Welcome to my current dream build! It may be my 10-20 year tank, but we all know how this goes so I'll stick with "current" for now.
I've been in the hobby for about 7 years. Started out with a 75g but we moved and it did not go with me. I've had a smaller reef, started as a 30g but now a 50g cube, for the last 3+ years and it's been great but I've been dreaming up this build for a long time now. I finally got the opportunity so here we go!
Tank/Stand:
Tank: Planet Aquariums custom 72"L x 30"W x 25"T Rimless ~235 gallons
Stand: Planet Aquariums Mocha Elegance 36" tall - Also slightly custom as I am having them place a door on the left side for my controller panel
Substrate:
Rock: 100 lbs Marco dry rock, 50 lbs Marco shelf rock. I think this will be enough as I'm going for a more minimalist look with a lot of dead space up top for SPS growth and ALL of the fishes I want.
Sand: 90 lbs of Tropic Eden Miniflakes. I've been a huge fan of Tropic Eden for a long time. The miniflakes are big enough (2mm) that they shouldn't blow around too bad in a high flow environment, but certainly small enough for my wrasses and sand dwelling creatures.
Equipment:
Overflow: Modular Marine 1800gph external overflow. My goal is ~ 1000-1200gph so that should be plenty
Sump: Custom sump from Modular Marine. Mimicking the Trigger Systems CR44 but wider, a little longer, a few extra features, 7" socks(considering the Klir DI-7), and a built in 15g ro reservoir
Return: Neptune COR-20. I am not plumbing for 2 return pumps, but will have a second on hand for easy swap if necessary
ATO: Tunze Osmolator 3155. Will never use anything else!
Flow: 4x Ecotech Marine MP40WQD. I have a couple of MP10s on my current tank, may put them on the back wall down the road, we'll just have to see how the flow is
Skimmer: Reef Octopus Regal 200SSS
Lighting: 61" Aquatic Life T5 (2x Blue+, 2x Coral+), 4x Ecotech Marine G5 XR15s. I am still considering the Kessil 360s. Open to inputs here
Sump Light: AI Prime Fuge
Heater: Finnex HMA-S 300W x2 House stays around 72-74 so I shouldn't have any problem regulating temp
Controller: Full Apex and FMK for return flow monitoring
Carbon: BRS Deluxe reactor for carbon, can mix gfo if needed
Dosing: I will use 2 part dosing initially but plan to use a Calcium reactor once things start to take off.
System:
I'll be going full ZEOvit for this system. For some all of the dosing is too much and tedious, but for me it is fun and it really keeps me in tune with my tank. Still trying to decide which reactor to use (I was going to go with the Skimz ZAR-157 but no one carries them in the US anymore). I still haven't decided if I'll use the zeospur for those pastel colors the system is known for. Probably not, but I still think the ZEOvit system is perfect for me.
Here is my current fish list with quantity and desire (High/Medium). It is definitely not final, but I plan to have a lot of fish.:
Lots more to come. I will do my best to keep this picture heavy! With that said, here's the first picture. My first big order came in today and my wife sent it to me. Needless to say, I think she's already beginning to wonder what she agreed to!
I've been in the hobby for about 7 years. Started out with a 75g but we moved and it did not go with me. I've had a smaller reef, started as a 30g but now a 50g cube, for the last 3+ years and it's been great but I've been dreaming up this build for a long time now. I finally got the opportunity so here we go!
Tank/Stand:
Tank: Planet Aquariums custom 72"L x 30"W x 25"T Rimless ~235 gallons
Stand: Planet Aquariums Mocha Elegance 36" tall - Also slightly custom as I am having them place a door on the left side for my controller panel
Substrate:
Rock: 100 lbs Marco dry rock, 50 lbs Marco shelf rock. I think this will be enough as I'm going for a more minimalist look with a lot of dead space up top for SPS growth and ALL of the fishes I want.
Sand: 90 lbs of Tropic Eden Miniflakes. I've been a huge fan of Tropic Eden for a long time. The miniflakes are big enough (2mm) that they shouldn't blow around too bad in a high flow environment, but certainly small enough for my wrasses and sand dwelling creatures.
Equipment:
Overflow: Modular Marine 1800gph external overflow. My goal is ~ 1000-1200gph so that should be plenty
Sump: Custom sump from Modular Marine. Mimicking the Trigger Systems CR44 but wider, a little longer, a few extra features, 7" socks(considering the Klir DI-7), and a built in 15g ro reservoir
Return: Neptune COR-20. I am not plumbing for 2 return pumps, but will have a second on hand for easy swap if necessary
ATO: Tunze Osmolator 3155. Will never use anything else!
Flow: 4x Ecotech Marine MP40WQD. I have a couple of MP10s on my current tank, may put them on the back wall down the road, we'll just have to see how the flow is
Skimmer: Reef Octopus Regal 200SSS
Lighting: 61" Aquatic Life T5 (2x Blue+, 2x Coral+), 4x Ecotech Marine G5 XR15s. I am still considering the Kessil 360s. Open to inputs here
Sump Light: AI Prime Fuge
Heater: Finnex HMA-S 300W x2 House stays around 72-74 so I shouldn't have any problem regulating temp
Controller: Full Apex and FMK for return flow monitoring
Carbon: BRS Deluxe reactor for carbon, can mix gfo if needed
Dosing: I will use 2 part dosing initially but plan to use a Calcium reactor once things start to take off.
System:
I'll be going full ZEOvit for this system. For some all of the dosing is too much and tedious, but for me it is fun and it really keeps me in tune with my tank. Still trying to decide which reactor to use (I was going to go with the Skimz ZAR-157 but no one carries them in the US anymore). I still haven't decided if I'll use the zeospur for those pastel colors the system is known for. Probably not, but I still think the ZEOvit system is perfect for me.
Here is my current fish list with quantity and desire (High/Medium). It is definitely not final, but I plan to have a lot of fish.:
Lots more to come. I will do my best to keep this picture heavy! With that said, here's the first picture. My first big order came in today and my wife sent it to me. Needless to say, I think she's already beginning to wonder what she agreed to!