50g Used Tank Build

[Pacific North Reef]

Getting back into saltwater aquariums after a break of some years and though why not build a reef tank from a used 55gal we had. Gingerly and apprehensively I drilled a hole for the overflow, not knowing for sure if it wasn't tempered glass and then the returns. Stripped and re-applied silicone, bought a used 20L for a sump, a RO/DI unit and went from there. Using an Eshopps M Eclipse overflow, T5-hybrid light fixture (plan to use 2 Nicrew 50w to start), Bubble Magnus Wave5 skimmer, Sicce 2.0 return pump, 2 - 150w Finnex titanium heaters and a 100w full spec grow light in the refugium (I used a combination of the glass I had cut and a kit I bought off ebay, I liked the sock holder compartment and the black acrylic to help with light spill). Turns out after figuring out the dimension, its a 50gal DT, so I'll have roughly 70gal of water to watch with TLC! To catch up, just bought a 10gal QT tank and started working on the Rockwork/habitat today. Still have a long way to go. Finishing the stand, lights, chaeto, and the Salt and Sand I'm ordering next week. From the first picture, Its been almost a year to this point. Then live rock and cycling! Thanks for checking the build out and Happy Reefing! Updates coming...

 

[tsharpe291]

Looks like a solid well thought out build.

 

[Pacific North Reef]

Thanks! Its been a lot of research and planning!

 

[SneaksMcdoogle]

Yea man looks great.

 

[Francis Kukulya]

Looking good !

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Nice looking build!!

 

[Pacific North Reef]

Just finished the rockwork and wanted to see it in the tank.

Applying epoxy Finished

 

[tsharpe291]

Just finished the rockwork and wanted to see it in the tank.

Applying epoxy Finished

Yea man, that looks really cool! I did the same for mine, loved building my own scape.

 

[Pacific North Reef]

Thats turned out good! Nice looking rockwork!

Yeah, I wasn't sure how it was gonna go at first but I was happy with the outcome!

 

[kevgib67]

Great looking scape! I’m assuming when you mentioned live rock that you are seeing the dry rock with some additional live rock?

 

[Pacific North Reef]

Yeah, originally I was going to go 40lbs live rock, 30lbs dry and a bottle of Dr. Tims or Microbacter. But have kinda revised that plan and still going to seed with live rock and the live bacteria but using mostly the dry rock, just not sure how much live rock needed to seed.

 

[kevgib67]

Yeah, originally I was going to go 40lbs live rock, 30lbs dry and a bottle of Dr. Tims or Microbacter. But have kinda revised that plan and still going to seed with live rock and the live bacteria but using mostly the dry rock, just not sure how much live rock needed to seed.

I would suggest 50/50 but I’m not sure how you would do it without taking away from that beautiful scape. I would probably add what you could work into your scape and the rest I would put in your sump. I’ll be curious to see what you work out.

 

[Pacific North Reef]

I would suggest 50/50 but I’m not sure how you would do it without taking away from that beautiful scape. I would probably add what you could work into your scape and the rest I would put in your sump. I’ll be curious to see what you work out.

Thanks, I wasn't sure how much I was going to need and was also thinking along those lines, adding an island and some rubble around the base of each "scape" and, like you said the rest in the sump. If I go with 30lbs (I figure 7lbs to 8lbs avg. per rock?), we're only talking maybe 4 to 5 "rocks" and I should be able to get that in there...I think...I hope!

 

[Pacific North Reef]

Minor update: I have roughly 40lbs of dry rock/aquascape soaking in a RODI jacuzzi. While 30lbs of some precycled rock from my lfs is sitting in some water, in a bag, in a styrofoam box, inside a cardboard box in my garage, slowly killing me and any bacteria on it while I wait for the RODI water to fill the other can. The tricky part is that a bottle of bacteria isn't going to arrive until Tuesday! I jumped on the rock a little earlier than maybe I wanted to, but opportunity knocked and now I'm scrambling to get it into the water. Once the water fills the other can I'll get the salt in and start cycling while I finish the stand. But I'm pretty happy to be at this point. It feels like a transition from planning and building to things beginning to happen! Stoked!!

 

[Pacific North Reef]

The far and few between update: Dry rock has been cycling for a month this Tuesday and have been trying to get the tank and stand set up before I do a WC and Hopefully just do a 100% WC when I move the rock to the tank. I think I'll be okay going a little longer before the WC, I dont have any fish in the bin, just Dr. Tims and a shrimp tail. Nitrates at .10 and just waiting for me to finish the tank. My concern is having enough ammonia to feed the bacteria. My plan is is to keep it as is and in a week or two I'll have the tank up and get some clowns in the tank. I'll add a boost dose of microbacter 7 once I move the rock to the tank and add fish.

Mocking up the back to cut holes

 

[tsharpe291]

Looking good, can’t wait to see it up and running

 

[Pacific North Reef]

Looking good, can’t wait to see it up and running

Thanks man, I can't wait either! The further I get, the quicker I wanna go! If only we didn't live in a neighborhood, I cant run the saw at 1:00 am.

 

[Pacific North Reef]

Well, Ive got the stand 99% completed, just a couple doors to finish. Stain didn't turn out like I envisioned, but good 'nough for government work. The rock has been cycled and for about a month now, in the tank and I've been dosing with microbacter7, and fiji mud for a few weeks. I have copopods arriving this weekend and the new couple moving in are almost through quarantine and will also be added this weekend. I lost parts of the aquascape when I pulled them out of the brute so tried to make the best of what I had to work with. Once the clown and shrimp are in I'll wait a couple weeks then boost dose some probidio start and ad more
cuc and utilitarian fish! Next up, lights and decent power heads, I have a couple cheap ones in now and won't turn the lights on for a couple months so I am in no rush.