Alex's 125 gallon upgrade

[snibitz]

I started posting on Canreef about a year into my saltwater venture, therefore in starting this tank journal I think I should at least briefly explain what happened from the beginning, with pictures of course in chronological order, starting two years ago. This is how it happened.

You see.... it all started two years ago when i went to visit some work friends I had not seen in about a year. Sitting there in the garage at my friends was a 10 gallon aquarium that he was going to get rid of. I had recently been infatuated with another friends saltwater aquarium, so I decide I would dabble in freshwater.

Thats where it started anyway, so from here on is the quick version.

Three weeks later upgraded to a 20 gallon freshwater
Four weeks later upgraded to 33 gallon freshwater
Ten months later switched to 33 gallon saltwater

Two months later upgraded to my current 72 gallon bow, that I bought from CL as a complete setup. Inexperienced at saltwater, I didnt know that all the equipment that came with it was less than desirable.

Filter: Fluval 404 with all kinds of old rotten carbon, and nitrate ridden sponge

Light: 48" Unknown brand, probably purchased from ebay 2x250 hqi 4xpc who knows when the last time the bulbs were changed piece of crap that is falling apart. (Glad I got that off my chest)

Ballasts: 1x Vertex (good) 1x stock very bad and changed with a new Vertex

Skimmer: Coralife 220 HOB http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/ima...ons/icon13.gif
Heater: Some identified piece of crap that was the cause of my first tank meltdown.

Even with all the garbage equipment, the tank was thriving and healthy and looked good, until one daymy wife called me at work and told me there was something wrong with the tank. Everything in the tank was all closed up and my giant branching hammer was sliming all over the place.

Thanks be to Lana, she saw a puff of smoke come up from the heater and out of the tank, and the problem was solved after three days and losing about 70% of corals.

I rebuilt the tank almost from scratch at that point and have been upgrading all the equipment along the way.

New equipment

Skimmer: Deltec MCE 600
Powerheads: 3x Korillia
Filter: Same fluval 404 but only running ceramic
Timer: DA Reefkeeper lite
Dosing: 1x doser for alkalinity
Light: Just paid for and waiting for new 48" Vertex Illumina 260
Tank: Just bought 5' 125 gallon

Pics to come tomorrow