What's up my ETRC peeps? I just wanted to drop a line and let everyone see my reefing progress in the past 6 months. As most of you know I am a glutton for collecting corals over a "reef tank". I do truly want to do a proper display soon though, something in the 200-300 gallon range.
When we first arrived out here we were bunking with the in-laws and the FIL was kind enough to let me use a utility closet with a/c, electrical, and a utility sink. I began by setting up my 40 breeder and 20 long, then began the splurging. I filled those tanks nearly completely luckily right as we found a house to settle into. As per usual, my only stipulation for the house was that I get a chunk of square footage for my reefing addiction. I purchased a nice used 125, sump, and stand from a local that was getting out. I also purchased a used 8 bulb T5 to put over it. The second tank addition was a 50-55 acrylic frag tank purchased from Kraylen (a local that has been in the reefing scene for quite some time). I used a bicycle rack pulley system to mount a 6 bulb T5 over the frag tank. For the stand on that one I went with some cinder block as I wasn't too terribly concerned with looks on the frag tank. I have also re-set up the 40B and 20L to use as QT tanks for adding some fish to the mix. Here is a pic of the setup so far (kinda messy and far from completion).
As for the corals...WOW. There is a tremendous reefing community out here, although sometimes it can be pretty catty. With 10-15 shops with 30 minutes of each other I guess that is bound to happen some though. Some reefers swear fealty to one shop, some to others. You know me, I like the ones with coral (all of them). I also wanted to show you all some of the nicer things I have purchased since I got here (you know to gloat and stuff).
When we first arrived out here we were bunking with the in-laws and the FIL was kind enough to let me use a utility closet with a/c, electrical, and a utility sink. I began by setting up my 40 breeder and 20 long, then began the splurging. I filled those tanks nearly completely luckily right as we found a house to settle into. As per usual, my only stipulation for the house was that I get a chunk of square footage for my reefing addiction. I purchased a nice used 125, sump, and stand from a local that was getting out. I also purchased a used 8 bulb T5 to put over it. The second tank addition was a 50-55 acrylic frag tank purchased from Kraylen (a local that has been in the reefing scene for quite some time). I used a bicycle rack pulley system to mount a 6 bulb T5 over the frag tank. For the stand on that one I went with some cinder block as I wasn't too terribly concerned with looks on the frag tank. I have also re-set up the 40B and 20L to use as QT tanks for adding some fish to the mix. Here is a pic of the setup so far (kinda messy and far from completion).
As for the corals...WOW. There is a tremendous reefing community out here, although sometimes it can be pretty catty. With 10-15 shops with 30 minutes of each other I guess that is bound to happen some though. Some reefers swear fealty to one shop, some to others. You know me, I like the ones with coral (all of them). I also wanted to show you all some of the nicer things I have purchased since I got here (you know to gloat and stuff).
