Mr Fishface's 125 gallon build

[Mr Fishface]

Hi there everyone! I thought I would finally get around to posting my build thread here. I got a 125 gallon tank maybe a month ago from a local aquarium. Previously I had a 75 gallon mixed reef tank. I got it moved into my basement where I started working on it. I just got the sump up and running on it tonight actually! I have some pictures I'll upload too.

Currently for lighting I just have a 4 foot long, 8 bulb T5 system that I use 4 bulbs right now. Two blue+, a coral+ and a purple I believe; all from ATI. I have a 55 gallon sump currently but I would like to downgrade it to a 40 long one day. I also have a bubble magus curve 5 protein skimmer. Lets see, what else to share..

I also set up a frag tank but that has been on the backburner. It's a 40 gallon breeder with a sump I got for free from someone local. I'll be updating more info about this as I get it set up and running too.

Here is a picture from tonight after I just got the sump all set up and running!

 

[Peace River]

Hi there everyone! I thought I would finally get around to posting my build thread here. I got a 125 gallon tank maybe a month ago from a local aquarium. Previously I had a 75 gallon mixed reef tank. I got it moved into my basement where I started working on it. I just got the sump up and running on it tonight actually! I have some pictures I'll upload too.

Currently for lighting I just have a 4 foot long, 8 bulb T5 system that I use 4 bulbs right now. Two blue+, a coral+ and a purple I believe; all from ATI. I have a 55 gallon sump currently but I would like to downgrade it to a 40 long one day. I also have a bubble magus curve 5 protein skimmer. Lets see, what else to share..

I also set up a frag tank but that has been on the backburner. It's a 40 gallon breeder with a sump I got for free from someone local. I'll be updating more info about this as I get it set up and running too.

Here is a picture from tonight after I just got the sump all set up and running!

It sounds like you are off to a good start on your new build. I look forward to seeing pictures of your tank as it comes together!

 

[Big G]

Sounds like fun! Enjoy the new build. :)

 

[Mr Fishface]

Here is the picture of my tank with sump set up. Hopefully it works this time! Oh and please excuse the mess.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Looking good. I like your rock scape. Lots of arches for your fish to swim through :)

 

[Mr Fishface]

Thank you very much! The goal was exactly that - lots of arches for fish to swim through while also providing a lot of flat surface on the top for corals to be placed on. I'll take more pictures of the rock scape once lights turn on in a few hours :) You can see the difference between the old rock and new. A lot of my GSP covered rock got moved to my sump. I wanted to free up real estate but still keep all the filtration going.

 

[Mr Fishface]

Here is a better picture of my aquascape. It's mostly complete I still have a few more rocks in my frag tank that will transfer over. Rocks are pretty bare because I stripped almost all corals off the old rocks. I didnt want to be limited to placing new rock around coral ans it made my life easier. Now this week I'll be adding corals back into the tank ;)

 

[Mr Fishface]

Well yesterday I got my sweet new Kessil a360WE lights in thanks to @dantimdad for them!!!

Here, as always, is a terrible pictures showing off the new lights in my tank. I have them fitted up into my canopy or I would show that too lol. If I could figure out how to use my wife's DSLR I bet that would take nicer pictures.
This is my first time owning Kessil lights but I am blown away by how NICE they make the tank look! I love them!

 

[Mr Fishface]

Here is a picture of my tank with the T5 and Kessil together. I really love how it looks. The spectral controller is also very easy to use! Being that these are new to me I decided to make the max intensity for the week at 40%. Does that seem too high to anyone? Or is that a good place to start?

 

[dantimdad]

Since you are using T5 as well, might want to start down around 30% and see how things look.

 

[Mr Fishface]

Since you are using T5 as well, might want to start down around 30% and see how things look.

Thanks for the advice man! I really appreciate it ;Woot

 

[Mr Fishface]

Does anyone know if there are issues if I want to drill two, 1 1/4" holes in the side of my aquarium stand? I want to plumb my frag tank to my main sump and would like to drill holes to keep it looking sleek.

 

[Mr Fishface]

I have a coral that I THINK is a monti of some type, that is aboslutely loving the new kessil lights! Polyps are everywhere and it has gotten a really nice, soft pink color to it. Picture doesn't do it justice but I tried ;)

Tomorrow I will start to drill the stand to plumb my frag tank in the system. Very excited!

 

[dantimdad]

Shouldn't be an issue with the holes.

 

[Mr Fishface]

Shouldn't be an issue with the holes.

Thank you for your advice! It's always welcome here :D

 

[Mr Fishface]

I got the stand drilled and connected. I decided I will use the 40b as a display refugium and may one day turn it into a frag tank. For how though i don't have many frags that need to be in there. Ive got a couple zoas that are regrowing after mysteriously disappearing, some xenia on a rock and a few mushrooms. I also added my brand new ATO into my system and am very happy with it so far! Kept my water levels stable overnight which is a good start :D I'll add more pics today of how the tank is starting to look now that I've added more coral, as well as my display refugium.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Looking good so far! The 125 is a good size tank. I love mine.

 

[Mr Fishface]

Here are a couple new pictures. I added some new fish and they all follow me when I walk past the tank. Pretty humorous so I took a picture of them all huddled up, waiting to be fed! I still need to move my heater into my sump hehe.
I also got a boxfish that I have put into my display refugium. It is the only fish in there while I get it acclimated to a reef tank life and until it grows a little bigger. I have a bigger powerhead in the DT that it wouldn't do great with while my refugium is currently a slower flow. The boxfish started eating just the other day. Red algae seems to be the holy grail for getting picky fish to eat! I like to call it fishnip as all of my fish just love to eat it. The tank is also jam packed with pods that I have now witnessed the boxfish enjoying which makes my heart happy.

Anyway, onto pictures!

 

[Mr Fishface]

Been too long since I've updated. Just traded my rabbitfish for 6 coral frags. He was fighting with my tangs pretty good plus I'm fairly sure he was the zoa eater in my tank. Bought a hammer and torch coral last week. Looking at placing a large order for corals in the next month to two months to really fill out the tank. Refugium below the tank is doing well. Put a plant grow light on it to help increase growth. Was just using a 26w cfl bulb before.

 

[Big G]

Looking good. So much room to grow. I like it. :)