My setup

[Lepisosteus]

Been a while since I’ve showed any pics of my setups. Here is my 80 gallon bowfront reef tank. Had this tank setup for 3 years (1st pic before). When it was setup previously I did nothing to it. I was away on vacation frequently for months at a time. Never ran the skimmer. Only ever had the tank topped off and did a water change when I returned. Coral grew like crazy. Had over 200 heads of frogspawns which dominated the tank. I then moved 4 hours away and lost most of the stock as the tank was taken down the night before instead of the morning of (pic 2). Lost around $3000 in coral. Wasn’t to mad about it, I fragged easily $3000 worth over the time it was setup. Started restocking the tank around September/October 2018. The last couple pictures are where it’s at currently. This is only after 4 months.

This system is sumpless.

Here is some of the specs of the tank:
80 gallon bowfront:48x12-18x26” tall
Eheim 2075 filtration
EcoTech MP40WQD
Two EcoTech MP10WQD
2 radion g4 pros XR30s
Kamoer X4 dosing system
Inkbird temperature controller
Reef octopus BH2000 HOB skimmer
Water parameters: I don’t test Nitrates, phosphates, nitrites, ammonia. Alk, Ca, Mg, are all good. I normally just look at the corals and adjust if something is off. I test those 3 parameters twice a week. Couple hours after a water change and at the end of the week right before a water change.

Recently removed the apex system. Between the Reeflink for the Ecotech gear and the kamoer dosing system the entire tank is automated anyways so apex became a cluster of wires not serving a purpose.

Where I could have improved:
-Sump, I was given this tank for free years ago. Usually my reefs (mostly all tanks I keep) run a sump. Love having one. The clutter inside this tank irritates me.
-a wider tank. 12” width is brutal.
-ATO. Still don’t have one as I don’t trust them if I’m not home. Since I’m frequently gone for weeks-month at a time I don’t run one.


This system is currently for sale as I’m upgrading to a custom 360 gallon display. I will be designing my own sump, skimmer, and reactors for the new tank. It will be an amazing reef build and loaded with pics when I get to it. Skimmer I calculated should handle a 500-1000 gallon system. I will setup a 24 hour webcam and will get an apex system once again. I still don’t plan to run an ATO. I will use the webcam and the apex/Reeflink (with vectra pump) to start a pump through wifi and turn it off once the tank is at the level I want. Avoiding the chance of an ATO disaster.

 

[Dloks]

 

[imabot]

Awesome tank.

 

[CarpCharacin]

Not much into saltwater myself, but the tank looks great.

 

[Lepisosteus]

Awesome tank.

Not much into saltwater myself, but the tank looks great.

Thank you both. Carp, you will get there one day

 

[Gourami Swami]

Looks really nice man. I like the livestock choices (great frogspawns!) and you have some very premium equipment.
Ever thought about running an ATO on a timer? Could get a simple one like the jbj, and then put it on a timer to only be on for 5 minutes per day, or multiple 2-3 minute periods, so there's no way it can really overflow the tank. Sounds like you've got your routine already and it's working, but might make things a little more stable when you're gone.

 

[Lepisosteus]

Looks really nice man. I like the livestock choices (great frogspawns!) and you have some very premium equipment.
Ever thought about running an ATO on a timer? Could get a simple one like the jbj, and then put it on a timer to only be on for 5 minutes per day, or multiple 2-3 minute periods, so there's no way it can really overflow the tank. Sounds like you've got your routine already and it's working, but might make things a little more stable when you're gone.

I considered doing that with the spare dosing pump head I have for the kamoer. Until this tank is gone, I only have one vacation planned where I’m gone for 10 days. The other I’ll only be gone for 5. Evaporation after 10 days isn’t aweful. Maybe 1-2 gallons. I did consider a timer (basically the apex idea). With the apex I could have controlled an individual switch to come on for only a few minutes. I would have still used the vectra pump with Reeflink to make it redundant. If the apex switch got stuck on or I set it for to long I’d kill it with the Reeflink.

 

[JK47]

Beautiful tank and nice equipment! I may look more into the reeflink so I can get away from the Apex as well. I know very little about marine but can tell when someone takes pride in their setup. Well done sir

 

[Gourami Swami]

I considered doing that with the spare dosing pump head I have for the kamoer. Until this tank is gone, I only have one vacation planned where I’m gone for 10 days. The other I’ll only be gone for 5. Evaporation after 10 days isn’t aweful. Maybe 1-2 gallons. I did consider a timer (basically the apex idea). With the apex I could have controlled an individual switch to come on for only a few minutes. I would have still used the vectra pump with Reeflink to make it redundant. If the apex switch got stuck on or I set it for to long I’d kill it with the Reeflink.

Sounds relatively foolproof, and especially if you have all the stuff already, I'd go for it! Though 1-2 gallons in an 80 does sound very manageable without one so I see why your not in a hurry

 

[RD.]

Impressive, nice work.