46 Gallon Bowfront Official Build

Ok, so I have threads everywhere but this is where I'm going to actually post my build, include pics etc. Currently I'm in the cycling stage. I'll start off with my setup. It's a 46gal bowfront. I used 50lbs Key Largo Marco Dry Rock. 50lbs of Caribsea Ocean Direct Live Sand. For salt I'm using Ocean Direct salt. I also recently added 5 lbs of live rock that came from someones established frag tank sump (bare bottom) and about 2 lbs of really established sand from their display tank. The equipment I'm using (I plan on switching out the bulbs btw) .....

LIGHTING
36" Aquaticlife 4 lamp t5 HO light fixture with built in programmable timer and cooling fan
(2) 36 in. T5 HO 39W 420/460nm Actinic/Blue Lamps
(1) 36 in. T5 HO 39W 10,000K Lamps
(1) 36 in. T5 HO 39W 460/620nm Purple Lamps
(3) 1W Blue LED lunar lights

The lighting has a built in timer that has 3 different settings. One for white, blue, and the moonlights.

PROTEIN SKIMMER
AquaC Remora Protein Skimmer w/ Cobalt Aquatics MJ 1200 Powerhead

CIRCULATION

Hydor Koralia Evolution Powerhead (425 GPH)
Hydor Koralia Evolution Powerhead (600 GPH)

TEMPERATURE CONTROL
(1x) Marineland Precision Heater - 150 Watt
(1x) Marineland Precision Heater - 200 Watt
Marina Aqua-Minder Digital Thermometer

WATER
100GPD AquaFX 4 stage barracuda ro/dI

I don't have a sump per say but I'm adding an additional 5 gallons to increase the water volume. It will also increase my circulation in the tank and make pwc a breeze. I will also be able to use it to add things like purigen etc later if need be. I'll explain it better later on and post pics when it's complete but basically it's a diy canister filter. I'm using an API Saltwater Master Test Kit to check ph, ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. I have a Sybon Refractometer I use to check SG

I set everything up and filled the tank on April 22nd. I had originally added a frozen Mysis cube to kick start the cycle. It ended up giving me an ammonia reading of 1 ppm. Some time later I added another. April 27th I got some bottled ammonia from the grocery store. Goldex brand. I think it ended up being a 5% but it says there's nothing added to it on the bottle. Everything I read online it says to make sure there is none of, the bottle specifically states is not added lol. I ended up using about 10-11 mls and it got my tank to 5-6 ppm. I've been checking daily and today, May 4th the ammonia is back down to 1 maybe 2 ppm depending on who reads the chart. I've also checked nitrites a few times and yep. They're there.

My temps are 78
SG 1.025
Ammonia 1-2 mm
Nitrites yes
Nitrates haven't checked.

The pic I took when I first set everything up. I've since added the LR and a couple skull decorations. Later tonight I plan on testing everything. Ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, ph etc and dosing the tank back up to 4 ppm ammonia. I'm also working in the in and out lines for my cannister.

 

sweet! can't wait to see how it turns out!

 

Cycle is coming along. I'm only testing for ammonia and nitrites right now. I know there are nitrates as I have tested awhile ago. I dose the tank every day to 4ppm Ammonia and within 24 hrs it's down to 1 ppm. My nitrites now are starting to lower as well. Not really sure how much but they're lowering. I can't really differentiate the purple colors on the apI tests but they are getting lighter. I think another week maybe 2 and I'll have a massive water change to do an then can add fishies I'm having some problems lately with my skimmer. It fills wet extremely fast. It didn't before I started adding ammonia. Even with the cup raised to the top. When the cycle is done is when I'll add my closed loop volume tank. I guess that's what I'm gonna refer to it as. Basically it just adds an extra 5 gallons and makes water changes easier and also adds more circulation.

 

Finally CYCLED!! I'm still going to wait about a week before adding fish so I'm going to keep adding ammonia for a few more days to keep the bb alive and strong. I had 2 Ocellaris Clowns in my biocube but one committed suicide so I'm going to get another Clown and maybe something else for when I start stocking the tank. Originally I wanted a b/w Ocellaris and an orange one so I think I'll be getting the b/w one to replace the one that died The fish are small tho so I'd also like to get something else when I get the clown. Just to add more bioload when I add them to the tank. Don't wanna add too much but also don't wanna add too little

 

Just drip acclimating my new b/w Ocellaris. He's going into my biocube for a couple days to get acquainted with my other clown until I drain and refill my bowfront. I'll show better pics how I acclimated him later. Sorry for the rotation

 

Great! Nice lookin fish!

