Rackster's 55 Gallon Aqueon build.

[racksteris]

Hi everyone. I'm upgrading my 12 gallon Aquapod to a 55 gallon Aqueon. My Aquapod has only been up & running 3 months, But I'm run out of space in the tank. So I'm just going to upgrade now. This will be a mix reef tank. I have keep FOWLR tank's before, But I'm still very new to reef tank's. I welcome any comments & suggestion.

This is a list of what I have so far.

Tank:
55 Gallon Aqueon tank with Corner Overflow, 1'' drain 3/4 return

Lighting:
Nova Extreme T-5 HO Fixtures w/Lunar Lights 48" - 432 watts (8 x 54)

Main Pump:
Mag Drive Pump 1200

A.T.O
Auto Top Off Controller w/ Rio 600 10 Gallon Aqueon tank

Powerhead:
Tunze Turbelle Stream Pump 6060 (1600 GPH) in Main tank
2 - Hydor Koralia Nano (240 GPH) in Frefugium

Substrate:
40 Lb. Indo-Pacific Black sand

LiveRock:
120 Lb Fiji Live Rock (which was cleaned very will not much left on the rock)

Filtration System:
Sump/Frefugium (25 Gallon Aqueon tank with 5 bubble trap 1'' apart) In the sump I have 1'' Fiji Pink sand, 25 Lb Fiji Live Rock, and Chaetomorpha spp. Macroalgae

Mechanical pre-filter sock 200 micron

Skimmer:
AquaC Remora Pro Protein Skimmer \ Rio 1700

UV Sterilizers:
40 watt Lifegard Ultraviolet Sterilizer

Chemical Filtration:
2 PhosBan Reactor 150 \ Rio 1400
1 PhosBan Reactor 150 - Matrix Carbon
2 PhosBan Reactor 150 - PhosGuard

Chiller:
Current Prime Mini-Aquarium 1\15 Hp Chiller

Heater:
300 Watt Hydor Theo Heater
Coralife Digital Thermometer
Titanium Ground Probe

Full tank & stand shot (No light)

Aquascape

Sump/Frefugium

Corner Overflow

Indo-Pacific Black sand

Chiller & UV in garage

Electrical in stand

Tunze Turbelle Stream Pump 6060 (1600 GPH)

 

[racksteris]

so what do you guys think, any suggestion....

 

[gsusfreak]

nice rockwork...were you planning on keep those 2 devils...i mean damsels/?????....if not, those suckers are hard to catch

oh yea, you'll be able to keep whatever you want with that light

 

[aspinn]

not bad aye would love to see what u plan on stockin that baby with good job!

 

[bpoore89]

I like it so far. I have the Nova Extreme Pro with 6 bulbs on my 55. I was told that 8 would be way over kill. With six you can keep anything, sps and clams included

 

[racksteris]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11697342#post11697342 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gsusfreak
nice rockwork...were you planning on keep those 2 devils...i mean damsels/?????....if not, those suckers are hard to catch

oh yea, you'll be able to keep whatever you want with that light

Thanks gsusfreak. Ya those 2 "devils" are my best friend right now, There helping me with my cycle. If I ever want to get them out of the tank I would have to remove all the rock.

 

[zma21]

Looks great!

If you sell the sunpod from you aquapod shoot me a pm, i'm interested.

 

[racksteris]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11697424#post11697424 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by aspinn
not bad aye would love to see what u plan on stockin that baby with good job!

Thanks aspinn.

Fish:
1- Royal Gramma Basslet
1- Purple Firefish
2- Ocellaris Clownfish
2- Blue Damsel/Blue Devil (Cycling my tank, Don't know if I can get them out)
1- Blood Shrimp

Coral's:
Frogspawn Coral
Hammer Coral
Artichoke/Button Coral
Ricordea Mushroom Coral
Nemenzophyllia Fox Coral
Zoanthus Button Polyp

Do you guys think I can get A small Pacific Blue Tang in this tank (48"X 12"X 20")

 

[racksteris]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11698080#post11698080 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bpoore89
I like it so far. I have the Nova Extreme Pro with 6 bulbs on my 55. I was told that 8 would be way over kill. With six you can keep anything, sps and clams included

Thanks bpoore89.

I got the 8 bulb because is wasn't much more money than the 6 bulb, and you get 108 watt more of light. It's nice to know I can keep any thing I want. The light will be here next week, Will post pictures.

 

[gsusfreak]

a small blue tang?.....the tang police would flip, but its your tank and your free to do whatever you want with it.........if it was my tank, i'd get one...especially since you said it'll be a baby....i'd ensure that its happy and healthy though

 

[racksteris]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11701855#post11701855 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gsusfreak
a small blue tang?.....the tang police would flip, but its your tank and your free to do whatever you want with it.........if it was my tank, i'd get one...especially since you said it'll be a baby....i'd ensure that its happy and healthy though

Ya the tang police would flip. There in full force on this sit. It's a 4 feet tank (48''X12''X21'') and the total water volume is over 80 gallons. There's lots of swimming room in the tank. I don't know, But I really like the Pacific Blue Tang.

 

[racksteris]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11701229#post11701229 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zma21
Looks great!

If you sell the sunpod from you aquapod shoot me a pm, i'm interested.

How's it going zma21, Sorry but I'm keeping the sunpod right now, If I do sell it I will let you know. I was think of using it on my Frefugium, Do you think it's overkill for a Frefugium?

 

[racksteris]

I moved the Tunze Turbelle Stream Pump to the other side of the tank next to the overflow. It gives the tank a more clean look.

What do you guys think?

 

[zma21]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11702127#post11702127 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by racksteris
How's it going zma21, Sorry but I'm keeping the sunpod right now, If I do sell it I will let you know. I was think of using it on my Frefugium, Do you think it's overkill for a Frefugium?

My neighbor has a 400 watt over his refugium.

It shouldn't be overkill at all.


And about the tang, people have kept them in smaller tanks. It's all personal opinion.

 

[racksteris]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11703618#post11703618 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zma21
My neighbor has a 400 watt over his refugium.

It shouldn't be overkill at all.


And about the tang, people have kept them in smaller tanks. It's all personal opinion.

WOW that must be some frefugium, Ya I think there is plenty of swimming room in my tank for a small Pacific Blue Tang. The tank is 4 feet long.

 

[zma21]

You may or may not change your mind when he reaches full size though.

They get huge and swim like nuts if i'm thinking of the right species of tang.

 

[oldreefer76]

I would get a better skimmer, reduce the flow through your sump, flow through your sump should not be more than 5x your tank volume, sumps are not supposed to be a big part of your overall tank flow, everything else looks good though

 

[racksteris]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11709682#post11709682 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by oldreefer76
I would get a better skimmer, reduce the flow through your sump, flow through your sump should not be more than 5x your tank volume, sumps are not supposed to be a big part of your overall tank flow, everything else looks good though

\

Hey thanks for the suggestion, The reason I got the AquaC Remora Pro Protein Skimmer is because it's a hang-on and I don't have a lot of space in my sump for an in-sump skimmer. I do have a G-4 from my 120 FOWLR tank, that's now an African Cichlid tank. My sump is being used as a Frefugium so there is no room for an in-sump skimmer. BTW I love this skimmer, I have to empty it every 1-2 days, It skim's wet but it's Ok I don't mind. I know its tanking a lot of crap out of my tank. Could you please explain why flow through my sump should not be more than 5x your tank volume. I have 2 - Hydor Koralia Nano (240 GPH Each) in my sump is this a problem. The flow through my sump is 18 X . The flow in my tank is 48 X.

Thank You.

 

[bpoore89]

Im sure you"ll be happy in your ability to keep pretty much anything under those. I love mine and Im sure you'll love yours

 

[racksteris]

I received my Nova Extreme from Drs. Foster & Smith's today. Sadly all the bulbs were broken, All 8 of them. I called them up and there sending new bulbs to me. They were very help full and shipped the bulbs overnight. Should receive them on Saturday. I think the light looks really cool on the tank. The light covers the entire top of the tank.

Nova Extreme T-5 Fixtures w/Lunar Lights 48" - 432 watts

All 8 bulbs broken

Tank & Light

Mag Drive Pump 1200