Here we go.
I started my tank build before getting to R2R but I did make a log of what was going on so I can do a bunch of catch up posts until I get current. Some of this is in my introduction so I am sorry about the repeat information
Background of what I want and how im going about building it.
Several months ago my daughter asked me to drive her to a good fish store. She is really enjoying freshwater tanks and this store had a good selection of plants. While they looked at plants I decided to poke around. I found a tank with a skunk cleaner shrimp and was fascinated. I really thought about putting a tank for one in my bedroom (I had a spot). My daughter informed me it was salt and there is a lot to learn about. There would also be a lot of work involved with keeping one.
(Photo from fishlore.com)
Fast forward a few months. I got sick and was hospitalized for several months and then stuck in bed when I was released. I can't watch another movie on Netflix. NCIS lost all its charm and the news was causing abdominal distress. I decided to go for it and buy a tank. The learning curves should keep me busy for months to come.
Here is abbreviated version of my condition. I had a pancreatitis that left part of my pancreas and stomach dead . I now had large pseudo cysts (1200ml) on my stomach (later to find I ad another 1200ml around my lung) and the risk of rupturing was extreme if I exerted, flexed. Due to atrophy of my muscles (loss of 85 lbs) lifting was very limited. The reason I am telling you this is it heavily influenced what I wanted for a tank.
Specifications for my tank.
I went into that same fish store with my list of wants never expecting to find all of them. they pointed me to the Red Sea Max E-170 170L/45Gal salt water tank. It hit every mark and I was shocked. It had a fully built sump and filtration on the back of the tank. Everything was up high so I had little bending to do. The tank came with the AquaIllumination Hydra 26 HD light which is great for mixed reefs and it fully programmable.
https://www.redseafish.com/aquarium-systems/max-aquarium-systems/max-e-series/#unique-identifier
I was originally looking at the nano but the guy at the fish store pushed me to the next size up stating it will be a little easier for me to maintain with a mixed reef (and my inexperience). My wife was fully on-board and told me to go to the next size up (then ran off to look at corals). I t would still fit where I wanted it to. So I purchased it along with 40gal of seawater, cured dry live-rock, live sand and something called seed.
Now starts my adventure.
I started my tank build before getting to R2R but I did make a log of what was going on so I can do a bunch of catch up posts until I get current. Some of this is in my introduction so I am sorry about the repeat information
Background of what I want and how im going about building it.
Several months ago my daughter asked me to drive her to a good fish store. She is really enjoying freshwater tanks and this store had a good selection of plants. While they looked at plants I decided to poke around. I found a tank with a skunk cleaner shrimp and was fascinated. I really thought about putting a tank for one in my bedroom (I had a spot). My daughter informed me it was salt and there is a lot to learn about. There would also be a lot of work involved with keeping one.
(Photo from fishlore.com)
Fast forward a few months. I got sick and was hospitalized for several months and then stuck in bed when I was released. I can't watch another movie on Netflix. NCIS lost all its charm and the news was causing abdominal distress. I decided to go for it and buy a tank. The learning curves should keep me busy for months to come.
Here is abbreviated version of my condition. I had a pancreatitis that left part of my pancreas and stomach dead . I now had large pseudo cysts (1200ml) on my stomach (later to find I ad another 1200ml around my lung) and the risk of rupturing was extreme if I exerted, flexed. Due to atrophy of my muscles (loss of 85 lbs) lifting was very limited. The reason I am telling you this is it heavily influenced what I wanted for a tank.
Specifications for my tank.
- I had limited space so I was looking at a NANO class of tank.
- I would like a fully designed and assembled system
- I was looking for a low maintenance (Ultra low maintenance tanks).
- Bending was a problem so major components up high was a plus.
- I wanted to have a mixed reef so a light that could support it was important.
- I wanted the light to be programmable
I went into that same fish store with my list of wants never expecting to find all of them. they pointed me to the Red Sea Max E-170 170L/45Gal salt water tank. It hit every mark and I was shocked. It had a fully built sump and filtration on the back of the tank. Everything was up high so I had little bending to do. The tank came with the AquaIllumination Hydra 26 HD light which is great for mixed reefs and it fully programmable.
https://www.redseafish.com/aquarium-systems/max-aquarium-systems/max-e-series/#unique-identifier
I was originally looking at the nano but the guy at the fish store pushed me to the next size up stating it will be a little easier for me to maintain with a mixed reef (and my inexperience). My wife was fully on-board and told me to go to the next size up (then ran off to look at corals). I t would still fit where I wanted it to. So I purchased it along with 40gal of seawater, cured dry live-rock, live sand and something called seed.
Now starts my adventure.
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