Hello everyone!
I picked up my JBJ 45 AIO for a steal on fb marketplace in May 2022, and I've been slowly upgrading and building it out over the past few months. I enjoy everyone's build process and documentation, so I thought I would throw another one into the mix! I'm going to spend some time archiving what I've done before getting to the aquariums current state - the good, the bad, the ugly over the past few months. Thanks for tagging along!
Short intro - I've been keeping saltwater fish since 2010, but largely FOWLR aquariums with a few failed attempts at coral early on. My life has changed just as much as the hobby over those 12 years, and my current combination of living in Chicago (condo life, cold winters) and being a landscape architect (plant lover and collector) has brought me back to taking a stab at a reef tank. I've jokingly called my aquariums my "winter hobby" when I can't play outside in my garden, but it's been fun to take it a bit more seriously the past few months.
May 2022- Tank Purchased!
For $150 I picked up the JBJ 45 and got it home. I wasn't planning on a tank upgrade from my little 20 gallon IM peninsula, but the price was right and I had the perfect spot for it.
Equipment:
Stock JBJ 45 Aquarium and Stand
2x Cobalt Mj1200 Pumps
inTank Media Basket upgrade
Aqueon Submersible Aquarium Heater 150w
Orbit Marine LED 18" x 2 (Don't worry, these go away!)
Cheap ebay knockoff powerhead
June 2022- Tank Transfer Month
After waiting to finish up the kitchen backsplash reno, I was finally able to transfer over my 20 peninsula into the JBJ 45. I moved over my CaribSea branch rock and clownfish.
Stock:
ORA Zombie Clownfish
ORA Snowflake Clownfish
Equipment Upgrades:
Tunze 9001 Skimmer
I picked up my JBJ 45 AIO for a steal on fb marketplace in May 2022, and I've been slowly upgrading and building it out over the past few months. I enjoy everyone's build process and documentation, so I thought I would throw another one into the mix! I'm going to spend some time archiving what I've done before getting to the aquariums current state - the good, the bad, the ugly over the past few months. Thanks for tagging along!
Short intro - I've been keeping saltwater fish since 2010, but largely FOWLR aquariums with a few failed attempts at coral early on. My life has changed just as much as the hobby over those 12 years, and my current combination of living in Chicago (condo life, cold winters) and being a landscape architect (plant lover and collector) has brought me back to taking a stab at a reef tank. I've jokingly called my aquariums my "winter hobby" when I can't play outside in my garden, but it's been fun to take it a bit more seriously the past few months.
May 2022- Tank Purchased!
For $150 I picked up the JBJ 45 and got it home. I wasn't planning on a tank upgrade from my little 20 gallon IM peninsula, but the price was right and I had the perfect spot for it.
Equipment:
Stock JBJ 45 Aquarium and Stand
2x Cobalt Mj1200 Pumps
inTank Media Basket upgrade
Aqueon Submersible Aquarium Heater 150w
Orbit Marine LED 18" x 2 (Don't worry, these go away!)
Cheap ebay knockoff powerhead
June 2022- Tank Transfer Month
After waiting to finish up the kitchen backsplash reno, I was finally able to transfer over my 20 peninsula into the JBJ 45. I moved over my CaribSea branch rock and clownfish.
Stock:
ORA Zombie Clownfish
ORA Snowflake Clownfish
Equipment Upgrades:
Tunze 9001 Skimmer