IronMonkey
New member
Hi All,
I just found this forum and love all that I have read on here. Seems like a great bunch and is the forum I chose to join y'all on because of that
I have had previous experience with a reef tank (75g) a number of years ago and was able to successfully maintain it for a number of years... until it crashed hard and I had no idea why. I pretty much gave up because of two things. 1- I was pretty sure that the "cheapo" way I approached the tank was a direct influencer to the ultimate crash and burn 2- I wanted to do a bigger tank, but not until I could get my knowledge up and also address #1.
As circumstances have it, I have #1 covered now (from the expense perspective and being able to put a decent system together without skimping on what is needed to be successful like lighting, skimming, monitoring and automating). Now I'm putting a lot in the knowledge part of #2.
Currently I'm building out a 220g tank setup. I started by building my own stand and canopy for it that addressed a couple things. First, I wanted a taller stand, I hate having to bend over to admire the tank and second, I wanted to have no center dividers in the equipment bay underneath, so I engineered to not need them. I'll post pics a bit later. I watched and read all the information from Mark Callahan that I could get my hands on as well as started lurking on reef forums to gather as much intel as possible, and then started buying stuff
So far I have collected the following:
1- Vertex alpha 200 skimmer
2- Ecotech Radion xr30 pro light fixtures (x3)
3- 45g custom sump
4- Reef flow 4500 GPH external return pump (dart gold)
5- Neptune systems Apex gold with the leak detection module and 2 dosing modules
6- 220g corner flow marine life tank
7- 215lbs of dead rock
8- 185lbs of dead sand
9- Bottle of Dr. Tim's nitrifying bacteria
10- BRS 6 stage RODI unit
11- 275g IBC foodsafe water storage container for RODI freshwater storage
I've started building out the system and have completed the stand, tank and plumbing. Now I'm working on the electrical (lights and monitoring systems), and hope to put sand and rock in sometime next week. Maybe even start filling the tank at the end of next week... who knows
Anyway, just thought I would introduce myself and give you a little background. If you see me posting total noob questions, be patient with me, I'll learn!
Thanks all, looking forward to a lot of great sharing here,
-Adam
I just found this forum and love all that I have read on here. Seems like a great bunch and is the forum I chose to join y'all on because of that
I have had previous experience with a reef tank (75g) a number of years ago and was able to successfully maintain it for a number of years... until it crashed hard and I had no idea why. I pretty much gave up because of two things. 1- I was pretty sure that the "cheapo" way I approached the tank was a direct influencer to the ultimate crash and burn 2- I wanted to do a bigger tank, but not until I could get my knowledge up and also address #1.
As circumstances have it, I have #1 covered now (from the expense perspective and being able to put a decent system together without skimping on what is needed to be successful like lighting, skimming, monitoring and automating). Now I'm putting a lot in the knowledge part of #2.
Currently I'm building out a 220g tank setup. I started by building my own stand and canopy for it that addressed a couple things. First, I wanted a taller stand, I hate having to bend over to admire the tank
and second, I wanted to have no center dividers in the equipment bay underneath, so I engineered to not need them. I'll post pics a bit later. I watched and read all the information from Mark Callahan that I could get my hands on as well as started lurking on reef forums to gather as much intel as possible, and then started buying stuff So far I have collected the following:
1- Vertex alpha 200 skimmer
2- Ecotech Radion xr30 pro light fixtures (x3)
3- 45g custom sump
4- Reef flow 4500 GPH external return pump (dart gold)
5- Neptune systems Apex gold with the leak detection module and 2 dosing modules
6- 220g corner flow marine life tank
7- 215lbs of dead rock
8- 185lbs of dead sand
9- Bottle of Dr. Tim's nitrifying bacteria
10- BRS 6 stage RODI unit
11- 275g IBC foodsafe water storage container for RODI freshwater storage
I've started building out the system and have completed the stand, tank and plumbing. Now I'm working on the electrical (lights and monitoring systems), and hope to put sand and rock in sometime next week. Maybe even start filling the tank at the end of next week... who knows
Anyway, just thought I would introduce myself and give you a little background. If you see me posting total noob questions, be patient with me, I'll learn!
Thanks all, looking forward to a lot of great sharing here,
-Adam
