So my wife and I couldn't stay away from the hobby. I used to have a few different tanks, a 380 gallon FOWLR, a 180 gallon FOWLR, a 187 gallon FOWLR, a 75 gallon FOWLR, 13.5 gallon macro tank and a 110 gallon reef. After moving and having some various issues (stand broke on the 110 gallon reef and we had to tear it down to save the fish and corals) we got out of the saltwater hobby for a bit. 5 months ago we decided to jump back in with a Fluval Evo 13.5, and the corals have grown so well plus we've completely become addicted, and now we are setting up another tank!
We decided to convert our 75 gallon freshwater tank to a reef, so are giving all the current inhabitants (mainly angelfish and rainbowfish) to a family member and completely gutting the tank. My wife is actually doing most of the initial setup, as I am currently living in St Kitts for veterinary school and only able to come home a few times per year. However, I will be doing most of the livestock and equipment purchasing.
The tank currently
Since I am in school and we are paying for my apartment here and our house in the states, this will be a budget build. Equipment will be as follows:
1. HOB protein skimmer (do not remember brand, bought it a few years ago, rated for a 150 gallon tank)
2. 2x VIPARSPECTRA Timer Control Dimmable 165W LED lights
3. CURRENT Dual eFlux Aquarium Wave Pumps, 1,050gph with wireless control
4. Jebao DCP-4000 Sine Wave Water Return Pump
5. Eheim Jager Heater 300 W
6. Sump - 20g Long DIY using Fiji Cube Sump Kit - will have a refugium and run purigen and Chemipure Blue - seems to work wonderfully for our Evo currently with regular small water changes.
7. Eshopps PF-1000 HOB overflow
8. Sand will be 70 lbs of CaribSea ACS00050 Aragonite Reef Sand
9. We are hoping to acquire dry rock from a local reefer as I like the pukani rock and style of other older live rock (like real tonga branch). I really don't like the look of most of the purple man made rock or the bare white marco rock.
This will be a true mixed reef, with a lot of SPS, zoas, acans, favias, torches, a few gorgonians, a couple giant clams, a pair of blood shrimp, a pistol shrimp, and all smaller reef fish (fairy wrasses, anthias, leopard wrasse, clowns, damsels, gobies, cardinals).
We decided to convert our 75 gallon freshwater tank to a reef, so are giving all the current inhabitants (mainly angelfish and rainbowfish) to a family member and completely gutting the tank. My wife is actually doing most of the initial setup, as I am currently living in St Kitts for veterinary school and only able to come home a few times per year. However, I will be doing most of the livestock and equipment purchasing.
The tank currently
Since I am in school and we are paying for my apartment here and our house in the states, this will be a budget build. Equipment will be as follows:
1. HOB protein skimmer (do not remember brand, bought it a few years ago, rated for a 150 gallon tank)
2. 2x VIPARSPECTRA Timer Control Dimmable 165W LED lights
3. CURRENT Dual eFlux Aquarium Wave Pumps, 1,050gph with wireless control
4. Jebao DCP-4000 Sine Wave Water Return Pump
5. Eheim Jager Heater 300 W
6. Sump - 20g Long DIY using Fiji Cube Sump Kit - will have a refugium and run purigen and Chemipure Blue - seems to work wonderfully for our Evo currently with regular small water changes.
7. Eshopps PF-1000 HOB overflow
8. Sand will be 70 lbs of CaribSea ACS00050 Aragonite Reef Sand
9. We are hoping to acquire dry rock from a local reefer as I like the pukani rock and style of other older live rock (like real tonga branch). I really don't like the look of most of the purple man made rock or the bare white marco rock.
This will be a true mixed reef, with a lot of SPS, zoas, acans, favias, torches, a few gorgonians, a couple giant clams, a pair of blood shrimp, a pistol shrimp, and all smaller reef fish (fairy wrasses, anthias, leopard wrasse, clowns, damsels, gobies, cardinals).
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