Vols Reef 260 Gallon Build

[Bozburn]

Hey everyone, been skimming the pages for a while now but I figured I would finally post my build thread. I named it Vols Reef because that's the IG handle (Vols_reef) for my tank and I am still learning how to post better on that platform. I am a huge University of Tennessee fan so that's where the name came from. Will do a quick history on my time in the hobby and then get to the good stuff.

History: Back in college I had a buddy who had a 24 gallon nano cube and I immediately took an interest in it. In no time I had a similar nano cube with two clowns, royal gramma and a few soft corals. When I moved into my place that I knew I was going to be at for a while I had to upgrade. I made the upgrade to a 125 gal build with sump and the basic needs and halides. I had this tank for a few years but never fully got into corals outside the easy LPS and Soft corals. Fast forward to 2012ish, I graduated and decided to move back to Nashville so I had to take down the tank. After I moved back I worked on setting the tank back up but was focused on starting my career and never got it up and running.

I moved into my current house a few years ago and my wife and I know we are going to be here for a good long time, so early last year I told her I wanted to get back into the hobby and she was fully supportive of it. That's where this tank began so I will go through the equipment and some pictures then a follow up post with current fish list and the quick history of the struggle with the beginning.

Equipment:
Planet Aquariums Tank - Euro Braced - 84"x29.5"x24" - 260 Gallon
Trigger Platinum Sump 39" with fleece roller
NYOS 220 Skimmer - This thing is a beast
2 EcoTech MP60's
3 EcoTech Radion XR30 G5 Pro
Sicce Syncra SDC 9.0 return pump
RedSea Dosing Pump - just added
2 Bashea media reactors - GFO and Carbon
Neptune Apex controller with trident
BashSea Tank for both ATO and Mixed water for auto water changes

 

[dstockwell]

Lookin good !

 

[Bozburn]

So I started putting fish in there last July/August but a few months later put in a fish or two that somehow brought in Ich and wiped out the entire tank. I let the tank sit empty for 60-90 days to eradicate the Ich and I told myself I would slowly add fish back, hence why I don't have a large amount of fish in there yet.

Current fish list:
Blonde Naso Tang
2 Snowflake Clowns
Copperband Butterfly
Desjardini Tang
White Tail Bristletooth Tang
2 Firefish (started with 4, one didn't make it immediately and one somehow recently jumped even with a top)
Orange Back Fairy Wrasse


Trying to decide what to get next. Here is the wish list for the remainder of the fish:

Anthias
Gem Tang
Foxface
Melanurus Wrasse
Royal Gramma (on the fence with this once because ive heard they can be aggressive)
Sailfin/Starry Blenny
Midas Blenny
Some sort of Goby

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Hey everyone, been skimming the pages for a while now but I figured I would finally post my build thread. I named it Vols Reef because that's the IG handle (Vols_reef) for my tank and I am still learning how to post better on that platform. I am a huge University of Tennessee fan so that's where the name came from. Will do a quick history on my time in the hobby and then get to the good stuff.

History: Back in college I had a buddy who had a 24 gallon nano cube and I immediately took an interest in it. In no time I had a similar nano cube with two clowns, royal gramma and a few soft corals. When I moved into my place that I knew I was going to be at for a while I had to upgrade. I made the upgrade to a 125 gal build with sump and the basic needs and halides. I had this tank for a few years but never fully got into corals outside the easy LPS and Soft corals. Fast forward to 2012ish, I graduated and decided to move back to Nashville so I had to take down the tank. After I moved back I worked on setting the tank back up but was focused on starting my career and never got it up and running.

I moved into my current house a few years ago and my wife and I know we are going to be here for a good long time, so early last year I told her I wanted to get back into the hobby and she was fully supportive of it. That's where this tank began so I will go through the equipment and some pictures then a follow up post with current fish list and the quick history of the struggle with the beginning.

Equipment:
Planet Aquariums Tank - Euro Braced - 84"x29.5"x24" - 260 Gallon
Trigger Platinum Sump 39" with fleece roller
NYOS 220 Skimmer - This thing is a beast
2 EcoTech MP60's
3 EcoTech Radion XR30 G5 Pro
Sicce Syncra SDC 9.0 return pump
RedSea Dosing Pump - just added
2 Bashea media reactors - GFO and Carbon
Neptune Apex controller with trident
BashSea Tank for both ATO and Mixed water for auto water changes

View attachment 3143874 View attachment 3143875 View attachment 3143876 View attachment 3143877 View attachment 3143878

Love the stand for your tank!

 

[Bozburn]

Love the stand for your tank!

Thanks! It really fits in well in my office.

I will work on getting more pics today.

 

[thelonereefer1]

I like your stocking list. You have a couple of larger fisher and a few smaller ones creating a whole lot of movement. I personally prefer this over a bunch of smaller fish only or a few bigger ones. Usually my larger fish just slowly swim around while my wrasses and other small fish are darting in and out of the rock work

 

[Bozburn]

I like your stocking list. You have a couple of larger fisher and a few smaller ones creating a whole lot of movement. I personally prefer this over a bunch of smaller fish only or a few bigger ones. Usually my larger fish just slowly swim around while my wrasses and other small fish are darting in and out of the rock work

I know I can add more, and I likely will but I like having a mix. Agree with you, tanks with a ton of bigger fish are great but I like having a nice balance.

 

[Bozburn]

Thought I would do a photo dump of some random pics. Copperband and Naso are the two kings of the tank right now. Still trying to decide what fish to get next.

Also working on honing in the dosing pumps so the SPS will stay alive in the tank. If anyone is on the fence for the NYOS skimmer, get it, its a beast!