Shar_Zard

I got one off eBay need a second, older gen lights. 

I got one of these a while back on the forums and never got it running, very complicated programming / support issues, ended up tossing it out

I’ll take a Acid trip & fuego, where you located? 

I used a HOB overflow, I added an apex and flow sensor to kill return if the overflow loses vacuum 

@islandVib3s The backgrounds from Petsmart Link

@Oregonic Thanks dude! Hows Roni doing with the aptasia? Keep me updated when he's ready to come home, I got some cool frags for you

I'm in bethany & have a 5G bucket full if you're interested, plus some pieces in a QT tank

PM me if you wanna swing by and take a look

@pdxmonkeyboy Thanks, in staying true to the build its from Petco 😛 

Backstory

This a story of survival and perseverance. 

One Saturday afternoon few months into the pandemic I got a call: "hey you want a saltwater tank?" 30 mins later dropped the tank setup with a Eelon(Zebra Moray Eel) along with DD & D0D0(Clown Pair) in a bucket. This is how I started in the hobby, prior I had freshwater tanks in college 10yrs ago. 

 

Photo: Eelon Zebra Morey

They lived in a bucket for a week while I learned everything I could about keeping them alive and setting up a marine tank. (Generous friend moved to ATL next day) 

After understanding enough & finding a whole day to set up the tank I got it up with living water from Paradise Corals in Hillsboro

Scaped and setup FOWLR

55G w/ Upgrades

Lessons Learned from 55G

- USE AQUARIUM GRADE SILICON, I have ADHD and miss details I almost got the right silicon from home depot except mine had mold inhibitors and I also missed the wait 24hrs part. Amazingly D-D + D0-D0 & Eelon survived even though they lost chunks of flesh. <Many WCs later they were doing better>  this was all because I upgraded my sump from 5.5 gallons to dual 10 gallons to add more space in the sump and refugium. (IMG 2)

- Couldn't get any corals, inverts, cheato, really anything to stay alive in the tank other than the eel and clowns. As I learned more about plumbing I found the culprit... on the bright side, my clowns definitely don't have any parasites. (IMG 3) 

- Used enamel-coated magnets from Amazon also leaked copper & other metals; discovered that much later thanks to ICP. 

- 55G too small for 2ft eel. Eelon was eventually rehomed to a much bigger tank in Gaston, OR where he has a buddy 

- Really understand PH spikes from alk / kalk. Made the mistake of dosing kalk into the return chamber which fed my GFO reactor thankfully I caught the Phosphate spike due to the sized GFO quickly and figured out the cause being the kalk. Still lost a few corals and a clam to the phosphate spike. 

I took all the lessons, experience, and learnings applying them to this next build. It's now been running for two weeks and it's been a joy to watch it. 

Now onto the actual upgrade build Petco Special with 500HP

 

 

 

75G Sump

 

Inspiration: I love sleepers from cars to now reef tanks. When I was in college I liked to build Hondas, and my final build was a 2000 Civic DX which ran 11 second 1/4 miles while keeping clean minimalist aesthetics (loved to crush Vettes). This build is 75G tank & stand that you can buy from local PetSmart/Petco with some HP under the hood.  I'm also an automation geek so I wanted to make it as automated as possible. I really enjoyed the aesthetics of the European reef tank sumps on SeaFriendlyReefs YouTube channel and wanted a super clean look in the cabinet. 

Hardware

75G Tank Drilled dual corner returns ft. center Fuji slim overflow

Stand: Petsmart 75G Black ft. MDF

Sump: Trigger Crystal 30 (Thanks @RockChalk )

Plumbing: . Lowes/Home Depot ft. BRS

Primary Return: Varios 6  | Secondary Return: Eheim 

Lighting: Dual Radion XR30s Gen 4 PRO (diffusers ordered; maybe add Reef Brite kit for that missing violet spectrum)(Thanks @Bicyclebill)

Flow: Dual Ice Cap 2K gyres

Automation

Main Controller: Apex JR(Thanks @Higher Thinking) w/ PM1: PH, Temp & FMM: Floats, Flow, and Leaks 

*Floats in overflow, and sump, also in top off tank. (major automation inspiration from @SuncrestReef)

