joeyf
New member
After six and a half years out of the game, I am jumping back in. Quite a bit has changed in my life since the last time I had a reef tank... I finished college, have an awesome career, and now that I don't work retail, I have regular hours (and income) to allow me to do things better than I did last time I was in the hobby. Thankfully I did save some of the better/more expensive equipment that I had from the last time.
So, here's my new 40 gallon breeder reef-
It's still dry at the moment, but I am trying to contain my excitement and start things in the right order.
Equipment:
Aqueon 40G Breeder
Steel frame stand w/ custom (DIY) velcro-on upholstered skins & matching hood
36" Current USA Orbit Marine Pro LED lighting
Ocean Motion wave maker (old school, but I loved this thing when I had it on my old 90)
2x Hydor Koralia 3rd Gen 1350gph pumps (on OM wave maker)
Aqua C Remora Skimmer
Aqua Clear 110 (using it for an HOB 'fuge and place to run carbon)
Coralife 2x9w PC light (over HOB 'fuge, still debating on using this)
Aqua Medic Niveaumat ATO feeding thru a kalwasser reactor
First pic- tank and stand the day I bought them.
Next pics- I painted the back of the tank, and finished stand and canopy with my DIY upholstered skins. I still have to re-do the front panel. As you might see, the printed decals on the board show through the fabric. The front was the first panel I did, the rest I painted black after discovering this issue.
As far as plans for the inside...
I have 60 lbs of aragonite sand. I'm looking for a source for live rock. I am tempted by the prices from online vendors, but I also like the idea of being able to pick my pieces from an LFS.
Once the tank is cycled and stable I have a 'must have' list of things to slowly add:
Pair of clownfish- I have always loved the regular false percs, but I may be tempted by one of the 'cool' varieties with different striping
BTA- undecided on red or green
Potter's angel- I had one for about 5-6 years, loved the little fish
Assorted corals- I'm really hoping I can find hammer and frogspawn like the ones I used to have, but I want to do a mixed reef
Also, I am throwing around the idea of getting a HOB overflow to run a sump, but that will probably be a project for down the road. I would love to not have the skimmer and AC110 filter on the back, though.
So, here's my new 40 gallon breeder reef-
It's still dry at the moment, but I am trying to contain my excitement and start things in the right order.
Equipment:
Aqueon 40G Breeder
Steel frame stand w/ custom (DIY) velcro-on upholstered skins & matching hood
36" Current USA Orbit Marine Pro LED lighting
Ocean Motion wave maker (old school, but I loved this thing when I had it on my old 90)
2x Hydor Koralia 3rd Gen 1350gph pumps (on OM wave maker)
Aqua C Remora Skimmer
Aqua Clear 110 (using it for an HOB 'fuge and place to run carbon)
Coralife 2x9w PC light (over HOB 'fuge, still debating on using this)
Aqua Medic Niveaumat ATO feeding thru a kalwasser reactor
First pic- tank and stand the day I bought them.
Next pics- I painted the back of the tank, and finished stand and canopy with my DIY upholstered skins. I still have to re-do the front panel. As you might see, the printed decals on the board show through the fabric. The front was the first panel I did, the rest I painted black after discovering this issue.
As far as plans for the inside...
I have 60 lbs of aragonite sand. I'm looking for a source for live rock. I am tempted by the prices from online vendors, but I also like the idea of being able to pick my pieces from an LFS.
Once the tank is cycled and stable I have a 'must have' list of things to slowly add:
Pair of clownfish- I have always loved the regular false percs, but I may be tempted by one of the 'cool' varieties with different striping
BTA- undecided on red or green
Potter's angel- I had one for about 5-6 years, loved the little fish
Assorted corals- I'm really hoping I can find hammer and frogspawn like the ones I used to have, but I want to do a mixed reef
Also, I am throwing around the idea of getting a HOB overflow to run a sump, but that will probably be a project for down the road. I would love to not have the skimmer and AC110 filter on the back, though.
