A Texan 50g Mixed Reef

Coach_M

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Good morning all! Long time reader, first time poster. I have been a member on another small reef forum for a long time but found myself reading these more and more and figured I might as well join up!


About this build: This time around I wanted to do it right, and wanted to have it up for several years at the very least. I began buying equipment around November, knowing I wouldn’t be able to set it up until this summer as I was planning to move for work (8th grade science teacher and coach). Well that time has finally come. I will be moving to Houston July 2nd. Since the start of summer and the end of the school year I have been able to prep a lot of work on this build, hoping to be able to set it up as soon as I get moved in. Back glass has been frosted, plumbing fitted and glued, sand rock and salt ready to go. So, instead of boring y’all with more words, here’s some pictures of where everything stands, as well as my current IM10.

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Light hanger for the ATI fixture
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Plumbing finished up
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Playing with aquascspe
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Frosted back glass complete
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And some pictures of my IM10, pictures are a month or two old

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NY_Caveman

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Thanks for sharing! Welcome to R2R!
 
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Coach_M

Coach_M

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Well, it’s alive! Not 100% as I have to hang the t5 and go grab the apex off the 10 when I transfer the livestock over next week possible.

Only one issue with it as it stands- water level is way too high. I had gotten the 800gph modular marine overflow because I’m only going to run 200gph max. So I got the slim silicone on internal box and will silicone that on and remove the skimmer box it came with to lower the water level. Right now it’s about 1/2” below the rim. The left hand side also needs shimmed to level it out. I’ll do all that at the same time.

Sorry for picture quality, all I have is my iPad. Dslr will be making the trip back when I go back and get livestock.

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Coach_M

Coach_M

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Fellow middle school science teacher here!

Love the frosted back glass. Def a different, unique look.

Thanks! Nice to see another reefing teacher!

Hung the light today. Left side of stand is 1/4” below right side, at least front to back is good. Will drain and correct when new overflow box arrives.

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Coach_M

Coach_M

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Changed up the aquascspe. I see one or two small changes to make, but this is more or less the finished product. I have to move corals over by Wednesday, so I added some fritz bacteria on top of the dr tims I put in on day 1. Using dr tims ammonia chloride to get them started



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Coach_M

Coach_M

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Things are chugging along! Was gone for a week doing some hiking and exploring at Big Bend National Park, came back to a normal tank! Stopped by an awesome LFS here in Houston and came back with the first fish, a female leopard wrasse, gorgonian, duncans, ponape BN, green hairy shroom, 3p green grandis. It was a fun day! Going to go back this weekend for some frags I held off on.

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Some pictures from Big Bend here in Texas

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count krunk

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leopard wrasse can be notoriously difficult to keep alive in aquariums due their live food diet. I'm curious, was this one eating frozen or otherwise fed food in the store? If not, you should probably put in an order for pods to keep her going. A look at paul b's methods of brine shrimp and black worms (I think) could also help out greatly
 
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Coach_M

Coach_M

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leopard wrasse can be notoriously difficult to keep alive in aquariums due their live food diet. I'm curious, was this one eating frozen or otherwise fed food in the store? If not, you should probably put in an order for pods to keep her going. A look at paul b's methods of brine shrimp and black worms (I think) could also help out greatly
LFS was feeding her fish roe, she has not eaten it for me yet. Had gotten pods and she has been picking at those, ordering more now in case she doesn’t take frozen for a bit
 

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