Caleb's first reef tank

[Impunitus]

I've got the 70. It's a great tank. 2.5 years wet approximately.

I like the guarded corners. The 70 is a bit tight in the stand but it all fits.

I'm mainly looking to go bigger cause I want a tang gang. The 130 will let me do that comfortably while also having more room for activities in the sump. All the build threads seem really positive..and I would want the newer sump as well to have the far right be a dedicated fuge

 

[tbrown]

I'm mainly looking to go bigger cause I want a tang gang. The 130 will let me do that comfortably while also having more room for activities in the sump. All the build threads seem really positive..and I would want the newer sump as well to have the far right be a dedicated fuge

I could have had the 130 and would have used the 70 as a freshwater tank but I passed it on to another very deserving member who doesn't have a tank yet. He's hoping to take delivery of it before too long.

 

[Impunitus]

I just need to reach out to the stores that show up as vendors to see who can actually get one for me. Where I'm looking to put this spans 5 joists so not worried about that either.

Wife seems very into it, probably because she's getting the SR60 and will have the ability to add more fish. She will keep my rock scape for the most part and I'll likely take the rock from her tank into my sump.

 

[Impunitus]

An added benefit that we wouldn't have to fight the caulpera infestation on that rock and would instead be able to allow it to do it's thing in the fuge I would then have space for sump monsters...like the mantis that we no longer have

 

[Impunitus]

Wife is onboard with the 130, even after finding out its a bit more of a jump in gallons than she though

Originally she was thinking a 75-90 gallon display, but won her over with my reasoning (I'm not getting another large tank until we move out of this house).

I reached out to @SaltwaterAq to see if the Mariner 130 they have in stock has the newer sump. I want/need the larger 36" but still waiting to hear back. If they do not have any stock with the newer sump, I'll have to see if either of the LFS' can/will order and what the timeline may be. I like the idea of ordering from SaltwaterAq because of rewards.

I also need to make a proper mixing station, and not the rinky-dink situation I have going on right now. At the very least a more automated method of making RO because right now its driven by me hooking up the RODI unit and making 50 gallons, then slowly using it to fill up our ATOs. I have some inspiration for this, so just a matter of making a stand for 2 Brutes, either putting a saddle valve on a pipe in the basement or having a plumber hook me up with a ball valve that I can hook the RODI up to permanently. Will also save the future owner of the house from having a random saddle valve on the pipe

I am going to continue using Hydros for tank automation, so will likely be making a more presentable control board rather than the mess I have on the SR60 right now. I have a return pump, skimmer, and roller mat picked out for the new tank. Not pulling the trigger on any of that until I have the tank, primarily because if I get the tank from SaltwaterAq, I can save a little money with rewards! Also maybe hunting for Black Friday deals.

I will likely need to get more rock for the display as I'll be making a new scape for this tank. I luckily have A LOT of seed material, so starting dry will not be the end of the world and expect to have a very fast if not nearly instant cycle on the tank thanks to the amount of mature media I'll be putting into the fuge/sump. I do not want to run a GFO/carbon reactor to start, and will just use media bags if I end up needing it. Likewise I think having a proper fuge rather than the cramped into and AIO compartment one I have right now that I'll have less phosphate control issues.

Going to go with a slightly shallower sand bed than I have right now. Enough to keep wrasses happy, but not as much as deep as I have going on right now.

I intend to run a pretty heavy bioload in this tank. I want a solid tang gang, will be moving the fish from the current tank (2 clowns, tomini tang, watchman goby, lawnmower blenny at time of writing) and will likely add a few wrasses as well.

When I buy the tank and start it up, I will start a new build thread. This tank will remain the place of posting for the SR60, which will become the wife's.

Does this sound like too much for a 125? Knowing I want to do mostly 'smaller' (yellow, purple, existing tomini) tangs and 1 (maybe 2) larger in the form of a chocolate, maybe a powder blue as well. I'd love to add a blue hippo but think that would be pushing it with all the other fish I want...

 

[Impunitus]

Bumping this. In search of feedback on the above. Thanks y'all!

 

[tbrown]

I think the 130 may have come out after the sump update but I could also be wrong.

@ESHOPPS.INC

 

[Impunitus]

I think the 130 may have come out after the sump update but I could also be wrong.

@ESHOPPS.INC

Pictures on ESHOPPS website show the newer one, but pictures on SaltwaterAq have the older sump. I planned out my equipment and idea for what I want to do in the sump with the expectation of the 36". That and more space is always better. I have found I do not enjoy having to fit everything into the small footprint I have been working with in my AIO rear chambers!

 

[tbrown]

Hydros has easy options for controlling your automation for a mixing station as well. With the Launch you can have a salinity probe, a few level sensors, solenoids, and pumps.

 

[tbrown]

Pictures on ESHOPPS website show the newer one, but pictures on SaltwaterAq have the older sump. I planned out my equipment and idea for what I want to do in the sump with the expectation of the 36". That and more space is always better. I have found I do not enjoy having to fit everything into the small footprint I have been working with in my AIO rear chambers!

Ahh. Yeah, no fun.

 

[Impunitus]

Hydros has easy options for controlling your automation for a mixing station as well. With the Launch you can have a salinity probe, a few level sensors, solenoids, and pumps.

I will likely eventually put Hydros on controlling the mixing station, but will start with just controlling the pump/heater myself and will test salinity with my Milwaukee salinity tester and confirm with my hydrometer. Will wait for deals on that piece since I don't mind doing a bit of the mixing manually and waiting for a good deal for a launch.

 

[tbrown]

You can also get a float valve on Amazon for temporary. They're fairly inexpensive and it'll save you forgetting to turn the RO off.

 

[Impunitus]

Also have to figure out getting power to that area of the basement! I guess I can run another circuit over there, but that is a project for future me

 

[Impunitus]

You can also get a float valve on Amazon for temporary. They're fairly inexpensive and it'll save you forgetting to turn the RO off.

I have had a float valve for a long time! I think it came with my RO system when I bought it at the start of all of this. At the very least I will always be topped up on RO, rather than having to remember (or find out because I forgot I used it all) to make some when I need to top up an ATO/make saltwater.