My New Reef Tank (w/ pics) (2019-2024)

[Stege_saurus]

Hello all! Im new to the site, and new to reef keeping, but not new to saltwater aquariums (FOWLR). This is my journey so far in keeping a reef tank!

 

[Stege_saurus]

This is my 120g reef aquarium. I recently upgraded from a 55g with a bunch of hang on equipment to this beauty. When I purchased this, the guy I got it from spoke little English, but was obviously a very caring guy and enthusiastic about aquariums ( he had over a dozen sitting in his basement with and without fish). I've been purchasing everything I can to help make everything go smoother and be easier to keep up with. I also have a QT but it isnt currently set up. I've purchased a few different medications or treatments to have on hand, and many different water testing products. Before I set this up, I had my brother who is an electrician come over and go over things with me, such as redoing the outlet the previous owner had installed. We also installed a GFCI outlet where the tank is installed, as well as expanding the outlets inside the stand (went from 1 to 8, with the ability to have 4 more if needed).

Current inhabitants:
2 Snowflake Clowns (my favorite)
1 Black Ocellaris clown (fiance's favorite)
1 Blue Damsel
1 Lemon/Yellow Damsel
1 3 Stripe Damsel
1 Coral Banded Shrimp
1 Peppermint shrimp
Dozens of crabs and snails, and chocolate chip star.

 

[HunterW]

This is my 120g reef aquarium. I recently upgraded from a 55g with a bunch of hang on equipment to this beauty. When I purchased this, the guy I got it from spoke little English, but was obviously a very caring guy and enthusiastic about aquariums ( he had over a dozen sitting in his basement with and without fish). I've been purchasing everything I can to help make everything go smoother and be easier to keep up with. I also have a QT but it isnt currently set up. I've purchased a few different medications or treatments to have on hand, and many different water testing products. Before I set this up, I had my brother who is an electrician come over and go over things with me, such as redoing the outlet the previous owner had installed. We also installed a GFCI outlet where the tank is installed, as well as expanding the outlets inside the stand (went from 1 to 8, with the ability to have 4 more if needed).

Current inhabitants:
2 Snowflake Clowns (my favorite)
1 Black Ocellaris clown (fiance's favorite)
1 Blue Damsel
1 Lemon/Yellow Damsel
1 3 Stripe Damsel
1 Coral Banded Shrimp
1 Peppermint shrimp
Dozens of crabs and snails, and chocolate chip star.

This is my 120g reef aquarium. I recently upgraded from a 55g with a bunch of hang on equipment to this beauty. When I purchased this, the guy I got it from spoke little English, but was obviously a very caring guy and enthusiastic about aquariums ( he had over a dozen sitting in his basement with and without fish). I've been purchasing everything I can to help make everything go smoother and be easier to keep up with. I also have a QT but it isnt currently set up. I've purchased a few different medications or treatments to have on hand, and many different water testing products. Before I set this up, I had my brother who is an electrician come over and go over things with me, such as redoing the outlet the previous owner had installed. We also installed a GFCI outlet where the tank is installed, as well as expanding the outlets inside the stand (went from 1 to 8, with the ability to have 4 more if needed).

Current inhabitants:
2 Snowflake Clowns (my favorite)
1 Black Ocellaris clown (fiance's favorite)
1 Blue Damsel
1 Lemon/Yellow Damsel
1 3 Stripe Damsel
1 Coral Banded Shrimp
1 Peppermint shrimp
Dozens of crabs and snails, and chocolate chip star.

Great looking aquascaping; I'm planning on a FOWLR, but your tank sure looks tempting as to corals at some point. Will watch your thread as I hope to gt my 92 bfront soon and getting VERY ichy...lol.

 

[Stege_saurus]

I do have 1 kind of coral in currently, and can't remember the name of it. I did have a Zoa, and my fiance's chocolate chip star ate it, so he's going somewhere else soon, not sure yet.

 

[HunterW]

Yep, the star's gotta go, I know you'll find him a good home.

 

[Billfromtr]

Your tanks aquascape is on point. Good job and good luck!

 

[Stege_saurus]

Thanks! Any and all suggestions for fish and corals are accepted as well. :)

 

[Stege_saurus]

We have 3 new additions being quarantined to get ready for the DT.
1 Dottyback
1 Coral Beauty Angel
1 Firefish?(can't remember the name)

Hopefully they do well!

