Flippers reef 125 gallon

[Flippers4pups]

Cute!

Phew, sounds like you avoided something that could have been much worse. Not good to have a failure, but sounds like you managed it perfectly.

Could have been much worse! Thanks!

Had to take out my skimmer to have enough room for my chaetomorpha and rock from the return section to keep it wet.

 

[Fudsey]

That's an ordeal and a half ! ! !

Glad they came through for you ! !

 

[Flippers4pups]

That's an ordeal and a half ! ! !

Glad they came through for you ! !

Me too!

 

[RichtheReefer21]

Wow what a save man! Glad it all worked out. That's awesome they helped u out with the trade too. Wheeeew

 

[Victoria M]

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These two "Flipper heads" supervising me down stairs during clean up!

It was a good thing they were there to supervise. You would have been in much bigger trouble without them. My gosh they are adorable.

 

[FREAKINRICAN69]

Awesome build... Newby here as well and have possible the same tank that i will be setting up soon. Been buying stuff little by little. But i bought a Reef Octo 202-S (used/like new) and it won't fit on the bottom of the tank. It's to tight and that's without the sump(which i don't have yet and am still debating on which way to go). Tank measures 72"x 25" x 24". It's a custom built tank gifted to me 10-15 years ago. So i'll have to not only build a frame for it because the structure was weak and i reinforced it. But now i have to make it higher & of course more or less mimic your canopy design to accommodate lighting, fans etc... Any pointers? Was looking at the MARS as well because everything else is way over my budget! Please advise at your convenience and Pardon the long story LOL
Very nice build you have as well. I love it!

 

[Flippers4pups]

Awesome build... Newby here as well and have possible the same tank that i will be setting up soon. Been buying stuff little by little. But i bought a Reef Octo 202-S (used/like new) and it won't fit on the bottom of the tank. It's to tight and that's without the sump(which i don't have yet and am still debating on which way to go). Tank measures 72"x 25" x 24". It's a custom built tank gifted to me 10-15 years ago. So i'll have to not only build a frame for it because the structure was weak and i reinforced it. But now i have to make it higher & of course more or less mimic your canopy design to accommodate lighting, fans etc... Any pointers? Was looking at the MARS as well because everything else is way over my budget! Please advise at your convenience and Pardon the long story LOL
Very nice build you have as well. I love it!

Thank you! How much are you willing to spend on lights?

 

[FREAKINRICAN69]

Thank you! How much are you willing to spend on lights?

I'm trying to be as efficient as possible for the build but without breaking the bank.
Right now i'm babysitting my cousins inverts, corals and fish in a tank that will be eventually mine once he's all set.
And I feel the urge to start my build as i'm taking care of his. But there's so much variety in the hobby now that it's very confusing to decide whats best and what i can afford etc...
Once he finishes the rebuild on his house and his new tank is up and running i'll be left with a spare 120 gal tank for spare which i'm not sure if i'll be using it as a frag tank, or another system with predators or just coral, etc... But in the meanwhile i'm trying to setup the spare tank I've had in storage for the past 10-15 years...
I apologize for being so all over the place but just trying to get the best advice from knowledgeable reefers.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Okay, understand.

I was always a t5 guy. Been that way for a long time. With my current tank and life changes, new house......I wanted a tank in the living room and with a unfinished basement. But finances were and still tight at times. It took me a year to build. Helped taking my time.

So, changing bulbs got expensive. After a long time of research and reading, I decided on the Mars Aquas. Three units shipped free cost me $270.
Changing t5's once a year was costing we $200! So the rolling the dice on LEDs was worth the chance.

Since switching, my tank went through some changes and It finally got mature.

I changed some LED diodes to SB reef lights diode layout as a experiment. Before the diode change, the stock units were performing very well. Tank at that time was very young. I can't say scientifically that the change made any difference in coral growth, health and color. But they definitely work well.

 

[FREAKINRICAN69]

Awesome so I could rest assure once I setup this new tank that the switch from aquatic life Leds my cousins running in his tank to mine which will be the mars led that the coral frags I have won’t stress out.
Another thing I have to figure out is if I drill another hole on this tank or go over the back with the return. What do you think is best for me to do with this?

 

[FREAKINRICAN69]

This ones the other tank I’m babysitting and will eventually be mine but without coral, live rock, fish & inverts... just the tank and stand and rodi until I’ll have for that one.

 

[FREAKINRICAN69]

He had a reefbreeders light and black box light on it while they replenished the aquatic life leds.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Awesome so I could rest assure once I setup this new tank that the switch from aquatic life Leds my cousins running in his tank to mine which will be the mars led that the coral frags I have won’t stress out.
Another thing I have to figure out is if I drill another hole on this tank or go over the back with the return. What do you think is best for me to do with this?

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Just the one overflow?

I went over the top in the middle.

 

[FREAKINRICAN69]

Just the one overflow?

I went over the top in the middle.

Yes it only has that hole on it which will be or should be the outlet into the sump. So i'll have to see what i do for the return. Should i drill or just do a over the top in the middle? I've never done it but am very on hands if and when i know what i'm doing...

Those pictures of the tank that's running is an old one. I'll post a recent one when i get home so you could see it with the aquatic life leds and the coral frags i have.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Over the top.

Here's my "problem" rock. Palythoas are a "pest"! It's coming out real soon. Let the fragging begin!

Sucked out some more sand just awhile ago.

 

[FREAKINRICAN69]

Over the top.

View attachment 1006637

Here's my "problem" rock. Palythoas are a "pest"! It's coming out real soon. Let the fragging begin!

Sucked out some more sand just awhile ago.

Yep! He has a zoo of those on the left hand side of the tank. I'm not fond of them at all...

 

[Nimitz87]

what is the highest point of your rock work?

and you're still running the mars aquas at 60% blue 20% white 13" off the surface with lenses removed ?

excellent looking tank, I have the same lights, lenses removed and just raised them from 7" to 14" set to 60%/20% highest rock work 12-14" from water surface.

 

[Flippers4pups]

what is the highest point of your rock work?

and you're still running the mars aquas at 60% blue 20% white 13" off the surface with lenses removed ?

excellent looking tank, I have the same lights, lenses removed and just raised them from 7" to 14" set to 60%/20% highest rock work 12-14" from water surface.

Thanks. The highest is 6" from the waterline.

 

[Nimitz87]

Thanks. The highest is 6" from the waterline.

thanks mine is about 9" away. I've got them set to 60% blue/20% white. right where the blur fans kick on. it's a 90.

looks like I'm on the right track raising the lights.

 

[FREAKINRICAN69]

Just the one overflow?

I went over the top in the middle.

Should i do two overflows? I was thinking of running 1 return from sump & split into two going into the tank from the back. Is that not enough or should i reconsider? I havent planned out the plumbing yet until i get the sump and i'm leaning on a DIY 40 gal breeder which i'll be turning into a sump. Any suggestions?