squidarcher
Active Member
Hey y'all! I'm currently 18 years old. Here is my build thread for my SPS-dominated mixed reef Innovative Marine 150 EXT with a 55 or 75 gallon sump, 100 gallon custom 6 ft acrylic tank for breeding dwarf cuttlefish, and 150 gallon rubbermaid FOWLR. Thanks for checking it out, and I hope you stick around!
I started with a fluval evo 13.5 for my 15th birthday, and it was a train wreck! Upgraded to a 75 gallon DT 55 gallon sump feb 2021, and it's been a similarly bumpy ride.
FTS 11/11/23
FTS 3/9/23
I've had cyano, GHA, lyngbya, dinoflagellates, GHA again, and I finally have an almost clean tank. I try to reef on a budget, but almost every dollar I earn goes to this tank anyways
I've been successful with a little bit of acros and I've had great success with Montipora, anacropora, and softies, over the last year. The tank's first coral was put in the tank in 2022, and I've seen a good bit of growth on everything. Tank still looks pretty sparse though. However, the main reason that I'm upgrading is because of tank issues with my 75 gallon. I bought it used, and it had a single drain instead of an overflow. This has resulted in numerous issues like leaks, clogging, and more that makes my life miserable.
So, in deciding to get a new tank, I figured I might as well go for the biggest and best I can get, since I'm staying at home for college anyways (saving money for grad school). I decided to order the Innovative Marine EXT 150. I love the shallow cube style of the tank, the aluminum stand, the build quality, and it was 40% off since it had to be made and there was a long lead time. I ordered the tank on January 8th, and got an email this week that have started building it. Expecting it in April-May. In the meantime, I have to clean up and get ready for a tank transfer. I'm using most of the old equipment from my current tank. Reef octopus 150 SS skimmer, 55 gallon sump, maxspect/icecap gyres, and since the new tank is exactly the same length as my current tank, I can use the same lights, a 48" Aquaticlife T5 hybrid with two AI primes. I do probably need a new light in the center. Also moving over all my rock and livestock. I have a 29 gallon tank with lots of new rock I've bought, and its holding a striped fang blenny, baby coral beauty, and green chromis to be moved over to the new tank.
Current Livestock:
Red Coris Wrasse (My monster! she makes it impossible to put anything on the sandbed, moving to an even bigger home soon)
Silverbelly Coris Wrasse
Redfin fairy wrasse
Hector's Goby
Cleaner Goby
Yellow Watchman Goby (my oldest fish)
Redhead goby
Scopas Tang
Royal Gramma
Flametail Blenny
4 Green Chromis
Aiptasia Eating Filefish
Ocellaris Clown
Coral Beauty
Striped Fang Blenny
Equipment:
Return: Jebao DCP 12000
Skimmer: Reef OCtopus SS 150
Lights: 48" Aquaticlife hybrid with two AI Primes
Sump: 55g with DIY baffles
Controller: Want to get a hydros in the future
Not a lot going on equipment-wise, my most success has been when I keep it simple!
Some interesting things also going on here: The entire right quarter of the tank will be dedicated to a 6-inch sandbed for garden eels! And I also plan to plumb in two custom 50g shallow acrylic tanks over the sump to house a frag tank and a mangrove/macro/nps tank with cuttlefish to replace my current 14g mangrove tank! I had baby dwarf cuttlefish, Sepia bandensis, in 2021 and I raised them from eggs and weaned them onto frozen, but I made a mistake with a water change and they all passed away overnight. Anyways, I love unique species! Will hopefully post photos when I get home today, looking forward to when the tank comes! Wish me luck everybody!
I started with a fluval evo 13.5 for my 15th birthday, and it was a train wreck! Upgraded to a 75 gallon DT 55 gallon sump feb 2021, and it's been a similarly bumpy ride.
FTS 11/11/23
FTS 3/9/23
I've had cyano, GHA, lyngbya, dinoflagellates, GHA again, and I finally have an almost clean tank. I try to reef on a budget, but almost every dollar I earn goes to this tank anyways
I've been successful with a little bit of acros and I've had great success with Montipora, anacropora, and softies, over the last year. The tank's first coral was put in the tank in 2022, and I've seen a good bit of growth on everything. Tank still looks pretty sparse though. However, the main reason that I'm upgrading is because of tank issues with my 75 gallon. I bought it used, and it had a single drain instead of an overflow. This has resulted in numerous issues like leaks, clogging, and more that makes my life miserable.So, in deciding to get a new tank, I figured I might as well go for the biggest and best I can get, since I'm staying at home for college anyways (saving money for grad school). I decided to order the Innovative Marine EXT 150. I love the shallow cube style of the tank, the aluminum stand, the build quality, and it was 40% off since it had to be made and there was a long lead time. I ordered the tank on January 8th, and got an email this week that have started building it. Expecting it in April-May. In the meantime, I have to clean up and get ready for a tank transfer. I'm using most of the old equipment from my current tank. Reef octopus 150 SS skimmer, 55 gallon sump, maxspect/icecap gyres, and since the new tank is exactly the same length as my current tank, I can use the same lights, a 48" Aquaticlife T5 hybrid with two AI primes. I do probably need a new light in the center. Also moving over all my rock and livestock. I have a 29 gallon tank with lots of new rock I've bought, and its holding a striped fang blenny, baby coral beauty, and green chromis to be moved over to the new tank.
Current Livestock:
Red Coris Wrasse (My monster! she makes it impossible to put anything on the sandbed, moving to an even bigger home soon)
Silverbelly Coris Wrasse
Redfin fairy wrasse
Hector's Goby
Cleaner Goby
Yellow Watchman Goby (my oldest fish)
Redhead goby
Scopas Tang
Royal Gramma
Flametail Blenny
4 Green Chromis
Aiptasia Eating Filefish
Ocellaris Clown
Coral Beauty
Striped Fang Blenny
Equipment:
Return: Jebao DCP 12000
Skimmer: Reef OCtopus SS 150
Lights: 48" Aquaticlife hybrid with two AI Primes
Sump: 55g with DIY baffles
Controller: Want to get a hydros in the future
Not a lot going on equipment-wise, my most success has been when I keep it simple!
Some interesting things also going on here: The entire right quarter of the tank will be dedicated to a 6-inch sandbed for garden eels! And I also plan to plumb in two custom 50g shallow acrylic tanks over the sump to house a frag tank and a mangrove/macro/nps tank with cuttlefish to replace my current 14g mangrove tank! I had baby dwarf cuttlefish, Sepia bandensis, in 2021 and I raised them from eggs and weaned them onto frozen, but I made a mistake with a water change and they all passed away overnight. Anyways, I love unique species! Will hopefully post photos when I get home today, looking forward to when the tank comes! Wish me luck everybody!
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