Jajo1390
New Member
Starting a new tank, I've never documented a build before so thought it could be fun to get it on record. Currently have a 38g Fiji AIO peninsula (mixed reef) and a 15g waterbox peninsula (softies mostly), both tanks have been running for about 5 years and doing very well. My wife runs (and built from scratch) a 1000+ gallon system at our University for cephalopod research, she's a PhD biologist specialized in cephalopod neuroscience. I got started because a few of her shrimp shipments (Shrimpments) had some hitch-hikers and we didn't want to sacrifice them (gobies, crabs, etc), so I made a tank at home.
New build will be an SPS tank.
Tank: Waterbox 65.4 AIO (47.2 in x 19.7 in x 17.7 in)
Lighting: I'm currently using quanta helixes (meso blue x2) mixed with an AI glow blade and a couple kessil A80 pucks on my 38g peninsula with wonderful results. The PAR can get quite high if I turn everything up. I really love the quanta lights, and Luca is phenomenal with support. I nearly felt bad going with another brand but I've wanted to see what other options could bring. I had strongly considered some XR15's as they seem to be the gold standard for many reefers, also considered a Giesemann v12, but something has drawn me towards Orphek for this tank. I went with a Natura and 2 OR4 sky blue bars (36 inch). I considered the Atlantic for coverage but the weight had me concerned given these will be mounted from brackets attached to the glass. The tank is 47 inches long, I struggled to figure out if I wanted to go with the 48 inch bars but I don't love light spill. I may add a second Natura if I need to based on PAR, and I'm not opposed to more bars. There are much cheaper ways to light the tank, but I fortunately don't have a strict budget here and I'm interested in playing around with options on a small scale in preparation for a bigger tank (eyeballing a waterbox 380 or similar size built Cade/Glass Cages) sometime in the next 5 years.
Flow: MP40 x1, AI Orbit 4 x1.
Return Pump: Syncra SDC 3.0 (260-800 gph)
Filtration: iSeaLive roller mats custom designed for the 65.4.
Skimmer: Tunze 9012
Nutrient management: Sigma-1 media reactor for GFO, Blade hybrid algae reactor 10 with AI apex 40 pump (will set to draw flow from return chamber on AIO and sit on top of that chamber to drain back into it, will upload pics once it is set up to make more sense)
Stocking: Will transfer my small snowflake clown and royal gramma over from the 15g. I'd like to add a Melanarus wrasse and a dwarf/pymgy angelfish. Nothing else planned, figured this may be fully stocked given the angelfish will need some room to roam but open to thoughts here.
ATO: Osmolator 3 w/ 10g reservoir
Lid: Likely Kraken, have used them for the 15g with great results.
Dosing: I'm currently using AFR which has been doing well, keeps things steady and corals are growing almost too well (have to frag a lot to prevent overgrowth). I'm interested in something else, I won't be able to keep up the AFR as I go bigger down the road so would be nice to dial in a new system now. I have thought about Moonshiners, KZ coral system, RedSea Colors, and Modern Reef RKS.
Aquascaping: I've always built my own aquascapes with loads of rock and glue and I've never been disappointed. I ended up going with a custom rock scape by Reef Scape Designs for this one, mostly out of intrigue. Will report back on my thoughts. I struggled hard trying to decide on bare bottom vs sand, but ultimately I think I will go with a little sand around the base of the aquascape, may have some bare bottom visible in the corners to try to grow out some encrusting corals.
Tank was ordered on 01/12/2026 so patiently awaiting delivery. Will update the thread as things trickle in.
New build will be an SPS tank.
Tank: Waterbox 65.4 AIO (47.2 in x 19.7 in x 17.7 in)
Lighting: I'm currently using quanta helixes (meso blue x2) mixed with an AI glow blade and a couple kessil A80 pucks on my 38g peninsula with wonderful results. The PAR can get quite high if I turn everything up. I really love the quanta lights, and Luca is phenomenal with support. I nearly felt bad going with another brand but I've wanted to see what other options could bring. I had strongly considered some XR15's as they seem to be the gold standard for many reefers, also considered a Giesemann v12, but something has drawn me towards Orphek for this tank. I went with a Natura and 2 OR4 sky blue bars (36 inch). I considered the Atlantic for coverage but the weight had me concerned given these will be mounted from brackets attached to the glass. The tank is 47 inches long, I struggled to figure out if I wanted to go with the 48 inch bars but I don't love light spill. I may add a second Natura if I need to based on PAR, and I'm not opposed to more bars. There are much cheaper ways to light the tank, but I fortunately don't have a strict budget here and I'm interested in playing around with options on a small scale in preparation for a bigger tank (eyeballing a waterbox 380 or similar size built Cade/Glass Cages) sometime in the next 5 years.
Flow: MP40 x1, AI Orbit 4 x1.
Return Pump: Syncra SDC 3.0 (260-800 gph)
Filtration: iSeaLive roller mats custom designed for the 65.4.
Skimmer: Tunze 9012
Nutrient management: Sigma-1 media reactor for GFO, Blade hybrid algae reactor 10 with AI apex 40 pump (will set to draw flow from return chamber on AIO and sit on top of that chamber to drain back into it, will upload pics once it is set up to make more sense)
Stocking: Will transfer my small snowflake clown and royal gramma over from the 15g. I'd like to add a Melanarus wrasse and a dwarf/pymgy angelfish. Nothing else planned, figured this may be fully stocked given the angelfish will need some room to roam but open to thoughts here.
ATO: Osmolator 3 w/ 10g reservoir
Lid: Likely Kraken, have used them for the 15g with great results.
Dosing: I'm currently using AFR which has been doing well, keeps things steady and corals are growing almost too well (have to frag a lot to prevent overgrowth). I'm interested in something else, I won't be able to keep up the AFR as I go bigger down the road so would be nice to dial in a new system now. I have thought about Moonshiners, KZ coral system, RedSea Colors, and Modern Reef RKS.
Aquascaping: I've always built my own aquascapes with loads of rock and glue and I've never been disappointed. I ended up going with a custom rock scape by Reef Scape Designs for this one, mostly out of intrigue. Will report back on my thoughts. I struggled hard trying to decide on bare bottom vs sand, but ultimately I think I will go with a little sand around the base of the aquascape, may have some bare bottom visible in the corners to try to grow out some encrusting corals.
Tank was ordered on 01/12/2026 so patiently awaiting delivery. Will update the thread as things trickle in.
