*** MARINER OF THE MONTH: 2nd Edition! Sponsored by EShopps, Top Shelf Aquatics, Premium Aquatics, and SaltwaterAquarium.com! ***

[JoJosReef]

I completely forgot to write about lighting, flow, filtration and control in my dream tank!

With 28" width, ideal would be a larger fixture oriented front-to-back. Orphek Natura Icon seems ideal with a spread fit for a 31.5"x24"x24" tank, so that would be 4 icons over the main display and an additional icon set to a refugium spectrum over the 24"x36" refugium. A bit less coverage in the refugium, but that should be OK. Can have some dimmer light macros in the back.

Flow, I think I'm just going to have to go with MP40s along the back wall, probably one for every foot or so.

For filtration, my preference is to go very simple with only a bit of GAC to cover leathers and any other toxins, and that's it. However, with a large tank and lots of fish, I'll reserve the right to getting a skimmer. Alternatively, I could make the equipment compartment an ouster bed and use oysters for filtration!

For control, I would go Hydros. A Minnow would dose my All For Reef, which I'll have to get in the super bulk direct package. I would also have 4 Hydros dosing pumps inside of a fridge dosing Reef Nutrition ROE, PacPods, PhytoFeast and RotiFeast. Sense ports would detect leaks, detect water levels that are too high or low, detect temp and activate heating or cooling (with an inkbird for redundancy). Testing will still be manual, so no need for a Maven. A Kraken or two would be used for cable management.

I'm sure I'm missing something. Might as well keep dreaming.

Of course, what to do with all that space in the stand where a sump would be!? Phyto, pod, rotifer and amphipod culture station, plus mini fridge for the Reef Nutrition food. Hmm, only two sentences?

 

[Fish Styx]

Of course, what to do with all that space in the stand where a sump would be!? Phyto, pod, rotifer and amphipod culture station, plus mini fridge for the Reef Nutrition food. Hmm, only two sentences?

Could you perhaps elaborate on the various stations a bit more? For example, what would the setups look like and how would you prevent cross contamination? I'm a very visual learner, so any diagrams that you may have would be most welcome.

 

[armyvetheather]

You guys already know my story from December's contest as well as Paul B's amazing donation of gifts to me. I was told that I could still join in the fun since I didn't actually win, so here goes again:

EDITED FOR JANUARY QUESTION and not December (oops): My dream tank would be a whole bunch of tanks that make up a small store. I would love to open a fish and coral store, not to get rich but just so that I could talk about aquariums all day everyday. I would love to be able to teach everyone this hobby and guide them through the processes. I would also love to be able to go and assist people with setting up tanks and maintaining them for those that can't be home or don't have time to do it themselves. Maybe one day, right? Anything is possible.

THIS WAS DECEMBERS RESPONSE:
The name of my tank is Sophie's Reef. Sophie is my little four pound hairless cat that I just adore and she adores the reef and watching the fish so we named it Sophie's Reef. I originally got into saltwater about ten years ago after my mom no longer wanted her saltwater tank and I thought "I'll give it a try". There was nowhere near the amount of coral or fish that are available now, but I did have a few of both. I recall driving pretty far at times to pick-up small pieces of leathers and various fish, I recall getting very excited about some Chromis I picked up from a guy about an hour away. Nonetheless, we ended up moving and I was beyond devastated that I did not have enough time to break down my tank and bring it with me. Fast forward ten years later and I now live on the coast where my life evolves around the ocean. From the ski boats to the 53' Hatteras we have, the ocean is our life and it only felt fitting that I get another marine tank so a little over a year ago, I did just that. I now have a 90 gallon cube and a 450 gallon acrylic tank that I just enjoy beyond measure. I think what I love most is all of the learning and the amount of research that you can do is just endless. Just when I think I've got marine tanks figured out, I learn something new and realize that I will likely never know everything about this hobby. I stare at my fish and coral for hours sometimes and think of different topics that I want to research and I feel like that's a large part of the passion. I think the other big part of what drives me to want to keep a marine aquarium is the challenge, the challenge of keeping an ecosystem perfectly in balance so as to keep everything alive. The desire to learn, challenge, and the beauty is unlike any other hobby I've ever enjoyed!


Thanks @ESHOPPS.INC for the contest!

Tank thread below avatar.

