lofty78
Active Member
Hey everyone, It's been about 6 or 7 years, but I'm getting back in the hobby and doing a 155 Bowfront Build. It started when I had an appointment at a home with a very large bowfront in their entry (the house was also very large). Well after that, I was smitten once again! I started search online for new and used tanks and realized bows are not as popular any more, but I'm old school and I like big bows with canopies so I found an option that eventually decided not to sell, but I got some ideas from it.
This is the bug that bit me
So I ended up FB messaging a local acrylic builder off of his ad on market place. I told him I'm looking for a large bowfront, 155 or bigger. He said he dosn;t build bows anymore, but had a 155 used he'd sell me with stand, sump, skimmer, and return for a good price.. I was interested but really wanted a bow front. he said he was off for the week but would send me a pic when he got back.
Here is the tank he sent me!
I was excited that it was actually a 155 bow, but was looking for one with a canopy and I wasn't too impressed with the stand.. I told him I'd come by and meet about it the next day. So it turns out hes a full service maintenance, build and manufacturer of acrylic tanks. It had a closed loop, so hes going to seal that and build a trapezoid center overflow, buff and polish it, rebuild the stand with canopy, shaker cabinet doors, the canopy will open like a hatch back, the stand and canopy will be stained like beach weathered grey wood.
I've I will be doing a mixed reef eventually, but I really want a Regal Angel and once cycled and stable, that will be my 1st purchase after a few chromis to get started. I plan to wait to add any coral until I am 100% confirmed it and any other coral nippers are feeding on their proper diets 1st. Then slowly plan to add cheap frags (In case they get eaten) to hopefully grow into a full blown mixed reef.
I do not intend to go cheap on this build, but I do have a budget and a wife, so some things I can get used as long as I trust the source of them is good for the overall budget and I'm still old school, so some of the stuff that was the cat's pajamas back when I was still in it, is still good equipment and a heck of a lot cheaper. So here is my list of equipment that has been trickling in via various methods of delivery, from USPS to a freight truck. Mind you, I still do not have my tank and don;t expect it for a couple of weeks (i'm currently having hold on the canopy as I'm waiting for lighting brackets to come in.
Used equipment from acrylic builder:
155 Bow Front Acrylic with center overflow
40 Gallon acrylic sump
Large Reef octopus skimmer (Not sure on model yet)
2x identical return pumps (one for back up)
Stand to be rebuilt with matching canopy, shaker doors and beach wood grey finish
Used equipment from local reefers:
4 X AI hydra 26s
AWS Module
ALD Module
PM2 salinity Module
Neptune Wavemakers and Reef controller with probes
AWM Module (connects AI lights) (Paid fro, being shipped
Spectrapure 5 stage RODI with new filters.
New Equipment:
Neptune ATO and probe mount
Bashsea 10 gallon ATO reservoir
120 Lbs ooolite caribsea live sand
about 140 LBS or so of Carribsea Life Rock including two towers and a 24 inch arch.
Lost of MISC stuff like salt mix, refractometer, media block, test kits, etc.
I will keep updating here with progress if ya'll like.
Here's a few pics of the gear and unboxing... a few pics of my proposed aquascape and such!
Cheers!
This is the space its going into:
This is the bug that bit me
So I ended up FB messaging a local acrylic builder off of his ad on market place. I told him I'm looking for a large bowfront, 155 or bigger. He said he dosn;t build bows anymore, but had a 155 used he'd sell me with stand, sump, skimmer, and return for a good price.. I was interested but really wanted a bow front. he said he was off for the week but would send me a pic when he got back.
Here is the tank he sent me!
I was excited that it was actually a 155 bow, but was looking for one with a canopy and I wasn't too impressed with the stand.. I told him I'd come by and meet about it the next day. So it turns out hes a full service maintenance, build and manufacturer of acrylic tanks. It had a closed loop, so hes going to seal that and build a trapezoid center overflow, buff and polish it, rebuild the stand with canopy, shaker cabinet doors, the canopy will open like a hatch back, the stand and canopy will be stained like beach weathered grey wood.
I've I will be doing a mixed reef eventually, but I really want a Regal Angel and once cycled and stable, that will be my 1st purchase after a few chromis to get started. I plan to wait to add any coral until I am 100% confirmed it and any other coral nippers are feeding on their proper diets 1st. Then slowly plan to add cheap frags (In case they get eaten) to hopefully grow into a full blown mixed reef.
I do not intend to go cheap on this build, but I do have a budget and a wife, so some things I can get used as long as I trust the source of them is good for the overall budget and I'm still old school, so some of the stuff that was the cat's pajamas back when I was still in it, is still good equipment and a heck of a lot cheaper. So here is my list of equipment that has been trickling in via various methods of delivery, from USPS to a freight truck. Mind you, I still do not have my tank and don;t expect it for a couple of weeks (i'm currently having hold on the canopy as I'm waiting for lighting brackets to come in.
Used equipment from acrylic builder:
155 Bow Front Acrylic with center overflow
40 Gallon acrylic sump
Large Reef octopus skimmer (Not sure on model yet)
2x identical return pumps (one for back up)
Stand to be rebuilt with matching canopy, shaker doors and beach wood grey finish
Used equipment from local reefers:
4 X AI hydra 26s
AWS Module
ALD Module
PM2 salinity Module
Neptune Wavemakers and Reef controller with probes
AWM Module (connects AI lights) (Paid fro, being shipped
Spectrapure 5 stage RODI with new filters.
New Equipment:
Neptune ATO and probe mount
Bashsea 10 gallon ATO reservoir
120 Lbs ooolite caribsea live sand
about 140 LBS or so of Carribsea Life Rock including two towers and a 24 inch arch.
Lost of MISC stuff like salt mix, refractometer, media block, test kits, etc.
I will keep updating here with progress if ya'll like.
Here's a few pics of the gear and unboxing... a few pics of my proposed aquascape and such!
Cheers!
This is the space its going into:
