My 180g reef is 1 year old today :)

[CookieRdReef]

My 180g reef tank is 1 year old today

This is my second reef tank. The first was a 75g that was up for 1.5 years before I broke it down to start this one. I started this with mostly soft and few LPS with the intention of keeping is as easy as possible. Somehere along the way things went well and I added more SPS including some acros. My life is crazy busy with 4 young kids 8 and under so I don't pay as much attention to the tank as I would like sometimes.

Almost everything I do and use is on the "cheaper" side. The tank is a 6ft Reef Pro 180g which was less than half the price of the Red Sea and Waterbox of the world. My lights are $165 Nicrew 150w with AI HMS railing system. Pumps are 2 AI Nero 3s behind the rockwork, plus 2 Jerepet wavemakers. My skimmer is a Simplicity DC 240. I run carbon and have a refugium which I use a $30 Amazon LED to grow cheato, GSP, and some xenia. I dose a small amount of All4Reef daily. I don't have any kind of controller.

Most of my corals started as $10-30 frags from Aquasd or my LFS. I have 19 fish total including Yellow Tang, Convict Tang, Blue Tang, One Spot Foxface, Bluethroat Triggerfish. CUC includes 3 Cleaner Shrimp.

Hopefully I can update this thread on year 2

 

[Jesse571]

My 180g reef tank is 1 year old today

This is my second reef tank. The first was a 75g that was up for 1.5 years before I broke it down to start this one. I started this with mostly soft and few LPS with the intention of keeping is as easy as possible. Somehere along the way things went well and I added more SPS including some acros. My life is crazy busy with 4 young kids 8 and under so I don't pay as much attention to the tank as I would like sometimes.

Almost everything I do and use is on the "cheaper" side. The tank is a 6ft Reef Pro 180g which was less than half the price of the Red Sea and Waterbox of the world. My lights are $165 Nicrew 150w with AI HMS railing system. Pumps are 2 AI Nero 3s behind the rockwork, plus 2 Jerepet wavemakers. My skimmer is a Simplicity DC 240. I run carbon and have a refugium which I use a $30 Amazon LED to grow cheato, GSP, and some xenia. I dose a small amount of All4Reef daily. I don't have any kind of controller.

Most of my corals started as $10-30 frags from Aquasd or my LFS. I have 19 fish total including Yellow Tang, Convict Tang, Blue Tang, One Spot Foxface, Bluethroat Triggerfish. CUC includes 3 Cleaner Shrimp.

Hopefully I can update this thread on year 2

Beautiful tank! Congrats!!

 

[i cant think]

My 180g reef tank is 1 year old today

This is my second reef tank. The first was a 75g that was up for 1.5 years before I broke it down to start this one. I started this with mostly soft and few LPS with the intention of keeping is as easy as possible. Somehere along the way things went well and I added more SPS including some acros. My life is crazy busy with 4 young kids 8 and under so I don't pay as much attention to the tank as I would like sometimes.

Almost everything I do and use is on the "cheaper" side. The tank is a 6ft Reef Pro 180g which was less than half the price of the Red Sea and Waterbox of the world. My lights are $165 Nicrew 150w with AI HMS railing system. Pumps are 2 AI Nero 3s behind the rockwork, plus 2 Jerepet wavemakers. My skimmer is a Simplicity DC 240. I run carbon and have a refugium which I use a $30 Amazon LED to grow cheato, GSP, and some xenia. I dose a small amount of All4Reef daily. I don't have any kind of controller.

Most of my corals started as $10-30 frags from Aquasd or my LFS. I have 19 fish total including Yellow Tang, Convict Tang, Blue Tang, One Spot Foxface, Bluethroat Triggerfish. CUC includes 3 Cleaner Shrimp.

Hopefully I can update this thread on year 2

That’s a stunning tank! Wish my 4’ tank that was 2 years old in January this year looked the same… instead it’s a starfish mess, literally!

 

[Bryan68]

Beautiful tank, congrats!!!

 

[CookieRdReef]

That’s a stunning tank! Wish my 4’ tank that was 2 years old in January this year looked the same… instead it’s a starfish mess, literally!

My tank looked like a starfish farm until I added this little monster. I would come downstairs in the morning and I counted one morning over 50 Asterinas on the glass alone. Within 3-4 months I have to look closely to find a few hiding in the rocks. He is about 5x bigger than he was. We call him Mr. Murder Shrimp.

 

[jmichaelh7]

My tank looked like a starfish farm until I added this little monster. I would come downstairs in the morning and I counted one morning over 50 Asterinas on the glass alone. Within 3-4 months I have to look closely to find a few hiding in the rocks. He is about 5x bigger than he was. We call him Mr. Murder Shrimp.

Same here, tons of asterina wiped out and still going

I fear one day when they are all wiped out . Then what?

Nice tank bud , do you mind sharing your parameters and dosing methods ?

