Hello all! New-ish to the hobby (had a FOWLR tank about 15 yrs ago but never really took the dive into reefing) but now here I am. Started my build back in late February, but Joined R2R in April while researching some issues I was having with my tank (my not so fun introduction to Dinoflagellates - I posted my story in the Dino thread which saved the tank and my sanity), so I don't have progressive build pictures, but I can share the current state. I LOVE THIS SITE! So much information and experience shared here, so I thought I would start Member tank thread and join in on the fun.
Before I started, I wanted to make sure I knew as much as I could with all the equipment, chemistry, tools, test kits etc, so I researched like a mad man on Google, this forum, watch dozens of BRS Tv ads. Then when I found a used 75g Aqueon Reef Ready tank for a great price and some used equipment, I decided to go for it, and then prompty OVER sized and overkill on most of the other equipment...heck I saved a few hundred on the tank and stand, why not, he says, thousands of dollars later.
I decided after much research for this small tank, I would just stick with flexible tubing for my plumbing, and so far am happy with the flexibility it afforded me. I am still learning, but coming up on the 6 month mark, and things are starting to really stabilize. Coralline algae has started, corals are responding well (my green slimer acro and purple Stylo are starting new branches). Getting few tufts of GHA in places and a couple spots that appear to be Bryopsis, but I am keeping a close eye and practicing good husbandry that I am learning from the experienced members in this forum. There are a few things I would probably do differently if starting over, but I can see why this hobby is so addicting.
Equipment List:
40lbs CaribSea LifeRock
Trigger Systems Emerald 26 Sump
Trigger Systems 10g ATO Reservoir
2 Trigger Systems Dosing Reservoirs
Reef Octopus 110 Skimmer
Tunze Full Spectrum LED for Refugium
Sicce 3.0 return pump
Tunze Osomaltor ATO
BRS Dual Reactor with MJ1200
Tunze Turbelle 6105 Powerhead
BRS 4 Stage RO/DI
Aquatic T5/LED Hybrid Lighting Fixture
4 T5 bulbs
2 Radion XR15 LEDs
ReefKeeper Elite with 3 power bars, SLX module
2 BRS Dosing Pumps
40W Pentair Smart UV (added only after my Dino outbreak)
Hanna Checkers for Alk, Calcium, and ULR Phosphorus
I will add pictures in the following post. Enjoy!
Before I started, I wanted to make sure I knew as much as I could with all the equipment, chemistry, tools, test kits etc, so I researched like a mad man on Google, this forum, watch dozens of BRS Tv ads. Then when I found a used 75g Aqueon Reef Ready tank for a great price and some used equipment, I decided to go for it, and then prompty OVER sized and overkill on most of the other equipment...heck I saved a few hundred on the tank and stand, why not, he says, thousands of dollars later.
I decided after much research for this small tank, I would just stick with flexible tubing for my plumbing, and so far am happy with the flexibility it afforded me. I am still learning, but coming up on the 6 month mark, and things are starting to really stabilize. Coralline algae has started, corals are responding well (my green slimer acro and purple Stylo are starting new branches). Getting few tufts of GHA in places and a couple spots that appear to be Bryopsis, but I am keeping a close eye and practicing good husbandry that I am learning from the experienced members in this forum. There are a few things I would probably do differently if starting over, but I can see why this hobby is so addicting.
Equipment List:
40lbs CaribSea LifeRock
Trigger Systems Emerald 26 Sump
Trigger Systems 10g ATO Reservoir
2 Trigger Systems Dosing Reservoirs
Reef Octopus 110 Skimmer
Tunze Full Spectrum LED for Refugium
Sicce 3.0 return pump
Tunze Osomaltor ATO
BRS Dual Reactor with MJ1200
Tunze Turbelle 6105 Powerhead
BRS 4 Stage RO/DI
Aquatic T5/LED Hybrid Lighting Fixture
4 T5 bulbs
2 Radion XR15 LEDs
ReefKeeper Elite with 3 power bars, SLX module
2 BRS Dosing Pumps
40W Pentair Smart UV (added only after my Dino outbreak)
Hanna Checkers for Alk, Calcium, and ULR Phosphorus
I will add pictures in the following post. Enjoy!