55 Gal Build Thread

[Big Brother]

Upgrading!! Woohoo!!:D

ok so heres the setup, a 55 gal glass tank (48x16x17) with off-center trapezoid overflow. Matching cherry stained stand and canopy all picked up from justin tonight.

heres a couple pics...
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q222/EAT_BABIES/new%20tank/IMG_0083.jpg
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q222/EAT_BABIES/new%20tank/IMG_0084.jpg
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q222/EAT_BABIES/new%20tank/IMG_0085.jpg

plans:
2x250 watt halides 10k
2x54 48" HO T-5 actinics
20 gall sump
5 gal fuge
Baby G Skimmer
QuiteOne 4000HH through modded SCWD

im going to try to push alot of water though the overflow (about 700 gallons) so i only have to put like one powerhead in the tank. When i upgrade the tank in december when i move (just going to go up to a 24" tall tank) i will incorporate a CL but this is it for now.

Stay Tuned For More...

[Jett]

Turn that 30 gal you have listed in your sig. into your refugium, have it flow into a common sump with the new 55 :) Can't wait to see the progress! And is there anyone here who hasn't bought stuff from Justin?

[seahorse_man]

Can't wait to see the progress:eek: I love seeing other peoples tanks and equipment:D BTW what is Justin's username:confused: :o

[luistwentyone]

keep the pics coming Blake

Justin is SDFISHMAN

Justin is da man

[seahorse_man]

Thanks luis;)

[Big Brother]

ok so good news. thanks to graduation presents i have enough money to get this bad boy started. so, i need some advice. i wanted to push 15x through the sump so i didnt need any powerheads in the tank, but i realized thats pretty impossible (when i upgrade the tank in december to a 24" tall ill drill for a closed loop). how much can i realistically put through the sump? the rest i will compensate for with koralia powerheads. the sump will basically have 2 compartments, one with the filter sock and skimmer, and then 5 baffles (to mazimize flow without microbubbles) then the return section. i will have a fuge sitting next to it. i was going to put = or < 900 gph through the sump which would be enough but i dont think thats reasonable. advice?

[Big Brother]

P.S. i just ordered all the pipe fittings through Spears (no fumbling trips to HD!!! woohoo!!!) for the return so that should get here by friday and im going to pick up the sump and get working on it so ill have some good process by the weekend.

[Big Brother]

ok updates...

picked up the t-5 ballast and all that stuff, going to use ATI Blue plus bulbs
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q222/EAT_BABIES/new%20tank/IMG_0111.jpg

also, finished the plumbing for the return part of the tank with the modded SCWD (thank god i worked in construction or this would have turned out terrible)
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q222/EAT_BABIES/new%20tank/IMG_0109.jpg

from the modded SCWD to a couple street L's into locklines.
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q222/EAT_BABIES/new%20tank/IMG_0110.jpg

3/4" flexible tubing going from the return pump up to a barb fitting
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q222/EAT_BABIES/new%20tank/IMG_0112.jpg


probably tomorrow i will go and pick up a 20 gal tank from petco to get the sump construction underway so i can get that done by the weekend.

this weekend i will be picking up the halides. going to use 2x250 watt on spider reflecters, probably 12k. going to mount all the lighting this weekend.

more updates soon...

[mramc3]

get the 20G rom OG it will be cheaper than petco. only 20.00!

[pirate2876]

baby g skimmers seems small to me.otherwise build looks great

[Big Brother]

yeah im looking into getting maybe an octopus or a larger modded g-series. anyone have anything?

[Big Brother]

Major update time. I haven't had much time to work on the tank since june so im stoked for it to finally get going.

finished the retro, we didnt have one inch of spar space:
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q222/EAT_BABIES/new%20tank/IMG_0240.jpg

Placed it in its resting position, the entrance to the house is 15 feet behind the camera, so this is the view upon entering the house:
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q222/EAT_BABIES/new%20tank/IMG_0238.jpg

One more:
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q222/EAT_BABIES/new%20tank/IMG_0239.jpg



I'm starting to fill it with RO water tonight, hope to have it filled by monday!

