60 Gallon Mixed Reef Tank

[Socal-Reefer-60]

MarineLand 60 gallon rimless Mixed Reef. I've been reefing since 2009; started with a 24 gallon nano. Moved up to this 60 in 2014.
Did a full tank/stand/sump/equipment overhaul during the pandemic.

Circulating Pumps: Ecotech MP10QD; and Hydor 850 and 400 w/ variable controller
Heater: 300W Titanium BRS Controllable Heater assembly
Lighting: 24" T5 Aquatic Life; and Kessil Pendants 160 Tuna Blue
Sump: Fiji-24 Advanced Reef Sump
Skimmer: Regal 150 INT6" VarioS Reef Octopus Skimmer
Refugium: Integrated Chamber of Fiji-24
Return Pump: VariosS-2 Controllable DC Pump (792 gph)

Fish:
Flame Angel; Sixline Wrasse; Cardinals;

Inverts:
Crimson Hermits; Cleaner Shrimp; Blue Leg Hermits

Coral:
Euphellia: Torch; Frogspawn; Hammer
Zoas: Orange; Radioactive; Purple; Green; Watermelon poppers
Some miscellaneous Montis, mushrooms and ricordia, galaxy coral
SPS: Stagghorn

Cabinet:
Custom Oak DIY

Automation:
Felix Smart

 

[Socal-Reefer-60]

Some cabinet build photos:

the cabinet is made from redwood 2x4 and 2x2 oak veneer 1/2” oak plywood top and 1/8” oak plywood panels. Face finish members are 1x3-1x4 solid oak.

the load path from tank to pedestal feet is comprised of connections between the 2xs under the tank, to 2x cross members resting on 2x2 corner supports. So overall it’s a composite cabinet design since the sheating and panels are doing the lateral work for stability.

I used Kilz primer and paint for the interior for waterproofing. It even has a 3” inside lip to contain a minor water spill. Since the paint is waterproof.

for the cabinet finish I used minwax stain and a water based sealant.

 

[Barnabie Mejia]

I like the woodworking! keep it up and keep it coming! good work here

 

[zert11797]

Keep up the good work and keep the update pics coming

 

[Socal-Reefer-60]

The chaos that is a tank rebuild glad I took this one really memorializes the intensity of the moment. Notice the holding bins under the breakfast table

This was in late June, it’s the first time I’ve had a DC return pump and DC internal skimmer so lots of new pieces of equipment to play with and tune. You can see my old HOB skimmer from my previous sump doing some extra duty to pull some extra skim from the stirring of live sand and sump replacement

the progress at this point. Stacked reef rock that I’ve had since around 2009. Took me about two weeks to figure out this aqua scape. Has many arches built into the final assembly.

 

[Bepis]

Hey I live in Los Angeles if you ever need help I’ll follow along

 

[Bepis]

My question is why is your fixture not center. But your scape looks great

 

[Socal-Reefer-60]

My question is why is your fixture not center. But your scape looks great

Next step. It’s centered off the previous build. Still need to make a shroud for the lighting and recenter for new cabinet. Good eye

 

[Socal-Reefer-60]

I’m pretty happy w where the sump is at this point.

I just got a 1” block of ceramic plate to raise the regal skimmer up to recommended water height. This may allow me to add an extra gallon to the system in the process.

Need to get some organizers for the misc supplies I have stored below. Figure I’ll grab some under sink organizer compartments.

im also running a Felix smart for my controller. It’s wifi enabled and has a Seneye probe and camera. So far it’s been an interesting add. Not as functional as an apex. But for half the price ( when I kickstarted it) it’s been a good controller.

 

[Socal-Reefer-60]

Tank is it sits today

 

[vlangel]

Nice job on the re-do! My tank is a 56g so similar water volume. I love the aquascape, it is definitely worth the 2 weeks you spent getting it right.

 

[Socal-Reefer-60]

photos from tonight

 

[CMMorgan]

Incredible woodworking - oak? Great work!

