Figured I’ll start a thread so I can get some answers since I lerk around here all day and never post anything. Been out of the scene for about 15 years. Had some 55 gallon saltwater tanks back then nothing really fancy and spendy though. I’ve always wanted a big reef tank and now that me and family are all cozy in the house figured I would start a dream of mine. Plus my wife and kids love watching fish in tanks.
So here’s the good stuff.
Found a 180 glass tank on Craigslist. Silicone not in great shape but glass was all good. I tore down the tank and re silicone everything. Had no bracing so I did euro style and made a top and bottom cover that will rest on stand and will hold up canopy. Overflow on the back with 4 holes for drains and then 2 holes on back wall for returns. 1 big hole in the middle back wall for circulation pump drain with two on the bottom for return for circulation pump.
I built the stand from 1.5” tube stock and made the covers to hide everything. Side one is hindged and hold apex and all electronics. Front panel is held on by magnets so i can remove it and use as a shield from kids/dogs.
75 gallon sump I put buffles in with a skimmer section then bubble trap and return. 2 drains from overflow feed the skimmer section bean animal style. 3rd drain being a emergency drain that will splash water down into return section and will be loud. Refugium on other side of return that is fed from overflows 4th drain.
Octopus 202-s skimmer with 8” cup
BRS dual reactor with pump which is located in return section.
200lbs of nature’s ocean rock from amazon. Dry dead man made rock. Rubble and small pieces went in Refugium
200lbs of caribsea special grade live sand. 2” in DT and 4” in Refugium
Jebao 8000 one for return running at 75% and one for circulation pump running at 100% for now
Jebao 40s Wavemaker one on each side of back wall crossing paths over the middle of front glass. Controlled from apex. Have them on opposite wave patterns.
Apex programmer with ATO. Also will me using PMUP to do water changes as behind tank is laundry room with 50 gals of saltwater storage. Have 16 gallon slim trash can in the stand for top off storage.
BRS 4 stage 200gpd rodi filter
Pedy titanium 300w heaters.
Cheap LED lights for now will be going coral lights prob aqua mars and making them dimmer able from apex.
Boring stuff ......
I finished the tank stand and sump and made sure it all held water. Pumps were mocked up and some plumbing done. After I made sure it held water I painted the back of the glass black and put it in its place. Cleaned and put rock where i liked and filled with rodi water. Mix in my instant ocean salt and had power heads, pumps, empty reactors, and skimmer running. Left it overnight to make sure everything settled. After everything was good to go I added sand using pvc tube and funnel did not help with cloudy water. Took a good day for sand to settle. Water set for 86 degrees and started adding ace ammonia. Went to 5ppm and checked it everyday. When I saw ammonia drop below 1ppm I would put it back up to 3-4 ppm. Took about 1 week then tank could process 4 ppm ammonia in 12 hrs. Now I add 1-2 ppm ammonia a day one to keep bacteria alive and two to check to see how fast the tank can process nitrite. This is where I am now as the tank can process off the chart ARI test chart nitrite to 0 ppm I’m 24hrs. Trying to get it to process 1-2 ppm ammonia to 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite in 12 hrs then I’ll have to deal with nitrate problem. Which I’ll be doing a large water change 50-75% and also adding cheato and give tank a week or so then another water change to get nitrate down below 10ppm.
Now the questions.
After tanks bacteria and water is where I want I’ll be adding CUC which I haven’t nailed down what I want yet. John from reefcleaners gave me some ideas. I like everything. Stars. Snails. Crabs. Cucumbers. Shrimp. The works I want a little of everything and also never owning coral before I don’t know what kind I like really. Only LFS around me is petco and Petsmart. There are a couple fish stores but when I finally caught them when they are open and walked in I wouldn’t let any of my kids walking in there. They were bad. So online ordering is why I’ll have to do. As for fish really just want family tank. All friendly community fish. Daughter really wants dory and Nemo. Other then that just been looking at your guys tanks and looking up fish. Really anything colorful and peaceful. I’m more about the stuff that makes my life easier. Gotta love those little guys. Pistol shrimp and watchman seem like they are fun to watch. So......
What would be a good starter CUC?
Anyone wanna help me with stocking list with stocking order?
