So this build started about 6 months ago (06.09.21) as a budget reef project and grew into a custom reef system. I started with a 40 breeder, I resealed and drilled it with Eclipse M overflow box. Underneath I was lucky enough to get a good deal on an IceCap 30 reef sump, I drilled the top reservoir to create a large dedicated refugium chamber. The system was poorly plumbed on lowes metal shelf with my 20 gallon originally plumbed in to cycle the system.
After two months on the prebuilt stand with the 20 connected an I built a proper stand for the 40 and sump. I installed a Kessil H80 Flora on the side of the stand a few inches off the side of the refugium chamber, using a large foam wall against the back wall of the chamber I have lit to no light leaking through to my return pump chamber. About this time I added a order from Algaebarn into my system, I had already dosed ~10k tigger-pods before this point, the order contain 20k mixed pods and red ogo to fill my refugium. The system also got temporary fish and lighting in the form of 3 Kessil H80 Tuna Blue's and 2 Spotcinctus Clownfish, an engineer goby, and a Falco Hawkfish (in the sump). About this time I moved some corals in.
A month or so setup like that (end of October) and I thought I had an amazing idea for light mounting for my soon upgrade to a trio of AI Prime lights. Turns out what I would come to build into the back of the system wouldn't work long term but was going to be the frame work for a more permit mounting option. My light fixture was now dual AI Prime HDs on the outside and a single AI Prime SOL centered over a 40 gallon display. This is also the time I finally expanded the system. Over the first 5 months I was working to acquire the right tanks to expand the system without overloading a single system. I ended up with a 60 frag tank and a 30 lagoon. I built two simple wood light fixture each holding two Kessil H80 Tuna Blue's for a total of 4 connected to a Spectral controller. I have a AI Prime Freshwater set on only blues on the 30 lagoon until I increase stocking to need more lighting. The Falco and his rock are the only stock currently in the 30. So I am running 95% hard plumbing for the system, main and emergency overflow on each system ball valves on every main drain and return line, and a dedicated line to the refugium chamber of the sump.
A few mushroom and euphyllia make up the coral stocking of the 40 display and for fish I have a pair of Spotcinctus, Two Spot Bristletooth Tang (Ctenochaetus binotatus), 2 female Blue Star Leopard Wrasse (Macropharyngodon bipartitus). The Engineer Goby ended up in a friends tank to pair with one in his tank after mine decided to move a few of my mushrooms. The 60 gallon is currently empty as I am working on the scape for it, since it is attached to my system already once I have the scape planed I will cycle 10-15 pounds at a time in the system with the rest in a small vat as to not disturb tank chemistry too much. The plan over all is for the 60 to be a mushroom/mangrove lagoon, the 40 will be a leopard haram tank with heavy gorgonians and euphyllia, the 30 lagoon will have the Flaco and Spotcinctus pair and will be a bare bottom RFA and carpet anemone tank.
I think that about sums up where the monster is at. Love to have some thoughts on what I have built so far and any advice is constructive.
Thanks for your time!
After two months on the prebuilt stand with the 20 connected an I built a proper stand for the 40 and sump. I installed a Kessil H80 Flora on the side of the stand a few inches off the side of the refugium chamber, using a large foam wall against the back wall of the chamber I have lit to no light leaking through to my return pump chamber. About this time I added a order from Algaebarn into my system, I had already dosed ~10k tigger-pods before this point, the order contain 20k mixed pods and red ogo to fill my refugium. The system also got temporary fish and lighting in the form of 3 Kessil H80 Tuna Blue's and 2 Spotcinctus Clownfish, an engineer goby, and a Falco Hawkfish (in the sump). About this time I moved some corals in.
A month or so setup like that (end of October) and I thought I had an amazing idea for light mounting for my soon upgrade to a trio of AI Prime lights. Turns out what I would come to build into the back of the system wouldn't work long term but was going to be the frame work for a more permit mounting option. My light fixture was now dual AI Prime HDs on the outside and a single AI Prime SOL centered over a 40 gallon display. This is also the time I finally expanded the system. Over the first 5 months I was working to acquire the right tanks to expand the system without overloading a single system. I ended up with a 60 frag tank and a 30 lagoon. I built two simple wood light fixture each holding two Kessil H80 Tuna Blue's for a total of 4 connected to a Spectral controller. I have a AI Prime Freshwater set on only blues on the 30 lagoon until I increase stocking to need more lighting. The Falco and his rock are the only stock currently in the 30. So I am running 95% hard plumbing for the system, main and emergency overflow on each system ball valves on every main drain and return line, and a dedicated line to the refugium chamber of the sump.
A few mushroom and euphyllia make up the coral stocking of the 40 display and for fish I have a pair of Spotcinctus, Two Spot Bristletooth Tang (Ctenochaetus binotatus), 2 female Blue Star Leopard Wrasse (Macropharyngodon bipartitus). The Engineer Goby ended up in a friends tank to pair with one in his tank after mine decided to move a few of my mushrooms. The 60 gallon is currently empty as I am working on the scape for it, since it is attached to my system already once I have the scape planed I will cycle 10-15 pounds at a time in the system with the rest in a small vat as to not disturb tank chemistry too much. The plan over all is for the 60 to be a mushroom/mangrove lagoon, the 40 will be a leopard haram tank with heavy gorgonians and euphyllia, the 30 lagoon will have the Flaco and Spotcinctus pair and will be a bare bottom RFA and carpet anemone tank.
I think that about sums up where the monster is at. Love to have some thoughts on what I have built so far and any advice is constructive.
Thanks for your time!
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