Good morning all! Couldn’t sleep, and my tank rebuild to do list was running through my head, so I decided to get out of bed and start my 125 Gallon rebuild thread!
First a little background. Around February of last year, I bought a used AGA 125 Gallon 72” tank, and an AGA stand. My set-up came with 120 Lbs. of Live Rock, and a 5 Gallon bucket of live sand. Included was a somewhat broken (no more bubble trap) acrylic wet/dry, which I converted into a sump, a Coralife SS 220, and a Danner 18 submersible pump for a return. One stealth heater, and a bucket of salt, and off I went. In total I got the set-up for $1,000.
Since then I have added a few things, like a RO/DI kit to make my own water, filter socks, small stuff…
After my tank cycled, which I am not really sure that it did, but after waiting 2 months (no algae blooms, but no lights either), all my water parameters were good. I added a few fish here and there, and after about 2 months, had a nice little family going…until the last additions of a Hawaiian Black Trigger, and a Queen Angel. Within a week, all of my fish were looking very sickly, and had all died off. My only survivor was my cleaner shrimp, who is now lovingly known as Chuck (Norris).
So my tank has been sitting empty, aside from a few hermits, snails, and Chuck, and I have finally gotten my heart in the right place to try this again.
Here is a picture of my tank now.
alt="" />
alt="" />
Stand is a bit ugly, and a bit crowded.
So…On to the build!
I have been building a new and slightly prettier stand (if I do say so myself) and have been toiling over the direction I am wanting to take my tank. I think I have settled on a mixed reef, where I maintain some freedom on fish choices, but stop short at aggressive and reef eaters…lol.
Lately several of you may have seen my thread on building my stand, or my ultra annoying weekly threads on which lighting to buy, where I bump my budget up a few hundred bucks every week, and it’s STILL not enough!
First is the stand. I designed my stand to be a bit taller than the stand I currently have, and equipped it with a 4’ access in the front where I will mount 2 doors. The stand is stained oak, and is really the first wood piece I have built since Industrial arts in HS… I hope you like it.
alt="" />
alt="" />
alt="" />
Currently, the stand is sitting in my garage, waiting for its 3rd coat of gloss white on the inside, and second coat of Spar Poly for the outside. The stand is a good 8 inches taller than my current stand, and the 4’ wide access is going be great! The next phase of my build will focus on my Sump/Refugium build, plumbing, and tank emptying, transfer, and rebuild. I will be asking for input/advice in my next post.
Christian
First a little background. Around February of last year, I bought a used AGA 125 Gallon 72” tank, and an AGA stand. My set-up came with 120 Lbs. of Live Rock, and a 5 Gallon bucket of live sand. Included was a somewhat broken (no more bubble trap) acrylic wet/dry, which I converted into a sump, a Coralife SS 220, and a Danner 18 submersible pump for a return. One stealth heater, and a bucket of salt, and off I went. In total I got the set-up for $1,000.
Since then I have added a few things, like a RO/DI kit to make my own water, filter socks, small stuff…
After my tank cycled, which I am not really sure that it did, but after waiting 2 months (no algae blooms, but no lights either), all my water parameters were good. I added a few fish here and there, and after about 2 months, had a nice little family going…until the last additions of a Hawaiian Black Trigger, and a Queen Angel. Within a week, all of my fish were looking very sickly, and had all died off. My only survivor was my cleaner shrimp, who is now lovingly known as Chuck (Norris).
So my tank has been sitting empty, aside from a few hermits, snails, and Chuck, and I have finally gotten my heart in the right place to try this again.
Here is a picture of my tank now.
Stand is a bit ugly, and a bit crowded.
So…On to the build!
I have been building a new and slightly prettier stand (if I do say so myself) and have been toiling over the direction I am wanting to take my tank. I think I have settled on a mixed reef, where I maintain some freedom on fish choices, but stop short at aggressive and reef eaters…lol.
Lately several of you may have seen my thread on building my stand, or my ultra annoying weekly threads on which lighting to buy, where I bump my budget up a few hundred bucks every week, and it’s STILL not enough!
First is the stand. I designed my stand to be a bit taller than the stand I currently have, and equipped it with a 4’ access in the front where I will mount 2 doors. The stand is stained oak, and is really the first wood piece I have built since Industrial arts in HS… I hope you like it.
Currently, the stand is sitting in my garage, waiting for its 3rd coat of gloss white on the inside, and second coat of Spar Poly for the outside. The stand is a good 8 inches taller than my current stand, and the 4’ wide access is going be great! The next phase of my build will focus on my Sump/Refugium build, plumbing, and tank emptying, transfer, and rebuild. I will be asking for input/advice in my next post.
Christian
