My 75 Build (First Reef)

[XxScarfacexX619]

Good morning. I will be starting one soon! After 12 years out of the hobby it’s time to return. Love your pictures so far

 

[Reefin' Steve]

Here's something to look at, I suppose

I actually really like your scape! Use of
Negative space on the left and shelf stacking looks great to me! I’m new to the SW hobby but I feel like patience is a virtue for the cycle. Good luck!

The shelf scape kits worked pretty well! I do like how it looks. It’s just a big / complicated structure to break down and reassemble. Originally I wanted 2 primary structures with negative space in center, and maybe the island there for Xenia or something. But wasn’t asmuch of a mix of 1/3s of each type of rock, alot of base and shelf mostly, so I worked with it being a bit shelf heavy and they just grew together to fit as much rock as I wanted to have for bio filtration. I also knew I wanted a least a tang, and that influenced the 75 over a 60 (height, people seem to like the 60 more for reefs in general) and the negative space on the left end. The left end faces my couch, and I’m hoping the swim space with active stocking will keep things interesting to watch. Also Xenia or Zoa Island will add color or movement. It is also approximately based on the rule of thirds visually. It’s about 2-4” off the back glass and probably about 8” in the front, so I believe there’s plenty, essentially could do laps around the entire structure and through the cave. Chat gpt is really good at analyzing rock structures and an according stocking plan and schedule, if you put the time in to have a “conversation” about your setup. Something to keep in mind and hope it helps with someone’s planning!

The coralline color spray lightly over the structure definitely adds some visual appeal and was worth the ~$10, and the savings of true purple rock for me. It’s not even really that noticeable but it’s enough.

Posts coming up for 3d printed stuff so far, and my chat gpt stock list.

 

[Reefin' Steve]

Good morning. I will be starting one soon! After 12 years out of the hobby it’s time to return. Love your pictures so far

Good afternoon! I appreciate that, and I’m happy to be a factor in bringing you back!

 

[geehad420]

The shelf scape kits worked pretty well! I do like how it looks. It’s just a big / complicated structure to break down and reassemble. Originally I wanted 2 primary structures with negative space in center, and maybe the island there for Xenia or something. But wasn’t asmuch of a mix of 1/3s of each type of rock, alot of base and shelf mostly, so I worked with it being a bit shelf heavy and they just grew together to fit as much rock as I wanted to have for bio filtration. I also knew I wanted a least a tang, and that influenced the 75 over a 60 (height, people seem to like the 60 more for reefs in general) and the negative space on the left end. The left end faces my couch, and I’m hoping the swim space with active stocking will keep things interesting to watch. Also Xenia or Zoa Island will add color or movement. It is also approximately based on the rule of thirds visually. It’s about 2-4” off the back glass and probably about 8” in the front, so I believe there’s plenty, essentially could do laps around the entire structure and through the cave. Chat gpt is really good at analyzing rock structures and an according stocking plan and schedule, if you put the time in to have a “conversation” about your setup. Something to keep in mind and hope it helps with someone’s planning!

The coralline color spray lightly over the structure definitely adds some visual appeal and was worth the ~$10, and the savings of true purple rock for me. It’s not even really that noticeable but it’s enough.

Posts coming up for 3d printed stuff so far, and my chat gpt stock list.

Could you let me know which spray you used for coloring the rock, and ya agree chatgpt is actually randomly very helpful with reef related questions it seems. Makes sense on xenia and tang for movement should keep things lively in the display, keep the updates coming!

 

[CoastieCorals]

Nice setup!

