my 55 gallon mixed reef journal

[aspear]

equipment list is:

-octopus nw 110 skimmer
-2x little giant 2-MDQX-SC (circulation)
-6 stage ro/di from ebay
-20 long sump
-little giant 2-MDQX-SC (return)
-10 gallon refugium
-150 watt AGA heater
-4x 54 watt T5 retro
-55 gallon AGA tank
-AGA stand



:feedback: thanks,
Alec

[Nolapete]

Is this all equipment you have already or are looking to buy? Looks good regardless. I'm guessing you went with the little giants to keep the aquarium free of equipment?

[aspear]

i have it all except for the ro unit

[Grins]

I'd get an additional 150wtt heater. What are you going to stock? Have you decided upon lights?

[aspear]

fish
-pair of percs
-randalli shrimp/goby pair
-carpender wrasse
-male and female randalli anthias

inverts
-25 turbo snails
-30 ble leg hermits
-5 nass. snails
-cleaner clams
-cleaner shrimp
-3 peppermint shrimp
-serpent star (after 6 months)
-bta
-clams


lighting= 4x 54 watt T5 retro

[Grins]

Quite a stocking list. I'd add an extra female anthias. I love the anthias but haven't braved a trio yet. Defintely don't get all the clean up crew at first. I'd get a bit more nassarius and a bit less turbos. I'd not get as many hermits but don't listen to me too much on that one because I'm anti-hermit crab lately.

Does the light have individual reflectors? If so, good. If not, you'll want them to help with that clam and bta. I'd also wait on those until the tank is at least 6 months old. I'm not familiar with some of the equipment. How much flow will you have?

[aspear]

the lights have individual reflectors

the pumps are 600 gph each but 2 will have diy eductors

[Grins]

You did your research, good start!

[aspear]

thanks!!

[aspear]

equipment

-Lighting;4x 54 watt T5 lighting (with individual reflectors)

-skimmer;octopus nw 110

-20 gallon sump/10 gallon fuge

-6 stage ro/di unit

-3x 2MDQX-SC (1x return, 2x circulation[1500 gph])

-55 gallon AGA tank/stand

-2x 150 watt AGA heater

fish
-pair of percs (third)
-randalli shrimp/goby pair (first)
-flasher wrasse or midas blenny (second)
-1 male and 2 female randalli anthias (forth)

inverts
-25 turbo snails
-30 ble leg hermits
-5 nass. snails
-cleaner clams
-cleaner shrimp
-3 peppermint shrimp
-serpent star (after 6 months)
-bta (after 6 months)
-clams (after 6 months)

[aspear]

:feedback:

[aspear]

here are some pics

[SuperScro]

Sure does sound like it is going to be pretty sweet :)

[Grins]

When you say cleaner clams which species are you referring to?

[aspear]

not sure of the speices here is a pic:

[SuperScro]

I think those need to be plankton or something.

[darkcirca]

Anthias are nice, and def get them in 3's (gives the male 2 to bully around, so all the stress isn't on one). I have 2 females and 1 male in my tank (lyretail though) and they are really neat looking fish, and fun to watch. They eat like a bottomless pit though!

[Grins]

The only bivalves I've seen for sale near me are giant clams and flame scallops (these I won't buy).

[aspear]

i dont know if ill even get em anymore.

[aspear]

gonna start plumbing tonight!
pics tomorrow

[SHK_ATK]

I am starting to get materials ready for my 55G sump, Will be looking at this thread for suggestions and aquascaping ideas. Keep up the good work.

[Grins]

Going to be watching too. We just decided to trade the one we bought in approach it DIY

[aspear]

couldnt do the plumbing till tonight
heading to lowes tonight.

[aspear]

the 10(fuge) will be above the 20(sump) there are 2 3/4 inch drains 1 to the fuge and one to the sump. two return pumps now and 1 circulation pump.

[aspear]

will 600 gph be enough for the return. or should i do 1200 gph

[aspear]

here are some pix:

[Grins]

For my return I have an Eheim1260 rated at 635gph

[aspear]

thanks for the info grins.
ill try it with 2 first if its to much ill use 1

[Grins]

Sincerely the pump I have has to be dialed back a tad. It is VERY powerful.

[aspear]

im going to see how much the overflow can handle

[Mgamer20o0]

keep us updated

[Almondsaz]

Just a thought, but you might want to invest in the "tube sponge" for your skimmer. The individual sponge rings seem to come off over time and the tube sponge helps cut the airbubbles when the water exits the skimmer.

