Upgrading

90% done, carbon and phosphate reactor still need to be installed. Electrical cord placements still need to be re-organized. Aquascaping at a closer look.

Might upgrade my koralia's to an Ecotech MP40

Bought 50 ft 1/4" cord tubing for my 75 GPD RO/DI Unit to reach my evaporated water bin. I am still researching on upgrading my lighting, as my T5's are starting to give in, so LED are the next step:
LED Comparison
Kessil

Parameters

Specific gravity: 1.026
Temperature: 79 F

Ready and Set! The Cycle Begins!

Got my tank cycle going with water and some sand from a friend's tank. Thanks Ben!

Saltwater is in the tank! Heater and more rock added to the sump. After 2 hours of turning on the skimmer, good foam and scum.

Low tide and I still don't know where to put the phosphate reactor for best placement.

Sump Noise

Water from the durso-like standpipe was mixing with air, causing loud crashing noises into the sump. Made some modifications to extend and elbow/angle the drain lines and re-adjust the height of the standpipes. From here, threw on felt filter bags made by my wife, which is absolutely perfect, blocking out noise and bubbles. This quiet the sump down and I plan to insulate the interior of the stand to block out even more noise.

Plumbing done, Saltwater next!

 

Cheap light installed for visibility and egg crate added for the extra live rock.

Acrylic cover on display tank top still with the film protection. Acrylic cover for the sump top as well.

Sand and Background

Using only 1.5"-2" sand bed. I have tried the BB and DSB methods and found both okay. 

  - BB: Does not look good from a visual perspective for the Display Tank.

  - DSB: Heavy, eats up too much area and just not a fan.
I'll be going BB for the 40 Gallon frag tank.

Final Aquascape!!!

After a combined 10 hours of aquascaping. I am finally done. I find this absolutely the hardest part of all reefs, since there are so many factors to account for:

  - Visual pleasing appearance / Feel and sense
  - Fish housing and swimming area
  - Depth of rock and sand usage
  - Coral placement / best PAR readings
  - Enough rock for biological filtration / Porosity of Live Rock

My major issue was putting enough rock into the tank. I will throw some in my sump and frag tank to provide for the lack of filtration. I ended up not using 40-50 lbs of rock.
I learned a lot from these sites:

My Aquascape still looks like crap compared to these examples on this site. 

Freshwater aquascaping owns reefscaper

Less rock = better aquascape, more visually appealing with negative space
More rock = better filtration, uglier aquascape, clutter 
Design your aquascape how you want it and if it sucks, change it later.
If my tank needs more space for corals that canyon and island will be replaced with more rock.

2nd Attempt Aquascaping

Aquascaping in Display Tank - Work in Progress

90-110 lbs displayed.

This looks like shit.. I'm starting over later.

1st Attempt Aquascaping

Egg crate cut and prepped for the base

Drying Rock & Sand

120 Display, Sump and Stand

Skimmer, Reactor and misc

 

30 Gallon Sump