50b Sumpless Mixed Reef Build!

Isaacs55 said:
Right on man! It's looking clean! I had an idea last night for my stand. Instead of trim on it I'm going to take it all off and make it all square without the teim. I'm going to use wood epoxy for the edges so I get a fine finish and then paint it all cuz I want a modern look and I don't like how it looks right now lol. And the doors I'm going to make one big door and hinge it so I can just take it off and on.
Click to expand...

Thanks bud! In regards to your stand, that sounds cool. Definitely share some pics once you redo the edges as I'm curious to see how it turns out. I'm also definitely a fan of the single removable panel idea and am considering using one myself. I won't have a sump in my stand since it's just a 20g QT observation tank and all my equipment is internal or HOB, but if I did I would definitely want the removable panel for easy access purposes. Keep me posted[emoji106]
 
chillwill007 said:
Nice love this size tank. Wish more companies made these. Would be awsome if they had 50 breeders at petco $1 a gallon sale
Click to expand...

I know! The Deep Blue 50b was actually pretty cheap ordered from my lfs, obviously not the same as aqueon/tetra $1/gallon but still pretty reasonable. Worth it IMO for the extra 10g and I was very impressed with the quality of the tank. Better glass and seams than any of the petco/petsmart tanks I've seen.
 
BigJohnny said:
I know! The Deep Blue 50b was actually pretty cheap ordered from my lfs, obviously not the same as aqueon/tetra $1/gallon but still pretty reasonable. Worth it IMO for the extra 10g and I was very impressed with the quality of the tank. Better glass and seams than any of the petco/petsmart tanks I've seen.
Click to expand...

Mind telling what u paid for it? Could pm me if you want.

But yea a 50 breeder with a 40 breeder sump would be pretty sweet.
 
chillwill007 said:
Mind telling what u paid for it? Could pm me if you want.

But yea a 50 breeder with a 40 breeder sump would be pretty sweet.
Click to expand...

I don't mind telling at all, I think it was 103 or 123, I forget. Most LFS quoted me 140-165 for an aqueon 50b, I only got one quote for the deep blue because I found a great lfs and he said he'd hook me up, but I do believe they are cheaper than aqueon which is awesome considering the quality is superior IMO. I also like the look of the universally injected black seams and low iron glass.

The extra $60-$80 over a $1/gallon 40b is definitely worth it in my opinion for the extra 10g and far superior quality. Every single $1/g aqueon or marineland/tetra 40b I looked at had crappy seams and/or warped/unlevel bottom trim. I originally bought a tetra 40b but when I put it on a perfectly level and flat stand it was clear that it was so warped that only the middle 2/3 of the tank was actually flush with the stand.

The quality of the 50b over the 40b could also be due to the fact that 50b are not mass produced like 40b, I'm which case an aqueon/marineland/tetra 50b could be better quality than its 40b counterpart. I'm a bigger fan of deep blue tanks overall though. Ive heard their stands are bad though.

I know deep blue tanks had some issues when starting out but it's been a long time since then and they are high quality now IMO, atleast the ones I have seen.
 
Update- took about 4.5 days to eliminate the last 2ppm ammonia dose:

a52119ad62522433d4c41a5c902203af.jpg


Still not getting much nitrate which is weird considering I've dosed ammonia 3 times. I am starting to get a small diatom bloom on the sand bed however:

dd9ef713822154827d660c08b96af3df.jpg


Just dosed back up to 2ppm ammonia concentration, hoping it converts in 36hrs or less and I get more nitrates (wont hear me say that again[emoji6] ). Getting close!

I plan on ordering my copepod and amphipod cultures any day now [emoji106]

Someone pointed me in the direction of this great aquaculture site which carries a blend of Copepods and also Amphipods (as well as mysid, rotifers, brine etc), the latter of which I was unable to find elsewhere:

http://www.aquaculturestore.com/Salt-Water-Invertebrates/

They also produce their own plankton feed which claims to be very low in oils and forgiving in terms of overfeeding.

