03sonicstang
Member
Hello, my name is Tom from the great state of Michigan; don't laugh some of us still think it's great 
I've been a long time Fish keeper; I started very young but lost parental support (funds) do to a unfortunate 29 Gallon spill in a second story home. After college I got back in raising Cichlids and selling their offspring to support my aquatic habit. Then moved on to Fresh Water planted tank fish keeping, which I currently have a 55 ga running for about 5 years now. Then started my first Salt tank, a 12 Ga nano, currently been running 3 years with no problems thus far. This is tank is currently home to: (1) Ocellaris Clownfish, (1) Royal Gramma Basslet, Button Polyps, Kenya Tree Corals, Blue Mushrooms, Green Star Polyps and Frowspawn¡K.Only thing I¡¦ve lost in (3) years is a Peppermint Shrimp and I attribute that to the Gramma getting hungry when I was away and the Shrimp was milting.
So now I'm got the go ahead to set up a 135 Gallon in my main living area. I have about (10-12) weeks to plan as my home is under construction (we¡¦re adding on)¡K.with that said this is what I have so far¡K.It¡¦s a work in process so bare with me:
I've been looking at the site "Glasscages.com¨ for the tank and stand; anyone has any experience with them?
Aquarium: 135 Gal. 72 x 18 x 25 Tall
Starphire on front panel and both sides
Reef-ready addition: 2 overflow(s) with 2 holes/o.v.
4 bulkheads
Glass Tops
Oak Stand: 72 x 18 x 30 Tall
Extra side door on stand
Oak Canopy: 72 x 18
Planning on constructing a refugium/sump using the designs I've read from melevsreef.com; BTW Beautiful tanks Marc!!! Was thinking of using a old glass 55 gallon I have..
Thinking 125-150 lbs of live rock and a 4-5¨ sand bed; livestock will be pretty simple nothing to exotic. Animals that my daughters and I can add slowly to the system every other week.. All my three girls LOVE the LFS
Planning on a Protein skimmer, Calcium reactor (I have lots of CO2 parts from the Fresh water planted tanks ) power heads, and return pumps. Also planning on a 55 gallon drum reservoir in the basement for water on hand and upgrading my RO/DI system...
Lighting has me running circles in my head...I don't want the high cost of operation, and heat, of MH but want to house a Anemone in the future...Know crazy delicate corals for me; at least I say that now suggestions would be greatly appreciated. T5 might be the way to go¡Kmight not need a chiller????
Thanks for reading my long post....I'm just excited as my wife has never approved such a large Fish project. I'm planning on this whole set up to take some time. The (10-12) weeks will be just to get the main tank and stand...the rest will take more time and research. My nano took me months before I even put anything alive in it, well except rock. I do like to take my time as this tank will be in for the long haul!!!
I've been a long time Fish keeper; I started very young but lost parental support (funds) do to a unfortunate 29 Gallon spill in a second story home. After college I got back in raising Cichlids and selling their offspring to support my aquatic habit. Then moved on to Fresh Water planted tank fish keeping, which I currently have a 55 ga running for about 5 years now. Then started my first Salt tank, a 12 Ga nano, currently been running 3 years with no problems thus far. This is tank is currently home to: (1) Ocellaris Clownfish, (1) Royal Gramma Basslet, Button Polyps, Kenya Tree Corals, Blue Mushrooms, Green Star Polyps and Frowspawn¡K.Only thing I¡¦ve lost in (3) years is a Peppermint Shrimp and I attribute that to the Gramma getting hungry when I was away and the Shrimp was milting.
So now I'm got the go ahead to set up a 135 Gallon in my main living area. I have about (10-12) weeks to plan as my home is under construction (we¡¦re adding on)¡K.with that said this is what I have so far¡K.It¡¦s a work in process so bare with me:
I've been looking at the site "Glasscages.com¨ for the tank and stand; anyone has any experience with them?
Aquarium: 135 Gal. 72 x 18 x 25 Tall
Starphire on front panel and both sides
Reef-ready addition: 2 overflow(s) with 2 holes/o.v.
4 bulkheads
Glass Tops
Oak Stand: 72 x 18 x 30 Tall
Extra side door on stand
Oak Canopy: 72 x 18
Planning on constructing a refugium/sump using the designs I've read from melevsreef.com; BTW Beautiful tanks Marc!!! Was thinking of using a old glass 55 gallon I have..
Thinking 125-150 lbs of live rock and a 4-5¨ sand bed; livestock will be pretty simple nothing to exotic. Animals that my daughters and I can add slowly to the system every other week.. All my three girls LOVE the LFS
Planning on a Protein skimmer, Calcium reactor (I have lots of CO2 parts from the Fresh water planted tanks ) power heads, and return pumps. Also planning on a 55 gallon drum reservoir in the basement for water on hand and upgrading my RO/DI system...
Lighting has me running circles in my head...I don't want the high cost of operation, and heat, of MH but want to house a Anemone in the future...Know crazy delicate corals for me; at least I say that now
suggestions would be greatly appreciated. T5 might be the way to go¡Kmight not need a chiller????Thanks for reading my long post....I'm just excited as my wife has never approved such a large Fish project. I'm planning on this whole set up to take some time. The (10-12) weeks will be just to get the main tank and stand...the rest will take more time and research. My nano took me months before I even put anything alive in it, well except rock. I do like to take my time as this tank will be in for the long haul!!!
Last edited:
