New 450 build

[fishface NJ]

Wowza!!! That is awesome

 

[danreef55]

just realized I gave you the wrong sump height
Glass Sump Perimeter Braced w 1/2" Braced w/Black Trim
72 x 24 x 24 Tall

 

[armyvetheather]

10/9/24 - small update: added coral over the weekend to include a few duncans, zoas, alveopora, piece of acro and a hammer. I desperately need room in my 90 gallon, especially to fit the 50-something pieces I've bought from @SBB Corals that are coming next week so I took the dive. They've been in there for about four days at this point and they're hanging on strong.

Started adding All For Reef and the A&K plus aminos. Took the first real tests on it last week and readings are actually close to my 90 as far as being pretty stable, so far at least. The bigger the tank, the easier it is in my opinion to maintain stability. I'll try to get back on later and add a few pictures.

As always - thanks for taking a look!

 

[Dom]

I wouldn't mind seeing closeup pictures of the stand.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Can't wait to see the new coral you got!

 

[armyvetheather]

I wouldn't mind seeing closeup pictures of the stand.

Yeah, I can post some. I've yet to finish cleaning up the electrical so once I do that I can put the doors back on I'll give you guys a tour of the sump. It's just a hot mess right now until I get everything exactly the way I want it - at least mostly there anyways.

 

[Fishy Guy]

Tank looks great! I'm in your area and have seen it on the local FB group page ha.

 

[Reefing_addiction]

 

[Reefing_addiction]

Got a 450 acrylic a couple of weeks ago and still getting started. So far, I've got the tank plumbed, sand, rock, and starting to fill it up. It's been a journey, but I'm loving it so far. Big difference from my 90 I set up in a day! Running ro water has taken 3 days by itself. Almost there.

Still debating on the sump system, but due to logistics I'm going to run two sumps... One mechanical and one refugium. Will prob be upgrading soon, but this will get cycling started. Ordered two uv sterilizers, just gotta see which one I prefer. I'll also be installing my new skimmer I won from @ReefBreeder, super excited about that!!

Yes, I took sand from the beach. It was collected, rinsed, baked @425°for 30 minutes... Then rinsed again. I feel sure it's clean and clear of bacteria. I'll be sure and return it should I ever break it down, which I doubt. After the plumbing is completed with discharge outside and I'm able to pump it back in the same way, needless to say this tank will come with the house if I ever sell. Has approximately 150 gallons of dead rock and sand. Will be adding live rock very soon.

Have one Photon 48V2 and looking for another to cover the 8ft long tank. Think I've located one, but we'll see. I'll just build on one side for now. Like to have an additional light bar to compliment eventually. Not loving the custom stand either, so may have some upgrades coming soon.

Thanks for checking it out!!

Love that you were in the tank lol

 

[armyvetheather]

Tank looks great! I'm in your area and have seen it on the local FB group page

What part of the area? (I missed this before, apologies)

 

[armyvetheather]

UPDATE: This tank has gone through some things over the last couple of months and I've almost pulled my hair out. I was up to almost 25 fish at one point including several butterflies, tangs, and other high-end collectible livestock that I really did just enjoy staring at each day. Well, about two months ago my fish started disappearing without a trace and I had assumed it was my orange hairless cat Oliver who I know has snuck a few fish out of the tank here and there however, I now have a much different theory and relieved to say the least that I may have an explanation.

I have two 275g totes outside where one holds fresh and one holds saltwater and they are plumbed into the house to where all I have to do is flip a switch and the water will come out of one of two places with one being a garden hose and the other going straight to the 450g tank. Well, the same way in reverse for water changes - flip a switch and a pump comes on to pump the water out of the sump via pvc that is plumbed outside of the house.
I have spent the last two months racking my brain trying to figure out why my fish were disappearing and we're not talking one or two, no - we are talking about over 20 fish and sometimes 3-4 a day. I recently decided to do an ICP on my 90 gallon as I am going to be starting a new thread for my new tank and will be moving everything over. (build thread to come) I got the results of said ICP test last week and well, a lightbulb went off as I was reading the part that said my Zinc and Copper were exceedingly high. I now believe that the pump is pushing rust through the totes and causing my water to be contaminated with heavy metals despite running it through RODI beforehand since they hit the pump as the last stage. I have since ordered a new pump with a plastic manifold to help remedy this issue and I've changed some of the water out already, it will take a while to cycle out all 525+ system total gallons of bad water and I'm just going to do it over time bringing the levels down over the next month or so.

Heck of a learning lesson - when in doubt, ICP to find out?!

 

[armyvetheather]

UPDATE: I know I need to update the pictures and I will, promise. After discovering the tank had a copper and zinc problem post-ICP, I removed the rusty pump and I'm happy to report that the few coral in the big tank have made a big recovery and things are finally getting color back, new growth - it's great. I am now on the Reef Moonshiners system and that means no water changes, so I started using Metasorb in the sock filters to help absorb any remaining metals in the water but still have one or two corals bleaching and need to figure out why.

I finally got the 180 frag system up and I'm now fighting issues with high alkalinity, but I'll post about that topic once I get it figured out and have a source. It if isn't one thing....