Jenn's 55G Reef

**MCHRKiller** · 02-09-2010, 07:54 AM

I felt the need to start a new updated thread for the tank, as it has migrated back over to the world of reefs

The 56watt SOT5 I ordered was backordered for over a month without anything so I canceled that order and found a rather nice 4*54watt HOT5 fixture on ebay. It is made by Catalina, I opted for 2*10K bulbs, 1 420 actinic and 1 460 actinic. The 460 puts off a much more blue hue than the 420...I think the corals are going to like it. I am a bit behind schedule as far as progress on the tank. Ive honestly not done anything so far other than I added the 2nd BakPak 2 and an AC50 for chemical filtration. Im using the BakPak 2 also as a makeshift phosphate killer, I have it loaded down with ChemiPure Elite. The AC50 has a bag of Purigen and a Polyfilter. The Bak Pak Reef ready doesnt have any media or anything fun.

Im going to order some additional rock from LiveRockUSA as planned before all the lighting troubles. Probably 30lbs of live and Ill chuck in some dry base rock I have laying around. Corals are going to remain very simple Im just going to have mushrooms, palys, and maybe some random other softies. Heres a pretty crappy pic of the tank...I so need to clean the inside of the glass...its some kind of dust or something from the sand

**bluebluecow** · 02-09-2010, 09:02 AM

looks like it will be stunning

Liz

**Taurus** · 02-09-2010, 01:53 PM

Jenn, good luck with this tank. It's good to see that you haven't given up on the reef idea.

**Rue** · 02-09-2010, 02:32 PM

It looks like it has great potential! Keep us updated!

**Bristley** · 02-09-2010, 02:38 PM

Looks like you're gonna have a blast with that tank. Keep us posted.

**MCHRKiller** · 02-09-2010, 02:44 PM

Thanks all

It has been kind of a dooms day for every reef Ive ever done, they all wind up going through a sporatic random winter tragedy. But seeing as the parentals have opted to install solar panels this summer it shouldnt be an issue. The corals I will be keeping also wont be really any more demanding than keeping good rock. I dont think this tank will be quite as coral focused as the last but still a reef of sorts.

**Northernguy** · 02-09-2010, 02:53 PM

That appears to be the start of another Killer tank Jenn!

Good luck fending off the rest of the Winter months!

**Miltonic** · 02-10-2010, 03:18 AM

Im glad you're going reef again Jenn, hopefully this one won't ended up like your last two. Everything looks good so far!

**labnjab** · 02-10-2010, 11:18 AM

Looking great

You'll love the light. We had a 4x39 watt HOt5 fixture from them. I sold it recently cause I upgraded to 2 halides. I would upgrade the factory 10000K bulbs to 14000K uvl bulbs. The 10000K were just too yellow for my taste.

**MCHRKiller** · 02-10-2010, 06:06 PM

I probably will when I replace the bulbs...that 460 actinic is killing out any hope of a yellow hue when its on

Its going to take me awhile to figure out how to take good pics of the tank with such a blue cast making everything look weird.

Thanks for the encouragement everyone, its nice to be on the track of a reef again.