Phoenix Reef

[Fishy888]

I promised I’d start a new thread for my current system. It’s a 20 gallon tank with a 10 gallon sump, so roughly 25 gallons actual water volume.

It’s a FOWLR tank now, but in a month or two I’ll be hitting up TBS for REAL live rock! I’ll also get their live sand.

I might upgrade to either a 45 or 55 tall eventually, but right now especially, I need to keep it nano.

As you know I’m a “go big or go home” kind of guy normally, but with my trigger finger issue and finances, the 20 just makes more sense. If and when the trigger finger issue heals and I can regain some strength, then I’ll consider upgrading.

Out of the ashes of Perseverance Reef, a Phoenix is born. Good things are coming. I’ll be moving the system downstairs to its new spot, hopefully early next week. I’ll take pictures and post them once I get that done.

In the meantime, Here’s Rubyyyyyyy!

 

[tbrown]

 

[fishguy242]

 

[Fish Fan]

Hi, Ruby!

 

[Fishy888]

Thank you everyone! I appreciate your support!

I’m excited for what’s to come with this system. My ultimate goal is to upgrade to a 55 tall, although I might do a 40 breeder. I think they make 45 breeders too but it’s unlikely I’ll end up with that.

When I get my TBS aquacultured rock and sand, I’ll add new rock and let the good stuff populate it too. Once I have enough rock that’s ready to roll (pun ABSOLUTELY intended), I’ll get the bigger tank.

As for lighting, I’m not doing halides this time around. @fishguy2242, I might still buy those black boxes from you. I’m sorry you didn’t get to come during the tear down. I really wanted you to get to see it in person, but things happen. If I don’t get to buy them though, I’ll get a single black box from Amazon or eBay.

I’m going to do a cryptic zone sump/fuge in this system. There’ll be plenty of pods with all the REALLY live, live rock, no doubt. They’ll quickly populate the cryptic zone. I imagine the sponges will too.

I decided not to culture phytoplankton for now. I’ll buy some every few months most likely. Once I get Hawaiian feather dusters again, maybe I’ll go back to culturing the algae, but for now, I won’t come close to being able to use what I could culture, and I can get phytoplankton blends that have strains I have little hope of culturing.

Like I said earlier, good things are coming. It’ll be a while before I can pull the trigger on the TBS rock and sand but it’ll be worth the wait!

 

[Fish Fan]

When you upgrade, I would suggest going with a 40B or a 65 Tub over a standard 55 gallon tank. A 55 gallon has only about 13" front-to-back depth, and it's really hard to get a good looking aquascape in a tall but narrow tank like that. In saltwater, most reefers value extra front-to-back depth vs. extra height, and both the 40 and the 65 are 18" front-to-back