TX’s Reef’s zoo med 50 gal lowboy

[Widdlyscudds]

 

[RaymondNoodles]

Very cool build! I used similar looking braided vinyl tubing for my UV sterilizer and found out it was depositing tin into the water after running an ICP test. I lost a couple SPS and one acan and all others had stunted growth. Since replacing the braided vinyl with silicone things have bounced back. Just wanted to give you a heads up.

 

[TX_REEF]

Very cool build! I used similar looking braided vinyl tubing for my UV sterilizer and found out it was depositing tin into the water after running an ICP test. I lost a couple SPS and one acan and all others had stunted growth. Since replacing the braided vinyl with silicone things have bounced back. Just wanted to give you a heads up.

Thanks for the heads up! I did make a point to buy BPA-free non-toxic vinyl reinforced with polyester yarn rather than metal braid, so hopefully I won’t run into that issue…

 

[TX_REEF]

AP9X has been mounted with my DIY hanger and black chain. It needs a bit of fine tuning to the physical position and some wire management, but I’m happy with how it turned out. I’ll leave it on 10% intensity for now since only a couple Damsels currently live here.

 

[DIYreefer]

It looks great man, good job!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

AP9X has been mounted with my DIY hanger and black chain. It needs a bit of fine tuning to the physical position and some wire management, but I’m happy with how it turned out. I’ll leave it on 10% intensity for now since only a couple Damsels currently live here.

The light setup looks great!

 

[TX_REEF]

I decided to try my hand at making some frag racks since this build was originally intended to be a frag system. I’ll probably give a shot at “fragging” some Xenia I have in my display once these are set up. I’ll smash up some larger rock to use as weights to keep these racks from blowing around the tank.

 

[TX_REEF]

My first inmates have been added to the frag racks. Some nice healthy Xenia fragged from a big rock in my display. I placed some empty plugs adjacent to them in hopes of natural new frags as they spread.

 

[TX_REEF]

Here’s some current refugium footage for any weirdos who enjoy it as much as I do

 

[DIYreefer]

So far so good!

I finally finished plumbing my new system the other day and started adding water. I have one of the lowboys filled up and circulating with the sump but still need about 20 more gallons of water for the second tank to be ready to start circulating as well. My rodi has been putting in some overtime the last few days, lol. Still have to build light fixtures and get the electrical sorted out. Then I'll be done, for the most part.

 

[TX_REEF]

So far so good!

I finally finished plumbing my new system the other day and started adding water. I have one of the lowboys filled up and circulating with the sump but still need about 20 more gallons of water for the second tank to be ready to start circulating as well. My rodi has been putting in some overtime the last few days, lol. Still have to build light fixtures and get the electrical sorted out. Then I'll be done, for the most part.

Where’s that build thread?? Pics or it didn’t happen

 

[DIYreefer]

Where’s that build thread?? Pics or it didn’t happen

Haha no kidding! I've been working a lot (I work rotating shifts... holidays, nights, etc) and have only had time sporadically to work on the tanks. I'll start a thread at some point... maybe. Lol.

 

[TX_REEF]

I wasn’t able to get a pic because I was worried moving at all would scare him off, but while staring at my fuge top down with my face inches from the water, I saw the my mantis hitchhiker is still alive and well! He definitely grew a bit and is definitely over and inch long now and fatter than when he arrived on my TBS live rock. Such a pleasure to know he’s thriving! I may have to start adding some bits of meaty foods for him to enjoy; he was “hunting” around the rock and sand seemingly punching nothing - maybe pods?

 

[TX_REEF]

Some new additions today! I picked up a gorgeous, PAIRED couple of Gold Flake Maroon clowns for only $30 each! Great feeling when you find just the right fish on a random visit to LFS. Don’t mind the dots on the second pic, it’s on the glass.

I also snagged a great looking candy cane frag, the first LPS resident of the frag system. Pulsing Xenia is doing great, hopefully soon it will spread to the adjacent frags so I have some “merchandise”

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Some new additions today! I picked up a gorgeous, PAIRED couple of Gold Flake Maroon clowns for only $30 each! Great feeling when you find just the right fish on a random visit to LFS. Don’t mind the dots on the second pic, it’s on the glass.

I also snagged a great looking candy cane frag, the first LPS resident of the frag system. Pulsing Xenia is doing great, hopefully soon it will spread to the adjacent frags so I have some “merchandise”

Nice looking clowns!

 

[TX_REEF]

Frag collection is growing slowly but surely. I’ve started to make a habit of buying lonely/raggedy looking frags at various LFS to “rescue” them and watch them recover. Fish are all super happy, but my lyretail anthias is a picky brat that will only eat frozen food, she will literally eat a flake and spit it right out.

In the fuge, one of my large hermits died… it had some missing legs, so I’m wondering if it got battered by my mantis shrimp while it was trying to molt or change shells…

 

[djstud]

been following along. I like the build.

 

[TX_REEF]

been following along. I like the build.

I appreciate the kind words!

 

[TheCa11ousOne]

Thank you so much for this thread!!! I am loving creeping on your progress!

 

[TX_REEF]

Thank you so much for this thread!!! I am loving creeping on your progress!

My pleasure, I'm so glad you found it helpful!