A low-tech 55 gallon corner reef

[LivinTheSwreefLife]

Updated FTS (July 1 2026):

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I'm jumping back into the hobby after a long break, and I realized today that this will be my SEVENTH reef tank (not including freshwater tanks). So I'm starting a build thread!

This is a 55 gallon corner tank I found on Craigslist for $150 with the stand. Not drilled, so no sump. So....... yeah, nothing fancy. But it's the size I wanted, and it fits the space in my living room nicely. I did a leak test already which it passed, and I painted the outside to match my space. Plan to also do black sand with the hopes that the tank contents really pop with the rest of it kind of blending into the background.

Most of the gear for this tank will be used stuff (except for a Vortech MP-10 because I just love a good Vortech and I couldn't snag one used in time). I MAY doing a HOB skimmer. Haven't decided yet if it's worth running a HOB filter for mechanical filtration, been a long time since I ran a reef tank without a sump so not sure if that's more Nitrate trap trouble than it's worth.

As for livestock plans and lights: an AI prime 16 HD, and mostly LPS and softies, plus a clownfish and a tomini tang. I plan to add another clownfish eventually and a nem, but that's about it.

So the plan for this week is to make RODI water, mix up saltwater, set up my equipment, and then add all the rock and livestock.

 

[JumboShrimp]

Not many black sand tanks out there these days-- let's see how it goes. You have good enthusiasm for tank #7!

 

[LivinTheSwreefLife]

Not many black sand tanks out there these days-- let's see how it goes. You have good enthusiasm for tank #7!

Yeah, black sand is something I haven’t done before.

I am enthusiastic, yes! I should clarify that the other 6 tanks didn’t all end in disaster or anything, and were over the course of about 16 years. For 2, I’m counting moving house and swapping tank but keeping inhabitants. 3 small ones were kept for a while but sold to fellow reefers while I took a break from the hobby. One was indeed lost, to a week-long blackout in 2017.

Anyway, this one’s gonna be lucky, I can tell :)

 

[LivinTheSwreefLife]

Update! Everything is settled in for about 2 weeks and doing well. Added a tiny rainbow nem and 2 small frags, but otherwise all of this came from a previous setup (running for about 7 years). I'm happy with how the aquascape turned out.

I need to cut the green gonipora colony off the plastic frag mount, but otherwise done scaping :) let me know what you think! Posting a FTS from the front and side views.

 

[LivinTheSwreefLife]

Time for an update!

Things are going well after a few months. Had to change lights, got a NavaReef 65, corals seem to like it better. Dosing All For Reef to keep up with (mostly alk) consumption.

Also added a small rainbow BTA that my clownfish ignores. Added a CUC, including a large red brittle star and an emerald crab. No new fish yet but plan to add 2 more soon (second clownfish and a blue chromis) and then that will be it for fish at 4 total.

Here’s an updated FTS:

And the side view from the couch!

 

[kevgib67]

Time for an update!

Things are going well after a few months. Had to change lights, got a NavaReef 65, corals seem to like it better. Dosing All For Reef to keep up with (mostly alk) consumption.

Also added a small rainbow BTA that my clownfish ignores. Added a CUC, including a large red brittle star and an emerald crab. No new fish yet but plan to add 2 more soon (second clownfish and a blue chromis) and then that will be it for fish at 4 total.

Here’s an updated FTS:

And the side view from the couch!

Very nice, well done!

 

[LivinTheSwreefLife]

Happy spooky season all! Corals are doing great and growing. Here’s a comparison pic (top is mid-Oct, bottom was mid-July. So 3 months of growth.

I’ve changed a few things, most notably the background and rocks a bit on the right side. And I added a second light which my corals LOVE.

I added a blue chromis and many emerald crabs that do not keep up with the bubble algae as well as I had hoped they would. Thinking of resorting to algaecide as the combo of bubble and GHA are getting bad. But afraid it will hurt the corals I also need to get more snails, will put in an order today.

Overall, things are good. Still running 100% biofilters and monthly water changes, no skimmer, no filter, no reefmat etc. we will see how long that can last with the algae problem.