I got started keeping saltwater fish back in the late 80's. At that time, I had just graduated from high school, and my main hobbies were cars ( I had a 69 Olds 442 convertible and a 69 Cutlass.... different story!) and freshwater fish. I found a small shop about 20 minutes from my home called Lakeland Tropical Fish in Euclid, OH. The proprietors, Ron and Nancy, basically took me under their wing and introduced me to the wonderful world of marine fishkeeping. I was amazed by the bright colors and the variety of the fish and inverts that were available. My first marine tank was a 33 gallon flatback hex, with an undergravel filter, lots of dead coral skeletons, and about 4 inches of dolomite. This tank, as hideous as it is by todays standards, was responsible for hooking me, and several of my friends, on this hobby. (The tank is still in good shape, although it is set up in freshwater at my mothers house!)
Well, I quickly grew tired of the hair algae ( yeah, it was "good algae" back then!!) and the coral skeletons. Soon, I discovered FAMA magazine, and the whole world of the mini reef aquarium.
I've been hooked ever since. I had a 120 gallon SPS tank throughout the 90's, which I eventualy tore down in 2001 when I got married. I was basically out of the hobby for two years as I started a family, but the book "Ultimate Marine Aquariums" by Mike Paletta has drawn me back in. My old 120 was one of the aquariums featured in the book. When I received my copy from Mike, I started to feel the "itch" again. I still had several aquariums in storage, so I talked my wife into lettiing me set up a small, 40 gallon reef. And that brings us to the present. I ordered a 125 gallon cube tank, measuring 36x33x24. The tank is made with 1/2" acrylic, to help guard against warping. I had the overflow box installed in the center back, but did all the drilling myslef, as well as the installation of the fans and lights into the canopy.
My current system is as follows:
125 Gallon Acrylic cube ( 36x33x24 ),black acrylic cabinet and canopy - by AquaCrylic
AquaCrylic Twintek sump (30 gal)
Euroreef ES5-3 skimmer
Hamilton Reefstar 250w HQI pendant w Aqualine Buschke 20K DE
2x250w SE Halides ( 1 Hamilton 14K, 1 XM10K)
2 URI VHO Actinics - 24" 75w
Return Pump - Iwaki MD40
Circulation 2- Maxijet 1200 / 2 SEIO 820
Tsunami wavemaker(MJ's)
Vario dosing pump
Pinpoint Ph monitor
KNOP SIV Calcium Reactor ( Caribsea ARM media)
Spectrapure 40 GPD RO/DI 5 stage
I use the following products:
Oceanic sea salt
RowaPhos
Salifert test kits
Aquarium Systems test kits
ESV calcium hydroxide, strontium chloride, and Bionic 2 part
Seachem Reef Dip
Joe's Juice
Cyclopeeze ( frozen)
Tetra Marine Flake food, Jumbo Shrimp (freeze dried Krill), and Nature's Delica Brine Shrimp