Fort Salty! 45 Gallon Reef

Fort Salty · Mar 24, 2023

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 · Mar 24, 2023

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

Fort Salty · Apr 10, 2023

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 · Apr 11, 2023

Fort Salty said:
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.....

Glad your main tank is doing well!!!

Fort Salty · Apr 29, 2023

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 · May 16, 2023

Fort Salty said:
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!

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

Fort Salty · May 18, 2023

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 · May 26, 2023

Fort Salty said:
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.

Fort Salty · Jun 2, 2023

Yes, Hoosier born and raised! I love this fine state and am glad to see other Hoosiers here too. I'm not familiar with Winamac, though. Hopefully you had a nice Memorial Day weekend. Beautiful weather.

Fort Salty · Jul 23, 2023

For a short update, things have been struggling for this tank. I have neglected some of the regular maintaince and water changes for near five weeks. It has been busy and difficult aside from the tank lately. Over the course of the time, my powerheads seized up (one is intermittent I think, and one I replaced under warrenty already), the controller on my heater failed off, and my salinity dropped a little bit.

I have gotten things back somewhat, but not without some loss. I have a Duncan and a favia that I think are showing a lot of skeleton and probably are done for. My torch coral looks iffy as well.

It sure doesn't take long for things to get out of hand! I'm at the nine month mark currently, so I'm hoping to be in good shape by October. The good news is that I got much better at clearing out hair algae this weekend!

FS