the Fluval G6 canister filter for a SunSun HW-302 canister. The Fluval is just too noisy and blows too many micro-bubbles into the display.
- I removed the sponge filter from the canister intake. I have 0 mechanical filtration on this tank. Easier to feed and keep coral/fish food in the water column. easier to keep clean, less maintenance.
- I added a second Current-USA IC LED strip. I originally planned on 2 pro strips and 1 IC strip. I now have 2 of each.
- The LEDs are no longer suspended as shown in my fourth post. I installed rails and brackets and have them sitting in the hood on the adjustable brackets. Easier to adjust.
- My lighing schedule and setting have change several times. current settings/timings listed above.
 
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Looking good sounds like aot of sand your going to be putting in. What are your plans going forward?
Looking for a 3" sand bed. I will be putting the sand in today or tomorrow and hopefully adding the water and starting cycle later this week.

Some progress photos for now:

Inside fishroom before finished:
IMG_20180319_200637.jpg


View intro unfinished room from media area:
IMG_20180319_200540.jpg


Custom tank stand and hood in Maple:
IMG_20180314_210804.jpg


Tank in finished fishroom;
IMG_20180407_162609.jpg


Overhead Aquascape view:
IMG_20180408_211701.jpg


Front view
IMG_20180408_210642.jpg
 
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Custom overflow box with canister intake plumbed in:
IMG_20180314_213843.jpg


Return from canister plumbed with Vivid Creative Aquatics random flow generator:
IMG_20180409_161820_HHT.jpg


Inside cabinet shot of the fluval canister, APC 1500 sinewave back up and switched distribution strip: (The fluval canister is junk, I literally threw it in the garbage. It is noisy and blows micro-bubbles no matter what you do . I replaced it with a cheap SunSun HW302 canister and am much happier)
IMG_20180409_163135.jpg
 
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Reefer Deez

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Looks really good so far and sounds like you have everything planned out! I look forward to seeing how it all turns out!
 

Tokash23

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I thought that seemed like alot lol seeing as how i only used about 40 lbs in my 40b but my sand bed is rather shallow. Very detailed build looks like everything is coming together nicely. Just curious as to why your going with a canister instead of plumbing in a sump? When should we see water going in?
 
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I thought that seemed like alot lol seeing as how i only used about 40 lbs in my 40b but my sand bed is rather shallow. Very detailed build looks like everything is coming together nicely. Just curious as to why your going with a canister instead of plumbing in a sump? When should we see water going in?

Yea lol, not sure how I miscalculated that sand...

I have two small kids with a playroom right off the fishroom with no closeable door in between, so a sump is a no go in my house for the foreseeable future. I chose this specific canister as it has a fine mesh prefilter that's removable without opening the canister. I should be able to swap it out in under a minute. I will keep two and clean them between uses. That prefilter along with the sponge on the intake should keep the canister clean, especially as it will be run completely empty so nowhere for detritus to collect really. There's a second removable piece that can house carbon or other media should the need arise, which is also removable without opening the canister.

So basically, it's very easy to maintain. Arguably easier than a sump. And it's only really needed for a bit of mechanical filtration. It also allows me to utilize the overflow for surface skimming and to hide the heater - and to add a bit of extra random flow in the tank. EDIT - The fluval is gone. I use a cheaper SunSun canister and no longer use the sponge or any other filter media. 0 mechanical filteration!

Waiting on epoxy to secure a few pieces of the liverock before adding the water. Hopefully it will be here tomorrow. If so, I should be able to get the water in and cycle started Thursday or Friday.
 
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Tokash23

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Well thought out im impressed. I have a little one of my own who is not mobile yet (shes only 5 months) but i have been kind of wracking my brain as to what im going to do with my set up to baby proof it. You have a nice set up i look forward to seeing where you take it.
 
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Ammonia and nitrite have been at 0 the last three days. Going to test again in the morning and do a water change.
 

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Looking good ! And good to know 60 pounds of sand was enough, that's all I bought !

Jason
 
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Looking good ! And good to know 60 pounds of sand was enough, that's all I bought !

Jason

60 gives 2-3 inches of depth depending on how the sand ends up settling with the flow.

You could definitely get away with 20lbs if you're just looking for an inch or so of depth throughout. I plan on adding several nassarius snails and possibly a few other sand burrowers so wanted a decent depth.
 
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Added several pieces of macro algae, some snails, GSP, Purple Brush Gorgonian and Purple Frilly Gorgonian

Rhipocephalus phoenix (Pine Cone)


Portieria


Gracilaria Hayi


Galaxaura


Purple Brush Gorgonian


Purple Frilly Gorgonian


Hypnea Pannosa


GSP


Also added
10 Florida Cerith Snails
10 Nassarius Vibex Snails
10 Nerite Snails
10 Dwarf Cerith Snails

New FTS
 
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