Summary:
After two and a half years working from home, and no expectation to go back any time soon, I'm finally going to be furnishing my office complete with my very first reef. This will be a budget(ish) softie/LPS build with a mix of "forever" components and others I intend to upgrade in time.
Latest FTS: 1/23/24
Equipment:
Tank: Aqueon 40B
AIO: @TenecorAquariums 40B Universal Kit
Chamber 1: @Reef Diaper
Chamber 2: BRS 100W Titanium and Magtool Nano AIO Skimmer
Chamber 3: AI Axis 90 Return Pump
Heater Controller: Inkbird ITC-308
Wavemaker: 2x Jebao ECP-70M
Lights: 3x AI Prime 16HD + 3D Reefing Prime Shade
ATO: MagTool Optical Sensor ATO
Sand: 20lbs Ocean Direct
Rock: ~30lbs MarcoRock
Salt: Syn-Biotic Sea Salt @ 1.025
Accessories:
Leafgreen Solutions magnetic inkbird probe holder, Magnetic BRS Heater Mount, Emergency Bubbler
Livestock:
1x Mocha Clownfish (Wayne) 1 x Gladiator Clown (Katy II)
1 x Springeri Damsel (Shoresy)
1x Lemon Meringue Wrasse (Daryl)
1 x PJ Cardinal (Dan)
1 x Links Goby (Glen)
1 x Court Jester Goby (Bonnie McMurray)
1 x Peppermint Shrimp (Riley)
1 x Cleaner Shrimp (Jonesy)
1 x Emerald Crab (Roald)
1 x Purple Short Spine Sea Urchin (Tanis)
Progress Photos:
9/10/2022 - Tank Filled
11/8/2022 - Recovering from a 2 day power outage.
1/8/2023 - Corals!
2/4/2023
2/24/2023 Rescape
3/20/2023
5/3/2023
ORIGINAL FIRST POST BELOW:
After two and a half years working from home, and no expectation to go back any time soon, I'm finally going to be furnishing my office complete with my very first reef. I've kept freshwater tanks for years, but now it is time for something different.
After watching way too many BRS videos and reading thousands of R2R threads, I think I've learned one thing for sure - everyone has a way that has worked for them, and everyone's way is a bit different. So with that in mind, I'm venturing to figure out what works for me, which basically ensures some failures along the way.
This will be a budget(ish) softie/LPS build with a mix of "forever" components and others I intend to upgrade in time. I haven't settled on livestock, but likely a beginner friendly mix of clowns, goby, long nose hawkfish, etc.
My plan is to start with a Aqueon 40B, but with a stand that can accommodate up to a 48" tank someday in the future. I ended up going for a modular kitchen cabinet. It is quite sturdy and easily handled my wife and I jumping on it without issue.
I ordered the Tenecor 40B Universal AIO, which was supposed to ship last week, but I understand they've had some delays. The plan is to put a Tunze 9004 skimmer and BRS Titanium heater in chamber 2, and an ATO in chamber 3 with a Mighty Jet midsize return pump. Tank will be lit with two AI Prime HD 16s spaced per BRS.
In the mean time, I picked up some dry rock, some black vinyl for the back and started playing around with a rockscape. I'm pretty happy with how this turned out, but interested in feedback. The goal was to provide enough surface area for corals, while still providing enough overhangs and caves for the fish.
You'll also note the Jebao 30W wavemaker on the right. Wavemaker will likely get replaced with Neros someday.
That's all for today's update. Hopefully in the next one I'll have the AIO installed, plus add sand and water.
After two and a half years working from home, and no expectation to go back any time soon, I'm finally going to be furnishing my office complete with my very first reef. This will be a budget(ish) softie/LPS build with a mix of "forever" components and others I intend to upgrade in time.
Latest FTS: 1/23/24
Equipment:
Tank: Aqueon 40B
AIO: @TenecorAquariums 40B Universal Kit
Chamber 1: @Reef Diaper
Chamber 2: BRS 100W Titanium and Magtool Nano AIO Skimmer
Chamber 3: AI Axis 90 Return Pump
Heater Controller: Inkbird ITC-308
Wavemaker: 2x Jebao ECP-70M
Lights: 3x AI Prime 16HD + 3D Reefing Prime Shade
ATO: MagTool Optical Sensor ATO
Sand: 20lbs Ocean Direct
Rock: ~30lbs MarcoRock
Salt: Syn-Biotic Sea Salt @ 1.025
Accessories:
Leafgreen Solutions magnetic inkbird probe holder, Magnetic BRS Heater Mount, Emergency Bubbler
Livestock:
1x Mocha Clownfish (Wayne) 1 x Gladiator Clown (Katy II)
1 x Springeri Damsel (Shoresy)
1x Lemon Meringue Wrasse (Daryl)
1 x PJ Cardinal (Dan)
1 x Links Goby (Glen)
1 x Court Jester Goby (Bonnie McMurray)
1 x Peppermint Shrimp (Riley)
1 x Cleaner Shrimp (Jonesy)
1 x Emerald Crab (Roald)
1 x Purple Short Spine Sea Urchin (Tanis)
Progress Photos:
9/10/2022 - Tank Filled
11/8/2022 - Recovering from a 2 day power outage.
1/8/2023 - Corals!
2/4/2023
2/24/2023 Rescape
3/20/2023
5/3/2023
ORIGINAL FIRST POST BELOW:
After two and a half years working from home, and no expectation to go back any time soon, I'm finally going to be furnishing my office complete with my very first reef. I've kept freshwater tanks for years, but now it is time for something different.
After watching way too many BRS videos and reading thousands of R2R threads, I think I've learned one thing for sure - everyone has a way that has worked for them, and everyone's way is a bit different. So with that in mind, I'm venturing to figure out what works for me, which basically ensures some failures along the way.
This will be a budget(ish) softie/LPS build with a mix of "forever" components and others I intend to upgrade in time. I haven't settled on livestock, but likely a beginner friendly mix of clowns, goby, long nose hawkfish, etc.
My plan is to start with a Aqueon 40B, but with a stand that can accommodate up to a 48" tank someday in the future. I ended up going for a modular kitchen cabinet. It is quite sturdy and easily handled my wife and I jumping on it without issue.
I ordered the Tenecor 40B Universal AIO, which was supposed to ship last week, but I understand they've had some delays. The plan is to put a Tunze 9004 skimmer and BRS Titanium heater in chamber 2, and an ATO in chamber 3 with a Mighty Jet midsize return pump. Tank will be lit with two AI Prime HD 16s spaced per BRS.
In the mean time, I picked up some dry rock, some black vinyl for the back and started playing around with a rockscape. I'm pretty happy with how this turned out, but interested in feedback. The goal was to provide enough surface area for corals, while still providing enough overhangs and caves for the fish.
You'll also note the Jebao 30W wavemaker on the right. Wavemaker will likely get replaced with Neros someday.
That's all for today's update. Hopefully in the next one I'll have the AIO installed, plus add sand and water.
Last edited: