One Year Update w/ Pics

My 55g has been running about a year now and the family is loving it!

Here's a recent pic


Last weekend, I decided to setup a refugium and managed to get it done fairly cheap using a 10g tank kit we bought at a yard sale for $5. I picked up (2) Marineland convertible pumps, some chaeto algae, live sand(mostly for more critters) and some tubing and fittings from Lowe's. I also picked up (1) 20w Coralife 50/50 mini compact(screws into old hood from kit) to see how it looks and plan to get another one this weekend. I put a piece of live rock in along with some rubble I had left from startup. So all together with tank, lights, and everything inside cost about $75.

Pic of the refugium


Here's a pic of whole system


I know a 2 pump system is not ideal but I just use the top pump to prime the line and let suction take over. I left the fuge about 3 gallons light in case of failure. Both pumps are set right at the water's surface so only so much can transfer. I plan to make a small "overflow" shield for DT pump to further limit the volume that can be pumped out in the event of power outage. There is a clamp on the top pump to control the flow to equal lower pump. So far works great!

Over the last year everything has been awesome. No major catastrophes, no algae breakouts, no loss of life except for a candy cane pistol shrimp that I think my diamond watchman goby got ahold of. I have since added a tiger pistol shrimp for my yasha goby and they are best of friends

Yasha Goby and Tiger Pistol Shrimp


Now my stock is:
2 Ocellaris Clowns (m and f)
1 Auriga Butterflyfish
1 Coral Beauty Angelfish
1 Azure Damsel
1 Six-Line Wrasse
1 Diamond Watchmen Goby
1 Yasha Goby
2 Scarlet Cleaner Shrimp
1 Tiger Pistol Shrimp
1 Sexy Shrimp(in refugium)
1 Porcelain Crab
20 Hermit Crabs
25 Snails

Here's a couple pics



Besides a few more sexy shrimp for the fuge(my daughter loves 'em) I am done stocking. My params have been pretty good: pH between 7.8-8.0 ammonia 0 nitrites 0 nitrates between 20-40ppm salinity 1.024. I guess I've been lucky and have a great cleanup crew. I have had very little microalgae and I'm hoping the macro won't have a problem growing in the refugium.

About a month ago, I picked up a few corals from a local guy. Got 2 different ricordea frags, a small acan, a kenya tree and a torch for $30. Seemed like a bargain to me.

Here's the torch

And here's the tree w/ Porcelain Crab playin' King o' the Hill


They all seem to be ok except for the acan. It seems to be bleaching out. I've put it in the fuge for now and hope it will come back.

I've been feeding the tank 2x a day a total of 1 frozen block of either mysis shrimp or spirulina brine, and a block of baby brine. I'm gonna pick up some cyclopeeze this weekend also. All inhabitants seem healthy and happy('cept for that acan, dangit). I'm still learning as I go so any comments or advice would be appreciated. Thanx.

 

It doesn't seem you have much room for more water in the refugium, if you loose power the siphon from the main tank might over flow it. Have you tested it yet?

 

I did test it. First I calculated the volume I would need and came up with roughly 3 gallons. I left it about 3 gallons light then tested by shutting off lower pump. The top pump is right at the surface of the water and stops siphoning(tested 3x) when the water drops below the intake. It only leaves about 1/2" to the top of the 10g but thats all I need.

 

Sweet, sounds like you planned it out well. Great looking tank. If your not already you'll need to start testing for the big 3. Alk, Calc, and Mag for the acan and the torch.

 

Thanx! I only planned on a FOWLR tank so only have the basic test kit but will pick up a reef kit this weekend. Calc should be between 400-450ppm correct? I'm not sure on any of the others.

 

Nice work! But, you need to only use one pump. At some point one pump will outflow the other, and you will have a mess on your floor :/

Get a HOB overflow. I really like my Eshopps. With a small pump like you have, you can just do a nano sized one. They are self priming, so no worries if you lose power. I have thousands of starts and stops on mine, and has never failed to siphon.

The only other way to do is to have the in tank pump on a timer relay. Upon power on, run for X seconds, and then off. But that is likely going overboard...

 

Thanx. I know I'll probably have to do something soon. I've got them setup to pump pretty even with a clamp controlling the flow from the top pump and took precautions for failure but I would like to have it as fail safe as possible and an overflow box may be the best solution
I've thought about making a small corner shield for inside the tank that may hold maybe 1/2 a gallon to allow me to fill refugium up more. For now its working and somewhat fail safe so I'm happy with it so far

 

very nice tank and set up! I love sexy shrimp too just like your daughter

 

Nice looking, I especially like the lighted sump look.

I'm not going there about your 2 pump system.

Keep on reefing!

 

Awesome aquascaping.