eranschau
Community Member
I've had my 75 gallon reef tank up and running for two years now, but I moved this past August and half the reason I did was so that I could have a place capable of supporting a larger tank.
So it's time. Past time, actually!
First, a bit about me. (Skip to the next paragraph if you could care less. I promise I won't be offended.) I'm 37 and I live and work in Minneapolis as a software engineer. Like most of you, I imagine, I have a garage full of old tanks. I've had various fresh water tanks going all the way back to when I was in elementary school, a couple of bettas, and am currently on my second reef tank. I've wanted to all in on saltwater since I got my very fist tank wet as a kid, but am finally to a time and place in life that I can upgrade to my dream tank.
As I mentioned, I am currently running a 75 gallon reef tank. It's an off-the-shelf Marineland tank and stand on top of a 30 gallon sump built my my LFS. Equipment is as follows:
That being said, I've since moved to a new home with a nice, finished basement and now have the space to build what I really wanted then. I'm really looking to improve on my 75 in a few key areas:
So it's time. Past time, actually!
First, a bit about me. (Skip to the next paragraph if you could care less. I promise I won't be offended.) I'm 37 and I live and work in Minneapolis as a software engineer. Like most of you, I imagine, I have a garage full of old tanks. I've had various fresh water tanks going all the way back to when I was in elementary school, a couple of bettas, and am currently on my second reef tank. I've wanted to all in on saltwater since I got my very fist tank wet as a kid, but am finally to a time and place in life that I can upgrade to my dream tank.
As I mentioned, I am currently running a 75 gallon reef tank. It's an off-the-shelf Marineland tank and stand on top of a 30 gallon sump built my my LFS. Equipment is as follows:
- Maxspect Razor 16k LED Lights (x2)
- Ecotech MP40 Powerhead (x2)
- Reef Octopus Diablo XS 200 Protein Skimmer
- BRS GFO & Carbon Reactor - Single
- Emperor Aquatics Smart UV 25 Watt UV Sterilizer
- Return Pump (Don't recall the exact model)
- MarinePure Ceramic Biomedia Plate, 8x8x4
- Neptune Systems Apex Controller
That being said, I've since moved to a new home with a nice, finished basement and now have the space to build what I really wanted then. I'm really looking to improve on my 75 in a few key areas:
- Room to keep my favorite fish for longer than one or two years. I bought a juvenile Blue Tang - who then was about the size of a nickel - and she's my baby. I'm spending money to build her a new home before she completely out grows the one she's in.
- A more well built, nicer looking stand. As I said, I don't regret buying my Marineland tank one bit, but let's face it... Those stands are functional at the expense of being pretty.
- More room to work inside the stand. I wish I could have a dedicated fish room in which I could park a massive sump/refugium. It's just not feasible given the layout of the finished portions of my basement. As such, I'm looking to improve drastically the space inside the tank's stand so that I can house all of the pertinent equipment underneath and still have room to get in there and work.
- 220 Gallon Tank w/ Corner Overflow (Manufacturer TBD)
- Custom Stand
- Ecotech MP40 Powerhead (x2)
- Vertex Alpha 200 Protein Skimmer
- BRS GFO & Carbon Reactor - Dual
- Emperor Aquatics Smart UV 40 Watt UV Sterilizer
- Return Pump (Model TBD)
- MarinePure Ceramic Biomedia Plate, 8x8x4 (x2)
- Neptune Systems Apex Controller
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