 

[ESHOPPS.INC]

You guys already know my story from December's contest as well as Paul B's amazing donation of gifts to me. I was told that I could still join in the fun since I didn't actually win, so here goes again:

The name of my tank is Sophie's Reef. Sophie is my little four pound hairless cat that I just adore and she adores the reef and watching the fish so we named it Sophie's Reef. I originally got into saltwater about ten years ago after my mom no longer wanted her saltwater tank and I thought "I'll give it a try". There was nowhere near the amount of coral or fish that are available now, but I did have a few of both. I recall driving pretty far at times to pick-up small pieces of leathers and various fish, I recall getting very excited about some Chromis I picked up from a guy about an hour away. Nonetheless, we ended up moving and I was beyond devastated that I did not have enough time to break down my tank and bring it with me. Fast forward ten years later and I now live on the coast where my life evolves around the ocean. From the ski boats to the 53' Hatteras we have, the ocean is our life and it only felt fitting that I get another marine tank so a little over a year ago, I did just that. I now have a 90 gallon cube and a 450 gallon acrylic tank that I just enjoy beyond measure. I think what I love most is all of the learning and the amount of research that you can do is just endless. Just when I think I've got marine tanks figured out, I learn something new and realize that I will likely never know everything about this hobby. I stare at my fish and coral for hours sometimes and think of different topics that I want to research and I feel like that's a large part of the passion. I think the other big part of what drives me to want to keep a marine aquarium is the challenge, the challenge of keeping an ecosystem perfectly in balance so as to keep everything alive. The desire to learn, challenge, and the beauty is unlike any other hobby I've ever enjoyed!

Thanks @ESHOPPS.INC for the contest!

Tank thread below avatar.

Hello Heather! Thank you again for joining. But this months question is different from last. As every month it will be a different topic. For this month it is: Describe your Dream Aquarium.

 

[ESHOPPS.INC]

Bump! Showing off this month's winners Trophy.

 

[JeremyKnight]

I’m Jeremy, I have a 210 gallon mixed reef that has taken over the basement and now the new “fish room”! Formally the dining room.

This project was started almost five years ago! A little bit at a time. And now our family has a thriving community reef tank!

See build thread below

Member Tanks

Show off your tank and document your progress.

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Slocke]

I’m Jeremy, I have a 210 gallon mixed reef that has taken over the basement and now the new “fish room”! Formally the dining room.

This project was started almost five years ago! A little bit at a time. And now our family has a thriving community reef tank!

See build thread below

Member Tanks

Show off your tank and document your progress.

www.reef2reef.com

5 sentences on your dream tank?

 

[ESHOPPS.INC]

I’m Jeremy, I have a 210 gallon mixed reef that has taken over the basement and now the new “fish room”! Formally the dining room.

This project was started almost five years ago! A little bit at a time. And now our family has a thriving community reef tank!

See build thread below

Member Tanks

Show off your tank and document your progress.

www.reef2reef.com

Beautiful setup! Can you also Describe your Dream Aquarium to qualify for voting.

 

[mini]

Hey eshopps!

A picture of me,

and a picture of aquarium(mini reef)

Aquarium I would most want would be a nano aquarium something easy. Get it established and leave it be with a simple tiny water change. Doesn’t take up much space. With an hidden oversized ato. With zero light spill.

 

[fishguy242]

Only 10 entries so far... nomination for @Scratch08 @Reefing_addiction @LadyMac ...

 

[Daniel@R2R]

Hey eshopps!

A picture of me,

and a picture of aquarium(mini reef)

Aquarium I would most want would be a nano aquarium something easy. Get it established and leave it be with a simple tiny water change.

Hey bud, Can you give a little more info on your dream system? The entry needs to be at least 5 sentences.

 

[fishguy242]

nominate , @Lasse @MERKEY @exnisstech @jdpiii3 ,and soo many unnamed...

 

[Reefing_addiction]

Might as well put my name in the hat….

So current tank ….umm errrr tanks…..I have a 75g with a 40 breeder sump and recently set up a 100g with about a 40 breeder sump. The 75 is the Coral Addiction tank…..which is why I now have a 100g Reefing Addiction tank. I would like to say people like @fishguy242 , @F i s h y , and @Lost in the Sauce (we miss you!!!) all deserve to win this. Many of the people who are here this month have been very helpful not only with my tank but with helping me not slip into a not so fun addiction. My tanks give me focus and the people here give me an extended family! #Cronies#Cronies….

A FTS of the 75gallon …. You can see my problem? Solution? Both?

So there has been additions since these photos
Left side

Right side

The new tank

Definitely did better on the aquascape on this one.

My dream Tank…..does it have to be one???

