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View Full Version : 160G SPS DOMINANT REEF BUILD



GSXREEFER90
Thu, 12th Nov 2015, 05:24 PM
Fellow reef geeks,

I've decided to start a build thread following my 160 gallon system. The tank just finished cycling (for the second time...) 2 days ago! Hopefully that will be the last.

A little background on myself:

Started reef keeping roughly 2 years ago with a HOB 55g mixed reef. I pretty much had to teach myself along with the aid of Google and trial/error. I quickly became quite involved in the community down in Corpus Christi starting my own club named "South Texas Reef Club". You can find the group on Facebook. I was also the lead administrator and editor of the marine section of TheHydra.com. Met alot of cool people and sold lots of frags. I now reside in San Antonio which I feel is quite a more active reef society. So far I'm really enjoying the people and vibe up here. I recently joined MAAST as soon as I seen it's getting more active since my boy Zack took over!

I purchased this brand new Reef Ready Aqueon 125 as well as the canopy and the front of the stand. I reinforced the stand and added the back as well as modifications on the stand and canopy. This is my first sump system as well as my first time touching PVC and wood work! Slowly but surely she is coming along. So far the equipment is as follows:

-AI Hydra 52
-Ecotech Vectra M1 return pump
-True Temp 500w titanium heating system
-Phosban reactor which I'm using for carbon
-Skimz Monzter Mini 143 DC skimmer
-Smart ATO system custom plumbed
-Air, Water, & Ice RO/DI system plumbed into washer connection and ran to 2 Brute trash cans for mixing and storage
-Custom 47g opposite end drains acrylic sump with a nice refugium built by Terry over at Salty Fish
-2 Megaflow Overflows
-1 Marineland 1200 currently in return section for added surface agitation
-Temporary cheap mini actinic sump led over fuge
-All PVC/plumbing done by myself
-Custom 1 1/2" PVC under sand bed tunnel system

The only current livestock are as follows:

1 Damsel
1 Zebra Moray Eel (Corky aka King Of The Castle)
2 frags purple bonsai, one being GARF
1 Orange richordia shroom
1 superman rhodactis
1 frag bam bams
1 frag true red people eaters
2 frags utter chaos
1 sunset Monti
1 Dino egg digi
1 blue digi
1 Tubbs Mystic Blue (thanks Stephen :p)

I have big plans for this system. My last couple tanks i rushed which is where I learned that patience truly is the key in this hobby. Next week will be my aquascaping project, I have 60 lbs reef saver in the mail and I'll be picking up some acrylic rods and epoxy. The structures have already been drawn out. I will update every time I add something or make changes!

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Zack
Thu, 12th Nov 2015, 05:25 PM
Dude this is so sick! Lmk when you add some corals and we can make an evening out of figuring out my camera!

Welcome to MAAST btw!

GSXREEFER90
Thu, 12th Nov 2015, 05:36 PM
Dude this is so sick! Lmk when you add some corals and we can make an evening out of figuring out my camera!

Welcome to MAAST btw!

Thanks alot man! Kind words are motivation. I have several corals in now but a few of them are previously bleached so I'm working on getting them back to their original pigmentation. Maybe the within the next month or so you can swing by and we'll mess with the camera and do a bit of BBQing!

SantaMonicaHelp
Fri, 13th Nov 2015, 05:46 PM
Wow, that's quite the set up! Very nice! :thumbs_up:

~Sandra

slm222
Sun, 15th Nov 2015, 07:13 PM
Forgot the tubbs mystic blue

Justin
Sun, 15th Nov 2015, 11:48 PM
Looks good man. Really curious to see how it will all look with the eel and corals. Following along!

GSXREEFER90
Mon, 16th Nov 2015, 12:28 PM
Forgot the tubbs mystic blue

Good catch, I added it in there. That thing is growing like crazy, Thanks again.

GSXREEFER90
Mon, 16th Nov 2015, 12:31 PM
Looks good man. Really curious to see how it will all look with the eel and corals. Following along!

Thank you sir! They seem to be getting along quite well. He doesn't touch any of the inverts. Only thing is, he knows when it's dinner time and if I procrastinate he deliberately knocks frags off the rack because he knows I'll come open the tank!

GSXREEFER90
Mon, 16th Nov 2015, 12:41 PM
27507

Caught red handed!

Justin
Mon, 16th Nov 2015, 02:38 PM
Wow, that is a really smart animal! Reminds me of my cats at home.

GSXREEFER90
Tue, 17th Nov 2015, 01:39 PM
Wow, that is a really smart animal! Reminds me of my cats at home.

Lol yeah, he has the personality of a dog, it's crazy. I have videos of him getting all spooled up when he knows he's going to eat. He scares me sometimes by sneaking up and nudging my arm while I'm doing maintenance. I saw him put the hurt on a powerhead I put in yesterday, he was actually bending the plastic he bites so hard. I'm glad he's on my side haha

GSXREEFER90
Wed, 18th Nov 2015, 10:52 AM
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Finally got around to the aquascaping, that was alot harder than I envisioned. I'm not going to describe the process unless anyone asks just know it's a royal pain with one person! Don't use a ****ty cordless drill either... you'll wind up with a screwdriver and hammer like I did.

Justin
Wed, 18th Nov 2015, 12:46 PM
Is that a 2" pipe in the sand for the "dog"?

GSXREEFER90
Thu, 19th Nov 2015, 10:44 AM
Is that a 2" pipe in the sand for the "dog"?

Nosir. 1 1/2". He used to love that thing now he only uses it as ease of transport from one side to another. He all about that cave now. He punched a couple holes in it where he felt it necessary so I just left it alone, not going to win that battle.