So long time member/reader first time poster, and what better time to start posting than for my new upgrade.
I figured I would start this thread to chronicle my build more for a diary for myself than anything. A bit about my tank experiences:
I started out with fresh water tanks about 15 years ago eventually upgrading to a 30g piranha tank for 5 to 8 years when i started a 30g saltwater tank for something better to look at. I started out with a FOWLR tank with a diy sump/refugium. I probably had the tank operational for about 3 years before going off to college, taking a break from fish for about 3 years.
Then i saw the new nano biocubes and figured what better way to start up a "reef" type tank than with the jbj28 gallon. I did my research with it, started it up with a TB saltwater live rock/sand package then started taking shortcuts left and right. Plans of corals never happened. Started slacking on waterchanges, fish feeding and using just plain tap water after about 6 months. Well after getting married and moving into my new house, i got the itch to do things right and set up a bigger aquarium and actually take the time and proceed with trying my hand at corals. It started with my 1st waterchange in my still going slacker jbj28 in 18 MONTHS!!!! sure i topped the tank off, but didn't ever mess with the whole waterchange deal. Amazingly my cheapo walmart test strips at the time before the waterchange were suprisingly mediocre nothing out of whack and hadnt had a fish death in the whole 18 months (had 2 clowns and some sort of goby or blenny that came with the TB rock as well) .
I got a new cleanup crew, had a week long fight with a 5" gorilla crab that got ahold of some of my new cleanup crew, got the 4" mantis shrimp out, got a BTA for my clown pair that survived all my lack of care (must have been eating the pods that are crawling everywhere!!!!), got a lawnmower blenny, and last but not least got a yellow tang... I know, NOT a fish ment for a 28g cube, but i had other ulterior motives.... Convincing my wife i needed a bigger tank so the poor tang could have more room to swim!!! The plan worked swimmingly and now mr yellowtang will have the rightful home with friends for less than a month of hardship in the 28g!!
So now, I am in the process of starting my 150g upgrade!! I loved the life on the TB Saltwater rock (even found a octopus with my 28g rock was very unique though it only lived for a few weeks), but this time I want to be in control of what is in my tank and avoid some of the unwanted pests.I also want to follow traditional knowledge for responsible reefs. Sure i like new thinking and willing to try new stuff, but this time I'm not planning on cutting any corners. I started off and bought a BRS 6 stage ro/di system. Now for my equipment list:
Tank: Truvu 5ftx2ftx2ft 150g Reef Ready acrylic aquarium (first acrylic tank)
Stand: Custom build using the DIY plans found on the forums and possibly custom canopy
Lighting:4 pendants of AI sol blue LEDs (debating on changing out lenses or not) not sure if 5th pendant is needed or not figured i could always add later.
Sump: ADHI 45 Refugium Filter (nicely constructed in my opinion)
Skimmer: AquaEuroUSA classic 250 (first ever skimmer will be a learning experience) havent looked up to see if theres any reccommended DIY mods for it
Reactors: BRS jumbo carbon reactor at first, debating on the GFO reactor still and possibly starting out with dosing kalk with an ato
pump: starting off with a mag 18 in sump, planning on upgrading/ adding a external pump and keeping the mag18 for accessories/backup
flow: one vortech mp60es will add another shortly upon startup
Rock/sand: got 100lbs of BRS reefsaver rock and 100lbs of caribsea reef special grade planning on using some sort of DIY foam rockwork or might getout the hammer and chisel and hacksaw and epoxy the rockwork.
Still deciding on a controller as i have never used one before
Will also have another frag/ QT tank (possibly the jbj28 after its cleaned)plumbed into the system giving me a bit over 200g total water volume
First ideas were to plumb in a seahorse tank to the reef, but after doing research seahorses prefer cooler temperatures than most reef systems for optimal health. (see traditional responsible thinking!!!!) now if i can just keep that train of thought through the whole process.
I've got everything listed so far minus the tank as it is still a couple weeks out. Figured this would give me time to get everything organized and ready beforehand and planned out.
In the future I will post pics, but i figured everyones seen or can find the equipment online so no point, ill wait till something is put together.
