Built-in 40G

[Bhmann]

Ever since we moved in to the new house (...3 years ago), I’ve dreamt of filling one of our built in shelves with my first reef tank. After months of research and planning, we’re finally underway!

The adventure so far:
- Ran a new circuit to the lower cabinet of the built-ins with a nice power strip.
- reinforced the underneath of the cabinet top where the tank sits.
- Flooded (only a few gallons) of RODI wastewater in the basement workshop while trying to plumb a mixing station.
- Countless hours of tank browsing for rock, fish, and coral ideas with my two junior aquarists.
- Budgeting, hunting, and dealing for gear (trying to not overwhelm the wife with the price all at once).

Today, we finally started filling the tank.

Gear:
- 40G breeder
- Fluval HOB Power filter
- CP2 powerhead (2x)
- 150w heater
- 6 stage RODI (thanks [mention]uccbcc [/mention], plus some awesome rock!)

Seeding the tank with Bio-spira and using Arag-alive. Let the cycle begin!

 

[mphammer]

Awesome work, can't wait to see this thing stocked up!

 

[Bhmann]

Another rookie mistake: decided halfway through filling to paint the back black at my wife’s suggestion (I was on the fence). Getting behind there with a roller was a bit of a challenge when it has 40% filled .

The stocking plan so far is:
- 2 ocell. clowns
- couple chromies
- wrasse
- blenny
- coral beauty
- cleanup crew

Probably wait til Dec/Jan to start with corals (guess what will dominate the Christmas list this year...)

 

[ZapataInc]

Another rookie mistake: decided halfway through filling to paint the back black at my wife’s suggestion (I was on the fence). Getting behind there with a roller was a bit of a challenge when it has 40% filled .

The stocking plan so far is:
- 2 ocell. clowns
- couple chromies
- wrasse
- blenny
- coral beauty
- cleanup crew

Probably wait til Dec/Jan to start with corals (guess what will dominate the Christmas list this year...)

With a wrasse make sure to have a top for the tank. They will jump and carpet surf.

 

[Rickdareefa]

The coral beauty may possibly nip at corals

 

[Bhmann]

Added Clarify last night, after a super cloudy sand install. Things are looking way better today!

 

[Bhmann]

And the first tank members: two peppermint shrimp. Hopefully will keep any algae from taking over from the live sand or live rock!

 

[Bhmann]

Latest updates:

Cycling went well. I added some cheap LED strip lights to the underside of the shelf above the tank. It isn’t enough Par (I’m assuming) for corals, but I’m planning to get two AI Primes down the road that’ll fix that issue.

The neighborhood has been growing well— two peppermint shrimp, an Oc. Clown pair, lawnmower blenny, and today we added a small yellow tang. Everyone is settling in and the fam has loved watching the crew swim around.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bhmann]

 

[Bhmann]

Mixing station update: plumbing is finally done and working for RODI! Next step: float switch, a saltwater mixing Brute, and a stand to hold the containers.