uscggirl
Active Member
After reading, researching, watching videos, and challenging myself, I’m in the process of switching from a 75 gallon discus tank to a reef tank. Well, at first it will be fish until I can maintain stable parameters for coral, but a reef tank is the long view. I spent a few months deliberating over tank options and at one point had placed an order on a Red Sea AIO I was told would arrive within a week. Fortunately, it was then delayed two months, so I canceled that order. A long, shallow reef (60”x20”x16”) sounded good, but couldn’t find exactly what I wanted. Then I had to consider weight on my living room floor. The 75 gallon was fine for weight, but now that it’s found a fabulous new home, the reef tank won’t fit in its old spot.
I finally pulled the trigger and I’m taking delivery of a Cade 1500 S2 this week. I have a much underutilized finished basement, so that’s my new reef place. I had a section of carpet 7’ x 4.5’ taken out and replaced with waterproof vinyl plank. The flooring matches my wet bar area, and is directly across the room, making it fit right in! Also as a bonus, the tank will be up against a wall for a large mechanical room, giving me lots of space for a mixing station, eye level controller board, and floor drain which should allow for an easy AWC system.
So after months of excitement about my new adventure, I am now terrified and frankly, a little bit queasy. Tank is 3 or 4 days out, I’ve made arrangements with someone local for getting it in place, and I have most of the initial equipment ready. Yet I’m a little bit freaked out about what I’ve started!
I’d like to thank Rachel and John @algeabarn for their fabulous customer support as I went back and forth on tank sizes. Have not started an aquascape yet as Algae Barn is kindly sending rock with the tank as part of a start up package with other necessary items. I don’t have an LFS other than Petco, but I may check to see what they have in terms of some live rock I can use as well. Sand is also included in my start up package, and now I’m considering whether or not I will use it. I like the clean up ease of bare bottom tanks, but also want some sand burrowing fish and inverts. Maybe a marine plant of some type to help with nutrients until I get corals started. Then move the plant to a smaller macro algae tank. Obviously I’m not sure which way I’m going with that yet...but will probably use sand for some biodiversity in aquatic life.
OK, so the tank and stand will arrive this week. I have two BRS 600 w titanium heaters with controller, two AI Prime HD 16s with 18” flexible goosenecks, Sicce SDC 9.0 for return pump, and two Maxspect XF330 Gyres with controller. I initially purchased the flow and lights with a smaller tank in mind, so will add more light and exchange the gyres for higher flow models. Will stick with Maxspect I think.
If anyone has suggestions, recommendations, or other helpful input I’m grateful to you for taking the time to share your thoughts. Tomorrow, I’ll be making a Lowe’s trip to pick up two 55 gallon Brute containers with lids. Will also grab a couple of inexpensive hot water heater stands since they’ll overall be less expensive than getting wooden stands made. Also pick up some Pex and Sharkbite connections for the mixing station. Have on hand a 7 stage water saver BRS RODI with a booster pump. Went 7 stage because the TDS from my tap is 320. Yuck!!!
Questions
- Do I need the Brute containers on stands? What is the value of stand vs no stand?
- Has anyone tried sand on one side and bare bottom on the other side in their tank? What were the pros and cons of that arrangement if you’ve tried it?
- Does anyone use a Maxspect XF330 with 3/4” glass? I read some comments that the magnet fails for 1/2”, so I’m just curious if they will work. I’m thinking since I have two 330’s, I can put one on each end and manage enough flow. Just wondering about holding power before I get them wet. Would like to return them still in the box if the magnets truly have an issue with thicker glass as I’ve read. Anything people using them can share is much appreciated!
I have a 10 gallon quarantine tank for new arrivals and a 5 gallon mini hospital tank if needed. The 10 gallon has unfortunately become a long term stay situation for a couple young snowflake clowns and a couple damsels after the first tank was delayed and subsequently canceled. Everyone has been doing well, but they’ll be thrilled to move to their larger home hopefully by the end of the month! Obviously not an ideal situation currently, and other than some fluctuations in parameters more related to coral needs, they’ve had a stable and healthy environment during my ocean front property development process.
I finally pulled the trigger and I’m taking delivery of a Cade 1500 S2 this week. I have a much underutilized finished basement, so that’s my new reef place. I had a section of carpet 7’ x 4.5’ taken out and replaced with waterproof vinyl plank. The flooring matches my wet bar area, and is directly across the room, making it fit right in! Also as a bonus, the tank will be up against a wall for a large mechanical room, giving me lots of space for a mixing station, eye level controller board, and floor drain which should allow for an easy AWC system.
So after months of excitement about my new adventure, I am now terrified and frankly, a little bit queasy. Tank is 3 or 4 days out, I’ve made arrangements with someone local for getting it in place, and I have most of the initial equipment ready. Yet I’m a little bit freaked out about what I’ve started!
I’d like to thank Rachel and John @algeabarn for their fabulous customer support as I went back and forth on tank sizes. Have not started an aquascape yet as Algae Barn is kindly sending rock with the tank as part of a start up package with other necessary items. I don’t have an LFS other than Petco, but I may check to see what they have in terms of some live rock I can use as well. Sand is also included in my start up package, and now I’m considering whether or not I will use it. I like the clean up ease of bare bottom tanks, but also want some sand burrowing fish and inverts. Maybe a marine plant of some type to help with nutrients until I get corals started. Then move the plant to a smaller macro algae tank. Obviously I’m not sure which way I’m going with that yet...but will probably use sand for some biodiversity in aquatic life.
OK, so the tank and stand will arrive this week. I have two BRS 600 w titanium heaters with controller, two AI Prime HD 16s with 18” flexible goosenecks, Sicce SDC 9.0 for return pump, and two Maxspect XF330 Gyres with controller. I initially purchased the flow and lights with a smaller tank in mind, so will add more light and exchange the gyres for higher flow models. Will stick with Maxspect I think.
If anyone has suggestions, recommendations, or other helpful input I’m grateful to you for taking the time to share your thoughts. Tomorrow, I’ll be making a Lowe’s trip to pick up two 55 gallon Brute containers with lids. Will also grab a couple of inexpensive hot water heater stands since they’ll overall be less expensive than getting wooden stands made. Also pick up some Pex and Sharkbite connections for the mixing station. Have on hand a 7 stage water saver BRS RODI with a booster pump. Went 7 stage because the TDS from my tap is 320. Yuck!!!
Questions
- Do I need the Brute containers on stands? What is the value of stand vs no stand?
- Has anyone tried sand on one side and bare bottom on the other side in their tank? What were the pros and cons of that arrangement if you’ve tried it?
- Does anyone use a Maxspect XF330 with 3/4” glass? I read some comments that the magnet fails for 1/2”, so I’m just curious if they will work. I’m thinking since I have two 330’s, I can put one on each end and manage enough flow. Just wondering about holding power before I get them wet. Would like to return them still in the box if the magnets truly have an issue with thicker glass as I’ve read. Anything people using them can share is much appreciated!
I have a 10 gallon quarantine tank for new arrivals and a 5 gallon mini hospital tank if needed. The 10 gallon has unfortunately become a long term stay situation for a couple young snowflake clowns and a couple damsels after the first tank was delayed and subsequently canceled. Everyone has been doing well, but they’ll be thrilled to move to their larger home hopefully by the end of the month! Obviously not an ideal situation currently, and other than some fluctuations in parameters more related to coral needs, they’ve had a stable and healthy environment during my ocean front property development process.
