My 125 reef, step by step setup
- Thread starter Hazmat
- Start date
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Opcn
Big fish
Dude you are soooo my idol
) I have now over $7,000 US in this tankGodricPuffer said:
The corals have been from $29 to $70 each just depends on what kind it is. The Acropora I just got yesterday and it was $59
If I had to do it all over again and I knew how much I was going to spend...Hmmmmm not sure if I would but I don't regret it and I love my tank.
Hazmat
Sorrell
If you're a bird, I'm a bird
*drools* I love it Hazmat! Looks like the fish have grown? Maybe? 
I am so in love with that tank. Seriously since you started this I've been staring at it. If anyone is ever looking for me...I'm in here, thanks.
Awesome tank
I am so in love with that tank. Seriously since you started this I've been staring at it. If anyone is ever looking for me...I'm in here, thanks.
Awesome tank
Just thought a few of you might want to know that the actual hardware for this tank can be had for much less if you happen to be handy.
You would need to be really handy and have some special skills to bend and glue the tank up yourself, so plan on buying that part.
The hood and stand are normally more than the tank itself when you buy from the LFS, so instead find someone locally with good woodworking skills and either make the stand yourself or have it made locally. This will save a lot of cost in the shipping and labor costs. A tank stand is a fairly easy box.
The sump and refugium can be made from local supplies of glass or acrylic. These are not seen so you do not have to freak if the seams are not perfect. You can also use on old tank you had leftover from another project, or even use a non-see through plastic bin. I have heard of people using rubbemaid storage bins and just adding acrylic dividers.
The protien skimmer can be made DIY for much cheaper than what you can buy one for. Just check around on the web for plans.
I know all this because I am in the process of planning and building a 125 gal SW reef tank. I am going through the added hassel of running piping from the main floor where the tank will sit into the basement where the rufugium and sump will sit. That way all the maintaince will will take place out of sight and I can have an even bigger water load down there to help stabilize the tank. I am planning roughly 200 gals total with that extra space to hold water with an RO/DI top off unit and automatic water changes straight from/to the sump. The only thing I should ever have to open the top for is feeding, cleaning, and placing new items.
While still not cheap it is much less expensive to build all this equipment myself with the help of a few friends in the know than to buy it.
Currently we are landscaping the backyard of our new home so I am still in the planning stages and have not started doing any building at this point. When I do I will post pictures and the plans that worked for me so everyone can learn for the mistakes I am sure to make. Good luck to anyone getting started in SW. It is a long tough road, but as you can see from this excellent example it is worth it.
You would need to be really handy and have some special skills to bend and glue the tank up yourself, so plan on buying that part.
The hood and stand are normally more than the tank itself when you buy from the LFS, so instead find someone locally with good woodworking skills and either make the stand yourself or have it made locally. This will save a lot of cost in the shipping and labor costs. A tank stand is a fairly easy box.
The sump and refugium can be made from local supplies of glass or acrylic. These are not seen so you do not have to freak if the seams are not perfect. You can also use on old tank you had leftover from another project, or even use a non-see through plastic bin. I have heard of people using rubbemaid storage bins and just adding acrylic dividers.
The protien skimmer can be made DIY for much cheaper than what you can buy one for. Just check around on the web for plans.
I know all this because I am in the process of planning and building a 125 gal SW reef tank. I am going through the added hassel of running piping from the main floor where the tank will sit into the basement where the rufugium and sump will sit. That way all the maintaince will will take place out of sight and I can have an even bigger water load down there to help stabilize the tank. I am planning roughly 200 gals total with that extra space to hold water with an RO/DI top off unit and automatic water changes straight from/to the sump. The only thing I should ever have to open the top for is feeding, cleaning, and placing new items.
While still not cheap it is much less expensive to build all this equipment myself with the help of a few friends in the know than to buy it.
Currently we are landscaping the backyard of our new home so I am still in the planning stages and have not started doing any building at this point. When I do I will post pictures and the plans that worked for me so everyone can learn for the mistakes I am sure to make. Good luck to anyone getting started in SW. It is a long tough road, but as you can see from this excellent example it is worth it.
Thanks SorrellSorrell said:*drools* I love it Hazmat! Looks like the fish have grown? Maybe?
I am so in love with that tank. Seriously since you started this I've been staring at it. If anyone is ever looking for me...I'm in here, thanks.
Awesome tank
Yeah it does seem like the fish have grown some but i see it more in the coral.
Hazmat
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