Hello fellow reefers!
I just pulled the trigger on a new Crystal Dynamics reef tank setup (48 x 24 x 24) so my new build has officially begun! Plan is for a mixed reef with an emphasis on SPS. This is pretty exciting for me because I have only ever had second hand tanks, either given to me or bought via craigslist. My current setup is a 240 g glass cages setup (yes I am actually down sizing lol) and I have been keeping reefs for 6 years now, started with a 55, then 75, then 90 before going to the 240. It is a great tank and I have no doubt it has the potential to be a most amazing reef, it just really isn't working for me, and not only from a maintenance standpoint. The setup was always sort of Gerry rigged and not really "complete" in the sense that I would like. Also I really hate the height which is 31" from water surface to sand bed, it really makes it a pain to do anything on the bottom. The current setup is already sold and most of the existing components, and contents, are going with it. I will be keeping the skimmer- a reef octopus classic 200 int, Mp 40s, dosers, and a media reactor. I am also keeping the fish and some of the coral. Other than that everything will be new, including lights, rocks, return pump, and sand. CD has told me it should take 6-8 weeks to complete so I have some time still to consider lighting and rocks and so forth. For lighting I am considering radions, the maxspect razor 200w, or reef breeders photon v2, but definitely open to suggestions. Any of these will be an upgrade from my current Chinese black boxes with CFL retro setup. I look forward to this new journey and welcome any advise or suggestions I can get along the way!
I just pulled the trigger on a new Crystal Dynamics reef tank setup (48 x 24 x 24) so my new build has officially begun! Plan is for a mixed reef with an emphasis on SPS. This is pretty exciting for me because I have only ever had second hand tanks, either given to me or bought via craigslist. My current setup is a 240 g glass cages setup (yes I am actually down sizing lol) and I have been keeping reefs for 6 years now, started with a 55, then 75, then 90 before going to the 240. It is a great tank and I have no doubt it has the potential to be a most amazing reef, it just really isn't working for me, and not only from a maintenance standpoint. The setup was always sort of Gerry rigged and not really "complete" in the sense that I would like. Also I really hate the height which is 31" from water surface to sand bed, it really makes it a pain to do anything on the bottom. The current setup is already sold and most of the existing components, and contents, are going with it. I will be keeping the skimmer- a reef octopus classic 200 int, Mp 40s, dosers, and a media reactor. I am also keeping the fish and some of the coral. Other than that everything will be new, including lights, rocks, return pump, and sand. CD has told me it should take 6-8 weeks to complete so I have some time still to consider lighting and rocks and so forth. For lighting I am considering radions, the maxspect razor 200w, or reef breeders photon v2, but definitely open to suggestions. Any of these will be an upgrade from my current Chinese black boxes with CFL retro setup. I look forward to this new journey and welcome any advise or suggestions I can get along the way!