Hello All,
I have had my 225 DSA mixed reef for about 6 years. I went through the usual up's and down's. I had it stable and about three years ago, I looked at it and wanted to redo the rock work. I had a lot of it just clumped together corals all over, but I wanted to open it up. I wanted to see my fish out in the open swimming more. I love seeing the fish as much as the coral. Another reason for wanting to redo the rock work was Vermetid Snails.
They were building up so fast. I tried cutting them out and putting purple putty over a lot of the rock. That did not help. So redoing the rock work, more preventive on them instead of reactionary ( cutting back population sooner, bumblebee snails, etc.). Then we hit a rough point in the world. I kept putting off the rebuild during this time with uncertainity of what was going to happen etc. About a year ago, I started the plan over again and collecting new equipment and rock.
With all that said here is my current build with all equipment I have collected:
Lighting- 3 Neptune Sky Lights
Return- Vectra L2
Flow- 2 MP60's and 2 MP40's
Multiple boxes of Caribsea LifeRock (Trees and Islands)
APEX 2016 w/ 2 EB832's, break out box, ATK, PTK, 23"LLS and 15" LLS
Reef Octopus Elite 200 Int
Avast Skimmate Locker
Trigger 39 Platinum sump with V2 motor
2 BRS 300 Watt heaters
Neptune Grow Light
Fish List:
Achilles Tang
Gem Tang
Purple Tang
Yellow Tang
Convict Tang
Lieutenant Tang
Vlamingi Tang
Soon to be incoming:
Pair of clowns
Flame Hawk
Longnose Hawk
Mystery Wrasse
Eventually:
Anthias or other smaller "schooling" fish group
I had the rock cycling in a 45 Gallon Husky tote for 2 months completely dark with the lid on. I did put the fish in a holding tank and I am slowly bring them over. I got the tank up and running 2 weeks ago and have put the Achilles, Gem, and Convict in. I plan on getting the Purple and Yellow in this weekend. I'm just taking it easy, monitoring the ammonia levels as I do it.
The tank is bare bottom. I used black textured ABS silicone to the bottom of the tank. I just need to clean up underneath and run all the sensors through the proper routes. Then it will be waiting time until I start to add corals. I will work on posting pics soon. I got carried away and forgot to take pics as I was working on it. I will need to go through my gallery to see.
I have had my 225 DSA mixed reef for about 6 years. I went through the usual up's and down's. I had it stable and about three years ago, I looked at it and wanted to redo the rock work. I had a lot of it just clumped together corals all over, but I wanted to open it up. I wanted to see my fish out in the open swimming more. I love seeing the fish as much as the coral. Another reason for wanting to redo the rock work was Vermetid Snails.
They were building up so fast. I tried cutting them out and putting purple putty over a lot of the rock. That did not help. So redoing the rock work, more preventive on them instead of reactionary ( cutting back population sooner, bumblebee snails, etc.). Then we hit a rough point in the world. I kept putting off the rebuild during this time with uncertainity of what was going to happen etc. About a year ago, I started the plan over again and collecting new equipment and rock.
With all that said here is my current build with all equipment I have collected:
Lighting- 3 Neptune Sky Lights
Return- Vectra L2
Flow- 2 MP60's and 2 MP40's
Multiple boxes of Caribsea LifeRock (Trees and Islands)
APEX 2016 w/ 2 EB832's, break out box, ATK, PTK, 23"LLS and 15" LLS
Reef Octopus Elite 200 Int
Avast Skimmate Locker
Trigger 39 Platinum sump with V2 motor
2 BRS 300 Watt heaters
Neptune Grow Light
Fish List:
Achilles Tang
Gem Tang
Purple Tang
Yellow Tang
Convict Tang
Lieutenant Tang
Vlamingi Tang
Soon to be incoming:
Pair of clowns
Flame Hawk
Longnose Hawk
Mystery Wrasse
Eventually:
Anthias or other smaller "schooling" fish group
I had the rock cycling in a 45 Gallon Husky tote for 2 months completely dark with the lid on. I did put the fish in a holding tank and I am slowly bring them over. I got the tank up and running 2 weeks ago and have put the Achilles, Gem, and Convict in. I plan on getting the Purple and Yellow in this weekend. I'm just taking it easy, monitoring the ammonia levels as I do it.
The tank is bare bottom. I used black textured ABS silicone to the bottom of the tank. I just need to clean up underneath and run all the sensors through the proper routes. Then it will be waiting time until I start to add corals. I will work on posting pics soon. I got carried away and forgot to take pics as I was working on it. I will need to go through my gallery to see.