A Year of Reefing and Recovery

[Bauerljiv]

Hey everyone! I wanted to share a bit about my reefing journey and how much it’s helped me over the past year. After my deployments, I struggled with PTSD, and finding something that brought me peace and focus was difficult. A year ago, I decided to start a 32-gallon saltwater tank, and it turned out to be a game-changer. Watching my tank thrive has been grounding, and it’s given me something positive to focus on every day.

Now, after a year in the hobby, I’m ready to take on a new challenge with a Waterbox 190.5. This is going to be a long-term project that I’m excited to build thoughtfully and carefully. I’d love to hear any recommendations for equipment—things like lighting, skimmers, and pumps—as well as ideas for fish and corals that would make this tank come alive. I’m prepared to take my time and save for the right gear to do this tank justice.

Thank you to everyone in this community who has been such an inspiration. I’m grateful to have a space where I can share this journey and learn from all of you. Here’s to building something beautiful, one piece at a time!

 

[Crabs McJones]

Can't wait to see the build!

 

[shakacuz]

i'm so happy this has been a positive coping hobby you came to venture into. this is great to see as it also had the same effect on me .

i'm not familiar with that line of tanks, but i usually recommend to get bigger sized equipment so in the event you upgrade tank sizes you're already set for the upgrade if you tend to your equipment well. with lighting, i only hear and see positive things regarding the quanta reef, and reefi uno lights. buy once, cry once .

 

[Bauerljiv]

Well, my three local fish stores were no help when it came to assisting me in getting my 190.5 set up and in place. So, I ended up having to handle it all on my own. I purchased glass suction cups from Lowe's for $59 each, which I plan to return tomorrow, yes I got 4 so I would not have to take them off while I was moving the tank, along with a platform lift from Harbor Freight that cost $350. I also built stabilizers for sliding the tank and had to modify the crate after getting it into the house so the platform lift could get it high enough.

It was quite the task, but at 50 years old, I’m still able to think outside the box to get things done. That said, my three local fish stores have lost me as a customer for supplies and fish I’ll be doing all my shopping online from now on.

 

[Idech]

Very poor service from those stores, but nothing stopped you !

I would want more space between the wall and the tank, for maintenance, but that’s totally subjective.

 

[VB313]

THANKYOU FOR YOUR SERVICE

 

[Bauerljiv]

Very poor service from those stores, but nothing stopped you !

I would want more space between the wall and the tank, for maintenance, but that’s totally subjective.

I have about 4 inches in the back and 4.5 inches on the side. But I will be opening the wall behind the cabinet for the tank to have more area for maintenance.

 

[Bauerljiv]

THANKYOU FOR YOUR SERVICE

It was my Honor to service Americans like you!

 

[PharmrJohn]

It was my Honor to service Americans like you!

Thank you from me as well. I tried to serve back when I was about 21, but I was 6'2" tall and 127lbs. A stick of a young man. They rejected me. Funny too cause I was in shape. Hiked up miles into the mountains with a 50lb pack quite often, lol! I could carry upto 100lbs. (Only once, going downhill for about 1.5 miles). My buddy's backpack fell apart so it was on me. I was looking at some of the dudes around me just shaking my head, thinking these guys are NEVER going to make through Boot! But it's OK. If I'd have made it in I'd never have met my wife, had the kids I had and probably not my career either. It was a very fair trade for me.

 

[Bruttall]

Yeah man, thanks for defending the freedoms we take for granted all to often, The Nation owes you a debt we can never repay, but we should still try.

Lights:
I love my Reefi Lab uno 2.1's. I run 4 of them over top an 8ft 300g tank. they have a true 24 inch x 24 inch foot print mounted 12 inches above water line. I brag these lights up every chance I get. I love them, the way they look, the color pop, how corals grow under them, best part they are half the price of Radions or any of the "Best" lights and have nearly 1/3 more wattage output and true 400nm uv and 420nm uv spectrums. Here is a picture of my light profile, about 50-80 par on sand in 27 inches of water, they have 270watts power available.

ReeFi Lab – Smart Aquarium Solutions

www.reefi-lab.com

Good Luck to you.

 

[mjszos]

Congratulations on the healthy form of coping and recovery, hoping this hobby brings you years of happiness and fulfillment!

 

[Bauerljiv]

Thank you from me as well. I tried to serve back when I was about 21, but I was 6'2" tall and 127lbs. A stick of a young man. They rejected me. Funny too cause I was in shape. Hiked up miles into the mountains with a 50lb pack quite often, lol! I could carry upto 100lbs. (Only once, going downhill for about 1.5 miles). My buddy's backpack fell apart so it was on me. I was looking at some of the dudes around me just shaking my head, thinking these guys are NEVER going to make through Boot! But it's OK. If I'd have made it in I'd never have met my wife, had the kids I had and probably not my career either. It was a very fair trade for me.

It was my honor. When I entered the service I was 5'10 and 123 lbs, I was a double rats recruit, which means I got double the amount of food while going through Boot Camp. Glad your life turned out great for you. Life always goes in the direction we need and not the direction we want.

 

[ilyad]

Im glad to hear you're enjoying your reefing journey and that its bringing you joy!

Looking forward to following along with your build.

Lights:
I love my Reefi Lab uno 2.1's.

I will second these lights. I have a pair of these over a 36x24x20 tank and love them. Price to performance they're incredible.

Alternative to those, another great brand is quanta lights.... especially if you want to go with a bar style light. The newest Helix Quanta lights have dimming capability so you can dial in the intensity too.

Currently I would go with one of those two brands if I was getting new lights for my tank. (I am actually considering replacing my supplemental t5 lights with quanta bars).