Recife 40G Cube - First Saltwater tank!

[GT500Reefer]

Build:

• Aquatop Recife ECO 40 Aquarium w/ Black Cabinet
• Aquatop Protein Skimmer
• AquaIllumination Orbit 2 and Nero 5
• Redsea ATO with 5 Gallon Reservoir
• inTank Media Basket
• inTank Filter Floss Holder
• Boyd Chemi Pure Blue, Bio Balls/Ceramic, Filter floss
• Jump guard screen cover
• Amazon G5 Light, Surge protector w/WiFi control, Auto fish feeder
• Marineland 200w Heater

Tank contents for the Reef:

• Instant Ocean Salt Mix
• Marco Rocks 30-40lbs put together with JB weld marine
• CaribSea Pink Live sand 25-30lbs

Testing / Maintenance:

• Amazon Magnet Cleaner, Glass scraper, Algae gloves, and a 100 count microfiber pack for OCD cleaning
• Hanna Marine Salinity, Calcium, Magnesium, and Ammonia tester kits
• 7 in 1 quick test strips
• IR Temperature gun
• Seachem Prime, Revive coral cleaner, Brightwell Aquatics Microbacter, Magnesion, Reef Code A and B.

Livestock:

• 6x Banded Trochus snails
• 2x Orange Lip Conch
• 2x Black & White Ocellaris Clownfish
• 1x Randalls Prawn Goby (hmmm shrimp or no shrimp that's the question)
• 3x Scissortail Dartfish
• 1x Flame Angelfish
• 1x Midas Blenny
• 2x Firefish goby
• 1x Baby Yellowtail Tamarin Wrasse

Coral:

• Sunny D Zoa, Candy Cane (unsure of name), Acropora (unsure of name), and one frogspawn 11/29/24
• Indo Gold Torch and a mystery pack of 8 frags will be here next week 12/6/24

Temperature - 78° F
Salinity - 1.0254
pH - 8.2
Alkalinity* - 9 dKH
Calcium* - 480
Magnesium* - 1380 ppm


Coming from owning monster freshwater tanks for the past 10 years or so I'm really enjoying the saltwater life. The colors/variety available is simply unbelievable. The maintenance is a little bit more intensive regarding testing/balancing but nothing too bad. If you can pass lab class you will do just fine haha

I tried to put together a well rounded build that will last for 5 years at least!! Very happy with where the tank is headed. The current corals are doing amazing, although i need to start a list to keep track of the placement/care needs. It makes me happy to see the new fish finding their homes and loving life too!

Any advice or criticism welcomed! Looking to learn/grow as much as I can. I'm currently trying to figure out what's going on with the calcium, any help is appreciated. Next week going to bring a water sample to my local coral store to see what they think.

 

[fishywishy]

Nice

 

[GT500Reefer]

Jump guard cover installed - took way to long for a DIY lol - i'd go with a Kraken Reef cover in hindsight. Came out nice though for $30 compared to $150+!

 

[GT500Reefer]

Redsea ATO installed & wiring cleanup done.

Also for anyone using the Recife 40 i've found the tank filters much better with the Intank media basket. The supplied acrylic pre-skimmer to mount infront of the intake messes with the flow/sump level too much so i only use it when cleaning to prevent surface bio-film build up. Makes quick work of the surface. The supplied protein skimmer is touchy with adjustments. Still playing around with it.

 

[Reefer Brent]

Redsea ATO installed & wiring cleanup done.

Also for anyone using the Recife 40 i've found the tank filters much better with the Intank media basket. The supplied acrylic pre-skimmer to mount infront of the intake messes with the flow/sump level too much so i only use it when cleaning to prevent surface bio-film build up. Makes quick work of the surface. The supplied protein skimmer is touchy with adjustments. Still playing around with it.

Hey glad you are enjoying! I have the same tank. Did you put the media basket in the first chamber or third? It says it's for the second chamber but you seem to have the protein skimmer in that chamber. Curious as I was thinking of purchasing as well for making running extra media like gfo or phosguard easier.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Jump guard cover installed - took way to long for a DIY lol - i'd go with a Kraken Reef cover in hindsight. Came out nice though for $30 compared to $150+!

Your lid looks great! I did a DIY for my lid and it looks similar to yours!

 

[GT500Reefer]

Currently running the intank basket in the 2nd chamber as the protein skimmer wont fit with the light mount at the moment. Working perfectly!!

Tank has been very consistent the past weeks with dosing alk/calc slightly inbetween water changes. LOTS of new growth all over.

Today i found a mysterious coral or pest anenome possibly under my acropora! Curious what exactly this is!! It's very small with a lime green tint on the tips. Edit: SOLVED! Mushroom decided to take a walk overnight!

 

[JumboShrimp]

Looks great. I have an AquaTop 24 gallon at the office-- a very under-appreciated tank for the money.

 

[Pizzafam!]

Great work !! Love the build list.we have the little brother to your tank the 24g. Definitely on the fence of kraken or the Amazon DIY kit ,seems like the DIY is worth it ,yours looks awesome but guessing some and patience was needed . Thanks for sharing!