29 gallon sumped build

[Slim64684]

After having 2 planted tanks for a couple years, I thought I'd try something different and I converted my 20 long to a reef tank. I stripped everything from the tank and washed it out good then ran a 9:1 water white vinegar combo through it for a week. Rinsed everything out good again and set it up as a salt tank.

While the water and vinegar were running i ordered some BRS reef saver rock and some arag-alive sand. Used some cardboard cut to the same dimensions as the tank and started working on a rock scape.

I filled the tank on 11/18/18 and dosed to 2 ppm ammonia.

 

[Neilth1]

welcome to reef keeping

 

[Slim64684]

Tank finished cycling on 12/17/18 and first corals were added on 12/22

 

[dantimdad]

Man that scape is cool.

Nice job!

 

[Slim64684]

I lost all the red zoas. No idea what happened to them but the green zoas were unaffected and sprouted new polyps.

Noticed a chip in the front glass

And got a replacement tank.

Spent about 3 hours last night and switched everything out.

Fts from this morning

 

[dantimdad]

Dang! You luck runs like mine. All set up and have to reset from something broken. Sorry that happened.

Looks good!

 

[Slim64684]

Along the way I made my own ato which also functions as a shutoff when I refill after a water change. Keeps my water level constant.

The ato pump and floats run off 12 volts from a recycled laptop charger. One relay controls the outlet for my pump i use to refill my tank on a water change. The other relay is an adjustable timing relay and us used to only allow the ato pump to run for a certain time to prevent overflows.

 

[SPR1968]

I tell you what, the aquascape design is absolutely beautiful, and looks completely natural how it flows away on the left hand side.

Very nice indeed

 

[Slim64684]

Equipment list:

Current USA 24-36 marine ic pro
2 1050gph current wave pumps
Sunsun 302 canister (left over from planted tank)
Eheim 50 watt heater in diy inline from canister

 

[BestMomEver]

Looks amazing! Welcome to the reef!

 

[Slim64684]

Coral list:
Splatter hammer

Frogspawn

Candy cane

Acan/Micromusa lords

Favia

Chalise

Cup coral

Zoas

 

[Slim64684]

Fish/inverts:
Firefish

Normal clown

3 blue legged hermits
3 turbo snails
2 nassaruis sails
5 dwarf ceriths
5 zig zag periwinkles

 

[Slim64684]

Thanks for the kind words everyone. Means a lot.

 

[NY_Caveman]

Very nice! Welcome to R2R!

 

[theatrus]

Nice aquascape. Long tanks look pretty good with the two island look, and the cave is nice.

 

[Slim64684]

Dinner time on the reef. And tonight's menu is mysis.

This little guy is ready to chow down.

Not to be outdone the cup snagged one and said watch this.

For the record watching two nassaruis snails race towards a shrimp that hit the sand is hilarious. The fight dirty, flipping each other around. Wish I would have gotten a video

 

[Slim64684]

Feeding the fish last night and I can now confidently say zoas and palys do eat.

A few other heads grabbed a mysis too along with a couple of heads of other varities.

 

[Biev]

Nice scape can't wait to see the tank progression!

 

[Slim64684]

Went on a shopping spree Friday and ordered a bunch of stuff. Nothing living, but some parts for my diy power center and a Hanna HI774. Everything is here besides the checker so I decided to get started on the relay box.

I'll have more than 6 outlets, but somethings dont need to be controlled by a switch.

 

[Biev]

Liking the control box idea . Keep up the good work