*Flow sensors pre UV & Main Overflow  * Leak sensors * Programmed to prevent accidents, I'm VERY forgetful

KH Director & (anxiously waiting for) Ion Director

Dosing is provided by Kamoer X1s/Pros

Top Off: Hydor ATO (looking for a Tunze)

Heater: Inkbird ft. Titanium-300W 

Cameras: 2x Blink Mini Sump Cams

Nutrient Import

Brightwell Salt w/ 7 stage RODI

ESV two-part (KHD auto-dosing steady 8.5-9dKH)

Refrigerated RedSea AB+ auto dosing (drink chillers work incredible just add a NPT fitting to the cover and tubing Amazon Link) (IMG 4)

EasyReef Phyto 

Feed 2x daily Reef Frenzy, Pellets, Pods, Oyster Feast (Building a large diameter dosing pump to automate feeding refrigerated food, store in the chillers)

Trace Elements: Moonshine Method since June '21, submitting second ICP this week. (Moonshine ELI5: test water and dose individual elements as they deplete, daily trace dosing)

Nutrient Export

Simplicity 120 DC Skimmer ft. CO2 scrubber (3D printing a neck scrubber as next project, I have Avast Swabbie Kit FS that didn't fit due to clearance issues)

Carisea 5000 filter roller

Phosban Mini GFO reactor ft. Bag'O Carbon

Aqua Ultraviolet 15W UV

Aqua Knight Light ft. Cheato Spinz (GIF)

Livestock

Yellow Tang, Clown pair, Blue Damsel, Lawnmower Blenny, Diamond Goby, 3x Chromis, Flame Hawkfish, 6-Line Wrasse, Midas Blenny

Thanks to @CuttleFishandCoral for most livestock

Shout-outs 

@Dakotapi3rc3 @Oregonic

@Dakotapi3rc3 you know it boi, a chance to see the inspiration behind my build in person and BBQ too much to pass up

Upgrading my tank, looking to par it up, can I get on the list. Are there still meters at the shop?

Also have a used one of these https://www.saltwateraquarium.com/pf-800-overflow-box-eshopps/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw5auGBhDEARIsAFyNm9HrZ0QlMSRcIgFGvQfPGaRkxpL81Q7znoDUfYuyG2g175NJygHgu0caAoZ1EALw_wcB

 

$25obo

I've got a few things: in Beaverton

18" t5 retrofit great for nano dual actic bulbs almost new. $40obo

20G long tank free 

28G Nano Cube & stand drilled for sump w/ overflow, great for 5G sump below.  $100obo

48" Fuval marine REEF LED bars 2x one is newer w/ bluetooth. $100 for both

Kessil Gooseneck adapter new $20obo

Large Skimmer $30 new

24" T5 retrofit kit & 2x blue plus lights new $120obo

@SuncrestReef That's a sweet setup! I'm totally gonna DIY myself a porthole adapter. I should be getting my camera in the mail today, gonna give it a spin later.

Location? I'll take em all for $50

 @SuncrestReef What camera do you shoot with? I just got a Sony RX100 VII wondering what the most important settings are for tuning and should I get an orange filter? 

 

Happy your tanks getting back on track, I took a lotta inspo from your build. Gonna be doing a mini upgrade to a 75G in a few weeks.

@Dakotapi3rc3 gonna be helping me with the move  

 

 

Anybody got a frag if one of these? 

I'm looking to build exactly that, and have all the parts, also just happened to get an ender 3 for the bday couple weeks ago. Would you mind sharing that 3D file for the box, so I don't have to mock one up and save myself some work

Am I next for the USB one? 

We’ve solved it, the reason Tropic Marines so expensive is the buckets they use! 🙄 

Can I get on the list for the USB one, I wanna compare to the handheld #s

I’ve got a red acan with couple heads I’d trade for the frogspawn, also have a green trumpet frag, green or orange ricordias. Will post photos tomorrow when lights on. 

My first tank  it’s about 1.5 month since I got it stable. (It was a FOWLR before) It’s a 55G tall boy, the scape was a pain with 12” of width, but I got the arches I wanted. 

I have a few I can give you to get you by in Bethany, Beaverton if you wanna pickup. PM me for address if you wanna come out 

:))

Your clams are a thing of beauty! Glad I got to see them in person