 

[Reefin' Steve]

The shelf scape kits worked pretty well! I do like how it looks. It’s just a big / complicated structure to break down and reassemble. Originally I wanted 2 primary structures with negative space in center, and maybe the island there for Xenia or something. But wasn’t asmuch of a mix of 1/3s of each type of rock, alot of base and shelf mostly, so I worked with it being a bit shelf heavy and they just grew together to fit as much rock as I wanted to have for bio filtration. I also knew I wanted a least a tang, and that influenced the 75 over a 60 (height, people seem to like the 60 more for reefs in general) and the negative space on the left end. The left end faces my couch, and I’m hoping the swim space with active stocking will keep things interesting to watch. Also Xenia or Zoa Island will add color or movement. It is also approximately based on the rule of thirds visually. It’s about 2-4” off the back glass and probably about 8” in the front, so I believe there’s plenty, essentially could do laps around the entire structure and through the cave. Chat gpt is really good at analyzing rock structures and an according stocking plan and schedule, if you put the time in to have a “conversation” about your setup. Something to keep in mind and hope it helps with someone’s planning!

The coralline color spray lightly over the structure definitely adds some visual appeal and was worth the ~$10, and the savings of true purple rock for me. It’s not even really that noticeable but it’s enough.

Posts coming up for 3d printed stuff so far, and my chat gpt stock list.

Could you let me know which spray you used for coloring the rock, and ya agree chatgpt is actually randomly very helpful with reef related questions it seems. Makes sense on xenia and tang for movement should keep things lively in the display, keep the updates coming!

It’s made by Marco rocks, I believe it was called “coralline colorant spray”. Should be able to find it pretty easy. They say it’s not meant to make a whole rock structure purple, but I really wasn’t going for that. Just takes some “sting” off the white only instructions are spray it on and fully dry before use. It also took to the mortar some which is nice.

 

[Reefin' Steve]

@geehad420 not sure it quoted correctly, so here’s a tag

 

[Reefin' Steve]

Cycle update going on 7 days

Ammonia still 1.2. Maybe was high end of that shade at the start an now on the light end, but still reading 1.2 none the less.

Nitrite up to 0.2, maybe a shade higher but still not the next step either.

Tested nitrate per my ChatGPT cycle log, showing 2.

This is painful, not going to lie. As someone who lives in New York 5 days from reefapalooza, it won’t be ready to accept anything. (Still going)

 

[p1u5h13r4m24]

I’ll be at reefapalooza Monday. I could bring you some bacteria balls from my sump :P

 

[Reefin' Steve]

I’ll be at reefapalooza Monday. I could bring you some bacteria balls from my sump :P

that would be awesome! but monday? were headed down 6/20 and attending both days, so friday-sunday

 

[p1u5h13r4m24]

I’ll be at reefapalooza Monday. I could bring you some bacteria balls from my sump :P

that would be awesome! but monday? were headed down 6/20 and attending both days, so friday-sunday

Sorry Saturday I’ll be there I’ll shoot ya a pm

 

[NautiTang]

following. Its Monday morning not original enough right now to come up with something more meaningful

 

[Reefin' Steve]

following. Its Monday morning not original enough right now to come up with something more meaningful

I have some serious catching up to do here! Stand by

 

[Reefin' Steve]

Quarantine Tank / Pre RAP

First of all, I’m not really calling this a quarantine tank… really more of an isolation tank. I have to look at this thing in the middle of my living room, so if the whole thing had to be sacrificed (rock) so be it. If I needed to use meds, I would do that in one of the portable type acrylic tanks, or for extended medicating, pull the rock structure, it’s one solid piece.

Nor do I think this the most responsible thing I could do, but my plan was to have the display cycled before RAP and it didn’t happen. Still wanted to go, after years of researching reading. So I spent some time researching how one could set up a “pop up” quarantine tank with minimal resources like cycled foam (I do have the polyp lab blocks in the big tank, that really should suffice) just in case I were to win something, get an incredible deal (did, in my opinion), and so on.

I ended up with a 20L, an aquaclear 50, a 100w Sicce heater (we’ll get to that), and a Sicce nano circulation pump. Multiple extra ammonia removal, bio, and carbon media packs. Set it up, built a small rock structure, dosed a small amount of ammonia and a full dose of MB7 as directed. I say a small amount of ammonia after reading about stalling, and problems from a full/heavy dosing ammonia, mostly around these forums. I’m sure I could link them if anyone is interested to how I arrived at what I did.

It’s working, with water changes, and the polyp lab block, I have some very happy looking corals going on a week in there, waiting on the 75. But the next post is going to be RAP, and I’ll save those pictures for part of that post. I didn’t get any fish, so hopefully the reef police will take it easy on me.

Ps - Not this one, but one of the DT Sicce heaters failed (3 weeks?). Everyone hates on the them for being “tap” adjustment with rfid - I knew that part but they should probably last a bit longer.

 

[Reefin' Steve]

Well, she died. It’s been a bit, but I’m going to try my best to recollect the sequence of events and share my shame.

The tank became fairly well stocked, I was about halfway through my fish stocking list over the course of a couple months, I had a few zoas, and got a couple torches when we went to RAP. Parameters all stayed in check except fighting to keep ph where I wanted, which I tuned outside air into the skimmer, and that helped. It ran this way for probably 2 months after the last livestock had been added.

Woke up one day, and a torch shed its head entirely, hanging on by a thread. Soon as I touched it to remove it just blew away, but I got it out. No other issues that I recall, saw nothing majorly off in testing.

Then a blue chromis showed white spots. Couldn’t catch him. Rock work too big to remove while running. Mistake #1.

One by one, fish got it and started just disappearing. I tried treating with kick ich and rally, didn’t work.

The fish would show spots, a day or two later breathe heavy, get popeye and die. If I could remove them, I did. Some were just gone into the rocks.

At this point when the last fish went, I just pulled the plug. It sat that way since about November. The zoas hadn’t melted away, but I just counted it as a total loss regardless

I finally broke it down. Cleaned everything with water and vinegar. And I’m planning a new (negative space) aquascape. Pods were thriving, if I missed a death that wasn’t in the rocks, they would make quick work of it at night. I found that out on my diamond goby. Coralline was starting throughout the tank in small spots. Never had a I thought the tank was headed in a good direction up until this.

I don’t really know what happened. But, it’s over with regardless.

Some questions:
Is it safe to use what rock I can salvage (mainly want to save foundation rocks). Bleach treat?

Same question with sand, rinse?

I kept my sump media in a bag of water, but the rest is out. 2 polyp lab blocks, and like 4 boxes of marine pure gems.

I’m hesitant to reuse anything to be honest, but I also don’t want the total square one restart, I’m sure at least the sump media would be beneficial, considering the tank basically went through a fallow cleanse.

Anybody want to see the rebuild?

 

[vlangel]

Well, she died. It’s been a bit, but I’m going to try my best to recollect the sequence of events and share my shame.

The tank became fairly well stocked, I was about halfway through my fish stocking list over the course of a couple months, I had a few zoas, and got a couple torches when we went to RAP. Parameters all stayed in check except fighting to keep ph where I wanted, which I tuned outside air into the skimmer, and that helped. It ran this way for probably 2 months after the last livestock had been added.

Woke up one day, and a torch shed its head entirely, hanging on by a thread. Soon as I touched it to remove it just blew away, but I got it out. No other issues that I recall, saw nothing majorly off in testing.

Then a blue chromis showed white spots. Couldn’t catch him. Rock work too big to remove while running. Mistake #1.

One by one, fish got it and started just disappearing. I tried treating with kick ich and rally, didn’t work.

The fish would show spots, a day or two later breathe heavy, get popeye and die. If I could remove them, I did. Some were just gone into the rocks.

At this point when the last fish went, I just pulled the plug. It sat that way since about November. The zoas hadn’t melted away, but I just counted it as a total loss regardless

I finally broke it down. Cleaned everything with water and vinegar. And I’m planning a new (negative space) aquascape. Pods were thriving, if I missed a death that wasn’t in the rocks, they would make quick work of it at night. I found that out on my diamond goby. Coralline was starting throughout the tank in small spots. Never had a I thought the tank was headed in a good direction up until this.

I don’t really know what happened. But, it’s over with regardless.

Some questions:
Is it safe to use what rock I can salvage (mainly want to save foundation rocks). Bleach treat?

Same question with sand, rinse?

