Nate's 55G Reef Tank Build

Coming along very nicely. +1 8)

 

Looking good.

 

In case anyone was still wondering about simple ways to build a stand and sump for a 55G, here's a pic of the back of my stand after I finished putting everything together.

The return pipes use another set of gaskets to go through the overflow. The only problem with the glass coast to coast overflow is that mine has no teeth so I have had to scoop a number of fish out after they slide over the side (usually being forced to shut off the return pump and drain the overflow).

 

The tank has been up and running for 9 months now and I haven't posted much so I thought I'd make a quick timeline.
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2 Months

I initially added 5 chromis which quickly became 2. The banded sleeper goby changed my sand from brown diatom covered to white his first day. Acropora, birdnest, montiporas, zoas, kenyan tree coral and hairy mushrooms have been added.

4 Months

My friend was taking down his 200G+ tank and was kind enough to give me a ton of livestock (basically all the new rock and the maxima and toadstool, both of which are the largest I have ever seen in person). Unfortunately by this time things had started going down hill for my montiporas and blue zoas.

9 months/Present

Things are starting to look like a more mature tank even though I still feel like it's really young. After losing 2 wrasses and a flame angel out the 1" gap along the back of my tank I finally decided to glue some acrylic back there. I also swapped one of the white bulbs out for a purple plus and started dosing kent 2 part. My water chem is looking better and so are the sps.

 

A whole lot of baby snails

 

You have done an excellent job of making it look like a natural reef.

The small snails are Collanista.