Frozen Tundra Reef Dreams
Active Member
Months of planning and daily Amazon, Marine Depot, BRS, Aquacave, Saltwateraquarium, Ebay, R2R marketplace deliveries...
Then the dramatic search of a 72 gallon Bowfront which is discontinued for years. Over a month of false promises from a milwaukee aqauatic store that wasted 2 four hour trips.... Tank came in, I was all excited, and get there and he ordered me a reef ready one with back box huge overflow! Dozen emails specifically stating I wanted standard! So I left with the stand and unsure if I would ever find the tank. After getting home I had regrets of taking stand because, I couldnt find this tank anywhere, and I'm good on the ole interwebs.
While waiting for weeks for new tank order to get delivered, and hearing 1000 excuses, I came across Midgaar's Cade 1500 sale thread on marketplace. I had the itch to get my first Smart controlled set up... and boom Neptune system fell into my lap!!! While meeting a great guy, who gave me a heck of a deal on Neptune and threw in like $500 in corals... He mentioned, Hey, they have a 72g bow in stock at pet warehouse down the street!!! Keep in mind, I was still waiting on my order from fish store and had $ tied up! and just like that, I not only had Neptune setup, and free coral, but I was able to get this unobtanium tank, just like that! He saved the day! I also got mandarin goby and exquisite firefish for 10$ a piece,and tons of gear. Tons of brightwell, Hanna colorimeters, tankmatez trap, Poseidon systems Phyto/copepod farm list goes on and on. Dude hooked me up and restored my faith in humanity!!!
then I had to order all the goodies to do The Neptune right.
Now the hardwork all starts. This is so much more work than thought. my Good God. I have had nano reefs with basic gear over the years but hot dang, this sump refugium plumbing was alot of stress and fun.... RESEARCH alone was hundred hours at least.
Tanks is Plumbed and running right now and clearing up.... Next up Bonsai style NSA aquascape doing the thin super glue and powdered dryrock method.. If Youre still reading this, I have a question?? I know its best to have rock in tank for cycle, for nitrifying bacteria to land on and live in, but can i Cycle tank now without rock, just sand, and add aquascape later without having to cycle again? Or add basic bacterias later? I have plenty of Fritz zyme 9 and microbacter 7 for later.... But I prefer to do the Turbostart and fishless fuel asap. At this pace my Aquascape wont be done for weeks!
here is a list of the details
Aqueon 72 Gallon bowfront
Eshopps Prodigy L Overflow 1" drains and 3/4" returns
Trigger Triton 26 V2 Sump in Aquamarine color
Trigger 5 gallon ATO Aquamarine
Neptune Apex
Neptune Trident
Neptune DOS
Neptune DDR
Neptune ATK auto top off with multiple Optical sensors
Neptune Cor 15 pump
Neptune FMM
Neptune Leak Detector
Neptune auto feeder
Current USA Marine IC led pro 48" with bluetooth
Dual Ice Cap Gyre 2k powerheads
Finnex Refugium Light
AquaMaxx DRC-120 DC Skimmer
Hygger 500w TitaniumHeater and a fluval one for back up
1 bag of Bahama Oolite Live sand for bacteria
3 bags of Petco Imagitarium white sand. Brightest white i could find. and bigger than oolite.
Super sweet Led worklight for inside sump- HAND WAVE activated!!!
Brightwell Aquatics Xport brick
Fritz Turbo start 900
Fritz Fishless fuel
40 pounds REAL Marco Premium Shelf rock
25 pounds marco reef saver
25 pounds Marco style foundation rock, saw cut on one side. Killer deal on ebay!!! KPAQUATICS
White Brute Trash Can for RO/mixing station
$60 Aquatic life ro/di on amazon. Love it!
Custom 3d printed Neptune parts ....
Oh and did I mention, that Eshopps directions are vague and I drilled holes 1.5" too low?? Custom 3d printed Internal Overflow box designed by scratch, matching Eshopps dimesnions, but taller with weir higher as well. My mistake ended up making the project that much cooler.
I am going with UV blacklght reactive Fluorescent orange and blue acrylic in sump areas as well as 3d printed parts... Ordered acrylic and cut new baffles for the glow. I have kids and Im a kid at heart so I love the glow. Sump has to be cool too!
Much more pics and details later but here we go...
Then the dramatic search of a 72 gallon Bowfront which is discontinued for years. Over a month of false promises from a milwaukee aqauatic store that wasted 2 four hour trips.... Tank came in, I was all excited, and get there and he ordered me a reef ready one with back box huge overflow! Dozen emails specifically stating I wanted standard! So I left with the stand and unsure if I would ever find the tank. After getting home I had regrets of taking stand because, I couldnt find this tank anywhere, and I'm good on the ole interwebs.
While waiting for weeks for new tank order to get delivered, and hearing 1000 excuses, I came across Midgaar's Cade 1500 sale thread on marketplace. I had the itch to get my first Smart controlled set up... and boom Neptune system fell into my lap!!! While meeting a great guy, who gave me a heck of a deal on Neptune and threw in like $500 in corals... He mentioned, Hey, they have a 72g bow in stock at pet warehouse down the street!!! Keep in mind, I was still waiting on my order from fish store and had $ tied up! and just like that, I not only had Neptune setup, and free coral, but I was able to get this unobtanium tank, just like that! He saved the day! I also got mandarin goby and exquisite firefish for 10$ a piece,and tons of gear. Tons of brightwell, Hanna colorimeters, tankmatez trap, Poseidon systems Phyto/copepod farm list goes on and on. Dude hooked me up and restored my faith in humanity!!!
then I had to order all the goodies to do The Neptune right.
Now the hardwork all starts. This is so much more work than thought. my Good God. I have had nano reefs with basic gear over the years but hot dang, this sump refugium plumbing was alot of stress and fun.... RESEARCH alone was hundred hours at least.
Tanks is Plumbed and running right now and clearing up.... Next up Bonsai style NSA aquascape doing the thin super glue and powdered dryrock method.. If Youre still reading this, I have a question?? I know its best to have rock in tank for cycle, for nitrifying bacteria to land on and live in, but can i Cycle tank now without rock, just sand, and add aquascape later without having to cycle again? Or add basic bacterias later? I have plenty of Fritz zyme 9 and microbacter 7 for later.... But I prefer to do the Turbostart and fishless fuel asap. At this pace my Aquascape wont be done for weeks!
here is a list of the details
Aqueon 72 Gallon bowfront
Eshopps Prodigy L Overflow 1" drains and 3/4" returns
Trigger Triton 26 V2 Sump in Aquamarine color
Trigger 5 gallon ATO Aquamarine
Neptune Apex
Neptune Trident
Neptune DOS
Neptune DDR
Neptune ATK auto top off with multiple Optical sensors
Neptune Cor 15 pump
Neptune FMM
Neptune Leak Detector
Neptune auto feeder
Current USA Marine IC led pro 48" with bluetooth
Dual Ice Cap Gyre 2k powerheads
Finnex Refugium Light
AquaMaxx DRC-120 DC Skimmer
Hygger 500w TitaniumHeater and a fluval one for back up
1 bag of Bahama Oolite Live sand for bacteria
3 bags of Petco Imagitarium white sand. Brightest white i could find. and bigger than oolite.
Super sweet Led worklight for inside sump- HAND WAVE activated!!!
Brightwell Aquatics Xport brick
Fritz Turbo start 900
Fritz Fishless fuel
40 pounds REAL Marco Premium Shelf rock
25 pounds marco reef saver
25 pounds Marco style foundation rock, saw cut on one side. Killer deal on ebay!!! KPAQUATICS
White Brute Trash Can for RO/mixing station
$60 Aquatic life ro/di on amazon. Love it!
Custom 3d printed Neptune parts ....
Oh and did I mention, that Eshopps directions are vague and I drilled holes 1.5" too low?? Custom 3d printed Internal Overflow box designed by scratch, matching Eshopps dimesnions, but taller with weir higher as well. My mistake ended up making the project that much cooler.
I am going with UV blacklght reactive Fluorescent orange and blue acrylic in sump areas as well as 3d printed parts... Ordered acrylic and cut new baffles for the glow. I have kids and Im a kid at heart so I love the glow. Sump has to be cool too!
Much more pics and details later but here we go...
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