Brandan's 55gal Mixed Reef Build! Pics!!

brandan

brandan

Member
So I'll give a little background information. After being in FW for awhile I decided that I wanted to give SW a shot. So I did my research for a little while and set up a very basic 10g, with a HOB Bio-wheel, some LR/LS and 2 damsels. After I had that up for a few months, I decided that I wanted to do something a little more "regular" and move it up to a 20gal high, with PC lighting,and build the stand to fit a 10gal sump for the skimmer, heater, fuge, and return pump. Well I have been bit hard with "The Bug" and now I want to move up to something bigger, there is only one problem, a budget. . . My 55 that is now a FW will become my new SW Reef and my 20gal will become my new FW Swordtail tank. I bought a Mag 9.5 for my return and the Via Aqua 1300 I have for my return now will be used for the closed loop system that the tank will be drilled for. I am going to run 4-100watt VHO bulbs, 2-Actinic, 1-50/50, and 1-10,000k. For the overflow I'm going to drill the backside for the Closed loop and the Durso Standpipe with the Internal overflow box. The return is going to come through the backside, and the CL is going to wrap up to the front with locklines that point to the back of the tank. NOW TO THE PICS!!! Oh, almost forgot, I am going to use two 10gal Marineland tanks for the sump. The first (skimmer) tank is going to be set up on 2x4s since it is going to drain into the next 10gal tank. Well moving on.
First off, the 55FW that is going to be converted.

20gal softie tank

Internal Overflow box and The Durso Standpipe


Skimmer Sump

2nd Sump Fuge/Return

Mag 9.5 Return


Enjoy, Let me know with any advice!!!!!!!!!! I am more than will for good/bad comments. Thanks for looking. Pics will be added as soon as I get my drill bit and bulkheads to drill the glass. They should be here Tuesday or Wednesday, along with my ARO ballast so I can start the canopy.
 
brandan

brandan

Member
This is where the sump(s) will sit. I know it's a mess. . .

My powercenter I already made. (Note: The switch is for the skimmer so I can just flip it so empty/clean the collection cup)
 
triga22

triga22

Active Member
Awsome. I put some extra bubble foam under my MAG. IDK if you thought of that. Otherwise it looks awsome!
 
brandan

brandan

Member
Here is an update for today, I do not have class on Mondays, so tomorrow I am going to empty out my 55gal, and transfer some of my fish to my moms 37gal Cube and to the 10gal I bought to make the switch. He are two pictures of the new sump design and the display tank return and closed loop system. The sump "flow" will be nice since I can control the flow to the fuge and still have only one drain from the display. Now to the pics
Sump Flow

Display
 
triga22

triga22

Active Member
Awsome. Looks like you have everything planned out quite nicely. I cannot wait for this sucker to be up and running.
 
azaintcold

azaintcold

Member
Nearly identical to the fuge/sump I set up with the only difference being I have 2 1" bulkheads on my overflow. Nice.
 
brandan

brandan

Member
So here's a pretty big update. I didn't get a chance to get the tank over to the glass shop to get it drilled, but I did however get all the plumbing mocked up for glue. I started on the closed loop, just need to figure out how I am going to connect the pump exactly. Here's some pics, tell me what you think!
Full shot

Sump/Fuge Section

Sump/Skimmer Section

Closed Loop
 
brandan

brandan

Member
Each tank is 10gals. They are 20" long each, with a 3" gap, so I still will have 5" for my powercenter on the end, inside the stand. :joy:
 
brandan

brandan

Member
Originally Posted by TriGa22
Coming along nice. Did you get the tank back?
So the original tank definitely exploded!! The back of the tank was tempered and it said it NO WHERE! I called Central Aquatics, who makes AGA tanks, and they said that the tanks that come in the "kits" with the heater, filter, ect are all tempered. Long story short, after 4 hours on the phone, they are going to warranty it and reimburse me for the new tank I bought last night. However they told me not to tell anyone . . . lol. I was bringing home the new tank last night and it broke on the way home from the LFS!!!! So the glass shop doing the work is just going to take a piece of 1/4'' glass, drill it, and then I'm going to silicone it in myself probably tomorrow or Tuesday. I'll get some pics up tonight.
 
brandan

brandan

Member
Originally Posted by Bronco300
hey, man looks pretty sweet!! how are the frags doing?
The Xenias are huge, I really like them. It is kind off odd, because when I came over I didn't really know what xenias looked like, lol. I like them more than my zoos I think. My girlfriend and I bought a new digital camera lastnight, so when the lights come on I'll see how well the pics are.
 
brandan

brandan

Member
The tank should be drilled tomorrow while I'm in class, so I should hopefully have an update tomorrow when I get home from work.
 
bronco300

bronco300

Active Member
Originally Posted by Brandan
The Xenias are huge, I really like them. It is kind off odd, because when I came over I didn't really know what xenias looked like, lol. I like them more than my zoos I think. My girlfriend and I bought a new digital camera lastnight, so when the lights come on I'll see how well the pics are.

more than zoos?! blasphemy!!! tar and feather him! oh...yea, i love xenia as well...mine have all died off for its unknown reason..so once i move i'll get some more hopefully.
 
brandan

brandan

Member
UPDATE!!!! Yeah, it's been like 2 months, finally got the tank drilled, finally got the sump built, finally got the plumbing done, finally got RO water, and finally got 45lbs of LR and 40lbs of LS. This is what it looks like with just a 48" NO florescent bulb. I'm about a week and a half into the cycle. Also heres some pics of the 20gallon two, everything is getting transfered over, including my zoos, pulsing xenias, my 7" colt coral, and my fish.






 
brandan

brandan

Member
So I bought 3 Nassarius snails and my blue leg hermit that came as a hitchhiker on my GBTA got ahold of one of them. Here is a pic. . . Grrrrrrr.!!

 
bronco300

bronco300

Active Member
only problem i have with nass, when they come out when food is in the tank those crabs think they are food too sometimes, or just a nice big new home, stupid crabs
 
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