I figured I would start this thread to chronicle my build more for a diary for myself than anything. A bit about my tank experiences:
I started out with fresh water tanks about 15 years ago eventually upgrading to a 30g piranha tank for 5 to 8 years when i started a 30g saltwater tank for something better to look at. I started out with a FOWLR tank with a diy sump/refugium. I probably had the tank operational for about 3 years before going off to college, taking a break from fish for about 3 years.
Then i saw the new nano biocubes and figured what better way to start up a "reef" type tank than with the jbj28 gallon. I did my research with it, started it up with a TB saltwater live rock/sand package then started taking shortcuts left and right. Plans of corals never happened. Started slacking on waterchanges, fish feeding and using just plain tap water after about 6 months. Well after getting married and moving into my new house, i got the itch to do things right and set up a bigger aquarium and actually take the time and proceed with trying my hand at corals. It started with my 1st waterchange in my still going slacker jbj28 in 18 MONTHS!!!! sure i topped the tank off, but didn't ever mess with the whole waterchange deal. Amazingly my cheapo walmart test strips at the time before the waterchange were suprisingly mediocre nothing out of whack and hadnt had a fish death in the whole 18 months (had 2 clowns and some sort of goby or blenny that came with the TB rock as well) .
I got a new cleanup crew, had a week long fight with a 5" gorilla crab that got ahold of some of my new cleanup crew, got the 4" mantis shrimp out, got a BTA for my clown pair that survived all my lack of care (must have been eating the pods that are crawling everywhere!!!!), got a lawnmower blenny, and last but not least got a yellow tang... I know, NOT a fish ment for a 28g cube, but i had other ulterior motives.... Convincing my wife i needed a bigger tank so the poor tang could have more room to swim!!! The plan worked swimmingly and now mr yellowtang will have the rightful home with friends for less than a month of hardship in the 28g!!
So now, I am in the process of starting my 150g upgrade!! I loved the life on the TB Saltwater rock (even found a octopus with my 28g rock was very unique though it only lived for a few weeks), but this time I want to be in control of what is in my tank and avoid some of the unwanted pests.I also want to follow traditional knowledge for responsible reefs. Sure i like new thinking and willing to try new stuff, but this time I'm not planning on cutting any corners. I started off and bought a BRS 6 stage ro/di system. Now for my equipment list:
Tank: Truvu 5ftx2ftx2ft 150g Reef Ready acrylic aquarium (first acrylic tank)
Stand: Custom build using the DIY plans found on the forums and possibly custom canopy
Lighting:4 pendants of AI sol blue LEDs (debating on changing out lenses or not) not sure if 5th pendant is needed or not figured i could always add later.
Sump: ADHI 45 Refugium Filter (nicely constructed in my opinion)
Skimmer: AquaEuroUSA classic 250 (first ever skimmer will be a learning experience) havent looked up to see if theres any reccommended DIY mods for it
Reactors: BRS jumbo carbon reactor at first, debating on the GFO reactor still and possibly starting out with dosing kalk with an ato
pump: starting off with a mag 18 in sump, planning on upgrading/ adding a external pump and keeping the mag18 for accessories/backup
flow: one vortech mp60es will add another shortly upon startup
Rock/sand: got 100lbs of BRS reefsaver rock and 100lbs of caribsea reef special grade planning on using some sort of DIY foam rockwork or might getout the hammer and chisel and hacksaw and epoxy the rockwork.
Still deciding on a controller as i have never used one before
Will also have another frag/ QT tank (possibly the jbj28 after its cleaned)plumbed into the system giving me a bit over 200g total water volume
First ideas were to plumb in a seahorse tank to the reef, but after doing research seahorses prefer cooler temperatures than most reef systems for optimal health. (see traditional responsible thinking!!!!) now if i can just keep that train of thought through the whole process.
I've got everything listed so far minus the tank as it is still a couple weeks out. Figured this would give me time to get everything organized and ready beforehand and planned out.
In the future I will post pics, but i figured everyones seen or can find the equipment online so no point, ill wait till something is put together.
