My First Reef Tank

[Mike_K]

I jam taking my first dive into a Reef Tank. I have a Aqueon 55 Gallon with me that was a Freshwater Tank for a solid 3 years before combining it into my other tank. I am hoping to expand this into a 75 or 90 Gallon tank one day.

Equipment (this list is a work in progress)
Tank: Aqueon 55 Gallon (48" L x 12" W x 21" H)
Stand: Custom Wood Stand
Sump: Custom 16x16x16 by Luna Reefs
ATO & Saltwater Reservoir: 5 Gallon Jugs
ATO Pump: AutoAqua Smart AWC
Overflow: CPR
Skimmer: Eshopps X-120
Return Pump: Current USA 1900 GPH DC Pump
Wave Pump: 2x Current USA 1050 GPH Wave Pump, 1x Current USA 600 GPH Wave Pump
Lighting: 2x Current USA Orbit Marine IC
Controller: Current USA LOOP Bluetooth
Salt: Brightwell NeoMarine
RODI: Aquatic Life RO
Heater: Eheim Jager 150 Watt
Frag Rack: Aquamaxx 9 Hole Magnetic
Accudrip Accliation
Refugium Light:


Substrate and Rock (this list is a work in progress)
Sand: Caribsea Fiji Pink 60 lbs
Rock: Live Rock


Testing
LED Bulk Reef Supply Refractometer
Hanna Salinity Tester
Hanna pH Tester
Red Sea Marine Care Test Kit
Red Sea Foundation Pro Test Kit
Red Sea Algae Control Test Kit
(I tried Salifert Test Kits but felt my results were a bit off and readings were hard to precisely read sometimes)

Food
WWC Reef Mix
Dr G's Anti-Parasitic Caviar
Polyp Lab Reef Roids

Supplements
Brightwell Reef Code A
Brightwell Reef Code B
Brightwell Kalk +2
Brightwell Coral Amino
Brightwell Microbacter7
Red Sea Reef Energy A&B (Trial Pack)

Fish (this list is a work in progress)
1 - Orange Ocellaris Clownfish (12/18/18)
1 - Orange Ocellaris Clownfish (1/22/19)
1 - Firefish (12/26/18)
1 - Royal Gramma (1/9/19 - 2/5/19) - Found Stuck inside rock

Inverts (this list is a work in progress)
5- Astrea Snail
3 - Blue Leg Hermit Crabs
1 - Nassarius Snail
1 - Scarlet Cleaner Shrimp
3 - Trochus Snail
2 - Margarita Snail

Corals (this list is a work in progress)
Green Tip / Red, Blue Center Zoa
Green Tip / Yellow Center Zoa
Pulsing Xenia

Plants
Chaeto

 

[Kyle Rinker]

If you are anything like me, you will never turn back once you start reef keeping Welcome aboard, and I'm excited to see where you go from here!

 

[mich2599]

I jam taking my first dive into a Reef Tank. I have a Aqueon 55 Gallon with me that was a Freshwater Tank for a solid 3 years before combining it into my other tank. I am hoping to expand this into a 75 or 90 Gallon tank one day.

Tank: Aqueon 55 Gallon (48" L x 12" W x 21" H)
Stand: Custom Made by Me

Equipment (this list is a work in progress)
Sump: Eshopps ADV-200
ATO Reservoir: Eshopps ATO Reservoir (Need)
ATO Pump: ?
Overflow: Marine Depot OF-1200
Skimmer: (Debating and researching Reef Octo, Eshopps, AquaMaxx, Bubble Magus, Vertex)
Return Pump: (Debating and researching)
Flow: 600 GPH is my ideal range
Lighting: Fluval Marine and Reef 2.0 (For Now)
Controller: ?

Substrate and Rock (this list is a work in progress)
Sand: ?
Rock: ?

Planned Livestock (this list is a work in progress)
?

Corals will be a mix down the road

Why not just make your own sump? Save a lot of money.

 

[Reefer Deez]

Hello and welcome to R2R it's a pleasure to have you here with us I wish you the best of luck on your new adventure and addiction!

 

[Mike_K]

Why not just make your own sump? Save a lot of money.

I was about to use a 20L or bigger to make a sump with Refugium but after the purchase of a tank, glass, and supplies it would have cost be close to the same it cost me for the used one i bought. The used one holds roughly 30g and i paid at least $220 less then new price and i couldnt beat it

 

[mich2599]

I was about to use a 20L or bigger to make a sump with Refugium but after the purchase of a tank, glass, and supplies it would have cost be close to the same it cost me for the used one i bought. The used one holds roughly 30g and i paid at least $220 less then new price and i couldnt beat it

That was a good price. I spent around 80 bucks on mine. It’s a 20 gallon.

 

[Mike_K]

That was a good price. I spent around 80 bucks on mine. It’s a 20 gallon.

I dont think i would have found a better price. Plus it comes with 3 filter socks and a box of unused socks, and the sump has a built in float switch that i will be using for ATO. The guy has just been wanting to get rid of in since he bought a red sea setup.

 

[Mike_K]

Update on my tank transformation to a saltwater setup.

Stand is nearly complete beside a canopy and sliding front doors. Got my overflow plumbed and most of my return line done.

 

[Mike_K]

Update since it's been a few months. Tank has been cycled with the help of Brightwell Microbactor7. I am using Brightwell Neomarine Salt as well. I currently have a Clown and a firefish in the tank as well as (3) $5 frags from World Wide Corals. I updated some of the plumbing and still finding better ways to organize the bottom of the tank.

White lights were turned on for photos

\

 

[Mike_K]

Tank is coming along. Updated my list in my first post. Have 3 fish, inverts, and 2 frags. Been testing and using the Aquarimate App to record everything and i highly recommend the app. Re did some plumbing along the way to install gate valves rather than ball valves. Also got my refugium section going with some Chaeto growing. I have about 2 softball sizes in there right now.