From planting to reefing.

[tazzzz]

Start this thread to document the process of my upcoming 4x2x2 mixed reef tank.

Had been in the hobby decade ago with a 2x2 cube tank. Had the tank for a yr plus and Murphy law strike. The tank cracked and leaked all over my living room floor and decided went into hiatus after the disaster.

Recently moved into my new house last year n decided to start a planted tank but after trolling the forum and after seeing all the bros beautiful reef tanks. Finally decided to pick up the hobby again and convert my planted tank into a mixed reef tank. Time to let the photos do the talking

My planted tank before decomm.

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[tazzzz]

Tank specs:

Tank : 4x2x2 12mm thickness 3 sided crystal glass

Sump: 80x45x45cm

Overflow box: Skimz OM5000

Lighting: Maxspect Razor 160w 10k

Skimmer: Skimz SM161

Bio pellet: Skimz BR100

Carbon: Skimz BR80 to be used as FR

Zeovit Reactor: Skimz ZM120 zeolith reactor

CR: SKIMZ CM120 with Cabrisea coarse media and Grotech magnesium pro

Return: China brand pump rated 4800l/hr

Wave makers : 1 x maxspect gyre XF130 1 x jebao rw 20

Chiller: hailea hc500a

Equipments from AM last month Skimz promo

DIY pvc piping for overflow and return.

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[tazzzz]

I will be using the artificial rock from madpetz to create 2 islands for the scaping.

Left island

Right island.

Artificial rocks in the cleaned tank for soaking as advised my madpetz.

The Cabrisea Fuji pink sand that I will be using for the substrate.

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[tazzzz]

Finally set up the sump and filled up the tank with ro/di salt mixed today

Filling up with ro/di water.

Sump setup.

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[Reef 47]

It look like to be a beautiful aquarium. I hope it's a long-standing aquarium.I'm sorry my english is not good.

Edited May 22, 2015 by Reef 47

[alexcyf]

Finally set up the sump and filled up the tank with ro/di salt mixed today

Filling up with ro/di water.

Sump setup.

Love the Fiji pink sand! Anyway, looks like a great setup! Spare no expenses to get all the equipment in at one shot!! Scape is very nicely done too

Just a pity that your overflow is not internal but an external overflow. Have to look out for the overflow box. If something goes wrong. Ur house will become a swimming pool..

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[tazzzz]

Thank for the advice bro alexcyf. Had test run the overflow box for a week to make sure the overflow box will run smoothly.

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[SubzeroLT]

Nice setup!

Your lights are 10k which may be quite white. Do you plan to swap out to the 16k modules or something?

I am using a similar skims overflow box. I notice that some air builds up inside after some time (from bubbles) if the flow rate is not high. Do check it visually.

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[illumnae]

Looking forward to this build! You may need to upgrade your lighting if you intend to keep corals. One thing puzzles me, you have all this wonderful Skimz and Maxspect equipment, but your return pump is an unnamed "China brand" pump. Is there any reason for this? Why not invest in a reliable pump too?

[tazzzz]

Actually it a aquabee 4800l/hr pump left over from my planted tank. So planning to use it for awhile first. Note taken on the lighting. Already planning to change the led bulbs on the razor to the 180w 15k bulbs once I start stocking up and maybe add a AL prime.

[tazzzz]

Milky water after adding in the substrate.

[PoorPicasso]

Just let the tank runs, water shall be cleared after few days.

[Admiraltian]

Gd choice on using zeovit and calcium reactors. Nice setup.

[tang_sohal]

will you be going for fowlr, lps or sps dominated tank. For your tank size 4800l/hr seems on a very low side.. i would say at least 15times your water volume if you going sps dominated

[tazzzz]

Thanks for advice. Actually I done the piping the way that the chiller pump which is a hailea 2000+l/hr pump also goes from the sump back to the DT. Anyway will look to upgrade the return pump to May 7000+l/hr. It will be a lps sps mixed reef.

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[tazzzz]

Water clearer now after 2 days of running.

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[hansolo]

Nice rockscape!

[tazzzz]

Nd some advice from zeovit users here. Do you do the 3 hrs on and 3 hrs for the feed pump in the initial 14 days cycle?

[timmy]

beautiful Sea scaping

good start.... Keep it up bro!!!

[Yono_Pranata]

Nice scaping..Anyway bro, where did u buy the Caribsea sands?

[redsuns]

Nice scaping..Anyway bro, where did u buy the Caribsea sands?

You should be able to find at DE Aquatics, Ng couple, Ah beng, marine life, fishy business and Aquarium Artist. Just need to call before you go to check if they have your desired type before going.

[tazzzz]

Nice scaping..Anyway bro, where did u buy the Caribsea sands?

I got it from fresh n marine online shop

[Yono_Pranata]

Allright thanks bro..will check with them then..

Thanks!

[tang_sohal]

Nd some advice from zeovit users here. Do you do the 3 hrs on and 3 hrs for the feed pump in the initial 14 days cycle?

No i did not.. for me i just let the whole tank run as per normal and dose as per instructions..

[tazzzz]

Day 7 of the zeovit 14 days cycle.

Ammonia 0.25

Nitrites 0

Nitrates 5

PO4 0.25

PH 8.8

SG 1.025

MG 1320

CA 450

KH 7.7

Is it normal to not have a spike in ammonia when running the zeovit 14 days cycle? Cause my ammonia is hovering around 0.5 - 0.25 and not seeing a spike in ammonia even after adding in a piece of market prawn.