H20eng
New Member
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2026
- Messages
- 6
- Reaction score
- 31
- Location
- Cocoa Beach
- What state or country do you live in
- Florida
I was pretty heavily into reefing years ago and had several tanks from the mid 90's until around 2010 — a 90, 120 and eventually a 200 gallon system. I got out of the hobby around 2010 due to being on the road to much with work and kids taking all my $$. Back in February my wife convinced me to pick up a 180 gallon reef and I went straight off the deep end again.
The tank came with a pretty established system, a good number of L & XL fish and lots of RBTA's. And did those multiple over the past 6 months! I pulled 10 or so several months ago plus another 60 week before last. Yes, 60! I knew there were a lot in there, but I didn’t realize how many had split until I started pulling them. I kept 8 of the choice RBTA's for the clown's "garden", 7 or 8 more on a rock that's going in the frag tank. I kept one of the black widows that's splitting and also did a trade with TSA in Orlando for a Holy Grail nem. I've attached a couple before and after pics, lol.
Since getting the tank I’ve upgraded all of the equipment. I’m running Hydros controls, 3 ea MP40s for flow, Regal 200 skimmer, VarioS-8 return pump and 5 AI Blades (Glow & Grow) to get the tank where I want it for SPS and LPS. Nitrates have been crazy high from day 1. Former owner did a couple of water changes a year so I'm dealing with it leaching from the rock. It's getting there, about to replace about 1/3 of the rock after the nem cull though.
Given the amount of water changes I've been doing I built out a dedicated RO/DI mixing station. I got tired of dealing with water changes the hard way. I’m normally doing around 60 gallons at a time, so having 2 ea 65 gal storage tanks, mixing / transfer pump and everything plumbed together has made life so much easier. Unroll a couple of hoses, flip a switch for the pump and I'm good to go. I did initially overlook a minor detail. I live in Cocoa Beach, the garage gets HOT down here. Temp in storage tanks was running in the high 90's. I picked up and plumbed in a used chiller for it a few weeks ago; works like a champ.
Now I’m putting together a separate frag/grow-out tank. The plan is a mix of SPS, higher-end zoas, chalices and a few other softies — mainly things that have good color, decent growth and are worth propagating rather than just filling racks with random frags.
It’s funny how much has changed in the hobby since I got out. LED's were just coming on the scene but still on the fringe and MH's & PC's were still the main stay. Most larger tanks were power monsters with our power meters just spinning, lol. Gone are the days of my 400w MH ballasts and bulb changes every 7-8 months, lol. And DC pumps... So anyway, I'm back. I lost my old R2R log in so I'm starting a new account with a new tank...
The tank came with a pretty established system, a good number of L & XL fish and lots of RBTA's. And did those multiple over the past 6 months! I pulled 10 or so several months ago plus another 60 week before last. Yes, 60! I knew there were a lot in there, but I didn’t realize how many had split until I started pulling them. I kept 8 of the choice RBTA's for the clown's "garden", 7 or 8 more on a rock that's going in the frag tank. I kept one of the black widows that's splitting and also did a trade with TSA in Orlando for a Holy Grail nem. I've attached a couple before and after pics, lol.
Since getting the tank I’ve upgraded all of the equipment. I’m running Hydros controls, 3 ea MP40s for flow, Regal 200 skimmer, VarioS-8 return pump and 5 AI Blades (Glow & Grow) to get the tank where I want it for SPS and LPS. Nitrates have been crazy high from day 1. Former owner did a couple of water changes a year so I'm dealing with it leaching from the rock. It's getting there, about to replace about 1/3 of the rock after the nem cull though.
Given the amount of water changes I've been doing I built out a dedicated RO/DI mixing station. I got tired of dealing with water changes the hard way. I’m normally doing around 60 gallons at a time, so having 2 ea 65 gal storage tanks, mixing / transfer pump and everything plumbed together has made life so much easier. Unroll a couple of hoses, flip a switch for the pump and I'm good to go. I did initially overlook a minor detail. I live in Cocoa Beach, the garage gets HOT down here. Temp in storage tanks was running in the high 90's. I picked up and plumbed in a used chiller for it a few weeks ago; works like a champ.
Now I’m putting together a separate frag/grow-out tank. The plan is a mix of SPS, higher-end zoas, chalices and a few other softies — mainly things that have good color, decent growth and are worth propagating rather than just filling racks with random frags.
It’s funny how much has changed in the hobby since I got out. LED's were just coming on the scene but still on the fringe and MH's & PC's were still the main stay. Most larger tanks were power monsters with our power meters just spinning, lol. Gone are the days of my 400w MH ballasts and bulb changes every 7-8 months, lol. And DC pumps... So anyway, I'm back. I lost my old R2R log in so I'm starting a new account with a new tank...
