907 Tank & Stand Build - 55 Gallon

[vlangel]

Thanks Styx! :D

Some blues from this week, new fish all doing great!

And, happy solstice!

Nice tank and although your dimensions are different, your fish stocking is very similar to my tank which is a 56 gallon.

 

[Projects with Sam]

Merry Christmas!

 

[907_Reefer]

Merry Christmas yall!

Nice tank and although your dimensions are different, your fish stocking is very similar to my tank which is a 56 gallon.

Thanks! It's a pretty good combo of more common, easy type fish in my book. Plenty of swimmers and no drama - except for the occasional Bangaii chasing :face-with-rolling-eyes: . Very happy to finally get a Coral Beauty in there recently, haven't had one since 2012!

In other news, had an over-feeding situation this week but I think we are all good. Saw the feeder running 1 hour 18 minutes past the last shutoff time... Tank was loaded, fish perturbed, all hiding, torch nonplussed. Bristleworms I assume rejoicing. Immediately netted any spare food and did a 25% water change. Next day, corals and fish back to normal.

I run the Avast feeder (love it) off a Kasa smart plug (only issue in a few years). 1:19 PM, feeder was running....! Last shutoff was 12:01! Bahhh

I'll be adding redundancy to the OFF settings going forward, such as:

2:00 PM ON
2:01 PM OFF
2:02 PM OFF
2:03 PM OFF

 

[vlangel]

I like the easy common fish too. I have pajama cardinals instead of bangaii and this pair get along. I like bangaii better but these pajamas were available and healthy looking so it's what I chose.

I also auto feed but I use a battery Eheim. It's been perfect but I added spectrum pellets to the flakes and my nitrates went from 0 to 50 ppm, LOL. I am only feeding 1 frozen while the nitrates come down a little. Automation is amazing until it's not.

 

[tbrown]

I like the easy common fish too. I have pajama cardinals instead of bangaii and this pair get along. I like bangaii better but these pajamas were available and healthy looking so it's what I chose.

I also auto feed but I use a battery Eheim. It's been perfect but I added spectrum pellets to the flakes and my nitrates went from 0 to 50 ppm, LOL. I am only feeding 1 frozen while the nitrates come down a little. Automation is amazing until it's not.

I prefer Bangaiis as well. I have 4 PJs because they were 1/4 of the price so basically I got them buy 1 get 3 free?

Mine are old and I was just noticing this morning that their tails are starting to look a little worse for wear on 2 of then. I assume it's because the other 2 keep mating and one of those is getting territorial.

 

[vlangel]

Quick updates for today. Tiny Tomini did not make it past 24 hours unfortunately. But, LFS hooked me up on a Coral Beauty and Royal Gramma. New Mel is doing great as well :grinning-face-with-big-eyes:

Current stocking:

Ocellaris clown x2
Bangaii cardinal x2
Starry blenny
Pistol shrimp
Yellow Watchman goby
Melanurus wrasse
Coral Beauty
Royal Gramma

I have:
Ocellaris clown
Pajama cardinals x2
Midas blenny
Coral banded shrimp
Yellow watchman goby
Red fin fairy wrasse
Coral beauty
Royal Gramma
Firefish goby x2
Masked goby x2
You can see almost all the fish except the masked gobies and one pajama.

 

[907_Reefer]

I have:
Ocellaris clown
Pajama cardinals x2
Midas blenny
Coral banded shrimp
Yellow watchman goby
Red fin fairy wrasse
Coral beauty
Royal Gramma
Firefish goby x2
Masked goby x2
You can see almost all the fish except the masked gobies and one pajama.

Nice tank! Love the stocking list as well. We had 3 Pajamas prior, lost in a disease incident 15 months ago - they were very zen. Loved our little Firefish as well, but lost to a jump.

Midas Blenny had always been on my list (as well as Tailspot) but not going to risk mixing blennies with our Starry currently..

I left off Fire Shrimp from my stocking list, have had one in for a few months now. Never have had much luck with shrimp, so far so good! Morning shot:

 

[907_Reefer]

Professional review on the "Outhouse Blend"? :grinning-face-with-big-eyes:

 

[Fish Styx]

Professional review on the "Outhouse Blend"? :grinning-face-with-big-eyes:

Dark and delicious. Full bodied with a slight hint of cherry on the finish. High octane.

 

[tbrown]

Dark and delicious. Full bodied with a slight hint of cherry on the finish. High octane.

Jojo wants to know how it tastes with milk, sugar, and whipped cream on top?