The pods will be my first editions to the display tank. In the meantime, I will be starting up my QT observation tank with a quick cycle product (after I finish sanding/painting the stand), and buying several frags from my lfs to put in there. Once they have been dipped and observed for a while, I will purchase a pair of juvenile clowns and begin their quarantine process! I'm getting really excited [emoji3]
 
Last edited:
52a24daee69c63e096694bbb4cd36b4a.jpg


Took 3 days to fully process 2ppm ammonia, however I realized that all my prior doses had been between 1ppm-1.5ppm so even though the last dose took 4.5 days this is a significant improvement. Hopefully the 2ppm I just dosed will be gone in 36 hrs, however I am traveling tonight until Friday so won't know for sure. Will re dose on friday to double check.

Btw check out the aqua c remora pro collection cup drain line I set up for while I'm away (just incase). Pretty sweet built in feature. Also came with a plug if you dont want to use the drain.

0ec379ee4b8eadb7ad2e5d6b0225216d.jpg


b6c6ce7d6c39b54378c702f0d2ce788a.jpg


The 5 gallon jug is obviously overkill but will do the job until the 4 liter thin space saver container I got off BRS arrives which will easily fit in my stand next to my ato reservoir.

If my tank processes 2ppm ammonia to pure nitrate in 24hrs or less when I get back on friday, I will order my copepods/amphipods and purchase my first frags and some snails from my lfs!

Plan to dip then observe my corals in my 20 qt observation tank for a little bit before then. pumped
 
Last edited:
BigJohnny said:
Haha yeeeeeeee buddy! Pumped, I have a list of like $500 in frags I want (overtime obviously [emoji6] ). The suspense is killing me.
Click to expand...
Actually apparently I have a list of almost $1000 in frags haha :
d282dc35ca426ed704fb06b45210a1b9.jpg

I think ill start with the cheapest ones though....
 
Here is my nearly finished stand with magnetic front panel. Just need to fill in the screw holes on the trim of the panel then paint! I have been waiting to paint for almost a week but the humidity has been 70%+ with thunderstorms almost every day so that would not work out well. Will post pics when finished.

20992d366b5b11a485644421bb7ff46e.jpg


d544c3ad3c6dfb04c9e2a9f69500c47d.jpg


Pretty good for a newb eh?
 
BigJohnny said:
Here is my nearly finished stand with magnetic front panel. Just need to fill in the screw holes on the trim of the panel then paint! I have been waiting to paint for almost a week but the humidity has been 70%+ with thunderstorms almost every day so that would not work out well. Will post pics when finished.

20992d366b5b11a485644421bb7ff46e.jpg


d544c3ad3c6dfb04c9e2a9f69500c47d.jpg


Pretty good for a newb eh?
Click to expand...


That's awesome, now I want to start seen corals and fishes lmao
 
BigJohnny said:
Yea they are a super legit vendor and most of the corals they sell (if not all) are fragged from their main display rather than wild or maricultured.
Click to expand...


I stopped in when I was in the area and there display tank is freakin huge!!!! Totally legit! All of there frags come from that display tank. If i lived closer I would just go in and buy but I live 6 hours away.
 
Isaacs55 said:
I stopped in when I was in the area and there display tank is freakin huge!!!! Totally legit! All of there frags come from that display tank. If i lived closer I would just go in and buy but I live 6 hours away.
Click to expand...
Awesome, atleast your within range I'm on the east cost [emoji53]
 
Isaacs55 said:
I stopped in when I was in the area and there display tank is freakin huge!!!! Totally legit! All of there frags come from that display tank. If i lived closer I would just go in and buy but I live 6 hours away.
Click to expand...


Im six hours away as well, what area are you? I'm Sacramento area.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

R
Stay Away
Replies
6
Views
251
saltypilot
S
B
Getting back into reefs after a decade away.. Questions
Replies
9
Views
2K
Dustin07
D
S
Tank Update & Tentative Stocking Plan
Replies
2
Views
126
griss
griss
jasonfrey
Polyp Lab Reef Primer Coral Dip
Replies
0
Views
528
jasonfrey
jasonfrey
G
New here! Here’s my 150G tall glass cages mixed reef aquarium
Replies
10
Views
458
Uncle99
Uncle99
Back
Top