dbetts' 55 gallon reef

[dbetts]

So my tank has been up for a couple months now and I never started a chronicle, but better late than never right?? Unfortunately, I have no pictures of me setting it up, but I do have some of it while I was fighting some algae so I'll post those as well. I used to keep a small freshwater tank when I was a kid, but this is definitely my first saltwater. I am super excited about it! Currently, my tank includes:

55 gallon glass aquarium
Reef Octopus Classic 100 HOB Skimmer
2 Aquatop 660 gph powerheads
2500K Fluval Sea Pro Full Spectrum LED Marine and Reef Light
60 lbs live rock
80 lbs live sand

1 Green Chromis
1 Ocellaris Clownfish
1 Blue Hippo Tang
Green Star Polyps
Finger Leather Coral
CUC of various snails, hermits, an emerald crab, and brittle star

In order to put my light on a schedule, I need a WiFi adapter that Fluval makes, so I think that will be my next investment. At some point I would also like a torch coral, I think they look so cool! Any suggestions on other critters would be appreciated! I also would like to hear ways to possibly camouflage the ugly HOB skimmer and heater if anyone has any. And before it's said, a sump is not in the budget right now. haha.

Here is during my algae outbreak:


And these are from the last couple days:

 

[DaveK]

Your algae problem really isn't that bad, especially when you consider that it's a new tank. Many tanks go through various algae phases in the first year or so. Keep after it and you'll be fine.

 

[dbetts]

Your algae problem really isn't that bad, especially when you consider that it's a new tank. Many tanks go through various algae phases in the first year or so. Keep after it and you'll be fine.

That's good to hear. And yeah, I wasn't too worried about the algae because I had seen worse in other's tanks. But I was still very happy to see it all gone when I got back and turned on my lights. Haha.

 

[dbetts]

I really need to actually update this... Haha.

So obviously a lot has changed since my last post, since that was about 7 months ago. I will try to do better at posting whenever I do something large or try something new. I want to be able to go back and see how far I've come, and can't do that if I don't post!

So I have purchased quite a few things in the last 7 months, some corals and a new fish. I will post them below. I also upgraded my lighting and made my own stand for them (since they are cheaper lights that don't have brackets to hold them up). I am not finished with it though, I am going to clad all of the sides with black fabric to make it look more like a canopy. Hope you enjoy! Also, if anyone would like to help me ID the coral frags, that would be great. I got them in a flash sale that was just called "assorted coral frags"

Thanks everyone!!

 

[dbetts]

Another update photo! Canopy is finished, and a lot more coral added. My sister purchased a home in Florida that had an established reef tank that was overgrown with coral, so I was able to snatch a lot up. I love the look of it now!