So were to start I have been interested in keeping SH for quite some time, however for some reason I have not done it. I have been reefing on and off for 10 years now..wow times go by go fast.
in that time I have had quite a few tanks but with moving had to take them all down. I either sold or gave them away.
my latest project is a 1.5 year 90 reef and a 1 year 20L macro algae tanks. in my macro tank I got a pretty bad case of red cotton candy algae. so my thoughts where to either tank it down or run a ATS on it to strip it of all No3 &Po4 killing the macro in the process but then do something cool with it and save the cycle once clean, like a nem tank or something...
anyway I got to thinking...OH NO thanks a costly think to do in this hobby... I thought about setting up a FW planted tank as I really like the aquascaping of those or a DSH tank.
after some research on the DSH I quickly decided that was just to much work for me at this time.
so now it was between a FW planted and a SH tank. well you know what choose i made!
so the next task was to decide on the tank and that was no easy task let me tell you. I spent the better part of 4-5 days researching, reading googling etc. there were a few good options out there but in the end I decided to go with a 40/40 setup that is 40Br DT and 40Br sump as I already had them around + a simple metal stand. I really like the foot print of these tanks lots of aquascaping options.
might as well use what I have and not drop 400-800 on a tank. it was tempting to get a matching SCA 50 starfire rimless to go with my 90 and I might some day. but for know its a 40/40 set up.
Equipment:
40br DT 40br sump
SCA 302 skimmer rated for 180 gal tank
DIY up flow ATS
jebao pp4 wave maker (might need to add 2 or a pp8?)
Rio 1700 RT pump just a little less that 10X turn over rate ( I have the pump if there is more funds I might get a better pump.)
petco metal 40/40 stand
Jager tru temp 150W or finnex HPS 200W heater ( for winter months )
Controler
rasberry PI based controller with temp probes, cam, and 8 outlet power bar
Temp control:
Jager tru temp 150W or finnex HPS 200W heater ( for winter months )
fan for cooling. during cycle
chiller if needed it will only run 2-3 months of the year so I will see if I can get by with out one, but if needed I have no problem adding one.
ATO:
10 gal res.
smart aqua ATO
lighting:
not 100% sure on this one yet but I have time to think about it.
my options are :
2x kessil A80
Reefbreeders photon V2
mars 300W black box
ocean revive It247 or some crap
4 bulb t5 fixture ( prob go with LED tho. )
Rock/sand :
again not 100% sure but I might go with 20# of live pukani from TBS with some DIY branch
or just dry pukani from BRS and DIY branch rock.
for sand I will use special grade reef sand I really like the look of it. will go with a shallow bed maybe an inch.
stocking:
I will start with one pair of CB erectus or redi have yet to decide on this one.
1x purple fire fish
1x mandarin goby
eye candy:
this will be gorg heavy system, with lots of macros and some mushrooms.
in that time I have had quite a few tanks but with moving had to take them all down. I either sold or gave them away.
my latest project is a 1.5 year 90 reef and a 1 year 20L macro algae tanks. in my macro tank I got a pretty bad case of red cotton candy algae. so my thoughts where to either tank it down or run a ATS on it to strip it of all No3 &Po4 killing the macro in the process but then do something cool with it and save the cycle once clean, like a nem tank or something...
anyway I got to thinking...OH NO thanks a costly think to do in this hobby... I thought about setting up a FW planted tank as I really like the aquascaping of those or a DSH tank.
after some research on the DSH I quickly decided that was just to much work for me at this time.
so now it was between a FW planted and a SH tank. well you know what choose i made!
so the next task was to decide on the tank and that was no easy task let me tell you. I spent the better part of 4-5 days researching, reading googling etc. there were a few good options out there but in the end I decided to go with a 40/40 setup that is 40Br DT and 40Br sump as I already had them around + a simple metal stand. I really like the foot print of these tanks lots of aquascaping options.
might as well use what I have and not drop 400-800 on a tank. it was tempting to get a matching SCA 50 starfire rimless to go with my 90 and I might some day. but for know its a 40/40 set up.
Equipment:
40br DT 40br sump
SCA 302 skimmer rated for 180 gal tank
DIY up flow ATS
jebao pp4 wave maker (might need to add 2 or a pp8?)
Rio 1700 RT pump just a little less that 10X turn over rate ( I have the pump if there is more funds I might get a better pump.)
petco metal 40/40 stand
Jager tru temp 150W or finnex HPS 200W heater ( for winter months )
Controler
rasberry PI based controller with temp probes, cam, and 8 outlet power bar
Temp control:
Jager tru temp 150W or finnex HPS 200W heater ( for winter months )
fan for cooling. during cycle
chiller if needed it will only run 2-3 months of the year so I will see if I can get by with out one, but if needed I have no problem adding one.
ATO:
10 gal res.
smart aqua ATO
lighting:
not 100% sure on this one yet but I have time to think about it.
my options are :
2x kessil A80
Reefbreeders photon V2
mars 300W black box
ocean revive It247 or some crap
4 bulb t5 fixture ( prob go with LED tho. )
Rock/sand :
again not 100% sure but I might go with 20# of live pukani from TBS with some DIY branch
or just dry pukani from BRS and DIY branch rock.
for sand I will use special grade reef sand I really like the look of it. will go with a shallow bed maybe an inch.
stocking:
I will start with one pair of CB erectus or redi have yet to decide on this one.
1x purple fire fish
1x mandarin goby
eye candy:
this will be gorg heavy system, with lots of macros and some mushrooms.
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