New 75 g upgrade

[tzabor10]

Finally upgrading my 40 breeder QT system to a drilled 75 g tank with a real stand!
Found this Seapora 75 Regular 48”x18”x20” at my LFS (Low Tide Corals). They drilled it with a low profile Fiji Cube external overflow.
Got 4 Reefbrite 48” Actinic Blues and one Kessil AP9x to start.
Electrician installed 3 dedicated 20a GCFI outlets each with dedicated breakers.
Running a 26” Trigger platinum sump
Skimmer is Reef Octopus Elite 150-INT
2 - 200W Titanium heaters from BRS controlled by an Inkbird WiFi
Using 2 MP10’s and one MP40 with an Ecotech battery backup.
Return pump was leftover from a long time ago.
but really want dual Ecotech Vectra S2s.
Kamoer F4 pro dosing.
Icecap 40 W UV sterilizer
GFO and Carbon BRS reactors.
Going to build a custom remote Refugium.
Have a package coming from Tampa Bay Saltwater with a full load of the best rocks.
Back of the tank is frosted with a LED bar for added color.

 

[lapin]

Nice

 

[tzabor10]

Added water, got it moving. Stray voltage from an old pump was unwelcome. Next weekend I’ll drill the remote sump and get the ATO running.

 

[tzabor10]

ATO is running out of a bucket. Skimmer worked well in testing. Can’t wait to get my electric cabinets assembled. These floor wires are not safe.

 

[Asm481]

Don't you lose a lot of light with the egg crate for tops?

 

[tzabor10]

Don't you lose a lot of light with the egg crate for tops?

Haven’t really had all the lights on other than that test them. 4 Reefbrite XHO actinic blue and one Kessil aP9x. Should be enough light for now. I will definitely string up screens when it is time to ramp things up.
Thanks for the suggestion

 

[tzabor10]

Attached the DIY Refugium/ cryptic sump. It’s causing micro bubbles. Assembled one power cabinet. Believe it or not, it’s super organized (by my standards)

 

[Asm481]

Leave tar diy refugium running. My bet is it will build a slime and stop the micro bubbles.

 

[jimmers]

This looks like a top notch build.

 

[tzabor10]

Got first 7 packs of Tampa Bay Saltwater live rocks. @LiverockRocks. Saw so much life on these and can’t believe that premium rocks are still to come. At least 3 starfish, several snails, small crabs and so many corals, sponges and tunicates. It’s finally happening!!

 

[LiverockRocks]

Got first 7 packs of Tampa Bay Saltwater live rocks. @LiverockRocks. Saw so much life on these and can’t believe that premium rocks are still to come. At least 3 starfish, several snails, small crabs and so many corals, sponges and tunicates. It’s finally happening!!

How is the tank settling in with Part 1?

Those rubbery looking blobs are called condominium tunicates and surprisingly they are super hardy filter feeders (low light). The crab at the top is an interesting fella, do you have more photos of it? The tiny coral appears to be tube corals, they like lower lighting. We love seeing coral growth on newer rock planted by us, WoooHOO! Good colors of coralline and a nice ruby mithrax crab there.

Looking forward to harvesting Part 2 for you soon!

 

[PharmrJohn]

You've got a great build there. I especially like your redundancy with heaters (and the type you bought). It's the little things that matter.

 

[tzabor10]

How is the tank settling in with Part 1?

Those rubbery looking blobs are called condominium tunicates and surprisingly they are super hardy filter feeders (low light). The crab at the top is an interesting fella, do you have more photos of it? The tiny coral appears to be tube corals, they like lower lighting. We love seeing coral growth on newer rock planted by us, WoooHOO! Good colors of coralline and a nice ruby mithrax crab there.

Looking forward to harvesting Part 2 for you soon!

That tiny crab is on my finger. Best picture I have. Released him to the tank shortly after the photo. Added about 5 liters of phytoplankton so far and a new batch of copepods.

 

[tzabor10]

And now I found a mantis shrimp this morning. How exciting

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Following along!

 

[ackshee]

I can tell you put a lot of care into the behind-the-scenes equipment. Everything looks sleek.

 

[tzabor10]

I can tell you put a lot of care into the behind-the-scenes equipment. Everything looks sleek.

I can’t seem to understand my process. Buying the cheapest tank, fitting it with expensive equipment. Putting it together like a Frankenstein. Why do I do things this way. It’s just me.

 

[tzabor10]

Just got in part 2. Sponges tunicates and hitchhikers galore. Thanks TBS @LiverockRocks

 

[tzabor10]

Rock scape is resolved for now. Decided on a drop off look with copious hidden caves. So many creatures are in the water. Found two anemone, four colonies of coral, two reddish mantis shrimp. Tunicates and worms cover so much of the rock. Found a yellow sponge and some red cover that I can’t identify yet. Fish, urchin, and four anemones made it over.

 

[Kmst80]

Rock scape is resolved for now. Decided on a drop off look with copious hidden caves. So many creatures are in the water. Found two anemone, four colonies of coral, two reddish mantis shrimp. Tunicates and worms cover so much of the rock. Found a yellow sponge and some red cover that I can’t identify yet. Fish, urchin, and four anemones made it over.

Don't you just love life rock. I got so many creatures and corals out of my 3 loads, impressive how all those inverts,sponges,filterfeeders survive.
I got at least one mantis too, a few pistol shrimp. Lovely click concert when it's light out ea h night. R u keeping the mantis?