50b Sumpless Mixed Reef Build!
- Thread starter BigJohnny
- Start date
BigJohnny
Active member
Thanks bud! Will be nicer with fish and corals haha
I explained in one of the first few posts, it's because I'm in a rental townhouse and have a limit on total water volume which my landlord inspected.
It's not bad at all actually. All of my stuff is extremely low profile and my skimmer has a preskim overflow box which is smaller than a standard reef ready tank overflow. In actuality, I would bet that the the volume of my in tank equipment would fit in a standard reef ready overflow box. Now a ghost overflow or small box one up on the wall about the same size as my preskim box is a different story. But definititely in a standard corner or center overflow.
Alll my equipment is black (except for a small piece of tube running into my reactor pump and my ato sensor wire) like my background, so it doesn't bother me at all. Yea you can see everything but I don't even notice it most of the time. The cobalt neotherm heaters and preskim box really help.
Last edited:
Yea man, you can barely see the equipment in the tank!! Thats awesome! That sucks about the landlord, when I was in my apt the landlord just told me not to go above a 100 gallon system. I laughed at them, I was not about to setup a tank that big to move it come a year later.
BigJohnny
Active member
Haha, yea. My lease says 10 gallons max, I convinced him to allow 40, then bought a 50 [emoji6]
BigJohnny
Active member
Yea those were the waterproof composite shims I used to level the stand (my floor is old wood and not level). I snapped the exposed ends off right after that pic.One of the earlier photos of the tank and stand looked like there was something sticking out from under the stand?
BigJohnny
Active member
Look at this disgusting red algae in between the candy cane polyps. Almost literally threw the frag in the trash because I didn't even want to risk it spreading anywhere else. I still might because its growing now that ive increased the photo period.....
I think it's red turf algae. Any thoughts?
BigJohnny
Active member
Haha thanks, I can't wait either!
BigJohnny
Active member
Thanks bud, they are a start atleast. Wait till you see the ones on deck [emoji6] . I'll post some pics. That's what I was thinking, a lil hydrogen peroxide dip then back in the qt. I thought I read somewhere that I can't dip the fleshy part of the coral in h202 though? Or maybe I misunderstood.
Agree 100% on the frag plugs. I didn't dip any initially before putting them in qt because I was in a rush to catch a plane (I know stupid, but that's why it's a qt haha), but plan on removing the frag plugs, dipping and putting them on fresh plugs before entering the display. That candy canes not going anywhere near my tank until it's spotless though. I don't even really like it haha, kind of an impulse buy when I realized I shouldn't spend $400 on sps out the gate.
I may also let them all chill in the qt for another week and redip before entering the display, just incase any little buggers get through/hatch.
Isaacs55
New member
It's one of those debatable things that people will say one thing and others will say differently. It's just up to you if you do or not. I've seen great progress with All corals being dipped in h202. So whichever you choose good luck lol
I take and leave the frag plugs off all together lol I don't put mine back on plugs at all. Find a good spot and stick it there lol frag plugs are an eyesore lol I out my zoa in with a new plug but then was like no that doesn't look right, so I took it off lol
Check it out
BigJohnny
Active member
It's one of those debatable things that people will say one thing and others will say differently. It's just up to you if you do or not. I've seen great progress with All corals being dipped in h202. So whichever you choose good luck lol
I take and leave the frag plugs off all together lol I don't put mine back on plugs at all. Find a good spot and stick it there lol frag plugs are an eyesore lol I out my zoa in with a new plug but then was like no that doesn't look right, so I took it off lol
Check it out
Beautiful zoas man, look fantastic!
I'll do some more research on the h202. I'll tell you one thing, there's no way that corals going in my display tank with that algae, so it's either h202 or the trash haha.
As far as frag plugs- I agree completely, they are an eyesore and I don't plan on keeping my corals on them permanently. With a powerful light like an ati sunpower, you have to start all corals on the bottom and gradually move them to where you want them over time (A few weeks). That's why they will still be on frag plugs (new clean ones atleast) until they are ready to be permanently mounted and I find a good spot for them. I'm still planning my layout as well so I want flexibility early on.
Ok, so NOW I'll show you the "corals on deck" that I'm truly excited about. Just put in this order with vivid aquariums, all wysiwyg except for the purple tip frogspawn which isn't one of the fancy ones anyway[emoji6] . Blue ricordea is wysiwyg but again, not that fancy (really beautiful though).
Purple Tip Frogspawn
Blue Ricordea (WYSIWYG)
Inferno Acan Lord (WYSIWYG)
Hulk Acan Lord (WYSIWYG)
Blood Diamond Acan Lord (WYSIWYG)
Ultra Acan Lord (WYSIWYG)
You could say ACAN go a little acan crazy sometimes[emoji12] . No sps yet, but now we're getting into the good stuff
[emoji106] [emoji106] [emoji106][emoji41] [emoji106] [emoji106] [emoji106]
So pumped!
BigJohnny
Active member
Haha I'm not going to be buying many more corals for a little while after these guys. I can't buy fish yet because I can't qt properly with my current travel schedule, I guess I'm compensating.
In 2-3 weeks I will be purchasing my first fish (clown pair) and a pair of skunk cleaner shrimp. After they have all finished qt protocol and are in the display, I will probably move on to some sps.
The real issue is when my wife starts wanting to add corals too! Then we're screwed. I only have 50g after all............for now.
Vivid WYSIWYG is the best I've ever seen, their corals are nicer and cheaper than anywhere I've found. The owner Dave is super chill as well
Smart man! Your landlord won't be able to tell the difference haha. Nice coral selection man! I love the Acan.
As far as the frag plugs, I also find that they inhibit nuisance algae growth in my tank. I find if I have a slight outbreak of any algae it first starts on any open surface of a plug. So I just take the frag off the plug now a days. Even if its an SPS frag encrusted ill just sheer it off and glue it to a piece of rubble rock or aquascape where I want it.
As far as the frag plugs, I also find that they inhibit nuisance algae growth in my tank. I find if I have a slight outbreak of any algae it first starts on any open surface of a plug. So I just take the frag off the plug now a days. Even if its an SPS frag encrusted ill just sheer it off and glue it to a piece of rubble rock or aquascape where I want it.
Looks good! All that beautiful equipment, but no sump. How come?
His landlord
BigJohnny
Active member
You literally wrote the exact same thing word for word on post #3 under a different username. What gives? Just Trolllllling along? You slyyyyy dog.Looks good! All that beautiful equipment, but no sump. How come?
BigJohnny
Active member
Haha yea, and the extra 10g makes a huge difference IMO. Thanks on the corals, I'm pretty pumped.
Interesting on the algae frag plug thing. I've heard that with egg crate but not frag plugs, makes sense. Where do you get your rubble rock?
