Fort Salty! 45 Gallon Reef

[Fort Salty]

Hello Reef2reef! I just started into this hobby last year. I spent some time picking up used equipment and cleaning it all. I acquired:

45 gallon tank and stand (36×12.25x20.75)
20 gallon long for sump
eShopps hang-on overflow
Bubble Magus C3 skimmer
ActiveAqua 1100gph return pump
Finnex 200w heater
2x Current USA 1050gph powerheads
Viparspectra 165w light
4x five gallon buckets of rock
3x bags of Caribsea Special Grade

Current livestock:
2x Occellaris clowns
Pink spot Goby
Firefish
Algae Blenny
Tiger Pistol shrimp
Finger leather
Duncan
Chalice
Flowerpot
Zoa
Green Star Polyp

I filled the tank early in October, so I am approaching the six month mark. The ebbs and flows of life in the tank have been incredible. I have seen a brittle star, lots of copepods (I presume that is what I see), a dove snail, and small worms that look like feather dusters, and many spots of coralline algae. I have also seen the death of a few snails, an acan and torch coral, and a cocktail of dinos, I think cyano, and hairy algae. My whole family enjoys to progression of the tank, especially my oldest (age four).

I started with two low power LEDs by MarineSpace that came with my tank, but they seemed very insufficient and my corals were receding. So I picked up a single Vipar and most of my corals bounced back. I'm hoping to get a second light at some point for better coverage across the whole tank. I'm also considering the best next additions to my tank.

I got some glass panels and set up the sump myself. I think it works fine, but the plumbing is a classic case of overengineering. I split to downpipe so that my refugium (which only recently started) got dirty water to feed and beneficial creatures didn't run into the skimmer. I honestly wish I had just a more normal right to left flow through the sump for simplicity sake and may get around to changing it sometime. It seems to work for now, though! Here's the the next six months!

 

[jsker]

Great look setup, I look forward to see more in the future

 

[Fort Salty]

I added a tuxedo urchin, and that guy is something else now that he warmed up! Seeing him on top of my return was hilarious! I may need to glue down things better now too. Also added a torch and favia coral.

Curiously, I had cyano and what I presume were dinos on some rocks and the sand, and it seems to have migrated entirely to my refugium. I just got that grape caulerpa when I made my original post. The refugium is looking pretty wild now, but my main tank has cleaned up so much! It was like a miracle. I'm still not sure if it will last.....

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I added a tuxedo urchin, and that guy is something else now that he warmed up! Seeing him on top of my return was hilarious! I may need to glue down things better now too. Also added a torch and favia coral.

Curiously, I had cyano and what I presume were dinos on some rocks and the sand, and it seems to have migrated entirely to my refugium. I just got that grape caulerpa when I made my original post. The refugium is looking pretty wild now, but my main tank has cleaned up so much! It was like a miracle. I'm still not sure if it will last.....

View attachment 3104352

View attachment 3104355

View attachment 3104356

View attachment 3104365

View attachment 3104373

View attachment 3104357

Glad your main tank is doing well!!!

 

[Fort Salty]

I recently got a Canary Wrasse. What a beautiful addition! It brings a lot of energy!

I have also been using superglue to fix my corals directly yo the rock with fairly good success. I crossed the six months mark from start a couple weeks ago, and things are settling nicely! My nitrates are regularly 20 and phosphates between .15 and .20, but at least they are consistent!

 

[Stephen8169301]

I recently got a Canary Wrasse. What a beautiful addition! It brings a lot of energy!

I have also been using superglue to fix my corals directly yo the rock with fairly good success. I crossed the six months mark from start a couple weeks ago, and things are settling nicely! My nitrates are regularly 20 and phosphates between .15 and .20, but at least they are consistent!

View attachment 3129590View attachment 3129591View attachment 3129592

Really liking the lawnmower! That Wrasse really pops in the tank

 

[Fort Salty]

Thank you. The yellow of the wrasse really stands out and adds a beautiful contrast for sure! I like the movement he adds to the tank too. The other fish are much less active.

 

[Poseidon03]

Thank you. The yellow of the wrasse really stands out and adds a beautiful contrast for sure! I like the movement he adds to the tank too. The other fish are much less active.

I like the setup. I also have 2 different return sections in my sump. I also have 2 return lines, so that and how my sump is constructed is why. The one problem is that you can get some buildup of detritus in your refugium, so either cleaning it or getting something that eats it in there is beneficial.

It also looks like you're a fellow Hoosier! There's not many of us on here, so it is nice to see.