My Beginner Build

[Bellebomb]

I recently learned that I could start a build thread. So here goes nothing.

Step One: Find a tank and stand.

Thankfully, we had a friend in the hobby who upgraded to a 300 gallon tank, so we got the stand second hand. Just needed to update it a bit. (It has to match the house or it would drive me crazy, I’m OCD).

 

[cmaxwell39]

Looks good, what size tank is it??

 

[Bellebomb]

Step two: decorate the room. (We had an ugly black couch there which had to go).

I know this isn’t associated with the tank. But I’m proud of it, so I’m sharing!!

 

[Bellebomb]

Looks good, what size tank is it??

125 gallons with a 55gal sump.

 

[Hemmdog]

Sweet build!

 

[cmaxwell39]

Great size tank. What are your plans for it?? Reef? FOWLR?

Room looks good as well.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Nice size to start with! I have the 6' 125 currently.

 

[gotmesalty77]

Looking great! Can't wait to see what you do with it

 

[Bellebomb]

This is where it will jump, as I didn’t take pictures in between. Installed glass in the sump (yay, dollar a gallon deals), and took close to 4 months to decide what gear to use.
Finally settled on:

2 Vortech MP40’s (with the backup battery)
Tunze Turbelle 6065 (for the back wall)
Eheim Jager Trutemp
Aquamaxx GFO/C Media Reactor
Aquamaxx 120 Protein Skimmer
Clarisea SK5000
Syncra ADV 5.5 pump

Lighting:
ATI Sunpower 6x80w with 4 blue plus, 1 aquablue special and 1 purple plus.
2 - 60 Lumilite in Actinic blue (the XHO’s we’re out of my budget when we added the cost of the electrician).

Rock: Pristine Rock out of homestead. Great guy and the rock was super wrapped and only one tiny piece broke off a corner during shipping. It took me two days of playing with the rocks before I settled on the placement.

I also did the Red Sea customizable cover since we have a cat.

Here is the sump, rocks, and light in all its glory...

 

[Bellebomb]

Great size tank. What are your plans for it?? Reef? FOWLR?

Room looks good as well.

Reef, mostly SPS.

 

[The Aquatic Arsenal]

Well that was a jump lol. That is all looking great!

 

[Idoc]

This is a really nice build. Good job. The aquascape looks good for fish and coral placements.

 

[Dine]

Looks good. Following along.

 

[SMSREEF]

This is where it will jump, as I didn’t take pictures in between. Installed glass in the sump (yay, dollar a gallon deals), and took close to 4 months to decide what gear to use.
Finally settled on:

2 Vortech MP40’s (with the backup battery)
Tunze Turbelle 6065 (for the back wall)
Eheim Jager Trutemp
Aquamaxx GFO/C Media Reactor
Aquamaxx 120 Protein Skimmer
Clarisea SK5000
Syncra ADV 5.5 pump

Lighting:
ATI Sunpower 6x80w with 4 blue plus, 1 aquablue special and 1 purple plus.
2 - 60 Lumilite in Actinic blue (the XHO’s we’re out of my budget when we added the cost of the electrician).

Rock: Pristine Rock out of homestead. Great guy and the rock was super wrapped and only one tiny piece broke off a corner during shipping. It took me two days of playing with the rocks before I settled on the placement.

I also did the Red Sea customizable cover since we have a cat.

Here is the sump, rocks, and light in all its glory...

I’m looking forward to your build. The Aquascape looks great!

 

[Txplicit]

This is your first build???? Pretty impressive. Doing well thus far.

 

[samnaz]

You’re off to a great start! Spending 4 months planning and researching before starting your first tank is impressive. Slow and steady wins the reef race... that patience will come in handy with your ambitious plan for a SPS dominant reef. Looking forward to updates on this one. ;Happy

 

[Katrina71]

Step two: decorate the room. (We had an ugly black couch there which had to go).

I know this isn’t associated with the tank. But I’m proud of it, so I’m sharing!!

Gorgeous! Love love it!

 

[Katrina71]

This whole build is just beautiful!

 

[cmaxwell39]

This is where it will jump, as I didn’t take pictures in between. Installed glass in the sump (yay, dollar a gallon deals), and took close to 4 months to decide what gear to use.
Finally settled on:

2 Vortech MP40’s (with the backup battery)
Tunze Turbelle 6065 (for the back wall)
Eheim Jager Trutemp
Aquamaxx GFO/C Media Reactor
Aquamaxx 120 Protein Skimmer
Clarisea SK5000
Syncra ADV 5.5 pump

Lighting:
ATI Sunpower 6x80w with 4 blue plus, 1 aquablue special and 1 purple plus.
2 - 60 Lumilite in Actinic blue (the XHO’s we’re out of my budget when we added the cost of the electrician).

Rock: Pristine Rock out of homestead. Great guy and the rock was super wrapped and only one tiny piece broke off a corner during shipping. It took me two days of playing with the rocks before I settled on the placement.

I also did the Red Sea customizable cover since we have a cat.

Here is the sump, rocks, and light in all its glory...

Reef, mostly SPS.

Wow, you have a nice list of equipment there and very well thought out plan. SPS are going to look great on that scape. Great job, this looks far from a beginner build.

 

[lavoisier]

Welcome. Looking forward to your build.