 

Thanks. The pic is lousy tho lol. Not sure why they're oriented wrong either. I've been working on water supply lines to my 5 gal reservoir and also a top for the tank. I have an all glass top but after discussing it here was advise against an all glass top for various reasons.I still have a stupid bar from the top tho that is blocking light but think I have a solution. Hopefully I can just remove it and still keep the structure. Also there's a huge stupid brown beam down the center. I always use my phone. Maybe next time I upload pics I'll try my laptop. The clowns are getting along great. Anyhow the bucket I used to acclimate I got at walmart. It had body wash, shampoo etc in it but soon as I saw it I bought it for the bucket. The bucket is supposed to hang over your bathroom garbage can and be used as a small recycle bin. Lol could prob fit about 5-6 empty toilet paper rolls in it. It's perfect tho cause both my biocube and the 46gal stands have a door it hangs over. I just gotta a couple suction cups, some airline tubing and an airline control valve to adjust flow. I start a syphon with the tank water and set the valve to 3-4 drips per second. When it's 50/50 tank/lfs water I dump half and do it again. I love this bucket tho. Hangs on the door perfectly

 

On that same note, since you decided to take the glass top off of your tank, is there risk of fish jumping out or inverts crawling out? I like it more without the top and it seems to let more light in without it, but I worry that the critters will find their way out

 

On that same note, since you decided to take the glass top off of your tank, is there risk of fish jumping out or inverts crawling out? I like it more without the top and it seems to let more light in without it, but I worry that the critters will find their way out

Right now there's nothing in the tank but I did/am building a new top. Will post pics later when it is complete. Since I had already bought the glass top I'm using the front Curved part and the back plastic part that is curable for filters etc and making the rest of it screened

 

Added my first livestock today. My b/w Ocellaris clown and my Ocellaris. I also added 2 Zoanthid frags. Not sure where they'll actually end up being placed as their final spot. You can really see how bright they are in the pics either but I love how orange and green they are. Tomorrow I'm thinking about getting a orange spotted Diamond Goby and a Royal Gramma and that'll be it for stocking for awhile. Unless I pick up a couple more frags. Hopefully these pics upload properly.

 

Love the moonlights. Not sure why most my pics are rotated wrong?

 

Newest additions. The Royal Gramma and Diamond Goby

 

My thread doesn't get much action but I can't find a pen anywhere lol. I'm bored and just finished test in my my water parameters for the first time since adding livestock 4 days ago. I didn't check PH because it's night and I'm a test tube short. Stupid glass API tubes. Anyhow...

Temp: 78.9
Ammonia: 0
Nitrites: 0
Nitrates: 20

I have a some stuff coming Friday so I may do my water change then which will bring them down a bit. Also will be getting the rest of the parts I need to finish my closed loop which is going to add an extra 5 gallons of water. The added 5 gallons should also help water down the nitrates. At least I'm thinking to. Also with my order I'll be getting the media for my Aquaclear 70 Hob filter. I plan on stocking the filter with either the included sponge or a bag of LR sorta dry rock rubble. I say that because it was in a compartment in my biocube in a mesh bag when I got it but it looks like it was dry rock. Still pretty white. I also plan on using Rowaphos and purigen in it. And maybe some others poly pad sorta media.

Also I have added the following frags. Alien eye poly, a purple mushroom, a 2 headed toadstool mushroom and a green star polyp frag that I scrapped off the plug and re glued to my big skull head. I'm hoping it fills out like a chia head .

I've been busy. I tried to make the screen portion of the top only 3 sided so I didn't get a shadow but it didn't work out. I don't think I really have a shadow tho still but the top is done. Just gotta cut a spot for the aquaclear so the top is done and also the intake and output of my closed loop are done. Just waiting on my flare ends for the input. I'll try to add some pics in the next day or so. Just wanted to document stuff. So the frags I added yesterday. I'm debating on tearing down my biocube and adding my peppermint shrimp to the new tank, some of the LR and a green mushroom coral that's in there. The tank isn't really being maintained. Has a lot of hair algae, some bubble, and black cyano even. Kinda wanna tear it down. Clean it really well and start fresh.

 

Here are the pics of the new corals. Today I also added in my 2 peppermint shrimp

 

The skull is going to grow out nicely.

 

Cool! Wish I could get a saltwater tank...

 

Cool! Wish I could get a saltwater tank...

Certainly more expensive but not more difficult imo. Just put aside some money

 

Cool! Wish I could get a saltwater tank...

Nice tank Ryan! It's actually easier than you think, just more expensive like LiterallyHydro said.

 

It can be cheap though haha

• 10g Tank - $10
• Kessil A150 - $220 new (There's even cheaper lights that can grow soft corals but I love the Kessil look & shimmer)
• Sand - $10
• Live Rock - $50
• Circulation Pump - $50
• Fish - $25
• Mangrooves - $25
• Soft Corlas - $100
• Basic Supplies: $120 (Online pricing & bare minimum (Includes Ehime Surface Skimmer $35))

That's like only $600 ($450-500 with lesser light) and you could go as big as 29 and get away with that cheap set up haha. The problem is after about 20 gallon there's more demand for filtration because you can fit more fish. More room for coral means more need for elements. The 10 gallon allows it to stay simple and all you have to do is top it off baby. The mangroves will extract nitrates. A hardy fish like damsels and you're set!

For more filtration: $40 canister filter for extra biological. Seachem matrix $15 (only thing inside canister).

And that price is all set up with everything bought fish and coral... You could easily expand that price across 3 months.

