My humble SPS journey - Shallow 80g

[joshky]

Little back history on myself, I'm 24 and I've been in SW since around 2012, I've had multiple tanks over the years but my last one was a 20 long LPS/softie reef. I have two brother's who also have/had their feet wet in the hobby, some of you may know my twin brother justinky. Unfortunately he decided to put the hobby off until he's in a better position in the future.



Last FTS of the 20 long:

80g aquarium specs:

Tank: 48x24x16 Deep Blue Professional rimless
Overflow: Synergy Reefs 16" Overflow*
Sump: Trigger Systems Ruby Elite 36*
Skimmer: Vertex Omega 150*
Return pump: EcoTech Vectra M1
Light: 8x54w ATI SunPower
Bulbs: 4 B+, 3 C+, 1 P+
Doser: Kamoer 3 Channel Dosing Pump
ATO: Tunze Osmolator 3155
Flow: 2x MP40wQD

* Still not purchased, subject to change.

Fish I currently have:
• Magnificent Foxface
• Female Genicanthus Caudovittatus (possibly in early transition to male)
• Melanurus Wrasse
• Yellow Coris Wrasse
• Whitetail Bristletooth Tang
• Pink Spotted Watchman Goby w/ Yellow Pistol Shrimp

Inverts:
• Pair of Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
• Blue Squamosa (small)
• Various snails and crabs

SPS frags:
• Pink Lemonade
• Red Planet
• Strawberry Shortcake
• 12 different wild/maircultured frags I saved from my brothers setup

Misc. corals:
• Candy Apple Red mini colony
• Devils Armor mini colony
• 70+ head Duncan colony (pink tentacles with an aqua center)



Few pictures of what I have:

Not all of my frags are on the frag rack, but a good portion of them are. They all need a little bit more love, but I'm sure the colors will be better when I get my tank up.

I should be wet by mid September, early October. I hope to see you follow along as I plunge head first into the world of colorful sticks.

 

[markalot]

Hi Josh, following along, good luck with the build!

 

[cham]

Great build, similar equipment list to mine with similar foot print. I added two strips of Reefbrite all blues and loved what it did for pop. Other than that, we're equipment brothers


Nice coloration for any tank but especially a 20g. It's usually pretty difficult to get smaller tanks stable. Nice work

 

[joshky]

Hi Josh, following along, good luck with the build!

Thanks!

Great build, similar equipment list to mine with similar foot print. I added two strips of Reefbrite all blues and loved what it did for pop. Other than that, we're equipment brothers


Nice coloration for any tank but especially a 20g. It's usually pretty difficult to get smaller tanks stable. Nice work

Thank you!

I originally wanted to go with a 6 bulb fixture and 2 reefbrites, but I got a good deal on the 8 bulb fixture so I may add a single reefbrite in the future. We will see.

 

[cham]

Thanks!



Thank you!

I originally wanted to go with a 6 bulb fixture and 2 reefbrites, but I got a good deal on the 8 bulb fixture so I may add a single reefbrite in the future. We will see.

I have the 8 bulb as well on my 48x24x24 and two added reefbrites fit perfectly on both the front and back of the fixture. You'll see when you hang the light, there is room front and back for the strips. I did XHO in the front and standard number of LED's in the back. Worked out well for me

 

[GroktheCube]

I think you made the right choice with the 8 bulb. I'm setting up a tank with similar dimensions now, so I'll be following along to get ideas!

 

[joshky]

I have the 8 bulb as well on my 48x24x24 and two added reefbrites fit perfectly on both the front and back of the fixture. You'll see when you hang the light, there is room front and back for the strips. I did XHO in the front and standard number of LED's in the back. Worked out well for me

Good to know, I honestly didn't think two would fit! Thanks!

I think you made the right choice with the 8 bulb. I'm setting up a tank with similar dimensions now, so I'll be following along to get ideas!

Yeah I really like the fixture and can't wait to see it over the tank, thanks!

 

[joshky]

I work weekends so most of my free time to do projects is M-T. I plan on finishing my stand this week, I have staining (door panels only), and polyurethane left. I plan on somehow attaching the doors using magnets for easy access and simple door alignment... I'm no carpenter and my first go with door hinges failed miserably, really didn't like them and my doors looked off.

