nightster
Community Member
Well I guess it's time, long winded post so bare with me! I have been in the hobby for a few years, took a break, then got back in. My 40b has been on idle for 6 years, I was basically doing the bare minimum to keep my clownfish alive. Using tap water for top offs with out dechlorinating. Not doing any water changes, all in all doing a very poor job of keeping the tank going.
For some reason around the beginning of August, probably out of boredom bc of the way this year has progressed, I got the bug again. I bought some AI Hydra 32s, a few other essentials, cleaned up the ridiculous amounts of algae, and got it back to somewhat presentable shape. I had a 125g running fw also on idle and decided to break it down. Was gonna sell it and buy a nice rimless set up then decided to rearrange the living room (my wife's idea!) and set the 125 up as a mixed reef and break down the 40b.
While breaking down the 125g to repaint the stand I noticed some stress cracks in the supports. I could have repaired that stand and used it but this was going to be in my living room and I wanted something a little nicer. Enter my beginner carpenter skills and ocd. It took me a little while to build the stand, worked on it slowly over a few weeks.
Finally got the stand and canopy finished and moved inside. There are a few other things I need to do to the stand to complete it but they can be added later once I figure out what equipment I'll be using. I plan on building a sliding vertical shelf to mount my controllers in.
For lighting on the 125 I was going to use 3 AI Hydra 32s, haven't decided if I want to supplement with t5s or not. I know, why not 4 lights right? Well there are 2 glass braces splitting the top of the aquarium into 3 parts, due to the center overflow. I want to keep SPS and LPS. The SPS will be strategically placed bc of the lighting situation. Flow will be provided by 2 mp40s and 2 mp10s along with a Sicce Syncra 7 return pump. I found a killer deal on a Trigger Emerald 39, it's a little big for my stand but go big or go home right? I really couldn't pass up the deal I got. I haven't figured out what protein skimmer I'll be using, I have some time before I decide. Really thinking about going reef moonshiners and a calcium reactor. I know nothing about calcium reactors so I'll have some learning to do before that happens.
I'll move my current livestock over from my 40b to the 125g. As of now it's only 2 clowns, a pistol shrimp, and a small tomini tang. I eventually want a sand sifter, a couple anthias, and maybe a wrasse. My unicorn fish is an Achilles tang but I don't think my 125g is big enough.
Included are a couple pictures of my stand during the build process, my old stand (photo taken with literal potato), and my 40b as it sits now. 40b still fighting some algae issues no doubt stemming from my years of neglect. Plus a picture of my wc station that I may not end up needing but it's the first one I've had and am really enjoying it while I get to use it!
For some reason around the beginning of August, probably out of boredom bc of the way this year has progressed, I got the bug again. I bought some AI Hydra 32s, a few other essentials, cleaned up the ridiculous amounts of algae, and got it back to somewhat presentable shape. I had a 125g running fw also on idle and decided to break it down. Was gonna sell it and buy a nice rimless set up then decided to rearrange the living room (my wife's idea!) and set the 125 up as a mixed reef and break down the 40b.
While breaking down the 125g to repaint the stand I noticed some stress cracks in the supports. I could have repaired that stand and used it but this was going to be in my living room and I wanted something a little nicer. Enter my beginner carpenter skills and ocd. It took me a little while to build the stand, worked on it slowly over a few weeks.
Finally got the stand and canopy finished and moved inside. There are a few other things I need to do to the stand to complete it but they can be added later once I figure out what equipment I'll be using. I plan on building a sliding vertical shelf to mount my controllers in.
For lighting on the 125 I was going to use 3 AI Hydra 32s, haven't decided if I want to supplement with t5s or not. I know, why not 4 lights right? Well there are 2 glass braces splitting the top of the aquarium into 3 parts, due to the center overflow. I want to keep SPS and LPS. The SPS will be strategically placed bc of the lighting situation. Flow will be provided by 2 mp40s and 2 mp10s along with a Sicce Syncra 7 return pump. I found a killer deal on a Trigger Emerald 39, it's a little big for my stand but go big or go home right? I really couldn't pass up the deal I got. I haven't figured out what protein skimmer I'll be using, I have some time before I decide. Really thinking about going reef moonshiners and a calcium reactor. I know nothing about calcium reactors so I'll have some learning to do before that happens.
I'll move my current livestock over from my 40b to the 125g. As of now it's only 2 clowns, a pistol shrimp, and a small tomini tang. I eventually want a sand sifter, a couple anthias, and maybe a wrasse. My unicorn fish is an Achilles tang but I don't think my 125g is big enough.
Included are a couple pictures of my stand during the build process, my old stand (photo taken with literal potato), and my 40b as it sits now. 40b still fighting some algae issues no doubt stemming from my years of neglect. Plus a picture of my wc station that I may not end up needing but it's the first one I've had and am really enjoying it while I get to use it!
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