[aspear]

almondsaz: im not sure what you mean by tube sponge?
the rings can be pushed together to make 1 long sponge.

mgamer20o0: not really doin anything right now.(waiting for the overflow)

[Jmerk]

Nice tank.
Keep pics comin.

Maybe post a complete coral list.

[aspear]

overflow arrived today!!

[aspear]

sorry Jmerk no coral list yet

[Almondsaz]

almondsaz: im not sure what you mean by tube sponge?
the rings can be pushed together to make 1 long sponge.

mgamer20o0: not really doin anything right now.(waiting for the overflow)


A tube sponge is a sponge that is a long cylinder with the center cut out and it goes over the return pipe. That way when the water flows down it cuts the bubbles and also it stays in tact as it is one piece. My LFS gave me one with my skimmer and said to use it vs. the rings. Probably just a personal preference thing...but the sponge works for me.

[aspear]

thanks almodsaz

[aspear]

everything works well
gonna get the rock/sand this weekend!

[aspear]

should i buy rock sand from an lfs or from an online store?

[aspear]

should i buy rock sand from an lfs or from an online store?

[Reefscape]

which ever you prefer really and take into account cost....if possible, i would buy the sand online if the price is right...The beauty of buying rock from a local fish store is that you can personaly pick your own rock...the down side is that a lot of the times, it costs more per lb than when purchased online...

Niko

[aspear]

im gonna go wih online
decided to do haides (2x 150 watt) with T5 actinic (2x 54 watt)

[Reefscape]

Great choice of lights...good deal....

[aspear]

thanks

[aspear]

bump

[aspear]

bump

[ooja3k]

why are you bumping...

sounds like you got a good set-up going so far!

lets see more pics... pics...

[Grins]

Yes, why the bumping? Is there a question that needs answered?

[aspear]

wil a 4000k bulb (150 watt) x2 support coral

[Grins]

What kind of coral? What kind of unit?

[joander123]

you will want higher than 4000k, thats a yellowish bulb, you want id say 10000k at the lowest, most opt for 10000k or 14000k halides if there are going to be actinics, but if there isnt, some just got with 20000k too.

[aspear]

there will be actinics

[aspear]

you will want higher than 4000k, thats a yellowish bulb, you want id say 10000k at the lowest, most opt for 10000k or 14000k halides if there are going to be actinics, but if there isnt, some just got with 20000k too.
i cant find any medium base bulbs that are 150 watt
i dont wnt to go over $40 a bulb
maybe ill post in the wanted section?

[Grins]

I don't know..I've seen an awesome SPS tank on 6500K 250watt MHs and the stuff is growing like weeds.

[aspear]

ill try them
hopefully the actinics will balance them out

[Jmerk]

Cool.

[aspear]

does anyone have any step by step plans for a canopy??:frog:

[aspear]

bump

[aspear]

bump

[ooja3k]

why are you bumping??

google it.

[aspear]

thanks

[aspear]

update:
the T5 fixture came in today
canopy build will start this weekend

[reavesinc]

where are the rest of your pics? I want to see finished products!

[aspear]

ill try to get some new ones up tonight

[aspear]

whole tank:
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x185/qawsed123321123/DCP_3411.jpg
cpr overflow ($20 used):
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x185/qawsed123321123/DCP_3413.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x185/qawsed123321123/DCP_3414.jpg
T5 lighting:
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x185/qawsed123321123/DCP_3420.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x185/qawsed123321123/DCP_3421.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x185/qawsed123321123/DCP_3422.jpg
metal halide lighting:
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x185/qawsed123321123/DCP_3423.jpghttp://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x185/qawsed123321123/DCP_3424.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x185/qawsed123321123/DCP_3425.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x185/qawsed123321123/DCP_3426.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x185/qawsed123321123/DCP_3427.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x185/qawsed123321123/DCP_3428.jpg
sump,pumps,& pluming:
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x185/qawsed123321123/DCP_3417.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x185/qawsed123321123/DCP_3416.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x185/qawsed123321123/DCP_3415.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x185/qawsed123321123/DCP_3419.jpg

[ooja3k]

You really went top of the line with the made in mexico huh...

kidding...

[aspear]

top of the line:silly:

[Reefscape]

Looks like its all really starting to come together now...nice looking plumbing...what pumps have you used there?

Niko

[aspear]

3 little giant 2MDQX-SC

[aspear]

dont know if i mentioned this before, but im 13

[aspear]

sorry for not updating
the tank is now cycling