After 2 years I finally have something I am Proud of

I started my journey into saltwater about 2 years ago. I went into it not knowing anything about it. I got as much information I could and just dived in (no pun intended). My tank has gone through many changes due to A.) lack of information B.) going the cheap route c.) being a $10.00 an hour worker so getting here was a long journey. When I first started the tank I used Gravel as my substrate (lol what a noob). All plastic fake reef and plastic Decorations (again LOL). Only about 10lbs of LR. Then After about 6 months I figured out that the gravel was going to be a problem later on so i pulled it and most the decorations replaced it with white sand but went the cheap route and got the finest grain sand i have ever seen. It was more like powder and it never stayed clean. And kept the fake reef in the tank and small amount of LR. That got me by well for fish only and small inverts like crabs and snails. Then about 8 months later i pulled the the fake reef and bought a ton of LR to make it way more natural looking. Pulled the white sand and got some Black Hawaiian live volcanic ash substrate (I love it). Now the tank looks good Nice black substrate that stays clean and an all Live rock scene. And now recently I have starting keeping soft corals and really diving into more advance reef keeping. I have been lucky as i have not lost to many fish or inverts int the process. I am now so happy with where my tank is now but still have much to learn and want to keep improving in any way possible

Size:55 gal Hexagon tank
Filtration: Fluval 204 canister filter
Lighting: Fluval full spectrum Led light 48 leds and has the blue lights as well
Currently not running a heater because I live in California and it is currently 100 degrees all day an night
I use an air stone I like the way it looks to me plus extra o2 never hurt

Live stock
2 perc clowns
1 solar wrasse
1 dragon wrasse
1 flame hawk fish
1 sand sifter goby
2 small damsels

Inverts
1 purple tipped tubed anemone
1 orange anemone
4 snails
3 small hermits

Coral
2 orange dendrophelia
1 Large colony of green zoas
1 small toadstool
1 colony of cabbage leathers
1 small colony of green button polyps

Pics go from Start to the finished product of what i have right now

 

Tank is looking Great!

 

Great progression shots. You've made good fish choices, the dragon wrasse is gonna get huge though, but he sure is cool looking now.The tank looks great, you should be proud.

 

Thanks guys here is a better picture

 

tank looks really good! It's so different to see a hex tank.

 

Nice job dj

 

Great story and progression shots. Thank looks good.