Current FTS 11 February 2021
Hi all, and welcome to my build thread!
After a few year hiatus from reef keeping, I got the itch again, and have started setting up a new build. I have had picos and very small nanos in the past, so this will be my biggest box of water yet! Having been out of the hobby for a while, I've been scrambling to get caught up on current methods and best practices, but any advice or suggestions are welcome!
I love the look of the IM Fusion rimless tanks, and 40 gallons will be small enough for me to be able to reach everything without a ladder, but large enough to let me have a few fish. My last 3g pico was fishless, and I loved watching the inverts and coral, but just missed the movement you get from having fish (and I won't miss explaining to people who aren't reefers that yes, there really are living things in there, even though there aren't fish... ).
I plan to do LPS and softies primarily. I've wanted a Euphyllia for a long time, but never had the space before. I've roughed out a stocking list, but am debating between a few different things for an additional fish. Currently torn between a yellow watchman goby and an orchid dottyback.
Livestock:
Current Equipment:
Thanks for stopping by!
Original FTS, 02 April 2020
FTS, 11 June 2020
Hi all, and welcome to my build thread!
After a few year hiatus from reef keeping, I got the itch again, and have started setting up a new build. I have had picos and very small nanos in the past, so this will be my biggest box of water yet! Having been out of the hobby for a while, I've been scrambling to get caught up on current methods and best practices, but any advice or suggestions are welcome!
I love the look of the IM Fusion rimless tanks, and 40 gallons will be small enough for me to be able to reach everything without a ladder, but large enough to let me have a few fish. My last 3g pico was fishless, and I loved watching the inverts and coral, but just missed the movement you get from having fish (and I won't miss explaining to people who aren't reefers that yes, there really are living things in there, even though there aren't fish... ).
I plan to do LPS and softies primarily. I've wanted a Euphyllia for a long time, but never had the space before. I've roughed out a stocking list, but am debating between a few different things for an additional fish. Currently torn between a yellow watchman goby and an orchid dottyback.
Livestock:
- Mated pair of ocellaris clowns
- Neon goby
- Frogspawn
- Indo torch
- Several rock flower anemones
- Random zoanthids
- "Branching" GSP
- Monti cap (it's been well and truly annoyed for a good long while, but is still alive, if only just)
- Long polyp toadstool leather
Current Equipment:
- IM Nuvo Fusion 40
- AI Hydra 32 HD
- Finnex 150W heater
- Inkbird temp controller
- XP Aqua Duetto ATO (on my second one - the first one had water infiltrate the sensor, and I had to replace it)
- Tunze 9004 Protein Skimmer
Two Sicce Voyager Nano powerheads- IceCap Gyre 2k x 2, on opposite sides of the tank
- Kamoer X1 dosing pump (NoPox)
- IM Aqua Shield UV sterilizer (I have this in right now clearing up a minor case of dinos, but I usually have the IM media basket installed instead)
- 5-stage BRS RO/DI sytem
- Reef Saver dry rock x 40lbs
- 4 x MarinePure 2" cubes in the rear chambers
- CaribSea Aragonite special grade
IM Midsize Nuvoskim protein skimmerI plan to add a protein skimmer after the cycle winds down, but am not 100% set on a specific model. This one is the current front-runner as it's specifically designed to fit in the rear chambers
- Media reactor
- In the past I've just used bags of carbon, but like the idea of a small reactor for carbon, and GFO if needed.
- Algae scrubber/refugium?
- I don't know how much nutrient export I will need for this system yet, but I do like to feed towards the heavy side, so I may have to look into this down the road. I've allowed space behind the aquarium for a HOB refugium if I decide I need one, as opposed to converting one of the rear chambers into a refugium.
Thanks for stopping by!
Original FTS, 02 April 2020
FTS, 11 June 2020
Last edited: