After 2 1/2 years of the most recent tank, I finally decided to upgrade. The old one was getting scratched and I was starting to get some salt on the outside of a seam (it was a used tank.)
Petco was nice enough to do the dollar a gallon which I took full advantage of. A 40g breeder (twice since I cracked the first 40 drilling for my first time) and a 20g high for the sump, a couple months and a lot of money later, and I am a happy camper. I don't really watch tv anymore, now I just listen and stare at the tank.
Am incredibly happy with the maxspect 180watt fixture, just the right amount of shimmer and pretty good coverage over the whole tank. Most of my corals have responded with increased coloration and new colors since the switch (and I'm only at 35% so far, ramping up since I was coming from t5's.) The only one I am not elated with the color of is a large colony of montipora, the orange with green polyps just looks drab and rusty brownish.
Did all the planning on this one and took my time, nice components, but we're talking Jebao budget, not Tunze budget. Did a bean animal overflow, not full coast to coast, but maybe 2/3. With the bean animal and all DC pumps, this tank is noticeably quieter than the 26g was, and the 26 had no sump. If I get around to it, I would like to replace my cutoff 5 gallon bucket top off reservoir with something a little nicer looking, but that's purely cosmetic and it's on the inside of the stand so we will see if I actually ever get around to it. Know I don't post here too frequently, but this tank has me putting some more time into the hobby again.
Petco was nice enough to do the dollar a gallon which I took full advantage of. A 40g breeder (twice since I cracked the first 40 drilling for my first time) and a 20g high for the sump, a couple months and a lot of money later, and I am a happy camper. I don't really watch tv anymore, now I just listen and stare at the tank.
Am incredibly happy with the maxspect 180watt fixture, just the right amount of shimmer and pretty good coverage over the whole tank. Most of my corals have responded with increased coloration and new colors since the switch (and I'm only at 35% so far, ramping up since I was coming from t5's.) The only one I am not elated with the color of is a large colony of montipora, the orange with green polyps just looks drab and rusty brownish.
Did all the planning on this one and took my time, nice components, but we're talking Jebao budget, not Tunze budget. Did a bean animal overflow, not full coast to coast, but maybe 2/3. With the bean animal and all DC pumps, this tank is noticeably quieter than the 26g was, and the 26 had no sump. If I get around to it, I would like to replace my cutoff 5 gallon bucket top off reservoir with something a little nicer looking, but that's purely cosmetic and it's on the inside of the stand so we will see if I actually ever get around to it. Know I don't post here too frequently, but this tank has me putting some more time into the hobby again.
