FishyKat's 75g Reef Build

HI all,

I decided to try to bring some life into the Saltwater section here.

Brief background..
I've had nano tanks for years. I started with 10 gallon (and I admit, made tons of mistakes.. but one learns!). It was up for about 2 years before I had to break it down when I moved from my parents house into my first apartment. I've been tank-less for about 6 years before I decided to rebuild with a 9 gallon nano cube.. I loved this tank to bits and had it for about 2 years. I had a pair of clowns (That I still have today, 4 years later).

2 years ago, I then purchased and moved into a condo, where I upgraded to a 28g JBJ AIO cube. I was never happy with this cube.. I felt restricted for any upgrades and I hated the bowfront which made everything distorted. Regardless, I had this tank for 2 years (still have but in process of breaking down). My clowns were happy in this tank, though I couldn't keep corals (they weren't growing as well as they did in my 9 gal). my 9 gal became a Freshwater planted with RCS and a betta.

A month ago, I had decided to upgrade to a 75 gal tank with a 30 gal sump. This is where I am today:

Equipment:
75 Gal Reef-Ready Marineland Aquarium with Overflow
Aqueon Pine Stand
~60 lbs Sand (1 inch SSB in DT, DSB in Sump)
~40 lbs LR
MacSpect Gyre XF130 wavemaker
Coralife HO T5 light fixture- 4 bulb (Two 10k, two actinic blues)
Spectrapure 4-Stage RO/DI Filter with Booster
Trigger Systems Crystal Sump (36" long, 30 gallons)
Return Pump - Lifeguard Aquatic Quiet One Pro Series 2200
CoralVue Octopus Needle Wheel Skimmer rated 100 gallon
AutoAqua Smart ATO Micro
Reefkeeper Lite controller (need new probe)

Livestock:
2 Clowns
Exquisite Wrasse (in QT)
Red Headed Solon Wrasse (in QT)
Assorted snails

Still in my 28g:
waiting for 75 to age more
Emerald Crab
Rock Boring Urchin


Photos in next post!

 

Before it was filled with water. was playing with rock scape


The Trigger Systems Crystal sump:




Sump filled with water, ATO, Skimmer, Pump, heater and proper plumbing in place.
Middle chamber is the refugium- deep sand bed with a handful of rubble and a small piece of Chaetos.


Lights added with my clowns- 2 weeks past cycle completion:


Diatoms formed. Decided to add my zoanthids from my 28 ga just a few days agol:

 

man sumps confuse me so much lol all that drilling and .

 

forgot about this post!

I didn't have to drill the tank, it was already pre-drilled for me! Sump adds extra water and hides all the filteration that would otherwise be an eyesore in the main tank. I have my heater in the sump as well.

It's been about 6 months since the tank was set up and running. It's doing very well I think!

Updates as of today:

livestock:
2 clowns (one died, she was 4 years old- replaced it)
red-head solon wrasse
yellow coris wrasse
leopard wrasse
carpenter's wrasse
magnificent foxface
flame hawkfish
square-tail bristle tooth tang
(3) zebra barred dartfish
FireFish
Starry Blenny

emerald crab (approaching 3 years old)
bristle star
coral banded shrimp
cleaner shrimp
over 100 different snails (Cerith, nerites, nassarius, trochus, some others)
2 or 3 crabs (from my old 28g)

Assorted Zoas
(2) Duncans- 5+ heads each
Long-Tentacle Plate Coral
Assorted Acros
Assorted Acans
Red and Green Montis
Birds Nest
Stylos/Digi's
5 assorted Gonioporas
Gorgi
Sun Corals
Rock Nem

Equipment:
75 Gal Reef-Ready Marineland Aquarium with Overflow
Aqueon Pine Stand
~60 lbs Sand (1 inch SSB in DT, DSB in Sump)
~40 lbs LR
MacSpect Gyre XF130 wavemaker
Coralife HO T5 light fixture- 4 bulb (Coral+, (2) Blue+, Purple+ bulbs)
Actinic SBar Lights from Sbreef lights
Spectrapure 3-Stage RO/DI Filter with Booster
Trigger Systems Crystal Sump (36" long, 30 gallons)
Return Pump - Lifeguard Aquatic Quiet One Pro Series 2200
CoralVue Octopus Needle Wheel skimmer rated 100 gallon
AutoAqua Smart ATO Micro
Reefkeeper Lite controller for heat and dosers
BRS 2 part dosing system


and some bad photos:

 

Looks awesome. I want to buy a couple of wrasses, any advice on how well yours are getting along and diet? I currently have 4 clowns and one 2in blue tang.

 

Sorry Docrick, I didn't mean to ignore you! I've wandered away from this site and forgot about my thread!

My wrasses are getting along well! Unforunately my Exquisite decided to jump into the overflow and got stuck in the pipes where he died

My corals are growing really well, I am happy with the progress! It's slow but enjoyable regardless!


In the mean time, here's a few random photos.

 

Most wonderful story and pics from a wonderful daughter.
Of course I recognized your style when you commented on my tank today.
I thought you told me that you were no longer on Fishlore - welcome back

 

Barely on FL. It's mostly a Freshwater site and I am a reefer! I lurk here and there.. mostly to stalk my dad

 

No worries, looking good. I bought one wrasee and unfortunately he passed 3 days into qt. I acclamitized him for over and hour and everything looked good. It happens I guess, but now I'm just sticking to the 5 fish I have and if anything, add a small goby.