Geldof's 40 SPS Cube

geldof

New member
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This aquarium has been set up since November of 2014 (11 months). About half of the colonies were transferred from my 7.5 gallon SPS cube, link below.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2230774

Reason for the upgrade was to further simplify maintenance, grow out some of my favorite colonies and add more fish, which have all been named by my wife and two year old son.

I will discuss some of the ways I accomplished 30 minute weekly maintenance, as this thread develops.

The setup and more pictures.

- converted 34 Solana / gutted and drilled for overflow (Total System volume around 45 gallons)
- Custom acrylic sump with two main chambers
- Reef Octopus Classic, Skimmer
- CPR Bio P reactor, used for activated carbon
- 4" Filter sock holder (sock added 1 day / week)
- refugium, built into sump with 15 watt CF bulb 24/7
- 2x BRS dosers for ALK and CAL
- 1x BRS doser for Vinegar / Carbon dosing
- 24" ATI SunPower, 24 watt x 6 Bulb t5 dimmable
- 2x 100 watt Eheim Jager (in sump and aquarium, controller regulated)
- Reefkeeper 2 controller
- Jabeo DC 6000 return pump
- Jabeo WP 25 Upper circulation
- Maxijet 900 Pro lower circulation
- Ecotech MP10 mid circulation
- Top off. com ATO switch with Aqualifter

Parameters

Cal - 350 ppm
Alk - 7dkh
Mag - 1350
Phos - not measurable using Hanna
NO3 - .01
SG - 1.025
temp - 78

The tank has a lot of growing to do and has just started to take off, as most SPS systems do at the 1-2 year mark. I look forward to sharing more pictures as these coral grow into larger colonies.

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Please free to ask questions, I will do my best to answer and thank you for looking.
 
Very nice. I've got a 60g rimless cube I'm putting together now. About ready to add my first corals. Has the flame angel been in there a while? He do OK in a smaller volume SPS reef? I'd like to have either a flame, or coral beauty, but haven't made the decision yet.

Love the green bodied branching coral at the bottom, in your last close up. Some sort of Pocillipora, right?
 
Thanks for checking it out.

The 60 cube will be nice and will give you 3 unique panes of glass to observe through.

The flame angel has been in this setup for 4 months. He has been getting along splendidly with the others (great community fish, but so is the Coral Beauty) and seems to be happy with the amount of rock work, coral and size of the aquarium. I keep a close eye on my aquarium inhabitants, so any discomfort or aggression and someone gets a new home.

I think that you are referring to the ORA Bird of Paradise, which I believe is Seriatopora. It's been with me for 10 years, in various setups. I sold a large colony moving from a 75 to a 7.5, 5 years back, and am now trying to grow it back to a more impressive size. One of my all time favorites.
 
I had to remove my flame angel. He nipped at every sps i have. I had no polyp extension. As soon as i took him out all the sps had extension. Leeson learned
 
Nice setup!! and you did a really good job in the 7.5 nano!!

In this new tank why did you changed the biopellets for the carbon dosing (vinegar)?
 
You have a lovely tank. :beer: I really like the glass door so the cheao/sump area can be seen. I'd like something like that on my next tank. :)
 
Yes nice job on the glass door, the frame is a good idea. I have non framed tinted glass doors and they are easily broken.
 
Nice setup!! and you did a really good job in the 7.5 nano!!

In this new tank why did you changed the biopellets for the carbon dosing (vinegar)?

I switched to vinegar because it was becoming a chore, cleaning the BP reactor every week. I find dialing in the dose a lot easier and all I need to do is swap out a gallon jug of vinegar, every 6 months or so. The theme of this build is efficiency, reducing weekly/monthly maintenance.

Thank you for all of your comments. I have actually been meaning to replace the glass in the door, with a stained glass window (or something similar). I just need to find one that is the proper size or have it built.
 
Tank looks so alive with colors. So while keeping it so clean, what do you feed? A lot of coral food? If my params for NO3 and PO4 get that low all my acros pale out.
 
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