I originally planned on using fake plastic rocks vocally, and I still don't dislike the idea, however I've since decided to use my brothers old live rock and change his aquascape just a bit. It will be a single rock structure utilizing shelf rock and leaving a lot of room in the sand. Since making this decision I feel much better about the initial bioload going into a new tank. I also have a 8x4 brick of MarinePure Ceramic Media, but due to paranoia about reported aluminum leaching I am going to utilize this in my 40b QT. I plan on using Prodibio Biodigest & Biotim to help kickstart the 80g, I will probably dose it for around 6 months to possibly a year.

I hope to have some picture updates of currently acquired equipment soon, and if all goes well, a picture of my stand finished with the tank sitting on it.

 

[biggles]

The new display and your plan of attack sounds great to me Josh, looking forward to watching it all come together mate :thumbsup:

 

[Novice101]

Prodibio is really expensive isn't it? For like 12 vials it's around 40$ 50$? That sounds like one expensive year my friend but I do want to see how this turns out so I'm going to follow along

 

[joshky]

The new display and your plan of attack sounds great to me Josh, looking forward to watching it all come together mate :thumbsup:

Thanks Andrew.

Prodibio is really expensive isn't it? For like 12 vials it's around 40$ 50$? That sounds like one expensive year my friend but I do want to see how this turns out so I'm going to follow along

Compared to what I already have invested in this system it isn't that much. 30 vials of Biodigest is $44.00 USD which will last me a year should I decide to do the full year. Bioptim will be a bit more as I will need to dose two vials every 15 days instead of one, which will be $76.00 USD for a full year.

Thanks.

 

[Novice101]

Thanks Andrew.







Compared to what I already have invested in this system it isn't that much. 30 vials of Biodigest is $44.00 USD which will last me a year should I decide to do the full year. Bioptim will be a bit more as I will need to dose two vials every 15 days instead of one, which will be $76.00 USD for a full year.



Thanks.

Ahhh I thought you dosed a vial a day lol

 

[joshky]

Ahhh I thought you dosed a vial a day lol

Yes I figured as much. It would have to be magical rainbow acro beans in that case... :bum:

 

[Novice101]

Yes I figured as much. It would have to be magical rainbow acro beans in that case... :bum:

Lmao must pay for the hobby too and make your tank bigger right

 

[justinky]

Did someone say magical beans that can turn your acros into rainbow colors? I have just the product for you based on pure SCIENCE. All you have to do is take your acropora out put it in a container filled with saltwater, grind up the colors you want the acro to take on 1 bean per color and mix with the saltwater for 5-10 minutes. Then just leave in high flow and high light for the next few days and watch the magic happen!

 

[Novice101]

Did someone say magical beans that can turn your acros into rainbow colors? I have just the product for you based on pure SCIENCE. All you have to do is take your acropora out put it in a container filled with saltwater, grind up the colors you want the acro to take on 1 bean per color and mix with the saltwater for 5-10 minutes. Then just leave in high flow and high light for the next few days and watch the magic happen!

Lol must be science I'm mind blown

 

[sahin]

Sunscribed. Will read later.

 

[joshky]

Sunscribed. Will read later.

Cheers! :beer:

Dear Josh (or as we refer to you here in the office: "œour favorite customer"),

We received your order"”you have impeccable taste!"”and wanted to let you know we will be prepping your aquarium supplies for shipment in no time. In fact, most orders ship within 24 hours excluding weekends and holidays.

We know you're busy, so we'll keep this short and sweet. Here's everything you need to know about your order:

AquaMaxx ConeS CO-2 Protein Skimmer purchased. I've been back and forth between the Vertex and AquaMaxx, and Marine Depot is having a sale on the AquaMaxx today for Labor Day so I decided to just go this route. I prefer how the Vertex looks to the AquaMaxx, however I've seen so many issues with people getting them running right that I don't want to deal with it so the AquaMaxx should be more plug'n'play I hope.

This means my sump will also be changed, the new sump will be the Synergy Reef Nuclear White Series SS-34 Sump. Should be my next purchase coming up very soon.

 

[joshky]

The goods so far.. I also have a Melevs Reef peacemaker but it needs a good cleaning.

 

[sahin]

Excellent equipment choices. :beer: