Hi all, I'm an Aussi from Cairns living in Sweden. I had a reef tank when I was a kid, but that was 20 years ago. I figure its time to dive back into the hobby.
I'm keen to get into it, but I have very little knowledge on the topic, so I'm likely about to make many noob mistakes along the way. I thought the best way to learn from others would be to keep in touch with my local forum. I'm hoping that this reef keeping community may save me from walking into obvious mistakes, and give me suggestions as I blindly stumble through the early stages of learning this complex and exciting hobby. Attached below are my aspirations and some of my initial plans, all be it just ideas for now. Please push me in any direction that may save me and my tank from errors or potential catastrophe along the way.
Overall goal: To eventually arrive at a happy and healthy SPS dominant tank. I enjoy high-tech gear and automation, part of the fun will hopefully be the systems and equipment. Stretch goals: I think "floating reefs" look absolutely awesome. I'd also love to be able to keep a sand-dwelling anemone and clowns if possible, although I guess these can harm the SPS? Long term goals: To be able to use some of the nice gear and lessons from this tank to start a new, larger tank in the future.
Set-up: Note that the red text is an item that is just a guess for now. I have not yet purchased these items so they can be changed if need be.
Tank: Nuvo INT 50 (fifty gallon Cube)
DIMS: 60 x 60 x 50(h) cm (23.6” x 23.6” x 19.7(h)”)
Stand: Nuvo INT 50 with a custom made door and (if possible) a sliding floor for easy access to clean the sump.
Lighting (Display): Two 2x24W T5 (4 total T5 bulbs) plus a Kessil A360X
Lighting (Sump): 2x Tunze EcoChic 8831
Return Pump: Sicce Syncra 3.0 (maybe this is overpowered, I'm not sure if I should get the 2.5 or the 3.0)
Sump: 44cm x 52cm custom made plexiglass with light-sealed refugium (see draft blueprints below)
Sump Reactor: Space for a Nyos TORQ Dock + Body (I wanted to save the space to add this latter - only if necessary)
Skimmer: Nyos Quantum 120
Electrical automation: Unknown
Water chemistry testing method/system: Unknown
Calcium/alkalinity/magnesium dosing equipment: Unknown
Auto top-off: Unknown
Heating/cooling: Unknown
Drilled Overflows:
3x - 1” Pre-drilled “BeanAnimal” Internal Overflow [Primary Drain, Emergency Drain and Secondary E-Drain]
1x – ¾” Pre-drilled Return Hole
Laser Cut Black Acrylic Weir w/ Slot Cut Rear Glass Panel
Attached below is the tank (in warehouse storage before I move it into my office) and a blueprint of the sump (its just a guess, let me know if you see any issues). Looking forward to hopefully soon start aqua scaping and eventually get the cycle going!