What are your guys favorite coral and why? (Give me something to research as I wasn’t planning on adding coral till later cause I’m still learning)
Sorry so long but I’ve read some of your guys and love hear as much details as possible. Helped me and maybe this will help someone.
Thanks
So here’s the good stuff.
Found a 180 glass tank on Craigslist. Silicone not in great shape but glass was all good. I tore down the tank and re silicone everything. Had no bracing so I did euro style and made a top and bottom cover that will rest on stand and will hold up canopy. Overflow on the back with 4 holes for drains and then 2 holes on back wall for returns. 1 big hole in the middle back wall for circulation pump drain with two on the bottom for return for circulation pump.
I built the stand from 1.5” tube stock and made the covers to hide everything. Side one is hindged and hold apex and all electronics. Front panel is held on by magnets so i can remove it and use as a shield from kids/dogs.
75 gallon sump I put buffles in with a skimmer section then bubble trap and return. 2 drains from overflow feed the skimmer section bean animal style. 3rd drain being a emergency drain that will splash water down into return section and will be loud. Refugium on other side of return that is fed from overflows 4th drain.
Octopus 202-s skimmer with 8” cup
BRS dual reactor with pump which is located in return section.
200lbs of nature’s ocean rock from amazon. Dry dead man made rock. Rubble and small pieces went in Refugium
200lbs of caribsea special grade live sand. 2” in DT and 4” in Refugium
Jebao 8000 one for return running at 75% and one for circulation pump running at 100% for now
Jebao 40s Wavemaker one on each side of back wall crossing paths over the middle of front glass. Controlled from apex. Have them on opposite wave patterns.
Apex programmer with ATO. Also will me using PMUP to do water changes as behind tank is laundry room with 50 gals of saltwater storage. Have 16 gallon slim trash can in the stand for top off storage.
BRS 4 stage 200gpd rodi filter
Pedy titanium 300w heaters.
Cheap LED lights for now will be going coral lights prob aqua mars and making them dimmer able from apex.
Boring stuff ......
I finished the tank stand and sump and made sure it all held water. Pumps were mocked up and some plumbing done. After I made sure it held water I painted the back of the glass black and put it in its place. Cleaned and put rock where i liked and filled with rodi water. Mix in my instant ocean salt and had power heads, pumps, empty reactors, and skimmer running. Left it overnight to make sure everything settled. After everything was good to go I added sand using pvc tube and funnel did not help with cloudy water. Took a good day for sand to settle. Water set for 86 degrees and started adding ace ammonia. Went to 5ppm and checked it everyday. When I saw ammonia drop below 1ppm I would put it back up to 3-4 ppm. Took about 1 week then tank could process 4 ppm ammonia in 12 hrs. Now I add 1-2 ppm ammonia a day one to keep bacteria alive and two to check to see how fast the tank can process nitrite. This is where I am now as the tank can process off the chart ARI test chart nitrite to 0 ppm I’m 24hrs. Trying to get it to process 1-2 ppm ammonia to 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite in 12 hrs then I’ll have to deal with nitrate problem. Which I’ll be doing a large water change 50-75% and also adding cheato and give tank a week or so then another water change to get nitrate down below 10ppm.
Now the questions.
After tanks bacteria and water is where I want I’ll be adding CUC which I haven’t nailed down what I want yet. John from reefcleaners gave me some ideas. I like everything. Stars. Snails. Crabs. Cucumbers. Shrimp. The works I want a little of everything and also never owning coral before I don’t know what kind I like really. Only LFS around me is petco and Petsmart. There are a couple fish stores but when I finally caught them when they are open and walked in I wouldn’t let any of my kids walking in there. They were bad. So online ordering is why I’ll have to do. As for fish really just want family tank. All friendly community fish. Daughter really wants dory and Nemo. Other then that just been looking at your guys tanks and looking up fish. Really anything colorful and peaceful. I’m more about the stuff that makes my life easier. Gotta love those little guys. Pistol shrimp and watchman seem like they are fun to watch. So......
What would be a good starter CUC?
Anyone wanna help me with stocking list with stocking order?
What are your guys favorite coral and why? (Give me something to research as I wasn’t planning on adding coral till later cause I’m still learning)
Sorry so long but I’ve read some of your guys and love hear as much details as possible. Helped me and maybe this will help someone.
Thanks
