Starting up a 55 gal reef tank

[cpt13]

Diy stand and lighting fixtures, purchased a 55 gal predrilled aquarium and a 10 gallon sump (upgrading sump later ).

Been moving around quite a bit unfortunately that's not ideal for saltwater aquariums. Anyway finally got in a house where I have no worries of moving anytime soon. Just creating this as a record of setup and eventually a well established reef tank

Purchased tank needs some love
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Test fitting tank and lighting
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Making the move rocks and inhabitants
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Rockscape
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Full setup
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Side profile nice and streamline
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I'll be taking some fish and coral shots soon to show any developments the good and the bad

 

[cpt13]

Some of the stages of my system

 

[sethsolomon]

Is that an algae scrubber?

 

[cpt13]

Yes and it works great, it has successfully starved my display of all algae not that I have had any issues with algae it's just a proactive approach to minimal maintenance. I recently harvested a solid chunk half the screen

 

[sethsolomon]

Yes and it works great, it has successfully starved my display of all algae not that I have had any issues with algae it's just a proactive approach to minimal maintenance. I recently harvested a solid chunk half the screen

Ahh yah you are the second person here that I have seen use an algae scrubber

Way better option than GFO IMO.

 

[cpt13]

It seems that way, I really appreciate how low maintenance it has made my system, super clean and super simple

 

[cpt13]

Before and after adding crushed coral substrate

 

[cpt13]

Some kind of hawaiian moray about 8 inches long

Flasher wrasse

Chalkbasslet

 

[sethsolomon]

That that carpenter flasher is sweet!!!!!!!!!!

 

[cpt13]

yea he's a bute with some rad character. what kind of wrasse is on your marker image?

That that carpenter flasher is sweet!!!!!!!!!!

 

[sethsolomon]

Its a Rhomboid Wrasse I had one but it ended up as carpet jerky because of my mean redheaded solon wrasse.

 

[cpt13]

very unfortunate, exquisite species. that's in your 120?

Its a Rhomboid Wrasse I had one but it ended up as carpet jerky because of my mean redheaded solon wrasse.

 

[sethsolomon]

I currently have:
Tomini tang
3 liretail anthias
false leopard wrasse
leopard wrasse
china wrasse
red head solon wrasse
3 bar gobies
manderian goby pair
cleaner shrimp pair
fire shrimp pair
harliquin shrimp
christmas wrasse
sunrise dottyback
and a midas blenny

 

[cpt13]

wow that's a pretty healthy load, one day i'll bump up to a larger setup

 

[cpt13]

An up-to-date shot of rock scape and colors placements

 

[cpt13]

A few different Montipora species

 

[Colorado Reefer]

If you have good success with the monti's you way want to try some sps sticks soon. Tank looks good btw

 

[cpt13]

Thanks it's been a fun trip getting this tank working, the orange monti took a hard snail crash but it has grown 1/2 inch or so in the last 6 months and green blue polyp also has shown solid growth. Can wait to see everything establish its self

If you have good success with the monti's you way want to try some sps sticks soon. Tank looks good btw

 

[cpt13]

Velvet horn, birds nest, and I cannot remember the last one

 

[sethsolomon]

Is that an encrusting Hydno?