65gal reef journal
 

hey everyone, well i decided to start a tank journal. The tank i found is a 65 gal its 36x18x24 enough room for what i want to do. the will be a reef not sure if i will do a predominately sps, or perhaps a mixed reef, or just a lps and softy tank. anyways the sump/fuge is made out of a 27 gal, the skimmer is a twin beckett (i know overkill) and a mag 18 will run the skimmer and returns well heres some pics

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/d...l/IMG_0367.jpg
http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/d...l/IMG_0368.jpg

today i did a test run with tap water and everything seems good with exception of the skimmer its not bubbling enough i'am not sure if its because its just tap water or if it has to break-in yet

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/d...l/IMG_0384.jpg
http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/d...l/IMG_0385.jpg

Was your tap water test run freshwater or salt? Your skimmer requires a higher surface tension to function optimally. The higher surface tension is provided by the salt. I'm sure once everything is running the skimmer will be fine :D

yeah it was just freshwater, thats what i figured but i wasn't sure

When are you adding salt? I like what you've done so far.

in a couple days as i'am still waiting for my ballasts to come in and i have to finish the canopy yet

:smile: Glad to see you posting it over here also. Look forward to its progress.

well I got a little more done in the last couple days. I now have the tank full of saltwater, and just about full of rock with the exception of a few pieces with corals attached. tomorrow as i will have to wait a couple weeks for a ballast, I'am going to install my halide from my 33 in the canopy. I also don't have the skimmer running yet as i decided to dedicate the mag 18 to the returns and run the mak 5 for the skimmer

heres some pics feel free to comment on the aquascape

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/d...l/IMG_0382.jpg
http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/d...IMG_0384-1.jpg
http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/d...IMG_0385-1.jpg

and heres the sump/refugium working

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/d...IMG_0386-1.jpg

Looks like everything is coming along well.

How do you feel about your aquascaping? I know you said that you wanted a reef of some sort in your first post, so at best I can maybe suggest making the aquascaping more varied, a few taller pieces etc.

There's a ghost of a really odd fish in the tank in that first photo. :) It sort of looks like it's taking a picture of us. ;)

Tank setup looks great so far, can't wait to see more. :cool: