Just another 5ft Reef Tank

JoshMack

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Aug 28, 2019
Messages
30
Reaction score
22
Location
Melbourne
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Cannot wait to share the journey with everyone here!! Advice always welcome :) Cycling coming in a few weeks.

It's been nearly 10 years since I owned a tank and I always wanted something big enough for tangs! So I've gotten back into the hobby with a 5ft Red Sea tank (older one with ATO in the sump).

It's quite exciting, the pricing was great and I've gotten near everything for $3k AUD.
- Tank and Cabinet
- Aqua One Arctic 1/3 HP Chiller
- Nyos 160 Skimmer
- 2 Tunze Nanostream 6095's
- All pumps
- Aqua Medi 4 doser
- Heaters
- UV Setup
- Reef Rock
- Water drums
- All of his test kits

With all of this, I've gone and picked my lights. Starting off, I'm getting 2 Kessil A360x's with the plan of adding 1-2 more as I move into SPS. I've got the rest of my equipment sorted from RO/DI to Salts and more!! So look forward to the tank setup in the next 2 weeks, picking up the lights, loading the tank into my Ranger Raptor and the panic in my face as I try not to smash it (I'm really stressed about this one).

Overall, I'm most excited about getting back into the hobby. I always loved it and wished I'd never left my cube behind. Maybe I'll even add a nano to the list just as a coral only tank.

Enjoy a few shots of the old setup and the tank empty. The guy that sold it to me had it immaculate, so I'm extremely happy with how good everything looked.
68812170_1166130170263586_7662282275232415744_n.jpg


69212090_1166130106930259_4507107619218915328_n.jpg
 

COreef8

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 24, 2018
Messages
372
Reaction score
3,651
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
YES!! Welcome back to the hobby and welcome to R2R! I have the same tank, love that thing.

Sounds like you got an amazing deal on a good quality setup. Since this isn't your first tank you know that you'll be so happy to have the higher quality gear in a year to two.

Since it is still empty, I'll share that the one thing I really wish I would have done before I set this up is put permanent leveling feet on it. I'd consider that if the tank doesn't already have them. The shims make me nervous.

Looking forward to watching you build this setup!
 

vetteguy53081

Well known Member and monster tank lover
View Badges
Joined
Aug 11, 2013
Messages
91,872
Reaction score
202,899
Location
Wisconsin -
Rating - 100%
13   0   0
Beautiful tank !!
welcome7.gif
 
OP
OP
JoshMack

JoshMack

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Aug 28, 2019
Messages
30
Reaction score
22
Location
Melbourne
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
YES!! Welcome back to the hobby and welcome to R2R! I have the same tank, love that thing.

Sounds like you got an amazing deal on a good quality setup. Since this isn't your first tank you know that you'll be so happy to have the higher quality gear in a year to two.

Since it is still empty, I'll share that the one thing I really wish I would have done before I set this up is put permanent leveling feet on it. I'd consider that if the tank doesn't already have them. The shims make me nervous.

Looking forward to watching you build this setup!

This is a great idea! I'm going to do that as soon as I pick up the tank. I'm not rushing the first set up, so I've got as much time as I like to get it right.

I was going to buy it all new, so I'm happy that it was second hand. I also have a 1000l deltec skimmer from years ago, so I might end up using that. (just need a new impeller).
 
OP
OP
JoshMack

JoshMack

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Aug 28, 2019
Messages
30
Reaction score
22
Location
Melbourne
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Didn't crack the tank!!

So the move went smoothly, this is just how we got it all into the car.

At the same time, I spent the day aquascaping, getting all the plumbing right (still more plumbing to settle) and then turned on the RO/DI to start the fill.
70452079_715838125545904_7325221891906469888_n.jpg


70213871_2627945963928608_3265196896204881920_n.jpg



Quite exciting! but the tank after 16 hous is 20% full haha. So it's a long wait so I can start my cycling.

Look out for a full tank in 5 days :p
 
OP
OP
JoshMack

JoshMack

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Aug 28, 2019
Messages
30
Reaction score
22
Location
Melbourne
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
3 weeks in and the cycle is well and truly alive!!
20191006_123648.jpg


I did a 10% water change and brought the ammonia down to .25.

A lot more reasonable, but the nitrite are still up at 1ppm.

2 more weeks I think, maybe 3 and I can start the next phase.

20190926_193033.jpg


Need to figure put better placement of pumps though. All 4 are on the back wall after this clearing was made and there are now 2 small bare patches.

I'm assuming once the sand comes alive that this will go away for good
 

Creating a strong bulwark: Did you consider floor support for your reef tank?

  • I put a major focus on floor support.

    Votes: 53 40.8%
  • I put minimal focus on floor support.

    Votes: 26 20.0%
  • I put no focus on floor support.

    Votes: 47 36.2%
  • Other.

    Votes: 4 3.1%
Back
Top