75 Reef Build

[Chef Tommy]

Hello fellow reefers! Finally ready to share my build.

Tank - Aqueon 75 self drilled
Overflow - Custom Bean Animal
Sump - Custom 20L
Skimmer - Aqua Excel EC15
Pump - Jebao PP8 x 2 & Rossmont m900 for back flow in tank
Return -Jebao dtc 4000
Heater - Finnex 200w x 2
Lighting - Hydrofarm 4 bulb T5 with 3 blue plus & 1 actinic
Reactor - Aquamaxx off manifold

Started this build last August & finally got it wet this October due to a relocation back home in New Orleans. Was fortunate to win a raffle for my rock at MACNA too!

I'm also fortunate to have found two great local stores for my livestock as well.

The build has been great and a lot of fun. Unfortunately I had to rush the cycle since my nano cracked while moving into my house but finally the rock is starting to settle down.

Love my refugium setup and my mangrove pod from Julian finally opened up some leaves!

This has been so much fun and I'm looking forward to sharing more reefing news as I learn more.

 

[Big G]

Very nice setup. How's that Jaebo DCT4000 working for you? I ended up using mine on my mixing station out in the garage because it whined so loud.

 

[Chef Tommy]

Surprised to hear the return is loud. I have mine in living area and only hear some splashes from wave makers. I did have it running full blast for a bit as well.

 

[Big G]

Surprised to hear the return is loud. I have mine in living area and only hear some splashes from wave makers. I did have it running full blast for a bit as well.

Yeah, It seems to have been hit or miss to get a good one. I hear the new models are very quiet and problem free, but they have gone up in price.

 

[Chef Tommy]

So my tank has been up for almost 1 year and has gone through 3 rock work changes and I'm finally happy with the most recent one as it will allow me to get the acropora better mounted towards the light. I also added 2 Orphek 160 Light Bars, a UV and Sky Blue. Installed a larger Jeabo return for increased flow to accommodate Triton which will be going on month 4. I also added a Jeabo dosing pump for Triton and got to build a new sump.

The fans help keep my Temperatures in check, one is blowing on top of refugium and the other pulls the air out. I have the temperature controlled by an APEX JR, so along with the heater my tank has been between 78 & 79.5 all summer.

I also added the manifold for a small 7.5 display and it also feeds my carbon reactor.

Thanks for viewing my updates!

 

[Chef Tommy]

I've also added many corals along the way which I really enjoy. I just started to try WWC coral club last month as well.

The little Zoa rock in the center bottom along with the Scoly are my 2 oldest coral from 2 years ago that survived the move back to New Orleans from FL!

This Cyphastrea came from Jason Fox at MACNA 2017, it was only as large as the nub and has spread quite nicely.

Couple Acros

Hope you all enjoy the updates!

 

[Justin....#JAMAS]

Nice!!!! All of it looks great man!!!!!

 

[Slowlane]

So nice seeing a lot of DIY stuff that looks so good! Great looking tank!

 

[Chef Tommy]

So nice seeing a lot of DIY stuff that looks so good! Great looking tank!

Thanks for the diy comments. I was looking for my first tank and did not like how the overflow was set up on most. It was also before I saw overflow sets like synergy has so I ended up building my own. Then I figured hey, bet I could make a sump too. My favorite part of building the tank was creating all the stuff I did. It made me appreciate the tank much more.

Appreciate everyone looking at the tank!

 

[Slowlane]

Thanks for the diy comments. I was looking for my first tank and did not like how the overflow was set up on most. It was also before I saw overflow sets like synergy has so I ended up building my own. Then I figured hey, bet I could make a sump too. My favorite part of building the tank was creating all the stuff I did. It made me appreciate the tank much more.

Appreciate everyone looking at the tank!

Im pretty sure I will be doing a build very similar to yours when I upgrade..

 

[Chef Tommy]

Lemme know when you upgrade!! I’d love to share advice. Search for 75 on here, there are quite a few nice builds like Justin, the poster above.

 

[Slowlane]

I definitely will!

 

[Chef Tommy]

This only took 6 months to figure out! Lol

 

[Chef Tommy]

Lotsa sponge growth everywhere!

 

[Chef Tommy]

Redid rocks a bit for a cave to right.

 

[Chef Tommy]

I redid refugium by adding Haitian live rock, a red macro, and vacuumed out the detritus. Also added Seachem pond matrix to seed with bacteria.

I’m going to be moving in with my girlfriend and selling my house so thankfully she is loving the hobby too!!

So much in fact she agreed a 150 gallon tank would make the coral transfer easier [emoji4]

 

[Chef Tommy]

We also picked up a 28 gallon frag tank by waterbox!! It’s a AIO so we will set it up for our coral while the 150 cycles.