 

[Stege_saurus]

Here they are

 

[Stege_saurus]

Some new corals!
1 Brown Button Zoa
1 Grape Coral
1 Purple Star Polyp

 

[Stege_saurus]

Three new fish!
1 Orange Spotted Sleeper Goby
1 Splendid Dottyback
1 Firefish

And one new Urchin who I don't have a pic of currently.

 

[Stege_saurus]

2 new additions!

Yellow Tang
Neon Dottyback

Getting ready to feed, then do a waterchange in QT!
Yellow Tang is eating excellent!
Neon Dottyback is eating great as well!

I also have gotten both my daughter and fiance into aquariums, now they both have their own freshwater tank. They also come view all 3 tanks every night.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Looks good, progression is nice, family time at the tank is alway a great time.

Keep updating, have a good night

 

[Stege_saurus]

Sorry! Forgot to update the process this weekend.
3 new additions made it out of QT and into DT
1 Striped Blenny
1 Arc-eye Hawkfish
1 Royal Gramma

 

[Stege_saurus]

I also have a few new corals on the way, and a few more additions to QT process.
1 Tomini Tang
1 Bi-color Angelfish
1 Six line wrasse
I couldn't get a pic of the Wrasse, cause he's a master at hiding. Before the Tang police decide to give me a citation, I have reasonings and a process in place for acclimating my yellow Tang and Tomini Tang, and I would love to explain if needed!

 

[jaxredsoxfan]

Very nice aquascape. I find if you move a rock or 2 it will upset the predetermined space claimed by the fish already in the tank and make the Tomini and Yellow start from scratch to determine their pecking order and preferred locations in the tank. Just a suggestion. Ive seen them go immediately after each other, and other times with tangs they seem to care less. Just watch them and make adjustments accordingly. Good luck and the tank looks great!

 

[Stege_saurus]

Very nice aquascape. I find if you move a rock or 2 it will upset the predetermined space claimed by the fish already in the tank and make the Tomini and Yellow start from scratch to determine their pecking order and preferred locations in the tank. Just a suggestion. Ive seen them go immediately after each other, and other times with tangs they seem to care less. Just watch them and make adjustments accordingly. Good luck and the tank looks great!

I've noticed my yellow Tang could care less about other fish, I even showed a pic of another Tang to him/her and it didnt want anything to do with it. But I appreciate the advice, I also have some other methods I may employ if necessary.

 

[jaxredsoxfan]

Never thought of showing a picture- clever!!

 

[Stege_saurus]

Haven't updated for awhile...
We have 2 Anemones, one which the clowns absolutely love and protect.
A Sailfin Tang
A Scooter Blenny
A Foxface Rabbitfish
Hope everyone enjoys!

 

[Stege_saurus]

Quick "Build Thread" update. Alot has happened in the past 5 years since starting this tank. Through the ups, the downs, the lefts and the rights, I lost control of the tank and maintenance got way out of hand. With lots of push from a fellow reefer who originally got me into this hobby, I decided this summer I was going to restart.

From there I talked with my wife and came to the conclusion that if I'm going to continue to be in this hobby, i need to be able to easily maintain and be able to realistically keep up on the needs of the tank. With all the knowledge i had gained, i decided to downsize slightly in order to give me the confidence in keeping up with maintenance so i went from having a 120 down to a 75. Found a great deal on a used one that i couldnt pass up, so with ambition in tow I began the new journey.

After a few weeks of researching and purchasing any additional equipment I would need, i was ready to begin. I set up a temporary tank (55g) that i have had for years (the tank that was the catalyst to want me to catapult to a bigger tank) and seeded it with media i had laying in the sump (canister filter on the 55). In order to make the transition easier for the fish, and easier for me to catch them, i took a few larger pieces of the 5 year aged live rock and added it to the 55. After catching, acclimating, and transferring everyone to the temporary tank, i began the grueling process of tearing down the 120.

After many days of tearing the old system down, moving it out, and setting up the new system, i present you my newest reef:

The journey for this one has only just begun. I will do my best to keep everyone updated whenever i can. If you notice, i used a couple of pieces from the previous system to both help me with seeding bacteria and to kind of remind me of where i have been with this journey and to look up.

Happy Reefing All!!