Post #1
Here we go. Back into reefing after a 25 years hiatus. Never thought I would dive back into this hobby but with the tremendous support and encouragement from my wife I am going to take the plunge. I plan to document my whole journey to get feedback and hopefully give insight and information for anyone that has questions. A lot of my information is based on BRS 52 weeks of reefing. I sat through all of those videos and a lot has changed in 25 years.
High Level Plan
Look at all the details. From the start I want to do this one time and not have to do it again. That would be the perfect world. But life would be boring if everything went perfectly.
With that said currently looking at the following: hybrid T5/LED, Triton method but maybe go to Geovit, UV, if going Geovit no UV because it is not recommended. Not sure if it will be needed for Triton method. Apex controller I like the alerts and data that it produces. Also feel that they are the market leader in controllers. All of this is subject to change and time will tell.
I have room for a 60” tank and up to 30” deep. I have been researching for a while and looked at several different manufactures. First looked at Redsea and Waterbox. Like the concept but the cabinets just will not fit in our current furniture design. So I am going to go with different manufacture tank and sump.
Tank
I searched all over for different manufacturers of tanks and these are the ones I came across. I was 80% set on a rimless but still leaving options open.
Reef Savvy - Sent an email about tank build and have not heard back.
Planet Aquariums - Called LFS and waiting for a quote.
SC Aquariums - This is looking promising. They have a rimless but I don’t like the extra support that they have to brace the tank with at the top. While it is rimless there is a 2” strip of glass that goes around the top. Although the price is very attractive and I may go that route.
Crystal Dynamics - Liked them because they were local but the reviews scared me and decided not to even contact them.
Innovated Marine - Just didn’t have the size measurements I wanted.
Visio Aquariums - They had framed tanks at LSF but no rimless on display and never asked to quote rimless.
Sump
I also searched all over for sumps.
Trigger Systems
Bashsea
Synergy Reef
Several others
What it is coming down to is quality and function. I really like Synergy Reef and waiting to talk to them. I like that they have 2 options traditional and Triton method. If I go Triton method I will go with the Synergy Reef sump.
Cabinet
Kitchen was remodeled 5 years ago so going to have my cabinet maker build a custom cabinet. It will have the same finish and doors as our current cabinets.
I will try and post weekly on progress.
Here we go. Back into reefing after a 25 years hiatus. Never thought I would dive back into this hobby but with the tremendous support and encouragement from my wife I am going to take the plunge. I plan to document my whole journey to get feedback and hopefully give insight and information for anyone that has questions. A lot of my information is based on BRS 52 weeks of reefing. I sat through all of those videos and a lot has changed in 25 years.
High Level Plan
Look at all the details. From the start I want to do this one time and not have to do it again. That would be the perfect world. But life would be boring if everything went perfectly.
With that said currently looking at the following: hybrid T5/LED, Triton method but maybe go to Geovit, UV, if going Geovit no UV because it is not recommended. Not sure if it will be needed for Triton method. Apex controller I like the alerts and data that it produces. Also feel that they are the market leader in controllers. All of this is subject to change and time will tell.
I have room for a 60” tank and up to 30” deep. I have been researching for a while and looked at several different manufactures. First looked at Redsea and Waterbox. Like the concept but the cabinets just will not fit in our current furniture design. So I am going to go with different manufacture tank and sump.
Tank
I searched all over for different manufacturers of tanks and these are the ones I came across. I was 80% set on a rimless but still leaving options open.
Reef Savvy - Sent an email about tank build and have not heard back.
Planet Aquariums - Called LFS and waiting for a quote.
SC Aquariums - This is looking promising. They have a rimless but I don’t like the extra support that they have to brace the tank with at the top. While it is rimless there is a 2” strip of glass that goes around the top. Although the price is very attractive and I may go that route.
Crystal Dynamics - Liked them because they were local but the reviews scared me and decided not to even contact them.
Innovated Marine - Just didn’t have the size measurements I wanted.
Visio Aquariums - They had framed tanks at LSF but no rimless on display and never asked to quote rimless.
Sump
I also searched all over for sumps.
Trigger Systems
Bashsea
Synergy Reef
Several others
What it is coming down to is quality and function. I really like Synergy Reef and waiting to talk to them. I like that they have 2 options traditional and Triton method. If I go Triton method I will go with the Synergy Reef sump.
Cabinet
Kitchen was remodeled 5 years ago so going to have my cabinet maker build a custom cabinet. It will have the same finish and doors as our current cabinets.
I will try and post weekly on progress.