1bitereefer February 1, 2020 Share February 1, 2020 After getting into the hobby about 3 years ago and having several tanks from, Red Sea Reefer 250 to a 350. Then downsizing to a nuvo 20 while we remodeled the basement. It is finally done and I am back with a Nuvo 40EXT. I’ve kept tanks with tons of LPS and soft corals and the plan to go SPS dominate on this tank. This will be my first time keeping SPS. This will also be my first refugium. I’m hoping to use this build thread as a way to get help on the venture to sticks. Equipment List: -40EXT -DIY stand -MP10 -Apex -Cor20 -Kessil a360we supplemented with an aquatic life t5 hybrid -Trigger 20C sapphire -Neptune Dos -20lbs Life rock branch -20lbs Life rock -Tropic Eden sand -Neptune Trident (whenever I can find one) -Deltec 1351 skimmer The plan is to take this tank very slow. Start the refugium once the tank has some nutrients, And go about 3 months with just the 2 Clowns I have in Quarantine until I see some coralline algae and the tank feels like it is starting to become sustainable enough to add Sticks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YHSublime February 6, 2020 Share February 6, 2020 You’re going to want at least one more mp 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1bitereefer February 7, 2020 Author Share February 7, 2020 21 hours ago, YHSublime said: You’re going to want at least one more mp 10 Actually just picked one up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YHSublime February 7, 2020 Share February 7, 2020 Actually just picked one upYou won’t regret it. My 22 nano needed 2 just to keep the sps happy, I imagine your size tank will benefit as well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1bitereefer February 7, 2020 Author Share February 7, 2020 I’m think of adding a small Tunze at the bottom as I’m going bare bottom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1bitereefer February 16, 2020 Author Share February 16, 2020 Just built the stand today, had to build the stand 2” deeper to fit the trigger sump for the tank. Used the technique we used when painting our cabinets to use spackle on the wood to cover up the grain. The plan was to make an ADA style stand where besides the door it looks like one piece. Going to primer and paint tomorrow. Will look to make equipment cabinet to match but smaller next weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ImGoingCoastal February 16, 2020 Share February 16, 2020 Stand looks good! Following along with a fellow 40 gal reefer!Sent from my SM-G970U1 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1bitereefer February 16, 2020 Author Share February 16, 2020 Painted the stand and put the tank in place with the sump in stand. Super happy with how it turned out. Plumbing comes Tuesday. More research and work to be done. As well as build equipment cabinet for Apex. Hope to have it wet in 2-3 weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elwallacejr February 25, 2020 Share February 25, 2020 Nice Craftsmanship on the stand! I'm actually in need of building an equipment cabinet for my new tank...probably ought to get the build thread started since the tank is already cycling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1bitereefer February 27, 2020 Author Share February 27, 2020 On 2/25/2020 at 4:22 PM, elwallacejr said: Nice Craftsmanship on the stand! I'm actually in need of building an equipment cabinet for my new tank...probably ought to get the build thread started since the tank is already cycling. I just finished up my equipment cabinet, will post pictures this weekend when I paint it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sethsolomon February 27, 2020 Share February 27, 2020 Following along! Dig that saphire sump! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1bitereefer February 27, 2020 Author Share February 27, 2020 Little update, the equipment cabinet is finished, tank was plumb. But then when I wet tested I realized that the back glass had a crack. You could not tell since the inside back has a piece of acrylic and the the back glass is cover with black vinyl. Good thing is Marine Depot is mailing me a new one. Also I put plenty of unions so should be able to replumb the pieces that are short directly from the bulkheads. Hope to have it wet and put together in another week Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YHSublime March 1, 2020 Share March 1, 2020 Little update, the equipment cabinet is finished, tank was plumb. But then when I wet tested I realized that the back glass had a crack. You could not tell since the inside back has a piece of acrylic and the the back glass is cover with black vinyl. Good thing is Marine Depot is mailing me a new one. Also I put plenty of unions so should be able to replumb the pieces that are short directly from the bulkheads. Hope to have it wet and put together in another weekBummer! Good attitude though, glad it’s getting taken care of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1bitereefer March 18, 2020 Author Share March 18, 2020 A little update, New tank is here and wet, Controller cabinet is finished. I’ll take some pictures of the sump area to show you guys tomorrow, happy with how everything turned out. The plan now is to order some more fish and let tank settle and cycle over the next 2-3 months before adding some test corals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ImGoingCoastal March 18, 2020 Share March 18, 2020 That's an interesting scape! For some reason, I think of the game of thrones when I look at it.Sent from my SM-G970U1 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YHSublime March 18, 2020 Share March 18, 2020 Looking real good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1bitereefer March 18, 2020 Author Share March 18, 2020 31 minutes ago, ImGoingCoastal said: That's an interesting scape! For some reason, I think of the game of thrones when I look at it. Sent from my SM-G970U1 using Tapatalk Thanks bud, yeah it was a mix Branco rock and regular life rock. I wanted to add some ledges to mount some sticks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1bitereefer March 18, 2020 Author Share March 18, 2020 25 minutes ago, YHSublime said: Looking real good! Thanks bud, once it gets cycled and ready for corals I’ll have to grab a frag from you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VA Reefdog March 18, 2020 Share March 18, 2020 Really nice clean look to the tank and stand. Very Sharp! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sethsolomon March 18, 2020 Share March 18, 2020 love the rockstack! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1bitereefer March 19, 2020 Author Share March 19, 2020 Took some more pictures of the tank, sump, and Apex cabinet. Right now the skimmer is going crazy. I heard that sometimes the life rock tends to do this to the skimmer. Going to let it run a couple days over flowing and do some water changes through the skimmer. Any ideas, would be appreciated. Now just in the sit and wait phase of the tank. Plan to not run lights for at least next month or 2 and run it with just fish until coralline starts to grow. question I have is when I should put the Fuge on line? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
epleeds March 19, 2020 Share March 19, 2020 Nice and clean. I like it the life rock does make the skimmer go nuts. I had to raise mine 4” to keep it from overflowing and it took about a month to go down. That was only 5 pieces in a 300 gallon system. So either raise the skimmer or shut it off and let the cycle happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1bitereefer March 22, 2020 Author Share March 22, 2020 When should I order my cheato from Algae Barn and put the fuge online? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sethsolomon March 22, 2020 Share March 22, 2020 I wouldn't waste the money ordering chaeto from Algae Barn. You don't get much for how expensive they are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1bitereefer March 22, 2020 Author Share March 22, 2020 45 minutes ago, sethsolomon said: I wouldn't waste the money ordering chaeto from Algae Barn. You don't get much for how expensive they are. Where do you recommend? I was gonna get the fuge deal with the pods too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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