First time reefer here 55 setup

MastaMind82

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 17, 2020
Messages
127
Reaction score
510
Location
Wisconsin
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
After years of running freshwater aquariums I've decided to try my hand at a reef setup. I am going with a 55 and a 20 sump. Here are a few pics of the new stand I've built, don't worry there is a center front support that goes into it after the sump is in it's happy new home.
IMG-2418.jpg

IMG-2419.jpg

IMG-2426.jpg

IMG-2428.jpg
 
OP
OP
MastaMind82

MastaMind82

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 17, 2020
Messages
127
Reaction score
510
Location
Wisconsin
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
And here is the rock, sand, and water all in. Let the cycling begin. I do plan to have new lights by the time the tank is ready for fish and I'm already planning to get the HOB with 2 bulkhead and use 1 for an emergency. Look at me, a couple weeks in and already regretting a purchase! HAHA Sand particles were still settling when these were taken.
IMG-2454.jpg

IMG-2455.jpg
 
OP
OP
MastaMind82

MastaMind82

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 17, 2020
Messages
127
Reaction score
510
Location
Wisconsin
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Small update here. I am using the Red Sea Reef Mature Pro kit to cycle my tank (I don't have live rock so I am not adding the coraline grow nutrients). Day 7 everything is looking good I think. Temp 79, PH 8, Salinity 1.026, NO3 5, NH3 0.25. It's so hard to not get antsy and rush everything but I know it's all the slow waiting game, so I shall take it slow.
 
OP
OP
MastaMind82

MastaMind82

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 17, 2020
Messages
127
Reaction score
510
Location
Wisconsin
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Went and picked up a 10 gallon setup for a QT today. I figured that's it probably best practice to quarantine everything before going into the DT. Still have a while to go on the DT cycle but I wanted to have the gear for the QT ready to go. Here's to some more waiting.
 
OP
OP
MastaMind82

MastaMind82

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 17, 2020
Messages
127
Reaction score
510
Location
Wisconsin
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Small update. I picked up 2 clown fish and they are now in the quarantine tank. I figured that since they will be in there for 76 days this still gives plenty of time for my DT to finish cycling and what not.
IMG_2485.jpg
61860022775__9D4161C9-856F-4ABC-9043-F6FF68600AEE.JPG
 
OP
OP
MastaMind82

MastaMind82

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 17, 2020
Messages
127
Reaction score
510
Location
Wisconsin
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Update. With the help of @piranhaman00 I got my Coral/Invert QT all setup (just waiting on the light to come in). On the DT I did pickup the Ink Bird ITC-306A as a "fail safe" for the heaters in there. It didn't take long for me of doing manual top-offs in the DT to realize why so many go with auto top offs. So I picked up an ATO for up there and after 2 days of it going I would say by far that is my favorite equipment purchase to date. That's about it for now.
 
OP
OP
MastaMind82

MastaMind82

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 17, 2020
Messages
127
Reaction score
510
Location
Wisconsin
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
After much internal debate with myself I decided to order some live rock from KP Aquatics to help with my tank startup. I came to the decision that if I’m gonna spend X on equipment and lights then why not get some live rock also. Well here it is!
1173F3C6-1269-43C4-AD8A-D50FEB3E18B5.jpeg

D0AC66B2-B424-4FDC-B625-F3D29583FEAF.jpeg

F2F0691F-FBD9-452A-846B-9967E14F3F6A.jpeg
 
Back
Top