Anyone up for another 135 Thread?

[tsquad]

The day has finally come, when my tank becomes wet. As we speak...err...write, my tank is testing for leaks. My tank is a 135 gallon tank, 72"L x 18"W x 25"H. This will be my first reef tank ever, but I have kept some freshwater fish before, so have faith in me . Don't have many pics right now, but just wait a week or so. My plumbing isn't finished yet, but I've got the layout and everything. I'm waiting on a few select pieces I put in my order at MarineDepot, which should be here at the end of the week (I hope). Also, my RO/DI unit from filterdirect on eBay is coming too. I ordered along with that a TDS meter, and a hose adapter, so I will only have to pay one shipping charge. I'm also buying a complete 90 gallon system, from a man in New York City (his RC name is grevedin). I'm going down to NYC to pick it all up next Saturday (the 19th), so that's when things will start to get interesting . If you want system specs, here they are:

• 135 Gallon Tank
• 200lbs Live Rock
• 150lbs Live Sand/Southdown
• Oceanic Salt (don't flame me please)
• IceCap 430, with 2x 160w bulbs (adding 250w halides when I can afford them)
• 2x 250w Jager Heaters
• 110gpd filterdirect RO/DI unit
• 3x 40 gallon Rubbermaid tubs (just assorted purposes)
• EuroReef CS6-2+ Skimmer
• Refugium (will be one of the Rubbermaids)
• Tsunami Wavemaker (controlling an Aquaclear 402 and 2x Aquaclear 802's)
• 5 gallon & 2.5 gallon QT / Acclimation tanks
• Salifert Test kits
• Refractometer
• Basement Pump (to pump from the unfinished side, to where my tank is...see picture, it's attached to the hose)
• Assorted stuff (nets, airline tubing and the like)

That is it, if I forgot anything, kindly remind me
Here's some pictures (bear with me, they aren't great, I'm learning ):
Tank in it's spot

Tank being filled (thank God for 950gph pumps)

Tank almost done being filled (plumbing isn't done, so can't fill it all the way)

That's it for now. I hope that my tank will someday look as good as GregM779's 125g, lossman's 150g (only a few inches taller than mine), and JENnKerry's 125g. Lot's of great inspiration from this site. Also, I'm 15 and on a limited budget, so a lot of my equipment is nice and used. This should definately be a big challenge, but I'm ready for it :strooper: . Let me know what you think! Hopefully this thread will bump me over 500 posts eventually also!
:rollface:

Tyler

 

[tsquad]

Oh yeah, I forgot, my proposed fish list. Looks to be a great tank:

• 5 Anthias (Bartlett or Dispar) - 1 male 4 females
• Mated Pair of Percs
• Pair of Neon Gobies
• Lawnmower Blenny
• Powder Brown Tang (Acanthurus japonicus not nigricans)
• Orchid Dottyback

I think I will add them in this order:

1. Neon Gobies
2. Lawnmower Blenny
3. Percs
4. Anthias
5. Tang
6. Dottyback
   [/list=1]
   Sound good?

 

[sulp]

Watch putting your hands in the tank!! I think I saw a shark. Was he a hitch hiker? The tank looks great! I wish you the best of luck with it. It will be a nice addition to the room. Post more pics as you progress

 

[Aquaguru]

It looks and sounds great. I'm also 15 with a 120 on a budget with no job. It is difficult at some points but overall its not that hard you are just forced to go slow with it because you run out of little cash you have so quickly. My tank is three months old and is doing fine. I hope that yours will do the same.

Your fish look fine but i would go with a different tang, but thats just my oponion. You should do what you want with your tank. Good Luck

 

[InsaneClownFish]

Nope. Nobody Cares.



Just kidding...everything looks great Tyler. In fact, that is an awesome spot. Nice house...

I'm glad the parental units finally gave in..

Personally, I'd just leave the tank with those stuffed, or ceramic, or what ever the heck those things are lying in it..

Good luck and take it slow. Your fish list actually looks really good. Just remember- research and stick to your guns. Don't buy just anything because it happens to look cute that day.. Also, once you have your fish list set, don't try to add fish down the road because everything "appears" to be doing great. Trust me, one fish can easily send a tank over the edge.

Let us know what else you're planning on keeping. Then we'll possibly be able to tell you what eats what.

Jew unit for life! :smokin: WORD

PS- don't forget to check out the thread here of my lowly 40 gallon...:rollface:

 

[clownfish4]

Looks good, but I am surprised you can maintain such a small fish list! I am eighteen with a 125, have a good job so my budget is not too limited, and have been running this tank for over 6 months. I also plan to have about 24 fish when I finish stocking; I have a CS8-3 Euroreef so I have nothing to worry about! The best advice I can give is do it right from the start. Fill your tank with as much RO/DI water as you can, preferably all, if you're planning on metal halides do them now not later, and most importanly BE PATIENT! Hope you have a successful and fun time.

