300 Gallon mixed reef from Midwest Custom

[breck]

Hey everyone. ..long time listner, first time caller.

I've mainly kept freshwater my whole life, currently have a 300 gallon freshwater set up, with a florida gar ive owned for 18 years. I also have a 125 saltwater, with a hippo tang and marine betta for the last 3 years or so. Decided to make the switch to a full reef. So, I ordered a 96x30x24 tall acrylic from Midwest Custom Aquariums.

I jist finished the base of the stand. I'll be using 2 40b as sumps, tied in together. Also, will be using Mars Aqua Led lighting, Ecotech Vectra L1 as my return, octopus skimmer (forget the model). I'm here to learn and take it slow.

I will be setting up 75 gal,20l and 10gal quarantine tanks....just because I have them on hand. I've learned my lesson about quarantine. ...a few months ago I lost a queen, flame, majestic and goldflake to velvet, whixh the goldflake brought in. Expensive lesson, but I got cocky.

Also looking at the neptune apex jr or the reefkeeper series for controllers.
I still need to get some powerheads as well...

Ive had about 100lbs of live rock curing for tue last 6 weeks, on top of what I have in my 125. Hoping for a smooth transition for my current stock.

Anyhow, enough rambling. Looking forward to sharing my progress.

[breck]

I believe I solved my sump dilemma. More than I want to spend, but this saves me from purchasing 2 40b, and the time, albeit little, of turning them into sumps. And, this looks a little cleaner.

48x22x16 tall at my LFS.

[breck]

For my QT tanks...Which medications should I have on hand? Also, I really don't want to treat, until I see a problem, but if it is best to add certain medications as a prevantive measure, I would look into that as well.

[plecoco]

Following your thread. Post more pics!

How do you like the RO skimmer?

[breck]

RO skimmer?

[Blink2824]

Following along! As far as meds I would recommend prazipro and formalin on hand. "RO" I think meaning reef octopus...? Cheers!


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[breck]

Originally Posted by Blink2824

Following along! As far as meds I would recommend prazipro and formalin on hand. "RO" I think meaning reef octopus...? Cheers!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks, and yes , I get it now..."blonde moment " for.me

[breck]

Originally Posted by plecoco

Following your thread. Post more pics!

How do you like the RO skimmer?

I had to replace the impeller, but other than that, i like it. It's on my 125 now....I'll look at thd model number in a few.

[vikinglord13]

Sounds like this will be a fun thread to follow.

Happy reefing!

[breck]

Originally Posted by vikinglord13

Sounds like this will be a fun thread to follow.

Happy reefing!

I hope....haha.

I ordered Cupramine, Prazipro, Pimafix, Melafix and Paraguard to have on hand for my quarantine tanks...which aren't set up yet...I will be moving the 2 fish from the running 125 gal, to the 75 gal, while I tear down the 125 and place the 300 in its place...So, I'll place some rock from the 125 into the 75, along with most of the water from the 125..I'll probably do the same for the 20l and 10g..But remove the rock when I start to add new fish. I may keep a small container of old sand in the tanks to prevent a cycle...Thoughts on that? With that said, here is my stocking ideas..Just an idea, not concrete.

Hippo Tang (own)
Marine Betta (own

Clownfish
Percula Clowns x 2

Tangs
Blonde Naso
Purple Tang x1
Achilles Tang x1
Yellow Tang x 3

Wrasse
Flame Wrasse x2
Flasher Wrasse x 1
Orange Back Fairy Wrasse x 1
Lineatus wrasee x 1
Scott's Fairy Wrasse x 1

Angels
Goldflake x 1 - Still a maybe, due to possibilty of coral appetite.

Triggers
Blue Throat Trigger - Again, a maybe

I'm open to any other suggestions as well.....and thinking of a school 5-7 chromis or anthias.

[vikinglord13]

Hmm, I'm no tang expert, but that seems like a lot of tangs, especially if you plan on getting a trigger as well. You are getting a 300, so that helps. Still though, that's a lot of aggressive fish in one space. I think it's worth thinking about. Though, it's definitely worth seeing what other people think.

From what I've read the goldflake angel will work as long as it's fed well. If you really don't want to risk it yet still want a large angel, you can look into the Genicanthus genus. I noticed you didn't list any of the dwarf angels, are you just not interested in the little guys?

[breck]

Thanks. And the trigger is a maybe at this point. I appreciate the feedback.

[breck]

Tank is finished and should be shipped out today, for Tuesday arrival. Also, picked up a 16' strand of the waterproof LED sets...I'll mount those inside the stand. They are controllable via remote and can change the color. Not bad for $19.

[breck]

Picked the tank up at the shipping facility. It was packaged really well. Got it home, and my wife and I unloaded it. So much lighter than my glass 300. Just waiting on a 1.5" slipxslip sch 80 bulkhead...should be in stock next week. Gonna empty the 125 and place the hippo and marine betta in the currently empty 75 in the meantime.

[breck]

Here's a few pics after getting onto the trailer and unwrapping. I really like the lids he created, along with the feed hole.

[snyder415]

thats going to be awesome once its filled

[krusieski]

wow nice tank setup


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[mzeme565]

good luck

[breck]

Thanks! Hoping to be able to move the 125 this weekend, get the hippo and marine betta into the 75 gal holding tank, along with some of the live rock. Then move the 300 onto the stand and into place. Still waiting on 1 reef octopus sch 80 slipxslip bullhead to arrive. The holes were cut specifically for the brand. I may pick up a few clownfish and get them in the 20 or 10 gal QT tank as well.

[breck]

Was able to get the 125 torn down and the 300 in place. Water is being added....slowly...lol.

[breck]

The process...

[FattyK21]

WOW
Looks awesome

[jbvdhp]

Originally Posted by breck

For my QT tanks...Which medications should I have on hand? Also, I really don't want to treat, until I see a problem, but if it is best to add certain medications as a prevantive measure, I would look into that as well.

Formalin MS is good as a dip before your fish go into your QT, Chloroquine Phosphate (New Life Spectrum Ick Shield) is good for things like Velvet (careful with certain fish like wrasses as they do NOT take to CP well; first hand experience with it like many others), and for ich - TTM seems to be the best to prevent it; if you go to the DZ forum you'll get a good idea of what to get, but having a good broad spectrum antibiotic (limited in the hobby; Kanaplex and Metroplex seem ok) is good to have on hand too.

[jminick2]

that tank looks familiar ; ). looks great man any updates?

[breck]

Tank is filled, the top (overflow/return pipe/bulk heads) are in. Now i just have to plumb it all to my sump. I had a leaky bulkhead, hard to tighten. So, i drained that overflow chamber, and unscrewed the bulk head and did it again....no issues. I did have some flexible tubing from an eshopps sump. I was thinking about using it for portion of my return. Not certain though.
Also, i drilled a hole in my wall, and will run a t off of my return pump, so make for easy water changes, which will empty into a floor drain or a bucket near the floor drain. Then I'll have a container of fresh salt water to go back into the sump from the adjacent room. Will make for easy water changes.

My hippo and marine betta are ready to be out of the 75 and into the 300. I'm also ordering 2 clownfish and an achilles tang. Once the hippo and marine betta are moved into the 300 (hopefully by next Tues) The clowns will go into the 20L QT and the AT will go into the 75 QT.