Shovelrider's 75g mixed reef

[shovelrider]

I finally got around to swapping my 45g over to the 75g Sept 1, 2013.
Right now, the tank is only lit with 1x 96w power compact 50/50 and a 24'' blue T12 until I get my LED lights in.

What I have done:
1. Built a custom stand.
2. Drilled the tank.
3. Built a tinted glass overflow box with Herbie style drain.
4. Made a 10g baffled sump.

What I still need to do:
1. Build a larger sump(preferably 30g breeder), I have a 20g long waiting on baffles.
2. Build a matching canopy.
3. Install LED fixtures in canopy.(Purchased Reef Breeders already)
4. Attach timers and power strips to the stand.

In the living room.

Lights on.

Dawn/Dusk.

Temporary light rig close up.

 

[shovelrider]

Update!

Got the LED's on the tank now.

I need to finish my hood now and toss the temporary light stand.

 

[shovelrider]

Video of my current setup

[video=youtube;D-zlltmX9c0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-zlltmX9c0[/video]

 

[gunguy05]

Looking good. I really like the reefbreeder LED's. Great led for the money. Keep us updated with pics!

 

[revhtree]

Very nice!

 

[powers2001]

Looks like you could use more fish.

 

[Bjohn]

I think it looks great! It fits with the room so well! IMO it would look great with a couple of wrasses in there

 

[shovelrider]

More fish to come soon...
I just set up the quarantine tank tonight!

 

[shovelrider]

 

[OceanLife]

Very cool!

 

[powers2001]

Do you have a sump for the quarantine tank?

 

[shovelrider]

No, just a hang on filter.

 

[shovelrider]

I have added a few more inhabitants now. The survivors(just over a week after delivery) are 4 chromis, 1 royal gramma, coral banded shrimp, Astraea and Nassarius snails. I have lost 1 chromis and a Ocellaris clown from the shipment. I see now that I need a larger quarantine tank and having a couple tanks for quarantine would be optimal.

My original fish are still doing fine(huge PJ cardinal, med. sized Ocellaris clown).

Pics to come soon...

 

[shovelrider]

Here are some new pics as promised...

I have rearranged my flow and put my powerhead in the center of the black glass.

 

[shovelrider]

I just added a JBJ ATO with a Aquatop 80GPH pump. Working like a champ.

 

[shovelrider]

Temporary light stand is now painted black. I probably wont get around to building a canopy until after the 1st of the year.

 

[shovelrider]

While cleaning my skimmer yesterday I decided to rebuild my skimmer stand. I had it sitting on egg crate with vinyl tubing for feet, but they got hard after nine months of use and trapped detritus and air bubbles. So, I decided to use egg crate as feet too. I first used side cutters to cut the size I needed then cleaned up the cuts with a Dremel and cut-off wheel. I used zip-ties to secure it all together.

Here is what I ended up with and it seems very sturdy.

 

[shovelrider]

A little update as of last week...

I am still playing with the height of the LED's, when I figure this out I will start the canopy build.

Here is the sump area now...