Building My Dream Reef

[BriansBrain]

Excited to announce my dream build has officially begun!

I will be consolidating my two aquariums into one. I love having them both, but I’m really losing interest in maintaining both and can use the extra space in my living area.

Placed an order with Glasscages with all the works! Silas over there was great to work with answering everyone of my questions. Planing on this being a 10 year reef. Incorporating the things I learned over the years into the design.

I’m definitely looking forward to this build

Current equipment and setup
As of 2/21/2026

Aquarium and Sump:
GlassCages glass aquarium 60”x28”x25”
GlassCages glass sump 48”x18”x18”

Stand:
Custom aluminum

Lights:
ATI Straton G2 204 x2
AI Blade Glow 21” for frag tank in sump

Wave makers:
Jecod DMP40
2x AI Orbit 4

Mechanical Filtration:
Red Sea ReefMat 1200
Reef Octopus Elite 220 INT

Return Pump:
Reef Octopus Varios 6

Dosing:
Neptune Dos QD
Kalkwasser dosed from saturated drum

ATO:
Tunze Osmolator

Heat:
Inkbird ITC-306A
BRS/Schego titanium 300w heaters x2

 

[ThisIsTheWay]

Congrats, that’s exciting :D

I love the school of chromis in the one tank and the group of fire fish in the other. Did you have to add them all at once to get them to coexist together?

Also, out of curiosity, are you expecting to put all your fish together or will the stocking list need to be adjusted?

 

[JumboShrimp]

Great idea, great tank. Black silicone, seam guards, water line concealer, bottom bracing-- all the bells and whistles!!

 

[BriansBrain]

Congrats, that’s exciting :D

I love the school of chromis in the one tank and the group of fire fish in the other. Did you have to add them all at once to get them to coexist together?

Also, out of curiosity, are you expecting to put all your fish together or will the stocking list need to be adjusted?

Thanks!

The group of chromis - I’ve had the first group of 4 for like 5 years now. I added 3 big ones 2 years ago from a tank breakdown but they’ve made a great group. 7 in total.

The firefish have unfortunately dwindled to 2. One wasn’t really the best shape to start and another disappeared.

I haven’t 100% decided sand or bare bottom. Leaning bare bottom again. Likely all the fish will be consolidated into the new tank. I really do love all of my fish. If I do bare bottom, the sand dwelling critters will get rehomed - leopard wrasse, watchman goby, sand snails.

 

[Oldsman]

Looking forward to your progress!

 

[BriansBrain]

Thanks! My wallet will hate it, but should be a lot of fun. Most importantly, it was wife approved

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Following along!

 

[BriansBrain]

The aquarium has been confirmed, and the team at Glass Cages has been an absolute pleasure to work with.

Bumped the dimensions up to 28” front to back. The sump is a simple wide open concept with a removable sock holder. I’ve learned simpler the better works best for me. Big enough to likely fit a small frag area as well.

Also giving the area a face lift where the tank will be as well. Cut this little bump out wall to a pony wall the height of the stand/tank capped with a small marble counter top (still waiting on). Dry wall still needs finishing, but the wife couldn’t resist painting around

 

[JumboShrimp]

This will be fantastic!

 

[BriansBrain]

This will be fantastic!

Thanks! I’m excited obviously as you can tell by me posting pictures of my unfinished drywalling lol still a lot of work to be done

 

[JumboShrimp]

Kudos for convincing your wife, 'Who needs a dining room, when we can have a room for the new Glass Cages tank!?'

 

[BriansBrain]

Kudos for convincing your wife, 'Who needs a dining room, when we can have a room for the new Glass Cages tank!?'

Haha she is definitely supportive of me and this hobby. This is actually in our finished area of the basement. My two current tanks are on the first floor. It was a hard decision but with two kids, we need all the space we can get plus this only space I could fit the size I really wanted.

 

[danreef55]

Take your time and it will pay off. While doing my build I changed things up numerous times. Looks like you are definitely on the right track. Following along

 

[BriansBrain]

Take your time and it will pay off. While doing my build I changed things up numerous times. Looks like you are definitely on the right track. Following along

Thank you! Trying my best to plan. I’ve set up a few hastily configured aquariums and while all reasonably successful to me at least, they were never properly planned out. They were all learning experiences.

 

[danreef55]

Thank you! Trying my best to plan. I’ve set up a few hastily configured aquariums and while all reasonably successful to me at least, they were never properly planned out. They were all learning experiences.

Check my thread it details a similar situation

 

[BriansBrain]

Check my thread it details a similar situation

Will do!

 

[BriansBrain]

Still a few weeks out for Glasscages to complete building the tank, so I’m excitingly patiently waiting. Still need to get around to stand, but I have some time yet.

New equipment for the build:
Lights: 2x white ATI Straton G2 204
Filtration: Red Sea Reefmat 1200
Skimmer: Reef Octopus Regal 250 - probably going to wait for Black Friday
May look into the Santa Monica Surf

Carrying over equipment:
Controller: Neptune Apex, modules, Trident
Return: Cor20 and maybe Vectra S2
Dosing: Neptune Dos and 2x Kamoers, Avast Marine Kalkwasser stirrer
Flow: 2x Mp40, 2 mp10 (if they hold on the 1/2” glass) 2x Nero 5
ATO: Tunze Ossmolator

I also couldn’t resist to just pick up an IM Fusion 15 for $99. Please help me

 

[JumboShrimp]

Love the IM 15-- I use it for my QT tank, 1-2 fish at a time, depending on size. Great price, too. (The screen top will cost you almost half of that, though... they give away the razor because you have to buy the blades! Lol.) Great choice on Glass Cages, too.

 

[X-37B]

Still a few weeks out for Glasscages to complete building the tank, so I’m excitingly patiently waiting. Still need to get around to stand, but I have some time yet.

New equipment for the build:
Lights: 2x white ATI Straton G2 204
Filtration: Red Sea Reefmat 1200
Skimmer: Reef Octopus Regal 250 - probably going to wait for Black Friday
May look into the Santa Monica Surf

Carrying over equipment:
Controller: Neptune Apex, modules, Trident
Return: Cor20 and maybe Vectra S2
Dosing: Neptune Dos and 2x Kamoers, Avast Marine Kalkwasser stirrer
Flow: 2x Mp40, 2 mp10 (if they hold on the 1/2” glass) 2x Nero 5
ATO: Tunze Ossmolator

I also couldn’t resist to just pick up an IM Fusion 15 for $99. Please help me

Not sure this is help, lol.
My 6 month old im15 for inspiration?

 

[BriansBrain]

Love the IM 15-- I use it for my QT tank, 1-2 fish at a time, depending on size. Great price, too. (The screen top will cost you almost half of that, though... they give away the razor because you have to buy the blades! Lol.) Great choice on Glass Cages, too.

I’ve never had a tank this small with the IM 15. How do you control evaporation/top off? I was thinking to cut a piece of acrylic over the tank at least and keep the back section open