Cbenner
Community Member
Hi Everyone,
I just started back into the hobby after a 10 year hiatus. I had a 29 gallon set up 10 years ago and had a power outage while my son was being born. It made me sick all the life that was lost in my tank. I had it running for close to 3 years so it was very established and I was getting to know my fish as friends/pets. It was like loosing a close friend to me. At that time I was purchasing Items for a larger reef tank. I had bought a 90gallon AGA tank, Ecosystem refuge-um sump, (They were the new thing back then) Blueline electronic ballasts 2 250 watt retro fit systems. ( they had just came out with their electronic ballasts). Well I was so sick from loosing my first tank I ended storing all of my new stuff. Well back in November I went over to a client of mine. I am a custom furniture and chair maker in Lebanon Ohio. I had built his stand for him back in the late 90's. He told me he was getting out of the hobby and wanted to know if I wanted his fish. I told him about my disaster and that I would be interested in setting up my tank in storage. He had a Purple Tang and 2 clown fish.
So the learning journey began. I wanted to set up the 90 and try not to make allot of the mistakes that I made back with the 29.
I currently have a 90 gallon corner overflow set up with around 100lbs of live rock and a 3 inch sand bed. I'm running 500 watts of MH 10000k and 2 atinics. I ended up using the Ecosystem refuge but I did some modifications to it. The original set up was to put bio balls in the chamber that the drain drops into then through the miracle mud refuge then through bio balls once again, then into the pump chamber.
After reading many forums and books, I have found out Bio Balls are not used much any longer. And being that I have a CNC router and can cut acrylic. I made a new chamber to hold a reef octopus protein skimmer and used a 1 1/2 bulk head to connect them. I took out the bio balls in that front compartment. I did use the 20 lbs of miracle mud and set a mag drive 1800 as a external pump.
I also added a aqualogic 1/3 hp chiller. Also 2 Tunze 6100 power heads. I am controlling the entire system with a Neptune Systems Apex controller. (Love that thing).
I have mostly SPS and LPS corals. A mated pair of Clowns, Purple Tang, Yellow Tang, Watchman Goby with a pistil shrimp, 2 green chromis, yellow tail damsel.
I'm growing two different types of macro algae in the fuge.
I'll come back an add what I have forgot and add some photos. I just wanted to say Hi to all.
Cheers
Chris
I just started back into the hobby after a 10 year hiatus. I had a 29 gallon set up 10 years ago and had a power outage while my son was being born. It made me sick all the life that was lost in my tank. I had it running for close to 3 years so it was very established and I was getting to know my fish as friends/pets. It was like loosing a close friend to me. At that time I was purchasing Items for a larger reef tank. I had bought a 90gallon AGA tank, Ecosystem refuge-um sump, (They were the new thing back then) Blueline electronic ballasts 2 250 watt retro fit systems. ( they had just came out with their electronic ballasts). Well I was so sick from loosing my first tank I ended storing all of my new stuff. Well back in November I went over to a client of mine. I am a custom furniture and chair maker in Lebanon Ohio. I had built his stand for him back in the late 90's. He told me he was getting out of the hobby and wanted to know if I wanted his fish. I told him about my disaster and that I would be interested in setting up my tank in storage. He had a Purple Tang and 2 clown fish.
So the learning journey began. I wanted to set up the 90 and try not to make allot of the mistakes that I made back with the 29.
I currently have a 90 gallon corner overflow set up with around 100lbs of live rock and a 3 inch sand bed. I'm running 500 watts of MH 10000k and 2 atinics. I ended up using the Ecosystem refuge but I did some modifications to it. The original set up was to put bio balls in the chamber that the drain drops into then through the miracle mud refuge then through bio balls once again, then into the pump chamber.
After reading many forums and books, I have found out Bio Balls are not used much any longer. And being that I have a CNC router and can cut acrylic. I made a new chamber to hold a reef octopus protein skimmer and used a 1 1/2 bulk head to connect them. I took out the bio balls in that front compartment. I did use the 20 lbs of miracle mud and set a mag drive 1800 as a external pump.
I also added a aqualogic 1/3 hp chiller. Also 2 Tunze 6100 power heads. I am controlling the entire system with a Neptune Systems Apex controller. (Love that thing).
I have mostly SPS and LPS corals. A mated pair of Clowns, Purple Tang, Yellow Tang, Watchman Goby with a pistil shrimp, 2 green chromis, yellow tail damsel.
I'm growing two different types of macro algae in the fuge.
I'll come back an add what I have forgot and add some photos. I just wanted to say Hi to all.
Cheers
Chris
Glad to hear you are back in the hobby, though. Welcome to
