In the beginning let there be a 425 Gallon Reef

[Jots]

Scape took about 15 hrs or so. I had a idea of what I wanted to achieve with several towers but minimal contact with the substrate so most are built with one footer rock and built up from there. I took about 300 lbs of BRS dry rock (broken up to smaller pieces, 6 large flat base rock, 8 medium flat base rock, 2 bags of small shelf rock and 20 lbs of branched rock. Scape is being constantly filled in with additional ledges and arches to give it a more 3 dimensional look.

I prefer to have a true mixed reef with bottom half dominated by soft & LPS corals and to top with SPS. This is why my rockscape has the height that it does to allow for growth. I favor color over high price tag named corals and most likely to stay with LPS and softies for several months.


Nice, how many hours did it take for that scape and will this be a SPS dominant tank?

 

[Jots]

Here is the completed plumbing under the tank. I have a gate valves and ball valve that are closed off for my existing anemone tank that I will plumb
In eventually. Plumbing was much more detailed and elaborate than I had expected but well worth the effort and planning. This week will be dedicated to getting some light above the tank. I received some extruded aluminum 80/20 and Angle stock that I need to cut to size and build a light rack to hang 2x Orphek V4 gen 2 for now, end goal is to have 3 Orpheks and 3-4 Kessel A360 x for added light and shimmer .

My skimmer is old and was previously used for the stand alone 90gallon. Rated for 250 so will do for now until I begin to stock a bit heavier. In all I will have 6 7” filter sock scrubbing the water. A carbon reactor will be added soon to keep the water sparkling.

 

[Jots]

2 of 3 Orpheks are up and needing one more to complete the spread. As mentioned, my intent is to also incorporate 3 Kessel 360 x that I currently have over the 90 for supplemental and desired shimmer. Might even consider just adding 2 more panels of orphek and keep the 2 Kessels running the 90. Thoughts?

 

[Jots]

Hoping to get the cabinets up this week and activating the return pump to circulate the Display. Currently the tank is just operating with internal pumps and no filtration.

 

[Jots]

Here are some resent pics of all the inhabitants so far. I’m sticking to primarily smaller fish mates. Up to this point I have

Newer Fish:
5 Mollies
5 ORA spotcintus clowns
Tail spot blenny

Transferred from 90 gallon:
Captive bred neon dottyback (named Blippi)
Mandarin Goby
Flame Hawk
Tomini Tang

On order:
3 Yellow Tangs
Blue spot Jawfish

 

[Rubberfrog]

Sweet

 

[GoReefin]

Looks awesome. Love the whole process so far. Looking forward to seeing it progress.

 

[Skynyrd Fish]

This is killer. Nice build and beautiful home and family. Following.