In 2017, I moved from WA to ID and it was a rough move for the aquarium. Getting settled in a new state and a new way of life, the reef took a back seat and just didn't get the love it deserved. So, it's time to give new life to this aquarium.
The tank is a custom 80-gallon built by Clear Fabrications Inc (Get hold of Jason @CFI if you need one! https://www.facebook.com/Clear-Fabrications-2068164953394973/). I've got a new sump (48x22x24), which I'm picking up Saturday, that was also built by CFI as well. It has a 40-gallon refugium section, skimmer/equipment section, and then a 25-gallon return section....from what I can remember as I'm typing this
For lighting, I'm going back to halides and T5s. I ran Radions for over a decade and I never really got to the point where I thought the light from LED was quite as good as halides. There's a shimmer you just can't get with LED and they're tried and true for SPS. The light is a 4' Hamilton fixture with 2X 250W 20K Radiums and 4 T5s for actinic lighting. Not sure yet on the T5 combination but it will probably be ATI True Actinic03 and a couple of ATI Purple Plus. Probably won't need to run heaters
Nothing fancy for skimming, just my 13-year-old Reef Octopus. I'm going to use PolypLab Genisis Rock for the core of the bio-filter. I'm looking at Tropic Eden for my substrate, probably a mix of 3 different kinds and 2" deep as I'd like a Diamond Goby at some point. Flow will be provided by my MP40's (they started out life as MP20s) once they get the wetside and controller upgrades.
For Livestock, I'm looking at a number of small fish, mostly gobies. A tailspot blenny. Some sort of fairy wrasse and a six-line. At some point, I'll try and get a yellow tang or lavender tang. And then of course SPS, LPS, and maybe a couple of zoa varieties.
OK, on to the pics. Let's start with a little look back at the beginning:
Back when she was brand new and never seen water
first setup with rock
Some old livestock from the past
And here's what she looked like when I tore her down a couple of months ago:
The tank is a custom 80-gallon built by Clear Fabrications Inc (Get hold of Jason @CFI if you need one! https://www.facebook.com/Clear-Fabrications-2068164953394973/). I've got a new sump (48x22x24), which I'm picking up Saturday, that was also built by CFI as well. It has a 40-gallon refugium section, skimmer/equipment section, and then a 25-gallon return section....from what I can remember as I'm typing this
For lighting, I'm going back to halides and T5s. I ran Radions for over a decade and I never really got to the point where I thought the light from LED was quite as good as halides. There's a shimmer you just can't get with LED and they're tried and true for SPS. The light is a 4' Hamilton fixture with 2X 250W 20K Radiums and 4 T5s for actinic lighting. Not sure yet on the T5 combination but it will probably be ATI True Actinic03 and a couple of ATI Purple Plus. Probably won't need to run heaters
Nothing fancy for skimming, just my 13-year-old Reef Octopus. I'm going to use PolypLab Genisis Rock for the core of the bio-filter. I'm looking at Tropic Eden for my substrate, probably a mix of 3 different kinds and 2" deep as I'd like a Diamond Goby at some point. Flow will be provided by my MP40's (they started out life as MP20s) once they get the wetside and controller upgrades.
For Livestock, I'm looking at a number of small fish, mostly gobies. A tailspot blenny. Some sort of fairy wrasse and a six-line. At some point, I'll try and get a yellow tang or lavender tang. And then of course SPS, LPS, and maybe a couple of zoa varieties.
OK, on to the pics. Let's start with a little look back at the beginning:
Back when she was brand new and never seen water
first setup with rock
Some old livestock from the past
And here's what she looked like when I tore her down a couple of months ago: