my reef tank

[Michael Curtis]

so this is a my first reef tank although its been up and running for over a year and is very much a work in progress I thought id put it up

so the basics are

equipment

evolution aqua 1200s old version tank plus stand and sump
2 x tmc v2power pumps @ 2200lph return pumps (to be changed as there ac not dc)
Now replaced with 2 x ecotech vector S2
1 x tmc v2 300w heater
1 x ecotech radion rx30 gen 3 plus reeflink
reef octo 110 int skimmer
1x bubblemagnus 70cl media reactor as a bio filter
2 Aquarmi KPM wave pumps Now replaced with 2 x ecotech mp40's
1x bubble magnus 400 chiller
1 elitech heater and chiller controller
1x auto aqua awc system
1x jabeo 3.4 wifi dosing pump
2x Evolution aqua evo25s UV units (new purchase)

live stock

2 x orange and white clown fish
3 x red fire fish
5 x yellow tail damsels
1 x six line sand sifting goby
1 x sand sifting starfish
1 x juvinal emperor angel ( will out grow tank when fully grown so will be upgrading tank to match him)
1 x blue with siver speckles bubble tip anemone ( although it looks more pink most of the time )

corals
1 x indo torch (purple with green tips)
1 x toadstool short extections ( sorry don't know the name)
1 x small frag long tentical toadstool
1x small frag neon radioactive green xenia

and thats about it so far for corals just taking it slow with them.

so at the beginning the tank looked like this

ether side is 4 slim book cases setup 2 wide 2 deep ( just cheep ones i had handy at the time and all looking clean and new during its cycle stage.

slowley things have started to happen with it some good some bad once cycled i added cleanup crew and fish slowly

plus my first corals

anyways to keep a long story short for know you get the drift

after a wile its started to look like this

but I have recently removed the center section as it was turning into a dirt trap and have changed it to this

plus added an anemone for the clowns if they choose to host it

and my latest addition's in the attempt to combat the dino out brake that has been on going for six months I've just added 2 uv sterilisers

but anyways its still a work in progress as and when money and time allows

 

[SPR1968]

Very nice Michael and great pictures!

 

[Michael Curtis]

So update on the tank

Since my last post things have changed a little

First of have to say although I like my aquarmi KPM pumps the app and concetion method sucked ( sorry but its true ) and there didn't seem to work right

So having just had my birthday now have 2 ecotech mp40's to replace them so there now my backups

Also added

blue pin cushion urchin
Sand starfish
Lots more snales as mine always seem to disappear
3 Green chromis

 

[Michael Curtis]

It never stops buy always evolving

So after adding these

I got the bug and seeing as my 2 tcm return pumps were ac and noisy spent more money on these


We'll atleast when the tank needs upgrading I'll have 2 excellent pumps for the returns.

 

[Michael Curtis]

So to keep things a little up to date the old tank developed a flaw in the silicon seal for the front glass after moving home in nov 2020 so end of last year ( 2021 ) gave a good reason to upgrade to a new tank and I’d been putting it off for wile.

decided on a waterbox 180.5

plan was a slow move over from the old to new but it went to hell when the return line for the chiller popped out the sump and sat behind the stand with out me noticing dumping most of the sump and part of the tank onto the carpet below before i noticed ( not to self always check things are still were they should be before assuming it is)

having not planed for the mess it caused but setup for the new tank ment I had to move everything over at the same time

So now the new tank is up and running

luckily I’d planed for the use of fritz 9, live sand and carib sea life rock to give the tank a kick start Hoping to quick cycle the tank.

been checking the pramiters regularly as really didn’t want to do it this way if I didn’t have to

cycle took 4 days and no losses so far didnt see a spike in ammonia luckily

added a new skimmer as old one was way to small for the tank plus a few other bits and bobs

my 2 s2 pumps are used on the new tank run in serial at 29% each to give me a backup just in case one fails

will update with pics and full brake down once the skimmer is broken in as at the moment mostly brown everywhere and micro bubbles in the tank from the skimmer