Bravesphan95
New Member
Happy New Year everyone!!
My goal is to document my struggles and successes to help others along the way with this build. I've gained so much by reading others build threads when I was out out of the hobby for some time due to kids activities etc...
I first got into the hobby in 2013 with a 60 gal cube that turned into a 180 gal tank. Got in over my head with the 180 gal due to kids activities (gymnastics and baseball) and ended up selling the tank. Fast forward to 2021 and I got back into the hobby with a IM Lagoon 50 AIO tank that transitioned into this tank.
My vision for this tank is a mixed reef/ Caribbean biotope as I'm looking to recreate my experiences while scuba diving in Bonaire over the years. Although this may be a challenge from a coral standpoint although there seems to be no shortage on fish from the Caribbean.
Equipment List
Tank: Waterbox Infinia 275.6 Dims 72.3” x28.3” x23.6”
Lighting: 2 x AP9X w/ AP9X Mounting Arm’s
Fuge Lighting: Tunze Eco Chic 6500k LED
Flow: 4 x MP40
Return Pump: Vectra L2 (3100 GPH)
ATO: Red Sea Reef ATO+
Rock: 200 lbs total: 40lbs Marco Foundation, 10 lbs Kp Aquatics, 150 lbs mix pukani, Fiji, and branch
Heater: Inkbird Temp Controller w/ 2 x Eheim Jager 300w
UV: still debating if needed
Skimmer: Reef Octopus Elite 200-Int 8”
RO/DI: 5 stage BRS 150 GPD w/aquatech booster pump
Testing: Hanna Checker Alkalinity, Phosphate ULR, Nitrate HR, Salifert for Calcium and Magnesium
Water Change Pump: Ultra Zero Utility Pump- Sicce
Picked up about 150 lbs of a mixture of pukani, Fiji, and branch rock off of FB Marketplace locally from others tank breakdowns. Bleached the rock for a week and then dry out in the Florida sun for a week. Pictures below of rock and aquascape (front, sides, and top down)
10/30 Tank filled and return pump turned on
11/3 added Brightwell Quik cycle ammonia along with MB7 and MB Clean
12/12 Cycle completed, added 4 red leg hermits and 2 cleaner shrimp from Lagoon 50 tank
My goal is to document my struggles and successes to help others along the way with this build. I've gained so much by reading others build threads when I was out out of the hobby for some time due to kids activities etc...
I first got into the hobby in 2013 with a 60 gal cube that turned into a 180 gal tank. Got in over my head with the 180 gal due to kids activities (gymnastics and baseball) and ended up selling the tank. Fast forward to 2021 and I got back into the hobby with a IM Lagoon 50 AIO tank that transitioned into this tank.
My vision for this tank is a mixed reef/ Caribbean biotope as I'm looking to recreate my experiences while scuba diving in Bonaire over the years. Although this may be a challenge from a coral standpoint although there seems to be no shortage on fish from the Caribbean.
Equipment List
Tank: Waterbox Infinia 275.6 Dims 72.3” x28.3” x23.6”
Lighting: 2 x AP9X w/ AP9X Mounting Arm’s
Fuge Lighting: Tunze Eco Chic 6500k LED
Flow: 4 x MP40
Return Pump: Vectra L2 (3100 GPH)
ATO: Red Sea Reef ATO+
Rock: 200 lbs total: 40lbs Marco Foundation, 10 lbs Kp Aquatics, 150 lbs mix pukani, Fiji, and branch
Heater: Inkbird Temp Controller w/ 2 x Eheim Jager 300w
UV: still debating if needed
Skimmer: Reef Octopus Elite 200-Int 8”
RO/DI: 5 stage BRS 150 GPD w/aquatech booster pump
Testing: Hanna Checker Alkalinity, Phosphate ULR, Nitrate HR, Salifert for Calcium and Magnesium
Water Change Pump: Ultra Zero Utility Pump- Sicce
Picked up about 150 lbs of a mixture of pukani, Fiji, and branch rock off of FB Marketplace locally from others tank breakdowns. Bleached the rock for a week and then dry out in the Florida sun for a week. Pictures below of rock and aquascape (front, sides, and top down)
10/30 Tank filled and return pump turned on
11/3 added Brightwell Quik cycle ammonia along with MB7 and MB Clean
12/12 Cycle completed, added 4 red leg hermits and 2 cleaner shrimp from Lagoon 50 tank
