34Gal Stony Solana w/ 20Gal Refugium

[plyle02]

Back at it again, this will be a 34 gallon stony reef utilizing a 20gallon long plumbed into the system adding more volume of water, haven for micro-life(supplemental food for corals and fish), bio-diversity(biological filtration), and nutrient absorption by use of macro-algae. I have used several approaches over the years, but look back in time when I was most successful, then too, I employed a fuge. In April I became a homeowner for the 1st time, being an apartment reefer over the years, I am taking advantage and have an entire room to myself to play with. The previous owners of the home converted the garage into a den, even vented with A/C. So, here is the setup:

A view from the middle of the room towards the tank at an angle, in the closet I have put all filtration equipment...

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Pic of the fuge, receiving from the maintank, delivering into filtration closet:

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Plumbing going through the wall, into the filtration area:

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Filtration Area with closet door open:

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Filtration Area Top Down:

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Pic of Fuge and filtration area with door closed:

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Equipment:
34 Gallon Solana Drilled
20 Gallon Long w/ overflow box(rated 450gph)
12 Gallon E-shopps sump
SWC-120 Skimmer
Mag7 Return
BRS GFO RX(using Rowas)(maxi-900 feed)
MP10 for flow in Solana
ATO
AquaHouse 2 part dosers
Standard Disco Ball Halide 150watt (phoenix 14k)
Par32 20k blue supplemental lighting on Solana
20Watt 6500k LED over fuge

 

[plyle02]

Here is a pic of the tank without corals

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And some new updated pics taken yesterday, will be posting quite a few pics...lol...

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Random SPS:

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[plyle02]

a few non sps

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[sahin]

Looking good Perry! How long has this been setup?

 

[plyle02]

Looking good Perry! How long has this been setup?

Thanks Sahin, been awhile...

I actually have had parts of the system going for over a year now, I moved back in April, setup a 20gallon long as a reef, and put the Solana away for awhile. A month ago, I decided to take the neglected 20 gallon long and make it a fuge, clean up the Solana, drill it, then incorporate both systems into the same filtration. I now know that in the haste of trying to create a low nutrient environment over the years, that I missed the point of fish and coral nutrition. The fuge has helped to make things very stable, I cannot believe the polyp extension I get, mind boggling... I still put 3 drops of zeostart3 per day, I also add 2 drops at 2 times per week of zeo bak. I have lots of blue bottles, but will not add until I feel the tank and corals are ready. I am using the fuge as a living reactor. I will likely use a c-source sporadically as needed even though I will be using a fuge, really depends on what tests reveal... Thanks for looking, hopefully in time the tank will fill in

 

[Wills612]

Nice setup. I like the dt-fuge-sump combo. Cool to see on a smaller setup. I had a questions about your skimmer, sent you a pm.

 

[plyle02]

Nice setup. I like the dt-fuge-sump combo. Cool to see on a smaller setup. I had a questions about your skimmer, sent you a pm.

Thanks Wills612!
I like that I have options in my setup, I can easily plumb another tank down the road, likely a frag tank, well I hope, lol...
Regards,

 

[Wills612]

Implemented some of your skimmer advice and it's working much better now. Thanks.

 

[MammothReefer]

looking good but now that you are a homeowner it's time to add a 0 to the end of that 34!

 

[zombiereefer]

love the acans

 

[plyle02]

Implemented some of your skimmer advice and it's working much better now. Thanks.

Awesome...
"Pay it forward", best advice received ever in the hobby, glad you getting that skimmer dialed in

 

[plyle02]

looking good but now that you are a homeowner it's time to add a 0 to the end of that 34!

MammothReefer,
You are killing me, I have had those thoughts, but going to see where this tank goes, I would love to add that 0, but cannot afford that 0....lol... One day though. I would be stoked with 125G tank, needless to say a 200+... I have options though, so we will have to see... Best...

 

[plyle02]

love the acans

Thanks on the acans, again, a stony reef... I am fond of the acans and lps, but my heart is dedicated to the sps. Best to you my friend!