Old reefer getting back into it

DEValken · 2026-10-17T08:44:05-0400

Howdy R2R,

Long time reader, first time poster.

In the 80's & 90's I was really into tanks, at one time had nine up and running - African cichlids, piranhas, amphibs, reef, Fowlr among others. While away at training had my skimmer go bad and crash the reef (only tank at that point). Lost an elegance I'd had for 6 years that was about 7" across (skeleton). The loss really upset me- far more than the other corals. Thing had to be way older than I was. Decided to give it up in 1994.

Fast forward to 2019, lifelong friend was basically gifted a 135 gal tank. We built the sump, ordered some live rock and that's when I found R2R. Been lurking since.

Last year his son picked up a Marineland VDS from a LFS that was getting rid of their saltwater systems. Paid $500 for a 6 tank (40 breeders) setup - sump, skimmer, heater, lights, etc. and turned it into a tropical (fresh) fish unit.

This spring he offered me the sump for $250 as he was taking the whole thing down.

This has led to a two tank (75 reef, 60 fowlr) system with a common cellar based sump and a 15 gal refugium in the closet. I told the son at the time he had no idea how much money that $250 was going to cost me. All his fault!

Thanks,

Dave

revhtree · 2026-10-17T08:44:05-0400

Welcome to your new home for saltwater reef aquarium resources and fun! Welcome to the family! :D

edsbeaker · 2026-10-17T09:41:05-0400

Hello and welcome!
You are probably finding that there has been lots of changes in the last 25 years!

CoralB · 2026-10-17T10:00:33-0400

Welcome !!

mmorrison55 · 2026-10-17T10:13:39-0400

Welcome.

X-37B · 2026-10-17T10:16:56-0400

Nano_Man · 2026-10-17T10:19:16-0400

DEValken · 2026-10-17T10:22:40-0400

edsbeaker said:
Hello and welcome!
You are probably finding that there has been lots of changes in the last 25 years!

There are, for sure!

N an P are good guys now. I can check and control my tank from anywhere (Rob's robo-tank). Them interwebs, with all kinds of conflicting info out there. LED lights, dc powerheads, auto-feeders. The need to quarantine livestock (I see you @Paul B ). Reef2Reef with answers to questions I couldn't ask 30 years ago.

I started a 55 with live fiji rock back in the day, few water changes, never had a major issue until the end. Never quarantined anything, or dosed anything.

20 gal sump with bio-balls first, then bio-bale. Skimmer (HOB), two penquin powerheads, 6 VHO bulbs. The Berlin method was starting to make it into magazines, but it wasn't popular yet. Looking back, we were doing it already and could have just emptied our sumps of bio-whatever. Been fine.

I put @LiverockRocks (The Package) in starting 12 Jun. Can't say enough good things about Wen and the whole crew, sand or rocks. No real ugly stage (yet), and I still have some barnacles left!