Figured I should give this tank a build thread. We were originally gonna put a 180 gallon in this spot, but the 100 gallon just fit better after the dining room remodel.
Idea behind this tank is a wrasse and butterfly dominant system, with a few other fish added in as well. Corals will be whatever the fish don't eat, since the fish always come first and foremost in my larger systems.
Scored this 5'x18"x20" acrylic tank and stand for free from a local reefer who upgraded.
Quickly got it plumbed, filled with water, and moved in a combo of live and dry rock. Currently running no skimmer or any other mechanical filtration, no filter socks, just open sump with black mangroves and oriental mangroves. I have a sea grape tree (Coccoloba uvifera) coming shortly that will be planted in there as well, and I will eventually move some Caulerpa over to the refugium. I'll add a skimmer at some point, it's sitting in the garage waiting to be cleaned up and hooked up. It's an AquaMaxx skimmer. Sump is a bare 55 gallon aqueon from a petco sale, and a Jebao DC pump for the return pump. Chinese knockoff kessil freshwater plant light for the refugium, I'll probably add 1-2 more down there. Lighting is currently 2x 165W Viparspectra LEDs, I'll try to add a 3rd at some point. I'd also like to eventually add some powerheads, but none for now at least. And heated with a 300W Eheim heater.
Fish list as of 4/18/24:
2 Banggai Cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni)
1 Pajama Cardinalfish (Sphaeramia nematoptera)
2 Bicinctus Clownfish (Amphiprion bicinctus)
2 Royal Gramma (Gramma loreto)
1 Lantern Basslet (Serranus baldwini)
1 Lemonpeel Angel (Centropyge flavissima)
1 Pearlscale Butterfly (Chaetodon xanthurus)
1 Double Saddle Butterfly (Chaetodon ulietensis)
1 Pakistani Butterfly (Chaetodon collare)
1 Rhino Bannerfish (Heniochus varius)
1 Yellow Watchman Goby (Cryptocentrus cinctus)
1 Orange Spotted Blenny (Blenniella chrysospilos)
1 Rhino Blenny (Paraclinus marmoratus)
1 Indonesian Lubbock's Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus lubbocki)
1 Pink Headed Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus chaliasi)
1 Whip Fin Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus filamentosus)
1 Katoi Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus katoi)
1 Yellow Flanked Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus ryukyuensis)
1 Yellow Banded Possum Wrasse (Wetmorella nigropinnata)
And here are LOTS of pics and a quick video for those who managed to read all that
Idea behind this tank is a wrasse and butterfly dominant system, with a few other fish added in as well. Corals will be whatever the fish don't eat, since the fish always come first and foremost in my larger systems.
Scored this 5'x18"x20" acrylic tank and stand for free from a local reefer who upgraded.
Quickly got it plumbed, filled with water, and moved in a combo of live and dry rock. Currently running no skimmer or any other mechanical filtration, no filter socks, just open sump with black mangroves and oriental mangroves. I have a sea grape tree (Coccoloba uvifera) coming shortly that will be planted in there as well, and I will eventually move some Caulerpa over to the refugium. I'll add a skimmer at some point, it's sitting in the garage waiting to be cleaned up and hooked up. It's an AquaMaxx skimmer. Sump is a bare 55 gallon aqueon from a petco sale, and a Jebao DC pump for the return pump. Chinese knockoff kessil freshwater plant light for the refugium, I'll probably add 1-2 more down there. Lighting is currently 2x 165W Viparspectra LEDs, I'll try to add a 3rd at some point. I'd also like to eventually add some powerheads, but none for now at least. And heated with a 300W Eheim heater.
Fish list as of 4/18/24:
2 Banggai Cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni)
1 Pajama Cardinalfish (Sphaeramia nematoptera)
2 Bicinctus Clownfish (Amphiprion bicinctus)
2 Royal Gramma (Gramma loreto)
1 Lantern Basslet (Serranus baldwini)
1 Lemonpeel Angel (Centropyge flavissima)
1 Pearlscale Butterfly (Chaetodon xanthurus)
1 Double Saddle Butterfly (Chaetodon ulietensis)
1 Pakistani Butterfly (Chaetodon collare)
1 Rhino Bannerfish (Heniochus varius)
1 Yellow Watchman Goby (Cryptocentrus cinctus)
1 Orange Spotted Blenny (Blenniella chrysospilos)
1 Rhino Blenny (Paraclinus marmoratus)
1 Indonesian Lubbock's Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus lubbocki)
1 Pink Headed Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus chaliasi)
1 Whip Fin Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus filamentosus)
1 Katoi Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus katoi)
1 Yellow Flanked Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus ryukyuensis)
1 Yellow Banded Possum Wrasse (Wetmorella nigropinnata)
And here are LOTS of pics and a quick video for those who managed to read all that
