300 Gallon Reef tank at 2 Weeks

300 Gallon Reef tank at 2 Weeks

Pump 1 and Chiller (Closed Loop)

Pump 1 and Chiller (Closed Loop)

40 Gallon Wet / Dry

40 Gallon Wet / Dry

Skimmer and Pump 2

Skimmer and Pump 2

This is a 300 Gallon Display with a 40 Gallon Wet / Dry Sump, a chiller, 2 mini giant pumps featuring 6 powerheads and a closed loop system to ensure no dead spots.

It was initially picked up from ATM on Sunday, April 5, 2009. Less than a week later it appeared to have run its cycle and was ready for some livestock. A couple days later it appeared to enter another mini cycle. I have used a variety of bacteria products to hasten the nitrification cycle.

The lighting itself deserves some special attention:

  • 2 Metal Halide 250′s
  • 4 T-5 Actinic
  • 9 LED Blue
  • 9 LED White

Livestock to date

  • 200 lbs of Live Rock
  • 150 lbs of Caribsea Live Sand
  • Foxface Rabbitfish (lo)
  • 2 Cleaner Shrimp
  • 1 Yellow Assessor
  • 3 Yellow Clown Gobys
  • 1 Pearly Jawfish
  • 5 Feather Dusters
  • Bubble Coral
  • Purple flower Polyps
  • 50 Blue Leg Hermit Crabs
  • 1 Serpent Starfish
  • Starter Copepods
  • 50 Nassarius Snails
  • 30 Nerite Snails
  • 1 Scarlet Reef Hermit Crab

A bubble tip anemone has been reserved for the clown fish to host in once water quality has improved. In addition, I plan to add about 150 more lbs of live rock over time. I estimate it will take about a year to complete this tank but I am very much looking forward to the long term project. Many thanks to my good friend David for all his help getting this set up!