build thread

Drilled holes in the bottom of display tank. will be adding two at the top back panel for over flow. using magnetic check valves to prevent back flow just incase return pump ever fail. still working out the sump area as it maybe larger than 40 gal. refugium it self will be 10/20 gallon,: bio...

About 15 months ago, I picked up a used Red Sea Reefer 625 G2 complete system for $2,000. It included the tank, stand, protein skimmer, ReefMat, (2) ReefWaves, Red Sea ATO, 4-part dosing system, circulation pump, heater, custom mesh lid, and (2) Red Sea LED lights. Basically an entire running...

ordered my 90x30x20” from acrylic habits. I have a 90x30x12” from them. New tank is closed with center island overflow.

So after a while out of the hobby I have returned with more money to throw down the drain and slightly higher ambitions. I have a 25 gallon water box peninsula tank with a radon xr30 on it. I plan on having a mixed reef and my slightly higher ambitions are for it to be sps dominate. I didn’t...

Hi everyone! I’m new to reef keeping, previously keeping fresh water tanks, and I thought it would be fun to create a build thread for my first reef tank - a 200L fresh water to saltwater conversion project! It’s going to be a slow and steady conversion, building it up around work and family and...

So about 1.5 years ago I dipped my toe into the reef aquarium hobby with a 20 gallon Nano tank and have been hooked. I wanted to upgrade a lot sooner but circumstances in life didn't line up until this past weekend when I pulled the trigger on ordering a Waterbox Marine X 110.4 system which...

September 7, 2026 Update: First Corals are in the tank: -2 Photosynthetic Gorgonians -A few Ricordea Florida -Blue Kenya Tree -Toadstool Leather -Bubble Tip Anemone Livestock (Added): -Two neon gobies. Ordered from Dr. Reef and he sent two (one free). So, I'm trying two of them out. They are...

Hey everyone! I've been around Reef2Reef for a while but finally decided it was time to start documenting what will probably be my biggest reefing project yet. My girlfriend and I are currently building our first home in Michigan, and the entire unfinished basement has unofficially become my...

I’m documenting the transformation of a 900 square foot unfinished basement into a reefer's dream with plans for a 537-gallon fish-focused main display tank, hundreds of gallons of quarantine systems, a 200-gallon mixed reef, and all the equipment required to support it. Current Progress...

It’s time to start our mixed 120 gallon reef thread! My wife and I got into the hobby in about February of this year. We got hooked on reef systems after binge watching the show “Tanked” (cliche I know). But so far we love it. We recently found a steal on marketplace for a 120 gallon Aqueon...

Hey, i’m new to reefing, just bought my first tank (aqua one nano reef 80). I currently have a small red ribbon macroalgae and a 1 inch rhodactis mushroom frag from a friend. I used caribsea liferock and caribsea arag alive special grade live reef sand and red sea coral pro salt. It’s been...

Figured since I’ve spent so much time researching & looking at builds here it was my turn to contribute now that I’ve finally pulled the trigger! I’ve had high tech freshwater tanks for about 3 years now & it’s finally time to take the leap into salt. I ordered a Waterbox 20G cube six weeks ago...

Hi everyone, I’ve been in and out of the hobby since 2019. Last September we had our daughter, which was followed by a move that ended up with me selling my previous tank. My daughter is 8 months old now and already loves to watch the fish at my in-law’s house, so of course I told my wife we had...

Hey all Decided to jump feet first in to becoming a Saltwater Mixed Reef Aquarium with the following kit. Red Sea Reefer 250 G2+ Tank and Cabinet ReefRun G2 6000 ReefMat 250 Reefer Skimmer DC 2x ReefWave 25 2xReefLED 90 2 x 100w heaters controlled by InkBird ATO & reservoir Some Real Reef Rock...

Hello everyone, My tank is coming into its 4th year running, wanted to post a run down of my setup. Its a 800 Gallon Acrylic Tank, 200 Gallon Sump. Breakdown of equipment (2x) Kessil A500X LED lights Aqua Ultraviolet Classic 80W UV Sterilizer Reef Octopus Regal 300-S Protein Skimmer...

Greeting everyone, So after 5 years away from hobby and a few moves between the countries I decided to come back and pulled trigger on UNS R150, because I liked how everything is made, in particularly: - 45 degree edges - overflow intake not only from surface, but from the bottom as well -...

Hey y’all, I am looking to upgrade my current set up from a Redsea 300 G2. I am looking for a 4ft tank and want to hear what everyone’s take is on the most durable/best tank on the market. I am currently looking at brands like Redsea S Series, Waterbox, and glass cages. Would love some...

So I acquired this Fluval flex from a hobbyist who just wanted it out of the way. When I picked it up the tank was covered in hair algae and had 1 piece of live rock, a blue damselfish, and misc small inverts. I cleaned the tank, removed all the hair algae I could during the move, threw two...

So, tank number three is an 8 gallon AIO that I picked up used at the LFS. Current equipment includes stock pump, generic ATO switch and fountain pump, a generic heater, and a clip on NIcrew I had laying around. The sand was from an existing aquarium that I had in a bucket with water, and the...

Hey R2R — Long time no see. I kept a reef about 15 years ago and life got busy. A few weeks back I decided it was time to come back to the hobby — and this time I wanted to do it right. Not just throw fish and coral in a box and hope for the best. I wanted to actually understand what I was...

I am starting a new tank build to replace my aging 30 gallon tank. It was my very first tank, which currently houses 30 bubble tip anemones. This new tank was given to me because it did not fit where the previous owner wanted it. It is an 18" cube with a frame-less top and low iron glass. So...

On Jan 1 I started this little nano build to get back into the hobby. Tank - UNS 30a 7.5 gal Finished the cycle on January 8 and added a small clownfish. Didn’t turn on the lights until January 27th when I added my first corals. So far there’s GSP on the back wall, 4 zoa frags, cyphastrea and...

Hey everyone !! Starting my new reef build and wanted to document everything from cycle to full blown mixed reef. This will be a carefully planned mixed reef lagoon with strong flow, clean equipment layout, and room to grow Tank: Innovative Marine 25 Lagoon Dimensions: ~24” x 20” x 11.8”...

Hi everyone—John here. Figured I’d document this new build since it’s been a while since I’ve set up a tank. I’m 51, married, with four kids (20, 17, and 7-year-old twins—yes, life is busy and no apparently I'm not planning to ever retire LOL). I’m an engineer in SE Michigan and a lifelong tech...

Hey everyone! Been in the hobby since 2010 and had a lot of tanks, but life has it now where I want to do a nano. I've had a lot of success with Innovative Marine AIOs in the past and I've been eyeing this 25g lagoon for a while now. After spending a couple month fighting off the pull to go...