Chicagoreef2016
New member
Hi folks,
This is my first go round with saltwater, had FW tanks for years and years, and wanted a new challenge. Boy is it a challenge from plumbing to testing, etc. So here is my list of equipment:
Marineland 60 gallon cube (painted the stand brown to match the room furniture)
65 lbs of reef saver rock from BRS
Eschopps R-100 Sump
Hydra 26 HD LED light
AI light bracket (I don't like this, too clunky looking, will replace later this year)
Reef Octopus 110 Classic Skimmer
2 Jebao PP8 Powerheads
DC-5000 return pump
Refractometer
Due to space requirements of sump, and lack of space in my stand (should have measured when I bought the sump), I had to put the sump behind the wall in our coat closet; the wife was not excited about that let me tell you.
For aquascaping I wanted to have a cave like structure, with a hole where the fish could go through. Currently I just started my cycle and have a couple shrimp in a bag to kick off the ammonia spike. I have extra rock in the tank to cure everything I have, so in actuality it will not look at cluttered once the cure and cycle are complete: there will only be one small to medium size piece at the mouth of the cave.
For fish I am planning a pretty easy group: a couple ocellaris clowns, a chromis, a midas blenny, maybe a wrasse, a shrimp of some sort, and CUC. Still figuring out what corals I want but will probably stick with the softies, zoas, and some LPS in the first year.
Initial pictures are of plumbing, rock work with and without water, and well as my test fill. I am glad I filled it up with regular water first, as I found a very small leak in my plumbing that I was able to fix.
This is my first go round with saltwater, had FW tanks for years and years, and wanted a new challenge. Boy is it a challenge from plumbing to testing, etc. So here is my list of equipment:
Marineland 60 gallon cube (painted the stand brown to match the room furniture)
65 lbs of reef saver rock from BRS
Eschopps R-100 Sump
Hydra 26 HD LED light
AI light bracket (I don't like this, too clunky looking, will replace later this year)
Reef Octopus 110 Classic Skimmer
2 Jebao PP8 Powerheads
DC-5000 return pump
Refractometer
Due to space requirements of sump, and lack of space in my stand (should have measured when I bought the sump), I had to put the sump behind the wall in our coat closet; the wife was not excited about that let me tell you.
For aquascaping I wanted to have a cave like structure, with a hole where the fish could go through. Currently I just started my cycle and have a couple shrimp in a bag to kick off the ammonia spike. I have extra rock in the tank to cure everything I have, so in actuality it will not look at cluttered once the cure and cycle are complete: there will only be one small to medium size piece at the mouth of the cave.
For fish I am planning a pretty easy group: a couple ocellaris clowns, a chromis, a midas blenny, maybe a wrasse, a shrimp of some sort, and CUC. Still figuring out what corals I want but will probably stick with the softies, zoas, and some LPS in the first year.
Initial pictures are of plumbing, rock work with and without water, and well as my test fill. I am glad I filled it up with regular water first, as I found a very small leak in my plumbing that I was able to fix.
