build thread

Hi all, I'm new to the hobby and this is my first ever tank. I thought about getting a tropical setup as a trail to begin with, but decided I'd be better off going straight into the world of marine tanks. I've spent roughly a year (probably longer) researching and deciding where to start. Now...

Long but I wanna share my progress as a first timer in keeping a 5 gallon reef tank, also new to the whole build thread thing This is so far about 1 month and 6 weeks of progress with 1st salt water tank. Nitrates are 5 or 10 or less not much as for ph is 8.0 and as for alk, calcium, mg, and I...

My first build! We’re starting basically from the ground up. He has his 75 gal (pictured) and we decided it was time I had my own. Plus we need room for more corals

Well I did it, today I ordered a Joe's Glass Cages custom tank to replace the 72 bow front. The bow front's center brace is cracking way from the back of the tank, and since it is almost impossible to find a Tom's Aqua Pump for the CPR over flown a replacement is in order. It will be 8 to 12...

Decided to start a build thread for the current iteration. I decided to consolidate my 20g reef, 20g frag tank, and my 75g FOWLR into just the 75g. I travel now for work more than I used and consolidating tanks already feels like it was the right call. I was recently in a really low...

Wanted to show off what I’ve been working on the past two months or so as its finally coming together! Got this tank on craigslist for free 75gallon bowfront. It had a leak so the old owner replaced it. I scraped off all the old silicone and resealed it myself. The first fill test. I let the...

Hi everyone. After years in freshwater and the dart frog hobby, I've finally worked up the nerve to get into reefing. I'll describe my ambitions as relatively low: I just want a nice looking tank with happy fish and some coral growth, so you won't be seeing any high end equipment or rare...

Hi all! Been wanting a marine aquarium for a while and finally jumped on board. I got a Fluval Flex 32.5, I wanted the Evo 13.5 originally but decided it might be too small. RODI water. Dry rocks (CaribSea Life rock). CaribSea Arag-Alive. Intank baskets. 125W Eheim heater and SLW-10/20...

Whew, this hobby gets deep….fast! (pun intended) Hopefully you’ll get how well that fits with our tank’s story by the end of this thread. Either way, I’m excited to have a place to document our build from start to present, and even more excited to join the R2R crew! My husband and I’s saltwater...

Hey Nerds! *teehee* Anyways, boy oh boy do I got a little thread for you. This thread is for people who want to set up a sorta cheapish tank on their first run. I am cheap and I am not ashamed. So this all started when my family decided that it was time for my parrot to go. It breaks my heart...

Come one come all, welcome to my build thread. First, a bit about myself. When I was 14 I stumbled into an archaic corner of YouTube where people were keeping reef ecosystems in little glass boxes. I was hooked and immediately wanted to join in the fun. My parents and financial situation on the...

Hi everyone, I think I've done enough research to start this. I plan on running the tank for a few months since I will be busy doing school. I currently have a old kessil that my uncle gave me, not sure if I should use that or a noopsyche k7 mini. I have both lights and I am not sure which one...

“Good Enough”. That should be our hobby’s new motto and I’ve been mulling this for months. Do I want to wade into the fray again? What I mean is, I read post after post about someone new to the hobby having difficulty because of the sheer volume of “advice” and the high expectations of “you buy...

Intro: I've been researching the saltwater hobby for many years, and reading through all the R2R forums have been a major help and a great source of information. Growing up, I had 10, 29, 46, and 90 gallon tanks but all freshwater. College and rental situations took me out of the hobby for...

Hello reefers! I have been lurking for the past year, reading build posts, picking up valuable info from all of you and I began believing I could do this. I’ve had planted high tech fresh water tanks for some time now and am finally ready to see how life is on the salty side. My wife is very...

Good morning, evening, or whatever time of day it happens to be when you read this thread! Decided to post the build/stocking/inevitable demise (or upgrade) of this 20 gallon tall, running BARE minimum equipment for coral and fish health. Background I love fish. That is the #1 fact people learn...

Well I did it after a bunch of reading and YouTube video. I decided let me get into this hobby and just go all in! Then I did. Here is my build list equipment Tank: Redsea Reefer G2 Filter: ReefMat 500 Skimmer: Reefer Skimmer 300 Lights: ReefLED x 2 w/ mounting arms - Waiting on arms to...

Holla! My name is Dave, I reside in Arizona and not only am I new around here but new to this hobby all together. I‘m in this because my 16 year old son decided this was something he wanted to do. I’ve been pretty hands off until he needed some help. I had fresh water tanks all growing up but...

Here's my 16 gallon (40 liter) office tank! One day I said "I think I'm gonna get a tank for my office and everyone thought I was kidding.... well I wasn't. This is my first reef tank so it's been a little trial and error but I'm proud of her. Not really a great photographer and I feel like...

Tank: Reefer 350 (V3) Lighting: 2x Hydra 32 with 3D reefing diffusers - will be adding more. Either a 3rd hydra, AI blade, or both. OR I may explore an option not often talked about on here - the GHL Mitras 7206 Filtration Equipment: Red Sea Reefmat 500 Bubble Magus Curve 7 skimmer AquaUV 15W...

Current Stuff: -Fluval Evo Marine 13.5gal -Mini PS2 Fluval protein skimmer -Fluval M40 heater -Stock air pump -Stock filter -Stock lid+light What I want to upgrade: -Light ; AI Prime 16HD -Air pump ; Sicce Syncra Silent (not sure which version tho) -Something by Reef Octopus? -Temp...

IM 50g Lagoon AIO EQUIPMENT: Apex EL XR30 G6 with diffuser (30% intensity) Nero 3s x2 (Random flow 35%-55%) Hygger mini wave maker for extra flow by the acros (Random mode) Stock Mighty Jet return pump (Max flow on wave setting) Tunze 9004 dc skimmer AquaUV 15W UV with newa 1200 pump 295 gph...

Starting a new build thread for my IM lagoon 50 :D EQUIPMENT: XR30 G6 Nero 3s x2 Stock Mighty Jet return pump Tunze 9004 dc skimmer intank media basket (filterfloss, chemipure blue, biomedia) intank fuge basket (not gonna work out) tunze 3181 algae reactor (inbound) LIVESTOCK: fish/inverts...

Hello all, I've just set up my Waterbox 25 a few days ago and have been rolling along with a fishless cycle using Dr. Tim's arsenal of bacteria and ammonia. I've kept aquariums before but this is my first nano reef tank. Because I'm in the last couple years of grad school and anticipate at...

A little premature with this build thread, but I've been keeping notes in a variety of places, so condensing everything here for my own sanity and planning. Whether you love em or hate em, purchased a RedSea Reefer 350 G2 and am in the process of getting everything ready to go. Step One: I...