Long-time listener, first-time poster. After five years with a 60-gallon cube and a strong desire for tangs, I finally embarked on my dream build.
I meant to post this a long time ago, so I had to look through my photos to remind myself of the timeline. I purchased the tank after selling my home and buying a new house with my girlfriend in January 2023. I slowly acquired new equipment and finalized the rockscape while still running the cube.
In July, we finally set up the new tank. Everything was going well until December 2023 when I noticed that one of the seals had formed an air pocket. Stress set in as I was preparing to open my first business the following February, and I had just reached the point of adding my dream livestock and coral.
The crew at SCA made the process very easy and sent me a new tank since I was still under warranty. My dear friend, who runs a local aquarium maintenance service, helped me with a quick NASCAR-style breakdown and setup, making it feel like nothing had happened.
This brings me to today: I took advantage of the recent sales on R2R to finally get some coral. For livestock, I’m pretty set, except for a type of shoaling fish. Do you have any suggestions for Anthias or Chromis?
These photos show one brand new AI light alongside my old equipment; I have since upgraded to two new, uniform lights. I also included a photo of my cube with a makeshift light during the holding phase.
Tank Specs:

I meant to post this a long time ago, so I had to look through my photos to remind myself of the timeline. I purchased the tank after selling my home and buying a new house with my girlfriend in January 2023. I slowly acquired new equipment and finalized the rockscape while still running the cube.
In July, we finally set up the new tank. Everything was going well until December 2023 when I noticed that one of the seals had formed an air pocket. Stress set in as I was preparing to open my first business the following February, and I had just reached the point of adding my dream livestock and coral.
The crew at SCA made the process very easy and sent me a new tank since I was still under warranty. My dear friend, who runs a local aquarium maintenance service, helped me with a quick NASCAR-style breakdown and setup, making it feel like nothing had happened.
This brings me to today: I took advantage of the recent sales on R2R to finally get some coral. For livestock, I’m pretty set, except for a type of shoaling fish. Do you have any suggestions for Anthias or Chromis?
These photos show one brand new AI light alongside my old equipment; I have since upgraded to two new, uniform lights. I also included a photo of my cube with a makeshift light during the holding phase.
Tank Specs:
- 150 Gallon Peninsula SCA EuroBrace
- (2) AI Hydra 32 HD
- FIJI 36 Sump
- (2) Nero 5 Pumps
- (1) MP10 Pump
- Big Green Machine UV Sterilizer
- Reef Octopus 110 INT Skimmer (need to upgrade)
- Reef Octopus Varios 6 Return Pump
- Custom-made stand (built and finished by myself)
- (2) ORA Storm Clownfish pair (almost had them for five years in February!)
- (1) Purple Tang
- (1) Yellow Tang
- (1) Benghai Cardinal
- (1) Mystery Wrasse
- (1) Neon Dottyback
- (1) Wheeler Shrimp Goby and Pistol Shrimp














