75gallons of mixed reef fun

TroyHoot · Nov 14, 2017

Started this build back in February. I kept freshwater aquariums for about 10 years before I met my wife. Sold everything and moved away to be with her. At the time I had 2x 135g tanks and multiple 30-40g tanks.

We had a couple small tanks over the next 16 years. Nothing big because we were planning on moving. I always wanted a salt tank but I never did it because I was always moving or something come up.

Then my wife became a self published author. We were both able to quit our normal jobs and we moved to where we plan to stay till our daughter at least graduates. She's 10 now. So I got to build a reef tank !!!

Ill be trying to posts my progress from Feb until now. May take me a few days or more.

Anyway I started with my stand. Built it over sized. Plan at first was to maybe have a display fuge or QT tank beside the main tank. Or just have it for additional work space. Hardwood with laminate top. 3 coats of Kilz on the inside then a couple coats of white paint. Siliconed all the seams inside.

TroyHoot · Nov 14, 2017

I wanted a mostly coast to coast overflow and bean animal setup.

TroyHoot · Nov 14, 2017

Moved it upstairs to the Mancave. Built the sump. Finished plumbing.
Rocks played with scape for week or so.
Maxspect ethereal lights
Built the screen tops

Tigweldpro · Nov 14, 2017

Looks like a great start. The bulkheads with slip on the outside always make me cringe tho. if something happens to that rubber seal you have to cut and replace the whole section of plumbing (personal experience). If there tight and exposed to light for long periods they do deteriorate.

I am not of the all knowing but you may want to put a smear of silicone between the rubber seal and glass and leave the bulkhead nut fairly loose.

Keep the pics coming!

TroyHoot · Nov 14, 2017

Added heaters and controller, used a food container for ATO. started the fuge LOL Also set up QT tank. Icecap Gyre 3k added.

TroyHoot · Nov 14, 2017

Changed rock a little. Aquired some livestock. added some rock in fuge. Added carbon reactor. Started working on doors.

TroyHoot · Nov 14, 2017

Doors done. More corals. More fish. Took out flame back angel somewhere around here. he was nipping my plate coral and taodstool.

TroyHoot · Nov 14, 2017

Change Fuge into algae scrubber. Leaving rocks in the area for pods. Cheato in there for time being till the scrubber gets into full swing.

Went to macna in New Orleans which was just couple hours away. Was awesome. Brought back some Jason Fox corals and a few others.

Have been trying to add wrasse lately. 1 jumped out of QT and hit floor. Died. One had swim bladder problem. Lubbocks is in tank doing great. Filament flasher has Internal parasites in Qt and hopefully recovering. Having hard time with wrasses lately.

We still want to add a Mandarin. Have been dosing phyto and stocking pods last month or so.

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TroyHoot · Nov 14, 2017

That was the condensed version of the last 7 months or so. I will try to get some good current pictures and post updates and things happen and change.

Oh yeah. I add the random nozzles last week from Vivid Creative Aquatics. Really liking those alot. Help randomize the flow out of return pump. You can see them in the FTS in last post.

TroyHoot · Nov 15, 2017

My hammer has been retracted for a week or so. Today he finally started coming back out.

I have a filamented wrasse in QT. Slowly recovering from internal parasite. Hes finally eating for last few days. Hoping he recovers soon. Treating the display to make sure none of them caught them. Treatment will be over sunday.

I have a Meteor shower cyphastrea that looked really bad when I recieved it. Was like it lost a layer of its skin and turned real dark. Today its finally looking better and showing its true color. Glad its going to make it.

TroyHoot · Nov 15, 2017

The hammer that is started to extend again. Only change was I didnt does phyto today. Also the cyphastrea, and my Randalls shrimp and goby.

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Daniel@R2R · Nov 17, 2017

This looks great!! I really like the stand, the scape, and livestock selection. It all looks excellent! Following!

TroyHoot · Nov 19, 2017

Lost my filament wrasse in QT today. This was the 11th day in the QT with parasites and swimming problems. Display will be done with Medicated food tomorrow. That will be 10 days of feeding. So no other fish should have internal parasites.

Stocked more pods this week. Cleaned the turf scrubber for first time today. Its working real well.

Want to get a couple more fairy wrasse before the Lubbocks gets too full of himself .

Going to work on the tank tomorrow or monday. I will try to get some picks of changes.

75galOCD · Nov 19, 2017

Really good job, beautiful Reef System! I like your ATS I've always kept my eye out for a cleaver DIY one.

TroyHoot · Nov 19, 2017

The dog food container works great. Its heavy duty, nice lid, and holds alot of water. It will fit under the stand I just leave it out because its easier to fill up this way. I can go probably 2 weeks without filling if I wanted too maybe longer. I got it at petco for a good deal. only complaint is you cant see your level without taking top off. But I check it regular. My ATO will sound an alarm if it runs dry worst case too.

TroyHoot · Nov 19, 2017

Pulled the front rock on left side today and shortened it and made it a little thinner front to back too. Moved the hammer a little bit. Moved the Sea fan. Moved the Blastomussa a little. Moved the bubble coral back some. Made some more room in middle and the ability to clean around that left from rock.

TroyHoot · Nov 29, 2017

Good times, bad times...

Display doing great. Best it ever has. In tank algae is at all time low. The turf scrubber I built is doing great. Coral growth is great. Will try and take some pictures today. Only issue I have is a little brown on the sand. I stir it and vacuum it so its not a problem though.

Lost 2 fish in QT over the weekend. Last week I traveled to a new fish store. I really like the store and the people. Bought a female lyretail anthias and an exquisite wrasse. Not sure exactly what happened in QT. But I stripped and sterilized the old QT. Bought a new 20g with accessories for a larger QT. Setting this one up with all new stuff just to be safe. Making sure I do everything right on the next few fish. Im only going to add 3-4 more then I will be done with fish unless one dies of old age.

I have lost 4 out of 5 wrasse I have tried to add to the tank. 1 jumped out of bucket on a counter, onto tile floor and damaged spine. 2 I lost to internal parasites and maybe something else. One of those was a long battle over 2 weeks of treating and doing everything I could to save him. Then this last one that im not sure what the heck I did wrong. Wife tells me to forget wrasse... But I want 1-2 more.

TroyHoot · Nov 29, 2017

New QT almost ready. Waiting on powerhead. Should be here tomorrow. Filter sponge, bio spira and alert badge came today. The in tank filter has a sponge in it for now. Will use it for carbon or other media if needed later. Figured the extra sponge space for bacteria wouldnt hurt anything.