nyvw's 55g build Updated fts 11-13

Current FTS: 11/10/12



First week 1/9/12



Finally made the switch from fw to sw. I was browsing craigslist and picked up a 55g with a stand. I thought it was pretty decent setup but soon found out it was shot.. stand had water damage and was falling apart..The tank, was an older style 55g with no center brace and thicker glass.. a really nice tank except the thing was scratched to ****!! didnt notice until i had it setup and turned the lights on.. Lesson learned, if your buying used, check everything from every angle and in every configuration possible.. ugh. So i said F it and picked up a new 55 from petland discounts in danbury, CT, good thing they have been running a $1/g sale for a while. I have a little build thread in the New to the Hobby section here that covers most of the stuff it took me to get to this point http://www.3reef.com/forums/new-hobby/55g-build-first-sw-tank-126299.html

Here's where i started:
Started off framing out a stand



Quick mock up



These are the lights that came with the setup i got off craigslist.. ASF (i think thats the brand) retrofit light. They will be fine until the new lights i got come in hopefully by next week.



Another of the stand.. Trimmed up almost done. I reused the doors from the used stand that i got.. the only thing i reused :-[



Drillling the tank for the glass-holes overflow.



Just to make sure everything will work.. notice the leaking return bulkhead



The top of the stand. I used Stick-On flooring tile from the depot and ran a bead of silicone around the inside edge.



Stand without the doors. It was at this point i decied to scrap the used tank and buy a new one..lol



New tank, drilled, painted backround, with 50lbs of marco rocks



Eggcrate under the rocks



I then had to wait about 2 weeks for my spectrapure Refurb RO/DI unit to get here before i could move any further

Finally made enough water.. It takes forever with low house pressure and cold temps...

Added live sand, and filled the tank



And here is the current shot i took today, Picked up ~10lbs of assorted cured live rock from the lfs.



Got some colorful and interesting peices. So far ive seen a few feather dusters and one of these guys.. bristle worm?



One rock also had some red stuff (coral?) growing.. any idea what it is? bear with me im still learning when it comes to the coral stuff.



So thats where im at, been about a 3 month process to get to this point and a few dollars too many have been spent.. but well worth it.

 

Nice looking setup!

 

Nice tank! you've been busy!

 

Next on the list is to get the lights in, aquaticlife 4 bulb /led fixture.. Upgrade the rio 1700 pump at some point.. ive read they arent that good? working fine so far though. Then order a CuC from reef cleaners..

Im still not decided on the fish stocking yet.. What im thinking:
Pair of clowns
Snowflake Eel
One bottom dwelling fish.. goby?

 

Really nice, great scape.

Those red things are Foraminiferans.

 

Thanks! Are they good/bad? lol

 

It looks like you've done your homework so far to get to this point. I like the scaping job with the arches. It gives the little guys space to hide. Any idea what you're gonna put in it?

 

Thinking of a pair of clowns, snowflake eel, and some type of goby, bottomfish.. not sure yet.. Id like to keep it simple since this is my first SW tank

 

I've got the rio 1700 for my set up and no issues to date.


Simple is best. You're doing great. Keep the pics coming....;D

 

Harmless.

I got a couple cuts in the past from them while doing maintenance.

There not corals they but in the group of Protozoa and consider to be a type of marine plankton.