Hey everyone! Been out of the hobby a few years after experiencing a tank crash during law school, then a cross country move and getting my new career off the ground! Now that I’m settled in and my life has some order to it (sort of…maybe - at least for the time being…I hope), I walked into my LFS today and pulled the trigger on a 36x18x16 Glass Cages 45 gallon tank with stand! Wasn’t convinced I was ready to get back into the hobby but had been browsing the forum a ton and talking to Joe over at Glass Cages. He is a great guy and they are top notch over there, an unreal level of customer service.
I saw the tank and semi-impulsively decided the risk was low enough, and it was too beautiful to pass up on. It’s a perfect set up for what I’m hoping to be a “minimalist” mixed reef to enjoy until I eventually buy a home and move into something bigger.
I’ll continue to update this thread, but now that I’ve had multiple tanks and know what worked for me and what didn’t, and that I want to give this tank the best shot at stability and sustained success, I’m going to take this build a little slowly, starting with a nice long cycle (at least a few months).
Some preliminary equipment thoughts:
- Synergy CL-26 Sump
- Apex and Trident
- 2 MP40s
- 2 Radion G6 XR15 Pro lights
- Nyos Quantum 120 protein skimmer
- Reefmat 500
- Sicce Syncra SDC 6.0
- Aqua Ultraviolet UV Sterilizer - 8 Watt (wondering if 8 watts is enough, it says up to 70 gallons. My total tank volume is ~68. Wondering if I should go with the 15 watt just to have the extra power.)
For coral:
- My coral selection will be VERY similar to my old build, because those were some of my favorite coral (RIP).
- The rock in the back will be GSP because I love GSP on an island to add the bright green pop.
- The bottom right of the main scape will be mostly Zoas and maybe an orange setosa and a Montipora or two.
Most of the top of the large rock will be SPS.
- I’d eventually like a clam and maybe an anemone and a torch coral.
- Would love another OG Bounce Mushroom.
For fish:
- 2 clowns
- I would REALLY love to try to keep a Blue Spot Jawfish again, it’s my favorite fish.
- Sunburst Anthia
- Blue Green Chromis (7)
- Halichoeres Wrasse
- Lawnmower Blenny
- and some maybes:
Pearl Jawfish
Potters Angelfish
Appreciate any thoughts or suggestions as to the equipment list. I’ll continue to update as things progress. For now, I’m excited to be back! And finally, here are some pics (including my tentative minimalist rock scape):
I saw the tank and semi-impulsively decided the risk was low enough, and it was too beautiful to pass up on. It’s a perfect set up for what I’m hoping to be a “minimalist” mixed reef to enjoy until I eventually buy a home and move into something bigger.
I’ll continue to update this thread, but now that I’ve had multiple tanks and know what worked for me and what didn’t, and that I want to give this tank the best shot at stability and sustained success, I’m going to take this build a little slowly, starting with a nice long cycle (at least a few months).
Some preliminary equipment thoughts:
- Synergy CL-26 Sump
- Apex and Trident
- 2 MP40s
- 2 Radion G6 XR15 Pro lights
- Nyos Quantum 120 protein skimmer
- Reefmat 500
- Sicce Syncra SDC 6.0
- Aqua Ultraviolet UV Sterilizer - 8 Watt (wondering if 8 watts is enough, it says up to 70 gallons. My total tank volume is ~68. Wondering if I should go with the 15 watt just to have the extra power.)
For coral:
- My coral selection will be VERY similar to my old build, because those were some of my favorite coral (RIP).
- The rock in the back will be GSP because I love GSP on an island to add the bright green pop.
- The bottom right of the main scape will be mostly Zoas and maybe an orange setosa and a Montipora or two.
Most of the top of the large rock will be SPS.
- I’d eventually like a clam and maybe an anemone and a torch coral.
- Would love another OG Bounce Mushroom.
For fish:
- 2 clowns
- I would REALLY love to try to keep a Blue Spot Jawfish again, it’s my favorite fish.
- Sunburst Anthia
- Blue Green Chromis (7)
- Halichoeres Wrasse
- Lawnmower Blenny
- and some maybes:
Pearl Jawfish
Potters Angelfish
Appreciate any thoughts or suggestions as to the equipment list. I’ll continue to update as things progress. For now, I’m excited to be back! And finally, here are some pics (including my tentative minimalist rock scape):
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