My dream is to own a house where I can have a 300+ gallon tank. I would likely go with a tank that is wider front to back then average (the 100 gallon has an extra 4 inches front to back and I love it!). I want the back of the tank to be in the Fish Room! But I still want access to look into the tank from the sides because I love the way my tanks look like that. I love the way the aquascape came out in the 100gallon so I would just supersize that for the larger tank. I would still go the route of minimal equipment. Filter socks and a refugium. This tank could house ALL the goniopora ….. all the bowerbankis, hammers, octospawns, acans, and I guess even Acros that my wallet loves to open up for. Might even have room for a scoly or 2….maybe an acanthophyllia…..fish stocking would be fun! I could finally get those big Tangs! And definitely need more wrasses. But if I’m being honest I am in this for the corals and the community of people who share in my addiction!

The Fish Room would be set up so I could run another system dedicated to corals spawning (looking at you @F i s h y !!) ! I want to provide my corals an environment they thrive in.
Then I want to provide the fishy community I’ve grown to love frags at the low low price of overnight shipping! So the Fish Room also needs a fragging station.
It needs to also be able to accommodate phyto cultivation because why not? I don’t do water changes but it would be nice to have an endless top off system in place.

OH! I almost forgot. Need to have a place for the cats to sit and dream about catching that big fish!

Here you can read about my adventure from a 16gal to a 75gal (in less than a year) and the beginning of the 100gal.

Build Thread - My 75gal coral addiction tank

I started in March with a Biocube 16 gallon AIO. I found myself already wanting a bigger tank. I was looking at a Fiji 32. I didn’t want to spend that much. Than I got on Facebook at the beginning of last week and found this tank, 70 gallon flat back hex mad out of acrylic. Priced at 400...

www.reef2reef.com

And don’t forget that you need a banana

 

[Slocke]

Might as well put my name in the hat….

So current tank ….umm errrr tanks…..I have a 75g with a 40 breeder sump and recently set up a 100g with about a 40 breeder sump. The 75 is the Coral Addiction tank…..which is why I now have a 100g Reefing Addiction tank. I would like to say people like @fishguy242 , @F i s h y , and @Lost in the Sauce (we miss you!!!) all deserve to win this. Many of the people who are here this month have been very helpful not only with my tank but with helping me not slip into a not so fun addiction. My tanks give me focus and the people here give me an extended family! #Cronies#Cronies….

A FTS of the 75gallon …. You can see my problem? Solution? Both?

Left side

Right side

Psst... 5 sentences on your dream tank

 

[Reefing_addiction]

Psst... 5 sentences on your dream tank

I’ve been up since 11:45pm cuz work.

I fat fingered it and hit post

But I went and added the dream tank

 

[Lasse]

nominate , @Lasse @MERKEY @exnisstech @jdpiii3 ,and soo many unnamed...

Thank you for the nomination but I do not live in the continental US - thus disqualified - further on - I already have my dream tank that is in constant developing since 8 years ago.

Sincerely Lasse

 

[JeremyKnight]

I’m Jeremy, I have a 210 gallon mixed reef that has taken over the basement and now the new “fish room”! Formally the dining room.

This project was started almost five years ago! A little bit at a time. And now our family has a thriving community reef tank!

See build thread below

Member Tanks

Show off your tank and document your progress.

www.reef2reef.com

I’m Jeremy, I have a 210 gallon mixed reef that has taken over the basement and now the new “fish room”! Formally the dining room.

This project was started almost five years ago! A little bit at a time. And now our family has a thriving community reef tank!

See build thread below

Member Tanks

Show off your tank and document your progress.

www.reef2reef.com

My dream tank will eventually be a few thousand gallon cinder block aquarium with a twelve foot by four foot viewing panel built in my basemen. We plan on having a theater room with a huge reef! I want to learn how to build and program computer machine logic on an industrial scale to make a computer that runs my whole system. I currently have a reef PI that handles a lot of the heavy lifting. I want a display that will allow my corals to grow to their true sizes as nature intended without needing fragged to maintain the peace. I also want to have a bunch of big angels that need room. This is the next step once our kids are grown.

 

[LadyMac]

Wait I’m definitely not qualified for this one lol. I don’t know enough to offer fantastic advice, like the other nominees not a beautiful full reef that is awe inspiring.

 

[JeremyKnight]

Beautiful setup! Can you also Describe your Dream Aquarium to qualify for voting.

Done…

 

[JeremyKnight]

Beautiful setup! Can you also Describe your Dream Aquarium to qualify for voting.

Done…. I couldn’t figure out how to edit my official post so I replied to it. Womp womp