Fishboy9227's 200g Reef

[Fishboy9227]

Hello all! I've lurked around these forums for quite a while but have not posted much. I've had a variety of tanks over the last ten years but nothing quite like what I'm looking to do now! The tank is currently on order and should arrive in a month or so. We are building a new house and can't wait to get this piece in place.

Tank: 200g Planet Aquariums Tank. 60"x30"x25". Starfire front pane.

Stand: Aluminum Stand by Framing Tech. Skinned with hardwood and painted

Lighting: Currently thinking through hanging three Kessil 360x pendants in an Aquatic Life T5 Hybrid. There are a few things I dislike about this fixture, such as opposing electrical chords and wiring of ballast. Luckily, these critiques can be changed fairly easy through some DIY projects.

Sump: Elite Aquatics Custom Sump

Flow: MP 40s or maybe some Octo Pulse 4s????

Skimmer: Bubble King Double Cone 150

Controller: Apex Controller System

Doser: GHL 3 head doser

Live rock: Tampa Bay Saltwater- I've got 80 pounds circulating from my old system. I'll get this going in the tank and see if I need anymore.


That's all that I can think of for now. Please chime in with any suggestions along the way...that is part of what I love about this hobby. So much experience and wisdom to gain from other folks!

 

[SPR1968]

New house and new tank sounds great, and remember we need lots of pictures of both!

And Welcome to R2R as well!

 

[Fishboy9227]

No tank pictures yet but here is a picture of where the tank will go. Tank will divide this room from the living room.

2nd photo is the view from the tank into the living room. Man...looks like we have a leak!

 

[Fishboy9227]

Quite a bit has been completed in the last few months. We moved into our new house back in May. Attached are some pictures of the progress.


Sump from Tyler at Elite Aquatics. Fantastic craftsmanship.

Stand from Framing Tech

Stand in place if sump plumbed to the tank.

The white pex line is a line ran from my mixing station from the garage, through the attic, and appears behind the tank. This is super convenient!

Beginning the stand skinning.

Working on the doors this weekend. Got a shipment of fish in yesterday that will go through a month long quarantine process.

 

[revhtree]

Loving it and the new house! Need pics of that too!

 

[Fishboy9227]

Thanks Rev!

 

[revhtree]

Thanks Rev!

Very beautiful!

 

[Fishboy9227]

Current fish list plans:

• Blue Hippo Tang
• Yellow Tang
• Gold Rim/White Cheek Tang
• Orange Shoulder Tang
• Purple or Powder Blue Tang (not sure I can do either of these)
• 2 Mocha Storm Clownfish
• Coral Beauty
• Royal Gramma
• Tailspot Blenny
• Assortment of Fairy and Flasher Wrasses

Purple tangs are quite expensive right now. I could probably be fine introducing a small Purple with the Yellow...seen this done plenty. I have not seen many success stories with a Powder Blue and a Gold Rim. I'm pretty set on the Gold Rim. I'd love an Achilles, but a combination of difficulty and price have redirected me to the 'poor man's Achilles' AKA Gold Rim.

All fish will be taken through @HotRocks method of QT. Currently, the clowns, angel, and Royal Gramma are in copper. I thinking the next batch of fish might be the Blue Hippo, Gold Rim, and Yellow. I plan to get all of my fish in the tank before introducing coral. I'd like to have coralinne algae growing well before diving into coral. I don't plan to QT coral for 76 days, so I'm hoping to get the fish well established and healthy so that if ICH does get brought in through coral, they'll have a better chance. I'm primarily QTing fish to avoid the more aggressive nasties.

My live rock is several years old so I'm fairly comfortable that it will be ready to go. I've been ghost feeding it without any traces of ammonia showing up on tests.

 

[Fishboy9227]

Installed some LEDs under the stand this morning. The son approves!

 

[Fishboy9227]

Doors mounted! Much more quiet in the room now.

 

[Dcal]

Looks great!

 

[Fishboy9227]

Currently thinking through if I want to implement some type of natural nutrient reduction method. Weighing out the big three (refugium, chaeto reactor, or an algae scrubber). I've got the room for a 20g refugium so that's the way I was leaning.

 

[Fishboy9227]

Some Mocha Storms in QT along with a Royal Gramma and Coral Beauty. Doing well!

 

[Fishboy9227]

Redid the left side. I hate aquascaping. I see so many awesome scapes on R2R and I don’t feel I can replicate them. Most of the rock is out of my old tank and is well established. Downside is I can’t take it out and glue together for hours. I’ll live with this for a few days and see I what I think. Highest point on the left is just above the halfway point and the right sits about 40% up. I’ll need strong lighting but I have plenty of room for corals to grow up.

Always open to suggestions!

 

[Fishboy9227]

Purple, yellow, powder blue, and gold rim in copper qt. Everyone is getting along great! Can’t believe it ...was ready to do separate tanks.

 

[Fishboy9227]

This White Cheek is stunning!

 

[Fishboy9227]

Still debating lighting.

Torn between a 61” Aquatic Life T5 with 3-4 Radions XR30s or building a suspended canopy with retrofitted t5s and the same accompaniment of Radions. I suspect I can fit a few more T5s in a custom made canopy.

 

[hellsangelbx]

Beautiful tank @Fishboy9227. How did you order your planet aquariums custom tank and how much did it cost?

 

[Fishboy9227]

Beautiful tank @Fishboy9227. How did you order your planet aquariums custom tank and how much did it cost?

I ordered it locally from a store. If I remember right, retail was around $1,800.

It has a few imperfections but nothing major or that would worry me. Definitely worth the price paid.

 

[KWT]

Everything looks great, tank and house, continued good luck going forward. And thank you for sharing.