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Happy Birthday to a Beautiful tank!

What do you think about the Nero 3's? Do they move enough water in a 180? I've been considering a change over and they caught my eye.

That’s a stunning tank! Wish my 4’ tank that was 2 years old in January this year looked the same… instead it’s a starfish mess, literally!

Been there for sure. A pair of Harleys will take care of that for you quick, fast, and in a hurry!

 

[CookieRdReef]

Same here, tons of asterina wiped out and still going

I fear one day when they are all wiped out . Then what?

Nice tank bud , do you mind sharing your parameters and dosing methods ?

Thanks! NO3 around 10, PO4 .1. I have added Neo Nitro and Neo Phos along the way to keep these numbers up. Alk about 8-9ish. I dose only about 20ml per day powered All4Reef. Most of my large corals are softies. I do currently dose Coral Boost and Flatworm Stop about 1/2 the recommeded dosage. When the tank was younger and when I have more algae than I like I add lots of pods and PNS Probio.

 

[CookieRdReef]

Happy Birthday to a Beautiful tank!

What do you think about the Nero 3's? Do they move enough water in a 180? I've been considering a change over and they caught my eye.


Been there for sure. A pair of Harleys will take care of that for you quick, fast, and in a hurry!

The Neros have been good. I can't really say the have been that much better than the cheaper copycat Jerepet pumps I bought from Amazon. Neros 3s are a bit smaller.

 

[frizzayyyyreef]

My 180g reef tank is 1 year old today

This is my second reef tank. The first was a 75g that was up for 1.5 years before I broke it down to start this one. I started this with mostly soft and few LPS with the intention of keeping is as easy as possible. Somehere along the way things went well and I added more SPS including some acros. My life is crazy busy with 4 young kids 8 and under so I don't pay as much attention to the tank as I would like sometimes.

Almost everything I do and use is on the "cheaper" side. The tank is a 6ft Reef Pro 180g which was less than half the price of the Red Sea and Waterbox of the world. My lights are $165 Nicrew 150w with AI HMS railing system. Pumps are 2 AI Nero 3s behind the rockwork, plus 2 Jerepet wavemakers. My skimmer is a Simplicity DC 240. I run carbon and have a refugium which I use a $30 Amazon LED to grow cheato, GSP, and some xenia. I dose a small amount of All4Reef daily. I don't have any kind of controller.

Most of my corals started as $10-30 frags from Aquasd or my LFS. I have 19 fish total including Yellow Tang, Convict Tang, Blue Tang, One Spot Foxface, Bluethroat Triggerfish. CUC includes 3 Cleaner Shrimp.

Hopefully I can update this thread on year 2

Jealous !!

 

[highest_tides]

Congratulations! That's a great milestone and the tank looks beautiful!

 

[CookieRdReef]

Accidentally have 2 threads posted. A couple growth pics from June-July 2021 to now:

 

[Hairyteeth]

Happy birthday, looking great!

 

[anthonygf]

My 180g reef tank is 1 year old today

This is my second reef tank. The first was a 75g that was up for 1.5 years before I broke it down to start this one. I started this with mostly soft and few LPS with the intention of keeping is as easy as possible. Somehere along the way things went well and I added more SPS including some acros. My life is crazy busy with 4 young kids 8 and under so I don't pay as much attention to the tank as I would like sometimes.

Almost everything I do and use is on the "cheaper" side. The tank is a 6ft Reef Pro 180g which was less than half the price of the Red Sea and Waterbox of the world. My lights are $165 Nicrew 150w with AI HMS railing system. Pumps are 2 AI Nero 3s behind the rockwork, plus 2 Jerepet wavemakers. My skimmer is a Simplicity DC 240. I run carbon and have a refugium which I use a $30 Amazon LED to grow cheato, GSP, and some xenia. I dose a small amount of All4Reef daily. I don't have any kind of controller.

Most of my corals started as $10-30 frags from Aquasd or my LFS. I have 19 fish total including Yellow Tang, Convict Tang, Blue Tang, One Spot Foxface, Bluethroat Triggerfish. CUC includes 3 Cleaner Shrimp.

Hopefully I can update this thread on year 2

Yeah it's not the price of equipment or corals in whether you succeed or not, it is your commitment to learning and taking care of your pets. I also go as cheap as possible, I will start with small frags and started with cheap fish, my most expensive fish was the Yellow Tang I got 7 years ago for $20 From Petco because he looked like he was about to die, the size of a quarter skinny and shredded fins and is fat and healthy today.

Good job on your reef, it looks great, and Happy Birthday.

 

[CookieRdReef]

Year 2 photo update. Life has been very busy and tank TLC has been minimal. Could use some trimming soon.

 

[jmichaelh7]

Year 2 photo update. Life has been very busy and tank TLC has been minimal. Could use some trimming soon.

Looking good !!!! Beautiful

 

[jpmazzone]

This is an awesome tank.