First Reef

[dduby]

Getting the plumbing mocked up. Starting to come together. The plumbing was probably the most frustrating part of the whole build.

Edit: For those curious i did a herbie style drain in both overflows

 

[dduby]

Finally getting the tank wet. Very satisfying

 

[dduby]

Aquascape done. This was a lot of trial and error. If i could do this all over again i would get pieces with more size variation. It was hard to get a 'scape that didn't look like a wall of rocks.

Edit: A hammer and a chisel was a huge help

 

[dduby]

Added sand and lights

 

[dduby]

This guy showed up in no time. I started with live rock, so not very surprised. I ended up getting a bottle of F-Aiptasia and nuking that one and two others. But, once I got an eye for spotting them I realized i needed help.

 

[AiKkz]

Looking awesome!!!!

 

[dduby]

I picked up a pair of peppermint shrimp and they wrecked the rest of the aiptasia. I haven't seen once since adding those guys.

 

[dduby]

Looking awesome!!!!

Thank you

 

[motortrendz]

Sump shot. Bashsea 48x16x15. Purchased from Premium Aquatics. Very well made and gives me plenty of options/upgrade paths.

Bashsea makes some great sumps.

 

[AiKkz]

Bashsea makes some great sumps.

+1 I have a bashsea sump and it’s great!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Oooh, something nice brewing here !!!!

 

[Amateur Reefer]

Nice start. This may be your first reef but it seems like you know what you are doing. Do you have (or had) other tanks?

 

[dduby]

Nice start. This may be your first reef but it seems like you know what you are doing. Do you have (or had) other tanks?

I appriciate the kind words. Nope, I've never had a tank in my life.

 

[dduby]

Gratuitous dog photo

 

[HighChiefKC]

This might be a dumb noob question, but plumbing baffles me sometimes....I’m looking into planning for a Bashsea sump also, if you have 2 overflows, how is there 3 intakes coming into the sump? I noticed all of their sumps have 3

 

[dduby]

This might be a dumb noob question, but plumbing baffles me sometimes....I’m looking into planning for a Bashsea sump also, if you have 2 overflows, how is there 3 intakes coming into the sump? I noticed all of their sumps have 3

I did a herbie style drain in each overflow and ran the return line over the back.
I ran both of the full siphon and one of the open channels into the bulkheads and ran the other open channel into the fuge section of my sump. I left it above the water line so i can hear when the open channel is taking on more water.

Edit: This was a mock-up of the plumbing, I ended up using unions so i can take all of the plumbing out if needed