Hello all, first off I want to thank you all for your advice and reading my thread in advance. I am currently in the process of setting up my first reef tank, the tank itself is a water box clear pro 6025 (it’s a 5x2x2 about 150 gallons, the size on waterbox’s website recently changed) with a custom built 75 gallon sump which is about 50 gallons filled.
As some of you might have read in past threads of mine; I had a lot of problems receiving my display tank. At first the tank was delayed a few weeks due to covid, it took about 9 weeks in total for the tank to arrive. But once the tank finally arrived the crate was dropped about 1-2 feet when it was being lowered from the truck. Luckily the tank turned out to be in perfect condition (tank arrived with no visible damage and I did a multi day leak test) waterbox customer support was very helpful through this experience.
After solving all the tank issues my dad and I started working on the stand, which had to be custom built due to how uneven my floors are. My dad over engineered the stand so it took a while to complete; but this also removed the need for a center brace giving me more access to sump and area under the tank.
We then drilled the tank for a exotic marine systems 20 inch overflow and two 3/4 inch returns. In hindsight I wish I went with 1 inch. But hindsight is always 20/20. Drilling tanks is surprisingly easy to do.
After getting the tank drilled we moved both the tank and the stand into the house. For anyone planning to move a tank or stand in the future, I heavily recommend getting suction cups and those carpet sliders. They are extremely helpful, I am still using the sliders for moving water barrels and other heavy items.
After moving the tank and stand inside we picked up an old 75 gallon from my grandparents. Which we resealed the tank and cut baffles for it (cutting glass is a pain but doable (would have had the store do it but they were two weeks out)). It is a fairly simple sump design with 2 4” filter socks, a protein skimmer and possibly a reactor chamber in the future, a 25 gallon fuge, a bubble trap, and a return chamber.
Since getting everything moved in the house we have started plumbing the tank. My dad is currently working on that while I am aqua scaping. Im kinda copying Chris Kriens scape.
For the equipment I am using on the build here is the list.
Flow:
2 ai Nero 5s
1 maxspect gyre (still trying to decide which version)
Return pump:
Current Eflux 1900
Protein skimmer:
Eshopps x-160 (on smaller side but fuge will hopefully make up for it)
Lighting:
5 ai prime 16 HD’s with mounting arm
Fuge light:
Cf grow 200 watt
“Controller:”
Inkbird temp controller
2 6 plug tp links
Salt:
Red Sea (haven’t decided between coral pro vs the normal) have another brand left over from a freind which I’m going to use cycling
Ato:
Tunze osmolator 3155
Everything else is fairly trivial to add
Fish list:
1x firefish
1x leopard wrasse
1x (some other sort of wrasse so many great options to choose from possibly possum)
1x hawk fish of some sort
1x powder blue tang
1x yellow tang
2x royal gramma pair
1x ocellaris clownfish
1x diamond goby (maybe blue spotted )
1x orange spotted filefish (when colony’s start to form)
Then the rest will be many different species of anthias probably around 12 and maybe a fish I find that I like and will research before adding at my lfs.
Questions, I have a few I would like answers to if any of you have time. With many more to come.
1. What size ato container should I design to last a week, I keep reading different suggestions and sizes?
2. Anyone have suggestions for a reasonably priced 5 or more stage rodi?
3. I am planning to add copepods to my system when after cycling is a good time to do so?
4. Any suggestions for good cuc members?
5. I know there are a few articles on this but I could never find a good awnser, when should you add cheato?
6. Should you run lights while cycling?
7. What are your thoughts on frozen food auto feeders?
8. Why is this hobby so expensive and addictive?
Many more updates and questions for the the build to come in the future. Photos coming in a few hours hopefully.
As some of you might have read in past threads of mine; I had a lot of problems receiving my display tank. At first the tank was delayed a few weeks due to covid, it took about 9 weeks in total for the tank to arrive. But once the tank finally arrived the crate was dropped about 1-2 feet when it was being lowered from the truck. Luckily the tank turned out to be in perfect condition (tank arrived with no visible damage and I did a multi day leak test) waterbox customer support was very helpful through this experience.
After solving all the tank issues my dad and I started working on the stand, which had to be custom built due to how uneven my floors are. My dad over engineered the stand so it took a while to complete; but this also removed the need for a center brace giving me more access to sump and area under the tank.
We then drilled the tank for a exotic marine systems 20 inch overflow and two 3/4 inch returns. In hindsight I wish I went with 1 inch. But hindsight is always 20/20. Drilling tanks is surprisingly easy to do.
After getting the tank drilled we moved both the tank and the stand into the house. For anyone planning to move a tank or stand in the future, I heavily recommend getting suction cups and those carpet sliders. They are extremely helpful, I am still using the sliders for moving water barrels and other heavy items.
After moving the tank and stand inside we picked up an old 75 gallon from my grandparents. Which we resealed the tank and cut baffles for it (cutting glass is a pain but doable (would have had the store do it but they were two weeks out)). It is a fairly simple sump design with 2 4” filter socks, a protein skimmer and possibly a reactor chamber in the future, a 25 gallon fuge, a bubble trap, and a return chamber.
Since getting everything moved in the house we have started plumbing the tank. My dad is currently working on that while I am aqua scaping. Im kinda copying Chris Kriens scape.
For the equipment I am using on the build here is the list.
Flow:
2 ai Nero 5s
1 maxspect gyre (still trying to decide which version)
Return pump:
Current Eflux 1900
Protein skimmer:
Eshopps x-160 (on smaller side but fuge will hopefully make up for it)
Lighting:
5 ai prime 16 HD’s with mounting arm
Fuge light:
Cf grow 200 watt
“Controller:”
Inkbird temp controller
2 6 plug tp links
Salt:
Red Sea (haven’t decided between coral pro vs the normal) have another brand left over from a freind which I’m going to use cycling
Ato:
Tunze osmolator 3155
Everything else is fairly trivial to add
Fish list:
1x firefish
1x leopard wrasse
1x (some other sort of wrasse so many great options to choose from possibly possum)
1x hawk fish of some sort
1x powder blue tang
1x yellow tang
2x royal gramma pair
1x ocellaris clownfish
1x diamond goby (maybe blue spotted )
1x orange spotted filefish (when colony’s start to form)
Then the rest will be many different species of anthias probably around 12 and maybe a fish I find that I like and will research before adding at my lfs.
Questions, I have a few I would like answers to if any of you have time. With many more to come.
1. What size ato container should I design to last a week, I keep reading different suggestions and sizes?
2. Anyone have suggestions for a reasonably priced 5 or more stage rodi?
3. I am planning to add copepods to my system when after cycling is a good time to do so?
4. Any suggestions for good cuc members?
5. I know there are a few articles on this but I could never find a good awnser, when should you add cheato?
6. Should you run lights while cycling?
7. What are your thoughts on frozen food auto feeders?
8. Why is this hobby so expensive and addictive?
Many more updates and questions for the the build to come in the future. Photos coming in a few hours hopefully.
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