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Rustl3rs 55G Reef

120962 Views 1411 Replies 55 Participants Last post by  reef_of_flames, 
Rustl3r
Hey guys,

I figured I should start a dedicated thread about my 55G Reef tank I am in the process of starting. Lets get started on my equipment list.

55G Rectangular (48Lx13Wx20H)
216W 48" Wavepoint T5HO Lighting (2 10K, 2 420), Modded to hang from a shelf above the tank.
Rapids Pro RP3 wet/dry filter. Built in skimmer works well, all media is removed.
2x 530GPH Seio Super Flow Series PHeads,
40Lbs of cured LR and 30lbs of uncured rock (was at the LFS when the shipment came in, I opened the boxes for first pics :D)

I let my LR cycle for a little over 2.5 weeks. After that I saw that my ammonia and nitrite levels had been zero for a few days. I went to my LFS and bought a CUC. A week later I went back and bought some frags: A zoa, frogspawn and a hammer coral. They are doing great so far. Opening fully. So yesterday I decided to make one more purchase, I got a solar wrasse (beautiful and energetic), a green mushroom, a cleaner shrimp, and a rare Australian coral that I have forgotten the name (see pics). This is going to be my last purchase for a while as I am going concentrate on this bioload for a few months.

So here is my list of live inhabitants:

1 Solar wrasse (Cirrhilabrus solorensis)
1 Cleaner Shrimp
Hammer Coral
Mushroom Coral (green)
A couple zoa frags.
Frogspawn
An an Australian coral i need help identifying.
And my CUC that consists of a bunch of snails (none turbo) and hermits and a fighting conch.

I guess its now time for the fun part, Pics! :D
Water Underwater Fluid Coastal and oceanic landforms Organism

I guess Ill post a pic of my tank with just the LR for a cool before and after. I've posted this pic on some other threads but oh well.
Water Pet supply Organism Fluid Coastal and oceanic landforms

This one is a pic I took this morning, Its darker because I had to adjust the exposure to get a good pic.
Water Plant Underwater Natural environment Fluid

From the side.
Water Fluid Organism Fish Underwater

This is a pic of the Australian coral I need help identifying.

Thats it for now! I'll be doing some tests later today.
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clipper
Some amazing inspiration here for my own 55 gal build - thanks for everything guys!! This is basically my bible
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Rustl3r
clipper said:
Some amazing inspiration here for my own 55 gal build - thanks for everything guys!! This is basically my bible
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Your welcome man. Feel free to post any questions you have.
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R
hey Rustl3r, check out my thread on Tech M with Bryopsis...could use some help if you have any input.

Thanks man
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clipper
Rustl3r said:
Your welcome man. Feel free to post any questions you have.
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Thanks!

how often do you do water changes? And what amount do you do - 25%?

Also what kind of water are you using? I am getting ready to invest in a ro/di maker for my house & just have two trash cans full brewing at all times - but after going over budget about $600 bucks on the tank build itself - i am still saving for that... so for time being i am getting water from outsourcing, curating myself and then introducing - i have honestly come to be very very good at maintaining my water & having all my levels normal w/ no spikes as of yet. I have been doing a water change once every 3 weeks @ 25% myself.

Thanks for your time!
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Rustl3r
clipper said:
Thanks!

how often do you do water changes? And what amount do you do - 25%?

Also what kind of water are you using? I am getting ready to invest in a ro/di maker for my house & just have two trash cans full brewing at all times - but after going over budget about $600 bucks on the tank build itself - i am still saving for that... so for time being i am getting water from outsourcing, curating myself and then introducing - i have honestly come to be very very good at maintaining my water & having all my levels normal w/ no spikes as of yet. I have been doing a water change once every 3 weeks @ 25% myself.

Thanks for your time!
Click to expand...
Then this system was running, I would change out about 7-8 gallons a week. The system volume was about 65 gallons so its about 12%. Always used RO/DI water w/ tropic marin pro reef salt. Mix in a 14gal tote for 24 hours and its ready.

I have an RO/DI machine now and brute trashcans to hold water in my garage. I do about 20gal a week with my new system, which is about 8% weekly.
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Nate_Bro
08TRDOFFROAD said:
Good to know! Thanks school! If you happen to find that thread from Geoff, post it up or PM me the link!
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I think I saved the link for this one, I'll have to check

schooleyosis said:
Geoff has a strong opinion on this and I wish I could show you the thread about salts and elevated levels. Companies boost the CAL to try and help boost coral growth. I think I am on par with Rustl and going for the 400 range (380-420) on CAL and 8 for ALK. MAG I am shooting for 1200-1400. Still can't seem to get that stable though.

Remember Daniel, people running bio-pellets need a lower ALK as experience is showing burnt tips of SPS with a high ALK while running bio-pellets.
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I have always ran Ca around 380-390, and Alk holds around 8, since Geoff had a talking to me. I like it becouse it dose not seem to have any affect on growth rates, and it saves money. not to mention the benefits of not having to clean up Calcium deposits.
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reef_of_flames
I use IO salt, and the past couple times (without dosing), my Ca has tested in the 420-450 range, but my Alk has been 5.2 and 5.9 ... I don't understand why.
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Nate_Bro
I have heard of some batches being off, but that sounds like way too much off...

I only use IO and for the last 8 months I have not been dosing anything, and my alk has stayed at 8 and the Ca about 380-390 or just around 400ppm pH seems to swing 8.12-8.24

you useing RO/DI 0TDS water?
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reef_of_flames
Yep 0 TDS in my RO/DI water. When I test soon after a WC, Alk is at 7. The test was done like a week after.
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Nate_Bro
I forget that Geoff told me once when my Alk was dropping...

it has more to do with bacterial activity then with the salt mix, if thats what it is.

I found this link, and it talks a little about what Geoff was talking about under the "Denitrification In the Treatment Plant" section...

http://water.me.vccs.edu/courses/env211/lesson21_3.htm

but this is mostly what happens when people have DSB and yours is BB right? hmmm....
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reef_of_flames
Yea it's BB with some sand in the fuge to help catch detritus/break it down.
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reef_of_flames
Finished reading the the Denitrification section and doesn't make much sense to me. Are the bacteria consuming Alk as they obtain oxygen from the nitrate/sulfate?
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