Marquarium
Active Member
EDIT: This original post is never updated, find new content in the comments I add and follow along my journey as I learn and grow!
Hello everyone at R2R!
I finally have the tank and stand to combine all my livestock and 'downsize' to one tank while also giving them the proper size home they deserve.
The old tanks: a 125gallon running with 2 FX6 canisters and a HOB protein skimmer, 80 gallon with 30 gallon sump, and a 40 gallon tall that has 2 HOB filters.'
Livestock:
125 has a heavy load I know and was a big reason for this upgrade - has 2 clowns, 3 chromis, purple tang, blue tang, false yellow tang, pink square anthias, diamond goby, mandarin goby
80 has 2 zebra moray eels that are both about 1.5 feet long. Housing a lot of rocks for caves and knew they needed a bigger tank too.
40 isn't pictured and is basically housing a bunch of liverock and 2 clowns
Shot of the boys (ed and eduardo) hanging close as usual in the tank
I've been reefing for ~1.5 years and knew I would eventually wanted a larger tank. A deal came up that I decided I wanted to take on as a project. A 280 gallon acrylic tank.
Stand needs a fresh coat, tank needs a good buffing, and I'm taking my time to make sure this is done right and looks good.
The other option if it doesn't buff out well is try to get the back wall off that has silicone EVERYWHERE to hold it on and I assume will have far less scratches.
By far the heaviest thing I have ever lifted and the biggest challenge in my opinion will be getting it into the house safely once it's ready.
(Also no this isnt it fully strapped in lol)
Comparison next to the 125
280 is 80"x2'x3'
Some of the front scratches that i'm hoping will buff off and not show as much when full and under blue light
Stand needs some loving but overall good shape and very strong
(does have an end board not pictured)
It has a big overflow at one end that will lead to 4 filter socks before hitting the sump (which will have more socks, holy socks). Then a return that splits in 2 so there's a return on both ends of the tank. Planning to have all the other classic stuff in sump - protein skimmer (haven't picked one out yet), big butt heater, lots of bio media from my tanks running, eventually refugium. Already have 200lbs+ of liverock and 200 lbs of fresh livesand. Going to use a bit of rinsed sand from old tanks too.
This is going to be one fun project and I hope you all enjoy the ride with me! Really really really hoping it buffs nicely and looks better when full. Sellers pictures when it was full you couldn't see the scratches much at all. But hey it was a great deal and I'm super excited to get going. Will be posting the next update once the stand is painted and tank is up and running.
Longer term plans:
Automated monitoring system
Auto top off
Additional filtering help such as biopellet reactors, carbon reactors
Dosers
Any advice or product recommendations are welcome and much appreciated! Thank you all!
Hello everyone at R2R!
I finally have the tank and stand to combine all my livestock and 'downsize' to one tank while also giving them the proper size home they deserve.
The old tanks: a 125gallon running with 2 FX6 canisters and a HOB protein skimmer, 80 gallon with 30 gallon sump, and a 40 gallon tall that has 2 HOB filters.'
Livestock:
125 has a heavy load I know and was a big reason for this upgrade - has 2 clowns, 3 chromis, purple tang, blue tang, false yellow tang, pink square anthias, diamond goby, mandarin goby
80 has 2 zebra moray eels that are both about 1.5 feet long. Housing a lot of rocks for caves and knew they needed a bigger tank too.
40 isn't pictured and is basically housing a bunch of liverock and 2 clowns
Shot of the boys (ed and eduardo) hanging close as usual in the tank
I've been reefing for ~1.5 years and knew I would eventually wanted a larger tank. A deal came up that I decided I wanted to take on as a project. A 280 gallon acrylic tank.
Stand needs a fresh coat, tank needs a good buffing, and I'm taking my time to make sure this is done right and looks good.
The other option if it doesn't buff out well is try to get the back wall off that has silicone EVERYWHERE to hold it on and I assume will have far less scratches.
By far the heaviest thing I have ever lifted and the biggest challenge in my opinion will be getting it into the house safely once it's ready.
(Also no this isnt it fully strapped in lol)
Comparison next to the 125
280 is 80"x2'x3'
Some of the front scratches that i'm hoping will buff off and not show as much when full and under blue light
Stand needs some loving but overall good shape and very strong
(does have an end board not pictured)
It has a big overflow at one end that will lead to 4 filter socks before hitting the sump (which will have more socks, holy socks). Then a return that splits in 2 so there's a return on both ends of the tank. Planning to have all the other classic stuff in sump - protein skimmer (haven't picked one out yet), big butt heater, lots of bio media from my tanks running, eventually refugium. Already have 200lbs+ of liverock and 200 lbs of fresh livesand. Going to use a bit of rinsed sand from old tanks too.
This is going to be one fun project and I hope you all enjoy the ride with me! Really really really hoping it buffs nicely and looks better when full. Sellers pictures when it was full you couldn't see the scratches much at all. But hey it was a great deal and I'm super excited to get going. Will be posting the next update once the stand is painted and tank is up and running.
Longer term plans:
Automated monitoring system
Auto top off
Additional filtering help such as biopellet reactors, carbon reactors
Dosers
Any advice or product recommendations are welcome and much appreciated! Thank you all!
Last edited:
Best of luck..
