Hi, new to saltwater but have learned allot through reading through this forums and youtube. I have never owned a tank bigger than a 5 gallon for my Beta fish, but my wife has had saltwater fish since childhood. I am captivated by the fish and coral, and we have finally agreed to set up our first tank.
Our goal is to set up a 150 gallon or so, acrylic tank made by Windrider Creation. Dimensions would be 60x24x25 with a 16" Shadow Overflow. Currently the tank is still being made and should arrive hopefully by the end of the month. In preparation, I have used this forum to learn and "borrow" ideas from others in set ups and tank stands. This is the stand I made, and personally for having no woodworking experience in the past, I am quite proud of it.
I have purchased the plumbing for two 1.5 inch drain with two 1.25 return, reducing to .75 at the bulkhead. I have a Neptune 20 ready to go. A 50 gallon sump I made using the kit from Windrider creation, and following there YouTube and book provided, it came out to be pretty easy and something I feel will last me for the long haul at a good price, with a triton method sump layout. As wells as Bulk Reef Supply, dual stage reactor for carbon and GFO.
Still have plenty more thing in the wish list that are moving to the shopping cart here soon, but am conflicted if it's the way I want to go. For a skimmer I am thinking the Reef Octopus Regal 200sss. For powerheads Two Gyre XF 250. For lights the 60" Hybrid T5HO from aquatic life with 3 kessils. Plan to start with Red Sea Pro salt, then add kalkwasser, then moving to either two part or Triton method. Still trying to figure out if a kalkwasser stirrer would be worth getting after reading over some horror stories with the ATO set up. I enjoy gadgets and anything that would make maintance easier, so got to have a Neptune Apex system (mostly down the road for this piece).
Our goal is to have a mixed reef, with more to sps (down the road). Really would like to have my own euphylia garden and a zoanthid garden as well. For fish stock we must say are leaning in the heavy stock, since there so many amazing looking fish out there! Currently our list is: 2 clownfish, 1 helfrishi firefish, 1 Midas blenny, 1 Yasha white ray shrimp goby, 1 green mandarin, 1 ruby red dragonet, 1 royal gramma basslet, 1 lineatus fairy wrasse, 1 orange back fairy wrasse, 1 exquisite fairy wrasse, 1 mcCosker flasher wrasse, 1 flame angel. The remaining list are fish we would love to have but are concern if we can have them all comfortably... 1 coral beauty, 1 spot foxface, 1 yellow tang, 1 kole eye yellow tang, 1 powder blue tang, 1 blue tang, and 1 copper band butterfly fish (although this one seems to be quite the challenge from what I've gathered). What do you guys think, to many? Originally I thought it could work being that the tank total water volume should be a 180 with the sump. What I tried to focus on fish selection was around fish for different section of the tank habitat, Reef safe, peaceful, would easily accustom to pellets while away for the day or a trip, and would play a beneficial role in the tank maintenance. Thoughts?
Our aquascape is still in the planning stage but this is what we got so far...
Would appreciate feedback if you any potential problems or maybe possible tips.
So guess that was a long introduction lol, but I must say I am very excited to be getting into this hobby and setting up this tank! As previously mentioned I have learned allot from this community and am very appreciative. Bulk Reef Supply, and many youtubers also have my many thanks for all they do!
Our goal is to set up a 150 gallon or so, acrylic tank made by Windrider Creation. Dimensions would be 60x24x25 with a 16" Shadow Overflow. Currently the tank is still being made and should arrive hopefully by the end of the month. In preparation, I have used this forum to learn and "borrow" ideas from others in set ups and tank stands. This is the stand I made, and personally for having no woodworking experience in the past, I am quite proud of it.
I have purchased the plumbing for two 1.5 inch drain with two 1.25 return, reducing to .75 at the bulkhead. I have a Neptune 20 ready to go. A 50 gallon sump I made using the kit from Windrider creation, and following there YouTube and book provided, it came out to be pretty easy and something I feel will last me for the long haul at a good price, with a triton method sump layout. As wells as Bulk Reef Supply, dual stage reactor for carbon and GFO.
Still have plenty more thing in the wish list that are moving to the shopping cart here soon, but am conflicted if it's the way I want to go. For a skimmer I am thinking the Reef Octopus Regal 200sss. For powerheads Two Gyre XF 250. For lights the 60" Hybrid T5HO from aquatic life with 3 kessils. Plan to start with Red Sea Pro salt, then add kalkwasser, then moving to either two part or Triton method. Still trying to figure out if a kalkwasser stirrer would be worth getting after reading over some horror stories with the ATO set up. I enjoy gadgets and anything that would make maintance easier, so got to have a Neptune Apex system (mostly down the road for this piece).
Our goal is to have a mixed reef, with more to sps (down the road). Really would like to have my own euphylia garden and a zoanthid garden as well. For fish stock we must say are leaning in the heavy stock, since there so many amazing looking fish out there! Currently our list is: 2 clownfish, 1 helfrishi firefish, 1 Midas blenny, 1 Yasha white ray shrimp goby, 1 green mandarin, 1 ruby red dragonet, 1 royal gramma basslet, 1 lineatus fairy wrasse, 1 orange back fairy wrasse, 1 exquisite fairy wrasse, 1 mcCosker flasher wrasse, 1 flame angel. The remaining list are fish we would love to have but are concern if we can have them all comfortably... 1 coral beauty, 1 spot foxface, 1 yellow tang, 1 kole eye yellow tang, 1 powder blue tang, 1 blue tang, and 1 copper band butterfly fish (although this one seems to be quite the challenge from what I've gathered). What do you guys think, to many? Originally I thought it could work being that the tank total water volume should be a 180 with the sump. What I tried to focus on fish selection was around fish for different section of the tank habitat, Reef safe, peaceful, would easily accustom to pellets while away for the day or a trip, and would play a beneficial role in the tank maintenance. Thoughts?
Our aquascape is still in the planning stage but this is what we got so far...
Would appreciate feedback if you any potential problems or maybe possible tips.
So guess that was a long introduction lol, but I must say I am very excited to be getting into this hobby and setting up this tank! As previously mentioned I have learned allot from this community and am very appreciative. Bulk Reef Supply, and many youtubers also have my many thanks for all they do!