[Big Brother]

Slooooooowly
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q222/EAT_BABIES/new%20tank/IMG_0241.jpg

[Big Brother]

Mixing Salt :)
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q222/EAT_BABIES/new%20tank/IMG_0242.jpg

[Big Brother]

Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinally set up!

I only have one halide bulb running, so only the right side is let up correctly, and i only have about 2/3 of the rock im goin to put it, but here it is...
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q222/EAT_BABIES/new%20tank/IMG_0243.jpg
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q222/EAT_BABIES/new%20tank/IMG_0244.jpg

[Nick_Kun]

nice aquascaping, keep it open like that.

[j_electric]

glad you kept this really nice

[Big Brother]

thanks guys, some updates...

got some more rock to fill it in, and a small pink oxypora frag (not pictured) and added my onyx percs and an open brain.
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q222/EAT_BABIES/new%20tank/IMG_0247.jpg

and heres the plumbing...
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q222/EAT_BABIES/new%20tank/IMG_0251.jpg

[Big Brother]

Looooots of new stuff, just waiting on my other halide bulb to take new pictures (should come in monday).

But heres a quick peek...
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q222/EAT_BABIES/IMG_0270.jpg

[bluielover]

where idi you get your pink oxypora from?

[Jessy]

Looooots of new stuff, just waiting on my other halide bulb to take new pictures (should come in monday).

But heres a quick peek...


Such a beautiful fish! I can't wait til mine is out of QT!

[Big Brother]

got the oxypora from vets pets, they have a fairly large piece that they will frag on demand :)

thanks jess, cant wait to see yours.

heres another quick peek:

Deflated and Acclimating...
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q222/EAT_BABIES/rosebulbaclimating.jpg

[Big Brother]

TONS OF UPDATES...

Fish as of now:
2x Onyx Percula Clowns
2x Dragonface Pipefish
1x Powder Blue Tang (Papa Smurf)
1x Midas Blenny

Inverts:
1x Cleaner Shrimp
1x Rose Bulb Anemone
25x Misc Snails
5x Blue Led Hermits
1x Orange Sponge

Corals (just the main ones)
Large Green Open Brain
Pink Oxypora
Large Mint Green Stag
Green Acro
Purple Haze
Orange Digitata
Green Monti
Red Monti

Lights:
2x 175w 12k Reeflux Halides
2x HO T5 ATI Blue Plus

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q222/EAT_BABIES/IMG_0308.jpg
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q222/EAT_BABIES/IMG_0312.jpg
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q222/EAT_BABIES/IMG_0314.jpg
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q222/EAT_BABIES/IMG_0316.jpg
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q222/EAT_BABIES/IMG_0317.jpg
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q222/EAT_BABIES/IMG_0318.jpg
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q222/EAT_BABIES/IMG_0319.jpg

[Big Brother]

a short video:

http://s137.photobucket.com/albums/q222/EAT_BABIES/?action=view&current=MVI_0320.flv

[bluielover]

i ya i saw that oxypora in there, but not too sure if i can keep it in pc. your tank is looking pretty damn good. i want one of thise midas blenny

[temec_lover]

nice anem where did you get it?

[Big Brother]

thanks, got him from OG, someone brought him in from their tank

when its fully open its the size of a small pizza :D

[Big Brother]

New Pics:

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q222/EAT_BABIES/IMG_0332.jpg
With flash so you can get an idea of the true color of this thing, I cant get it to come out without flash, help?
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q222/EAT_BABIES/IMG_0335.jpg
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q222/EAT_BABIES/IMG_0339.jpg
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q222/EAT_BABIES/IMG_0340.jpg
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q222/EAT_BABIES/IMG_0341.jpg

[SDguy]

Those are gorgeous clowns!

[Nick_Kun]

ditto about the true percs, they are almost perfect.