 

[tbrown]

How would it do with a drizzle of chocolate or caramel?

 

[tbrown]

Almost immediately after I posted, look what he cross posted...

Come, Tim. Join us. Step into the light.

The timing was almost too good. :face-with-tears-of-joy: :face-with-tears-of-joy: :face-with-tears-of-joy:

 

[Fish Styx]

Pr

How would it do with a drizzle of chocolate or caramel?

Probably too sweet for my liking.

 

[JoJosReef]

Jojo wants to know how it tastes with milk, sugar, and whipped cream on top?

Not into added sugars, and I want that cream freshly whipped from heavy cream. Grass and bourbon-fed cows, naturally.

 

[vlangel]

Nice tank! Love the stocking list as well. We had 3 Pajamas prior, lost in a disease incident 15 months ago - they were very zen. Loved our little Firefish as well, but lost to a jump.

Midas Blenny had always been on my list (as well as Tailspot) but not going to risk mixing blennies with our Starry currently..

I left off Fire Shrimp from my stocking list, have had one in for a few months now. Never have had much luck with shrimp, so far so good! Morning shot:

Probably wise not to mix a starry blenny and a Midas. They are both combtooth so that could be risky. I like starry's but have never had one because I heard that when they get big they can be a bit aggressive.

I have always had very good luck with all shrimp. My cleaners usually live 2-3 years and my coral banded can live closer to 4 years which I think is about right for them. I just love the antenae on the coral banded's, they are so long.

 

[tbrown]

Probably wise not to mix a starry blenny and a Midas. They are both combtooth so that could be risky. I like starry's but have never had one because I heard that when they get big they can be a bit aggressive.

I have always had very good luck with all shrimp. My cleaners usually live 2-3 years and my coral banded can live closer to 4 years which I think is about right for them. I just love the antenae on the coral banded's, they are so long.

I had a Starry and a Lawnmower in my 125. Starry would chase the Lawnmower around but once I added the Foxface my Tomini and Foxface would chase the Starry but leave the Lawnmower alone. Now, the Starry will occasionally go after the Foxface but leaves everything else alone. He's sure beautiful though. The Tomini will defend the Foxface and the Starry usually goes and hides.

 

[JoJosReef]

I had a Starry and a Lawnmower in my 125. Starry would chase the Lawnmower around but once I added the Foxface my Tomini and Foxface would chase the Starry but leave the Lawnmower alone. Now, the Starry will occasionally go after the Foxface but leaves everything else alone. He's sure beautiful though. The Tomini will defend the Foxface and the Starry usually goes and hides.

Have a Starry on my list for the 83. Are they usually that aggressive to other fish? CBB and Foxface are also on my list, higher in priority than the starry.

 

[vlangel]

I had a Starry and a Lawnmower in my 125. Starry would chase the Lawnmower around but once I added the Foxface my Tomini and Foxface would chase the Starry but leave the Lawnmower alone. Now, the Starry will occasionally go after the Foxface but leaves everything else alone. He's sure beautiful though. The Tomini will defend the Foxface and the Starry usually goes and hides.

It sounds like your tank has a good checks and balances! That is a great arrangement when it works out that way.

 

[Jasonak]

Welcome to our little build thread for this Alaskan 55 gallon tank! I'll be using this first post to house photos of tank stages, equipment listing, livestock & coral statuses, links, etc. In this thread we'll focus on the tank (our second 55 gal), with a slice of Alaskan scenery and shenanigans sprinkled throughout. Thanks for tagging along!

---------- Tank Photo Updates ----------

October 12, 2024

July 8, 2024

December 12, 2023 - tank settling after a disease situation in October

September 9, 2023 - Fully setup after move #2:

August 29, 2023 - last photo before tank move #2, eek!

April 10, 2023 (Electric Toothbrush > GHA!)

