fin mike
Active Member
Hello fellow reefers. I have taken a break from the hobby for about four years and have now decided to get back in. I have been very successful in the past but when passion for the hobby wains and your wife is complaining about a remodel which your 120 stands in the way of, it‘s time to put these things on the shelf for a spell. Well, the flame has been rekindled and I am starting a new build. The problem is, I have no idea what I want in the main display. I‘m looking for some ideas and I could really use some feedback.
The concept:
75 gal main display tank. For filtration, I will be using a 40 gal sump that will be plumbed to the main tank through a wall in a separate room. They will be run on reverse lighting cycles. In the sump I will be running a roller mat as my primary filter. After that, it will be algae filtration and then back into the display. No skimmer.
What I know I want:
Because the sump is completely segregated from the display, I want to make the refugium area it’s own display for some cool varieties of macro algae. So it will be for aesthetics as well as for filtration. Also, production of pods and other various tasty tid bits for the fish in the display is paramount to this setup.
In the display, I want a minimalist rock structure with a few to more than a few gorgonians. A school of some kind of fish (it’s a 75 so I’m kinda limited) to fill the water column. Past this, I have no idea what I want. I’ve considered a euphyllia garden, an Atlantic themed tank, an anemone dominated tank, a clam garden, a bunch of elegance corals with turtle grass …..something different besides an NPS systems. Also, a killer looking stand is a must. I think I have that portion nailed down though.
What I don’t want:
What 80% of everybody else has. I don’t want a box full of “sticks” that come with all kinds of crazy names. A tank crammed full of every type of coral imaginable. A seahorse tank or something very specialized like a cuttlefish display, or garden eels.
What I have:
Great lighting, a full automation and monitoring system, plenty of room, carpentry skills, 30 years of experience, proximity to the east coast to collect critters, a 40 breeder full of rock cycling and the finances to try something different.
What I don’t have:
The idea to move this build forward (hence this post), and the willingness to move forward due to paralysis by analysis. A LFS. A local community of reefers to shoot the bull with and bounce ideas back and forth.
I’d appreciate some input. I know there is someone out there with a really great concept. Bless me with your vision!
The concept:
75 gal main display tank. For filtration, I will be using a 40 gal sump that will be plumbed to the main tank through a wall in a separate room. They will be run on reverse lighting cycles. In the sump I will be running a roller mat as my primary filter. After that, it will be algae filtration and then back into the display. No skimmer.
What I know I want:
Because the sump is completely segregated from the display, I want to make the refugium area it’s own display for some cool varieties of macro algae. So it will be for aesthetics as well as for filtration. Also, production of pods and other various tasty tid bits for the fish in the display is paramount to this setup.
In the display, I want a minimalist rock structure with a few to more than a few gorgonians. A school of some kind of fish (it’s a 75 so I’m kinda limited) to fill the water column. Past this, I have no idea what I want. I’ve considered a euphyllia garden, an Atlantic themed tank, an anemone dominated tank, a clam garden, a bunch of elegance corals with turtle grass …..something different besides an NPS systems. Also, a killer looking stand is a must. I think I have that portion nailed down though.
What I don’t want:
What 80% of everybody else has. I don’t want a box full of “sticks” that come with all kinds of crazy names. A tank crammed full of every type of coral imaginable. A seahorse tank or something very specialized like a cuttlefish display, or garden eels.
What I have:
Great lighting, a full automation and monitoring system, plenty of room, carpentry skills, 30 years of experience, proximity to the east coast to collect critters, a 40 breeder full of rock cycling and the finances to try something different.
What I don’t have:
The idea to move this build forward (hence this post), and the willingness to move forward due to paralysis by analysis. A LFS. A local community of reefers to shoot the bull with and bounce ideas back and forth.
I’d appreciate some input. I know there is someone out there with a really great concept. Bless me with your vision!