 

[Socal-Reefer-60]

Incredible woodworking - oak? Great work!

Yah, oak is beautiful but a bit hard on the woodworking side.

 

[CMMorgan]

Yah, oak is beautiful but a bit hard on the woodworking side.

Preaching to the choir. I am a designer for the largest cabinetry manufacturer in the world. The last 27 years of my life, I have worked with installers on kitchen and bath renovations. One of the easiest way to qualify an installer is how they respect the wood. Maple, oak, and cherry will not drill or cut the same as pine or alder. Don't even get me started on the nimrods that think you use drywall screws for anything other than actual drywall.
Truly, though, you paid respect to a beautiful piece of wood. Professionally speaking - you did good, kid. One tip that may help you long term though... I see you made mitered doors. That is a nice look but that joinery is never friendly to humidity in the long run. You may want to protect the back side of those doors with a piece of foam core to keep any evaporation from swelling the wood.
What did you put under your feet? I see little white caps of some sort. That's a good move, as that plywood could suck a spill up like a straw.

 

[Socal-Reefer-60]

Preaching to the choir. I am a designer for the largest cabinetry manufacturer in the world. The last 27 years of my life, I have worked with installers on kitchen and bath renovations. One of the easiest way to qualify an installer is how they respect the wood. Maple, oak, and cherry will not drill or cut the same as pine or alder. Don't even get me started on the nimrods that think you use drywall screws for anything other than actual drywall.
Truly, though, you paid respect to a beautiful piece of wood. Professionally speaking - you did good, kid. One tip that may help you long term though... I see you made mitered doors. That is a nice look but that joinery is never friendly to humidity in the long run. You may want to protect the back side of those doors with a piece of foam core to keep any evaporation from swelling the wood.
What did you put under your feet? I see little white caps of some sort. That's a good move, as that plywood could suck a spill up like a straw.

Thanks, much appreciated. I’m a structural engineer in the architecture field. So I like to think I can apply my design knowledge in other niches. Hence being comfortable making a pedestal cabinet instead of a 2x6 fortress like most people build their cabinets

so let’s see the feet are actually a white plastic cutting board that I chopped up to fit the shape of each leg. As a bonus it slides like a champ if really need to move it ( even though it’s like 600# ).
Appreciate the input on the cabinet doors, those are quite time consuming to build. Maybe I’ll grab something to back like you mentioned. That’s a good idea, don’t want differential expansion swelling the miter joints and warping the door plane.

Although everything does currently have a layer of waterproof sealing, longevity sometimes takes better planning.

my next step is a custom hood to continue the theme. Hopefully the Holidays will provide the time for that next step soon.

 

[Socal-Reefer-60]

A few shots from tonight. I’ve been using reef chili and reef roids periodically along w some brightwell amino acids probably about 3-4 times a week so far corals seem to have perked up some

I think I need to change out to more blue plus bulbs and add my second kessil pendant. Coral growth isn’t very noticeable. I’ll see what a month of the aminos does though too.

 

[Socal-Reefer-60]

2014 until now. That was five years into the hobby for me. Now around 11 years. My corals have always been able to stay alive ( most colonies are 6-11 years old ). But haven’t thrived. Need to figure out what’s missing. I think a two part dosing w trace elements is in order for me next. Weekly adjustments of alk and calcium doesn’t seem to be making the magic.
I do have a co2 scrubber on order to try and boost ph to 8.3
I’ll keep you guys posted on what seems to work best.

 

[Socal-Reefer-60]

Good day today. Added my second kessil 160 to my hybrid t5 setup. Recentered the light to align w the new stand I built in July and got my icecap co2 scrubber from brs.

anyone have experience w co2 scrubbing? I live alone so I’m not sure how much co2 I actually accumulate in the house. Do I need to worry about monitoring ph daily or will it take like a week for it to ramp up?

let me know what you guys think!

 

[Socal-Reefer-60]

Playing w lenses, have a few fish eye and color
Corrections to adjust for the blue light.