 

[tsquad]

Thanks for all the nice comments guys
No leaks yet!! Good sign, knock wood.

...if you're planning on metal halides do them now not later...

I am planning on halides, but I can't start reffing (my spring and summer job, $20 per game) for about a month or so. So I will save my allowance and reffing money for halides and fish

I wanted to keep my stocking on the DL (down-low for all you non-hipsters) for a few reasons. The most important being my skimmer size. I know the CS6-2+ is probably rated just right for my tank, but I decided I wouldn't push it. I also figured I'd have an easier time maintaining the tank if I had a minimal bioload, seeing as this is my first reefkeeping endeavor and all. I also didn't really want that many fish. I really just wanted one big one (tang), a school (the anthias) and a few rock dweller dudes (the blenny and gobies). The clownfish are a must of course, chicks DIG Nemo . I'm glad my stocking ideas are well-planned...I have been thinking this through since December '03, because I don't want to make any mistakes; mistakes = ca$h = uh oh. So I've been trying to learn everything possible :eek2:
I'll keep this thread updated as I progress. The next update will either be:
1. Tank leaks :eek2: :mad2:
2. MarineDepot Order came in
Let's hope for the latter, shall we? :rollface:
Tyler

 

[clownfish4]

"chicks DIG Nemo"

You know Nemo is an Ocellaris and not a Percula clown.

 

[tsquad]

Yes, but perculas are cooler, and they won't know the difference

 

[bklynmet]

Impressive. Good luck with the tank.

 

[tsquad]

Thanks bklynmet
So...no leaks this morning! It's lookin' good so far. I already like it, and it has no saltwater in it!
Checked my email this morning, and my MarineDepot order is enroute, and should be here March 16th. That gives me a good amount of time to finish the plumbing (which is what most of my order consists of). Don't know about the eBay RO/DI; they sent us an email saying that they received our PayPal, and said it would be shipped out.
That's it for this morning, off to school to take my math test Wish me luck!
Tyler

 

[tsquad]

Math test = Dominated (for the most part, I hope)

Updates:
Tank is drained, so no leaks, very very good.
Both MarineDepot order and my RO/DI from eBay will be here on March 16th, next Wednesday. Things are coming along accordingly

 

[tsquad]

Hooray!! Both orders came, both containing what I bought. Very satisfied so far. Tonight is tank night, because smart ol' Tyler did all his homework in study hall
Time to clean the tank with a vinegar/water solution, then put my sand in. Then start the RO/DI and make saltwater tomorrow. Can't finish the plumbing, because I'm still waiting on my pump from BostonReefer's society. I don't have to have the plumbing done though, I just wont fill the tank up to the overflow.

Also, my TDS meter says my tap water is 35ppm. Is that normal? That seems really good, almost too good...

More updates later tonight
:bounce1::bounce1::bounce1:

 

[tsquad]

Woo!! Setup the RO/DI and its pumping out right now!!
Guess what my TDS is now? 4!! On the first try!! Maybe West Hartford has exceptionally clean water, but I don't care, this is awesome. FilterDirect systems are very very easy to hook up and get running, and I recommend them to anyone
Gosh I'm so excited
And I'm going out to dinner next to the LFS tonight, Puppy Center, hoorayyyyyyyyyyyyyy
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
:bounce1::bounce1::bounce1::bounce1::bounce1::bounce1:

 

[tsquad]

WOW!!!!
My TDS is now at 1ppm
:eek1::eek1::eek1:
I really hope my TDS meter isn't fooling with me, this is awesome!!

 

[eraml]

Looking like its all working out so far.
I am 17 and in the process of saving and planning out upgrading m current 20gallon to a 110 or 120 gallon.

 

[InsaneClownFish]

So you had Subway tonight?

 

[tsquad]

So you had Subway tonight?

Nnnnnnnope :lol:
I actually had Tapas last night, right next to the Puppy Center. I went and checked them out :eek2::eek2:
Very nice stuff, but very high prices!! At least they are essentially down the block though.
My RO/DI unit from filterdirect on eBay is been pumping out 0ppm water now. I've got around 25 gallons from 3hours of RO/DIing. Turned it off for school (where I am now) so that I don't overflow my 37 gallon Rubbermaids; I didn't get the float valve.
Getting everything on Saturday; rocks, skimmer, everything. I'm buying a complete setup. This looks to be a very, very interesting weekend

 

[tsquad]

OMG
Catastrophe strikes already :mad2:
My tank has a crack on the outside corner!!!

What the hell?! I can't believe I didn't notice it until now!! I'm not sure how bad it is though, because it isn't new, as nothing around the tank has been able to crack it, and I would've heard it if I was doing something slightly dangerous around the tank. Therefore, it must've survived my 36hr leak test. I put silicone in it (under the chip) and on it already. It's more of a chip than a crack. What should I do?!

 

[AJP]

It will probably be fine. Only other thing you can do is buy a new tank, or replace that piece of glass.