 

It can be cheap though haha

• 10g Tank - $10
• Kessil A150 - $220 new (There's even cheaper lights that can grow soft corals but I love the Kessil look & shimmer)
• Sand - $10
• Live Rock - $50
• Circulation Pump - $50
• Fish - $25
• Mangrooves - $25
• Soft Corlas - $100
• Basic Supplies: $120 (Online pricing & bare minimum (Includes Ehime Surface Skimmer $35))

That's like only $600 ($450-500 with lesser light) and you could go as big as 29 and get away with that cheap set up haha. The problem is after about 20 gallon there's more demand for filtration because you can fit more fish. More room for coral means more need for elements. The 10 gallon allows it to stay simple and all you have to do is top it off baby. The mangroves will extract nitrates. A hardy fish like damsels and you're set!

For more filtration: $40 canister filter for extra biological. Seachem matrix $15 (only thing inside canister).

And that price is all set up with everything bought fish and coral... You could easily expand that price across 3 months.

That is awesome. I want to try something like that now. Thanks for emptying my wallet ;D

 

Not to mention if you find a full setup someone is trying to sell. The problem becomes you become so interested in this side of the hobby that you want more and more and more and bigger tanks, bigger skimmers, bigger lights, new frags etc and the cost really adds up.

Nice start by the way Ryan. That GSP on the skull should look pretty cool once grown in!

 

I know its not harder, but my mom would KILL me if I spent enough to get one. She barely let me spent 200 on a 90 setup...

 

Any reef over say 60 gallonreally starts to require cash flow haha. Like serious $$

 

Any reef over say 60 gallonreally starts to require cash flow haha. Like serious $$

I hear that. Been dreaming up a nice upgrade recently myself. Started at 60gal, now its closer to 80 or 90gal who knows what it will end up as. Probably is at LEAST a year out anyway if not more but its never to early! All the works too controller, nice skimmer, nice sump, steel stand, new powerheads, new lights......whew. Could it be done cheaper? Of course...but I've gone cheap before lol time to start dreaming bigger!

 

I mew tin the middle... I go big but keep it cheap. My 90 freshwater setup w fish and everything cost me 175! I use Craigslist like crazy!

 

Meet in

 

I'll run a Calcium reactor and 150 gallon refugium some day... Just all that humidity from big tank systems man....

 

I don't even wanna get into what I've spent. Everything aside from my skimmer was bought new and it's all been expensive. I see everyone else get great deals on lighting etc but I always seem to pay top dollar.

 

If you are patient and know what order you need things in, you can use Facebook groups, lfs have used products, and craigslist. You can find corals on craigslist and Facebook to get cheap corals. I've had great luck with them

 

If you are patient and know what order you need things in, you can use Facebook groups, lfs have used products, and craigslist. You can find corals on craigslist and Facebook to get cheap corals. I've had great luck with them

It's usually better to buy from these people anyway in regards to coral... I rather have a fresh cut from an established display...

 

All my frags came from someone I found on a Facebook page. I didn't think anyone around here had a sw tank but she literally lives right behind me. It's a 5 min walk

 

It's crazy to find out how many people share out addiction haha

 

Our addiction*

 

I'm pretty sure not many people locally share my addiction I even only have one LFS in a 50 mile radius. Luckily it's a quality one though

 

I'm pretty sure not many people locally share my addiction I even only have one LFS in a 50 mile radius. Luckily it's a quality one though

Lol same, I don't think there are many people in the hobby like me. That would be really cool though, trading corals and stuff with people locally .

 

I'm pretty sure not many people locally share my addiction I even only have one LFS in a 50 mile radius. Luckily it's a quality one though

You do realize you are in central Florida right? LOL, Florida is one of the largest aquatic states in the nation i've found! Tons of LFS, tons of reefers, tons of coral farms, it's a big business down there. Drive down to Orlando you will be swamped!

I don't want to take Ryan's topic to far off topic though as he does have a nice build going here!

 

Yeah but in this part of Florida not many people have any pets at all. In Orlando there's a lot but in my small area not much. Population of less than 60,000 across 3 cities. Luckily just outside my range there's options

Edit: And very much so I like how it seems to be coming along

 

Population of less than 60,000 across 3 cities. Luckily just outside my range there's options

Cities? Lol the closest city to me is about an hour and 15 min drive each way. We have pet stores closer. If you're looking for goldfish or bettas lol. I just moved in October but where I was had a population of like 1200. Now it's about 12500.

Anyhow I ordered a 64 oz bottle of kents tech m and red sea pro test kit. Should prob have both within a week.

 

That sounds like reason enough to move!!

 

Nope. I rather live back where I was. I hate the city. Anyhow I was gonna add more to my cuc but I think I'm going to wait until after I deal with this bryopsis. Hopefully the 64oz bottle of tech m will be enough. I got my other 5 gal closed loop setup but am not going to run it on my system until I clear all the bryopsis up. I figure less water less hassle. Right now when full with rock and everything my 46gal uses exactly 35 gallons of water