45 Gallon Reef - first FTS shot with scape and a FISH!!

[phi delt reefer]

Placed my deposit on my 45gallon tank. 36" x 23.5" x 12" - 10mm glass, black silicone. Should be ready next week.


Also - completed my border run last Wednesday so I brought home some goodies...

Picked up this one in a group buy I started on R2R - pm if your interested its still going on till the end of this month .

XTREMEEEEEEEEE!

SWC150 BMK - good for 100g heavily stocked.







VOGA Wine bottles to be used as dosing containers in the future







BRS group buy stuff...

biopellets/ROX carbon/netting for future screen



BRS Dual Reactor


sump tank full of other stuff (
couple maxi-jet 1200s
RO fittings to break out the BRS Reactor
couple 2x39w t5ho ballasts
RKL w 2 PC4s
2 Koralia Nanos 425
Salifert/SeaChem test kits
Eheim 1250 return pump
Jager 150w heater
Odyssea Pump and Heater for salt mixing
ATI bulbs ( 4 B+, 1 AB Special, 1 GE6500, 1 ATI Purple Plus)



already had this (running the old bulbs it came with) Tek Light 6x39w

[phi delt reefer]

so for some long due updates....

1. tank still isnt ready - builder is taking his time due to a hurt back and my stand still needs some finishing touches so I can't complain
2. sold my TEKLIGHT - ordered a 8x39w ATI Sunpower. $500 brand new/shipped...border run penind
3. met Torsten at Eco Reefer - GREAT GUY! He has a tonnes of rock - literally tonnes. I got to cherry pick some stuff for my build. 1 lb for gallon rule certainly doesnt apply to his stuff. I would have rock sticking out of my tank if i put all 45lbs in!
4. my indecisive self is having trouble figuring out how i want to run my retuns and reactors. I will start a new thread for this... possible group buy on some ATB FLOWSTARS/Water Blaster or MSX 1500 pumps.. more info to come

[phi delt reefer]

so here is my rock from Eco-reefer - aka Torsten.

Ordered 45lbs, Torsten being the great guy he is sent me back with a little extra



here is what i came up initially - green tape represents the 23.5" width of my tank. My tank is only 12" tall so I need to keep my scape short for SPS growth







I was left with this much rock...



slept a couple days... had some reef dreams and figured I should use some more rock as a biological filter and so my fish have some hiding places, etc. So I added a couple more pieces;






There is about 9" of "rock free" area from the front glass to the closest rock. I think that will be sufficient swim room for the fish.



i will leave a small gap at the back of the glass to help ensure i get some flow back there;



I still have a few large pieces left that i might use in the sump or break up and try to glue a floating bonsai pieces. I have a lot of ideas...problem is that i am pretty lazy


****

Do you guys/girls think I should go back to my original scape OR do you like the latest version better? I will have a 1 to 1.5" sandbed as well.

[phi delt reefer]

progress....


tank



overflow





stand - stained and assembled - still needs some detail work (sanding/re-staining)






reefkeeper mounted



sump area



ATI Sunpower - 8 bulb





random shots





why did i build such a big stand? Simple - I needed some place to store all this crap;

[freezetyle]

Thats going to look really good full on water. I like how you are hiding your overflow, it will give it a very clean look.

[phi delt reefer]

Originally Posted by freezetyle

Thats going to look really good full on water. I like how you are hiding your overflow, it will give it a very clean look.

thanks man - just came back from the sugar bush where i attempted to eat my weight in pancakes and sausage. Going to nap for a bit then finish painting/staining and start drilling holes for all the wiring.

[Skimmerking]

looking god man well done ya lots of stuff for a small tank