55 gallon reef build

[jozefsanders]

First I got my tank View attachment 275036

Then I put it on a old stand that I painted too make it look like an old tableView attachment 275037

When my tank was on the stand I got my first round of water from my LFS and some crushed coral/sand and added it too my tank

A week later my reef octopus BH-300 HOB skimmer which cleared the tank in one hour which is good.



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[Sniperhank]

Nice. What are your plans for it? Thought of good reef lighting yet?

 

[jozefsanders]

Quite limited on money so I'm thinking of buying a aquaray aquabar colour plus which is ok for low light corals but I might get another one at a later date.


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[Sniperhank]

Have you looked at the taotronics units? Two will cover the tank and are really cheap for being able to keep anything photosynthetic under them you'd ever want. Something to think about I guess.

 

[54seaweed]

why would you want to pay twice for a light that will need to be replaced , for the cost of that light why not spend the few extra bucks and buy yourself a good light ,in the long run you will be saving money , I started with 1 over my 90g 4ft tank it gave full coverage to begin with than I got another over short period of time
I have these lights and love them been thinking about buying 2 more for my other tanks,
http://www.amazon.com/Galaxyhydro-t...sbs_199_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0DT5PVDNYTNVQK9GK4G2

 

[jozefsanders]

54 seaweed how are the lights fixed is it on the back or on the sides.


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[Sniperhank]

You hang them. Some use cheap plant hangers to do such among other ways.

 

[cgthebeast]

http://m.ebay.com/itm/165W-Dimmable...-Marine-SPS-LPS-Lamp-/131261397845?nav=SEARCH

These can work too. I use one over my 10g an keep a lot of fleshy an LPS That have had awesome growth rates. I'm buying one more for my 55 in order to keep a clam an a rose bulb anemone. One for every 2ft

 

[54seaweed]

I used hanging flower pot brackets off the studs in the wall

 

[jozefsanders]

Unfortunately I can't do anything to he walls so I have to have something that attaches to the side


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[54seaweed]

165W Dimmable LED Aquarium Light Full Spectrum Reef Coral Marine SPS LPS Lamp | eBay

These can work too. I use one over my 10g an keep a lot of fleshy an LPS That have had awesome growth rates. I'm buying one more for my 55 in order to keep a clam an a rose bulb anemone. One for every 2ft

Thats almost the same exact light I posted but this ones cheaper,
good catch cgthebeast

 

[cgthebeast]

Thats almost the same exact light I posted but this ones cheaper,
good catch cgthebeast

Thanks! In this side of the hobby is about buying good equipment an just how cheap you can get it haha

 

[jozefsanders]

Bought a background which is just plain black


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[cgthebeast]

Black backgrounds are the best ? I'm painting my background black. Really makes everything pop

 

[jozefsanders]

It also hides some of the equipment like heaters and pumps


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[alyxandria]

You could always put a bar or two coming up from the back or side of the stand going above the tank in an upside down "L" shape. There are ways you can mount those lights without going into the wall. They're great lights IMO.

 

[jozefsanders]

So I bought a fluval 306 for extra filtration

Which I hope improves the water quality.


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[jozefsanders]

Does anyone have any stocking ideas for a 55 gallon reef tank I want fish that will be colourful and good swimmers


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[Sniperhank]

Well, that can depend. I'd freely give up the coral beauty in my 55 reef. Great fish until it murdered my clam. Been good every since.

 

[jozefsanders]

A few weeks later I got my tmc aquabar rail and the side mounts but my LFS ordered the wrong lights so they are coming in a few days.

When I got my rail I went and got my water tested my nitrates were high-ish and my ammonia was almost 0 so the LFS guy said I'm at the end or beginning of my cycle so I made a decision that if I'm at the start of my cycle I will get some live rock but if I'm at the end I will get some that won't start a mini cycle and maybe get some fish

Only the future will tell.


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