March 29, 2023 (GHA outbreak)

Feb 22, 2023 (1 month after moving)

January 3, 2023 (before move)

August 17, 2022

May 1, 2022 (initial setup)

Color Legend: Currently installed/alive in tank, under watch/having issues, no longer in play

Equipment	Date Installed
55 Gallon Long Tank (no sump)	April 21, 2022
Eshopps PSK-100H HOB Protein Skimmer (developed leak, and pump noise)	April 21, 2022
Radion XR15 Blue w/diffusers (x2)	April 21, 2022
Vortech MP10 QD Pumps (x2)	April 21, 2022
Eheim 150w Heaters x2	April 21, 2022
BRS 4 Stage RODI	April 21, 2022
Jebao OW-10 Wavemaker 132-1057 GPH	June 15, 2022
Inkbird ITC-308 Temp Controller	June 15, 2022
Tunze Osmolator 3155 ATO	December 20, 2022
Reefing Art Frag Racks	January 24, 2023
Avast Marine Plank Auto Feeder w/Cannonball	February 1, 2023
Flipper Deep See Magnetic Viewer	March 4, 2023
Reef Octopus Classic 90 HOB Protein Skimmer	March 6, 2023
Light Shades from Projects with Sam!	May, 2023
DIY egg crate lid	September 7, 2023

Rock/Sand Bed	Date Added
Live Rock, 93 lbs	April 21, 2022
Live Sand, 120 lbs	April 21, 2022
Live Rock, 85 lbs (reused and reduced during move)	January 18, 2023
Live Sand, 80 lbs (new with tank move, reduced)	January 18, 2023
Live Rock, 85 lbs (reused all on move #2)	August 31, 2023
Live Sand, 70 lbs (new with tank move, Arag-Alive Special Grade)	August 31, 2023

Livestock	Date Added
Pistol Shrimp	May 15, 2022
Yellow Watchman Goby	January 30, 2023
Ocellaris Clown #1	January 10, 2024
Starry Blenny	February 25, 2024
Ocellaris Clown #2	October 12, 2024
Bangaii Cardinal x2	October 12, 2024
Fire Shrimp	October 12, 2024

-------------------- In-Thread Links --------------------

First Livestock & Corals (May 8, 2022)
Tank move, new house! (Jan 18, 2023)
Operation Asterina Lavista Baby (Feb 26, 2023) Run 1 / Run 2 / Run 3
Northern Lights Show (Feb 27, 2023)
Project E-TAP (Electric-Toothbrush Algae Patrol) (April-ish, 2023) Run 1 / Run 2 / Run 3
Tank move #2 (August 30, 2023)
Disease outbreak (October 22, 2023)
Throwback Thursday - our old/first SPS tank (2012-2013)
Northern Lights Show (Oct 10, 2024)

-------------------- Original Intro ---------------------

April 13, 2022

Hey All, well it's FINALLY time to get back into saltwater. This will be the wife and my second tank, we had to sell our first and only 55 gallon back in 2013 when moving to Alaska. We've traveled around this state a bit, and finally settled about an hour from one of the only saltwater stores that I know of in the state. Game on!!!

I enjoy any opportunity to get my tools out, so I'm building a custom stand. It's my second stand - first was for a freshwater 46 gal acrylic (still have it in storage). Since the new tank stand is almost completed, I figured it's a good time to get registered on the forum and start the build thread!

We will be using:

Custom Stand
55 Gallon Long Tank
BRS 4 Stage RODI
PSK-100H Skimmer
Radion XR15 Blue Lighting (x2)
Vortech MP10 QD Pumps (x2 or more if needed)
etc..

We'll be doing live rock with mostly coral, but some fish also - learned on the last tank to keep it simple with fish! Really hoping we can find a mated pistol shrimp and goby, that was our fav from tank #1! And of course there will be a few clown fish and anemones..

Stand progress, I love 2x4s. I'm no architect but if a single 2x4 can hold 1000 lbs vertically, 20 of 'em plus cross bracing should put me over 25,000(?) lbs. I think that will cover my needs lol:

Added a little trim and moulding, why not lol - just wingin' it here! :)

Great excuse to buy a new router for the doors :). Kreg Jig drilling used to secure the 1/3 pine, 5/8" brad nails for the 1/4" plywood backing:

RODI installed yesterday and ready to start pumping:

That's where I'm at currently, finishing paint on the doors, hanging 'em, and bringing her inside. Looking to grab our live sand/rock next week and get this party started!

More to come!

WOW on the stand!

 

[907_Reefer]

I had a Starry and a Lawnmower in my 125. Starry would chase the Lawnmower around but once I added the Foxface my Tomini and Foxface would chase the Starry but leave the Lawnmower alone. Now, the Starry will occasionally go after the Foxface but leaves everything else alone. He's sure beautiful though. The Tomini will defend the Foxface and the Starry usually goes and hides.

I added a Starry a few years ago with a Lawnmower already in the tank. Lawnmower chased the Starry relentlessly until I could catch the starry, which was a project lol.. He was re-homed back to the LFS. This Starry was added later after the Lawnmower jumped the night after a tank move.