Tank Build! Smith11's 8 Gallon Rimless!

Just realized I haven't done this for the new tank yet! Well anyways here's some pics of the process and the tank.
Day 1: Just brought the tank home ans stuck a giant porites skeleton in there

Now filled with water and a temp led light for the cycle

Next to kick off the cycle i put 1/3 of a mysis shrimp cube in along with ceramic in the back from my 2 gallon tank

The other 2/3 will go in later in that week.


Here it is during the cycle when the diatoms started to really pick up

And this is the during the heaviest part of the cycle

Finally the cycle is complete AND THE NEW AI PRIME IS ON

Next the ATO arrives, Perfect sized acrylic container to fit right behind the tank

Unboxed reservoir

and ato

ATO in place
Closeup before drilling


Where the RODI flows in

making the reservoir lid

in place

Drilling for the tubing (So satisfying)

Tubing in place

 

The first corals are put in



Several weeks later i start adding more, bonus two frags from MBC on the right here that i picked up from ray/jen

Beginning to glue colonies on the rockwork and i decide i dont like that rock the way it is so i chisel away a section to the right of these palys so there can be more room for zoas and palys.


Here it is after chiseling, sooooo much better plus bonus new caves

Frag rack, needs cleaning out lol

Heres the lower part, grandis paly on the right where the rock i chiseled away was, cant really see it.

zoomed out, the MBC frags are beginning to open

FTS!

Slightly different lighting FTS, you can see the rock i chopped out on the right, not sure what i want to do to it yet i think im going to add it on the top to make the area i can put sps slightly bigger