new to site 55 reef build

[rcookenc]

First, let me introduce myself-I am Roger, and I live in Bessemer City NC. I have had a few FOWLR tanks before, but this will be my first reef tank. I had a 125 FOWLR tank last that got ich and wiped out everything. I was so mad and frustrated that I vowed to never do saltwater again. However, once you do-it's is hard not to go back to. However I didnt want to do a large tank as a reef-due to time and finances. So I sold the 125 that I had turned into a freshwater and found the deal of a century on a 55 setup.

55 gallon tank / stand & canopy / overflow box / Top Fathom TF100A Skimmer / 2-Rio 2500 pumps / Wet Dry / Canopy has a 4 bulb 4 ft VHO lighting retro'd into it. All this for......$100 WOW!! also got some nice shelf type LR for an additional $100. Some I will be using in my fuge, about 2/3's is in the tank tho.

Pics of stuff when I got it.

I originally set it up and it looked like this.

Today I decided to redo the tank. I removed the white rock substrate and replaced it with live sand. I also removed the bio balls from the wetdry and will be adding a fuge in a couple weeks, as soon as I get some more extra money. I also painted the back of the tank black, and removed some of the LR to use in the fuge and rescaped.

I found a 55 is a hard tank to aquascape due to its limited width. I decided to go with mid tank islands on each end and leave the center empty except for a pretty cool piece of LR that I thought looked good as a center focus point. There is still plenty of open sand bottom to place corals. I think I did a decent job and I am very happy with the outcome.

Now looks like this.

What do you think?

 

[dabruecker]

Looking Good

 

[Reef Pets]

Welcome!! Looks like its off to a great start!

 

[Troylee]

welcome aboard....for starters i would recommend losing the bio balls and filter floss in the wet/dry and turn it into a sump/fuge with macro...;)

 

[rcookenc]

welcome aboard....for starters i would recommend losing the bio balls and filter floss in the wet/dry and turn it into a sump/fuge with macro...;)

You must have not read my post and just looked at the pics. I said I removed the bio balls and will be adding a fuge in a few weeks.

Today I decided to redo the tank. I removed the white rock substrate and replaced it with live sand. I also removed the bio balls from the wetdry and will be adding a fuge in a couple weeks, as soon as I get some more extra money. I also painted the back of the tank black, and removed some of the LR to use in the fuge and rescaped.

It's ok, sometimes i just look at the pics too :wink:

 

[Surf&turf]

I like the new look!!

 

[NVTE]

good start

 

[phil519]

You must have not read my post and just looked at the pics. I said I removed the bio balls and will be adding a fuge in a few weeks.




It's ok, sometimes i just look at the pics too :wink:

BUSTED! lol


55 gallons are tough to aquascape and I must say you did a GREAT job. My old 55 was made worse because AGA has those humon-go overflows that take up real estate.

definitely a great price for all that - did you repaint the canopy/stand? Man I dropped a lot more money on my 55 when I set it up.

I must say though that clownfish sure looks sad/lonely!

 

[inactive]

Great tank, 55g STD are a challenge in many reasons! I have had mine up for about a year and a half.. it has been an adventure!

Good luck with yours :)

 

[boehm742]

Welcome to the site! I also rock a 55g Reef! Everything looks like its coming along great!

 

[inactive]

55 Gallon Reefers Unite!!!!

 

[dakotasreef]

Looking good. Did you attach the rock work together with epoxy or anything? I have seen many a tanks rock work fall after the tank is up and running and a snail decides he did not like the way the rock work looked.

Reef tanks are great adventures. Have you hooked up that skimmer yet? Let us know how it works out.

 

[dakotasreef]

Two things on the skimmer. Do you have anything hooked up to the drain line on the collection cup, there is nothing in the picture and I do not want you to have a mess. 2- I would raise the air line for the skimmer above the water line, if you loose power water could drain from that hose if it is below the water level

 

[rcookenc]

yes the skimmer is hooked up and running. I check the collection cup daily, and so far only need to empty it twice a week. Yea, it seems to be working good, it's a new tank so I dont expect too much skimate-but what little it does has been nice and dark. The air line is mounted above the water line. No epoxy used on the rocks, but they are good and steady.

On a side note, sad day-I woke up and couldnt find my clown anywhere. Well after a few hours and still no sign of him I checked the wetdry and yep there he was on the filter pad. He didnt make it.

Anyway, thanks for all the comments and suggestions, keep em comming.