I kept my sump media in a bag of water, but the rest is out. 2 polyp lab blocks, and like 4 boxes of marine pure gems.

I’m hesitant to reuse anything to be honest, but I also don’t want the total square one restart, I’m sure at least the sump media would be beneficial, considering the tank basically went through a fallow cleanse.

Anybody want to see the rebuild?

You can re-use everything. You actually can set the tank back up, cycle and run fallow without any fish. That way any remnants of the fish disease will have died out. I think the tank needs to run fallow 90 days but I am not sure of that.
I definitely want to see the rebuild! I also have a 75g and love following other 75g aquarists.
And lest you think that you are the only one who has gone down this road, I will share my current situation. I have been keeping reefs since the 1990s. I set up my 75g back in Sept as it was a transfer from my former 56g. Everything was going very well until 2 weeks ago when I added the last 3 fish. I don't QT or TTM so of course there is risk. Well, ich has broken out in my tank. I've lost 3 fish for sure and I have a few that are definitely infected. I have ordered a UV sterilizer but it wont be here for a bit and a UV only kills ich when its in the free swim stage. So a UV controls ich populations but does not eradicate it. Even if all my fish succumb, I will run the tank with just the coral for a couple months and then slowly restock.

 

[Reefin' Steve]

You can re-use everything. You actually can set the tank back up, cycle and run fallow without any fish. That way any remnants of the fish disease will have died out. I think the tank needs to run fallow 90 days but I am not sure of that.
I definitely want to see the rebuild! I also have a 75g and love following other 75g aquarists.
And lest you think that you are the only one who has gone down this road, I will share my current situation. I have been keeping reefs since the 1990s. I set up my 75g back in Sept as it was a transfer from my former 56g. Everything was going very well until 2 weeks ago when I added the last 3 fish. I don't QT or TTM so of course there is risk. Well, ich has broken out in my tank. I've lost 3 fish for sure and I have a few that are definitely infected. I have ordered a UV sterilizer but it wont be here for a bit and a UV only kills ich when its in the free swim stage. So a UV controls ich populations but does not eradicate it. Even if all my fish succumb, I will run the tank with just the coral for a couple months and then slowly restock.

That’s what I figured on reusing, but I do plan to make the aquascape a bit better while I’m at it as well! So partially (or mainly) cleaning the rocks to use to create new. (OCD won’t let me use a mix of colors ). Sorry to hear about your outbreaks and good luck with getting it under control

 

[vlangel]

That’s what I figured on reusing, but I do plan to make the aquascape a bit better while I’m at it as well! So partially (or mainly) cleaning the rocks to use to create new. (OCD won’t let me use a mix of colors ). Sorry to hear about your outbreaks and good luck with getting it under control

I will enjoy seeing your new aquascape.

Thanks, I am hoping that most of the fish that I have left will develop a resistance to the disease.

 

[Idech]

Tank, Stand, Sump, and Skimmer

These were first on my list for obvious reasons. Tank would be an Aqueon, but Petco is transitioning to the Imagitarium brand, and they look cheap. So i drove about 2 hours to the next closest, Petsmart (closest reef stores are about the same distance). Grabbed the Marineland 75, and a matching stand. It originally has 4 doors, but i thought it would be nice how I did it with a sump in mind.

I dont think i could build a stand that looks as good with less than $1000 in new tools (Milwaukee family :rolling-on-the-floor-laughing:) and probably the cost of this stand in materials. Better, yes. Practical, not for me, to build one right now. But its presented some challenges. 24" (not a hair over) sumps are hard to come by apparently, it was this SR or the Fiji 24, and this one matched better, and the whole system was rated for 80-150 gallons. If it never leaks, ill have it a long time. Anyway, here are a few pics of them, the sump fitment was worth it :smiling-face-with-sunglasses:

This skimmer is exactly the same as a Simplicity skimmer, but with a different brand name. It’s odd…

 

[Reefin' Steve]

This skimmer is exactly the same as a Simplicity skimmer, but with a different brand name. It’s odd…

Is that a good or bad thing? Before I give my input/mini review