TJ_Burton Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 Hey all, Been out of the reef game for a little while when it comes to personal aquariums. A lot has happened in the last couple years. Moved to my first home, had my first baby (well, my wife had her, but you know what I mean) and ultimately spent a lot of time working hard rather than playing hard. I have basically been without my own aquarium at the house ever since the move, so I figured I would do what any tankless aquarist would in my situation, and got a tank. Mind you this build is a bit special, as it is being video documented every step of the way (links to videos below).Confession time, I personally have kept my place of work to myself ever since joining NR many years ago, and that is mostly because I come to NR to enjoy my personal time with other hobbyists, and I didn't want to be seen as simply a member of the company I work for, but rather a passionate hobbyist. I think it has been long enough, and I've made enough friends along the way that letting the cat out of the bag shouldn't change the way my fellow NR members see me. I am none other than Thomas of Big Al's. With that out of the way, on to the build! I wanted to get a nice big tank that my daughter could enjoy from the floor in her playroom (my basement). After getting in touch with a few companies and figuring out what options fit my budget, I ended up snagging a 265 gallon Marineland tank, stand, and canopy. Of course I went with overflows, because I wasn't sure if I was going fresh or salt, and either way I love sumps. So far, this is what the build looks like: I have decided to go freshwater for now because I need a tank that will be low-cost to maintain, require less attention, and ultimately be stacked with fish that my daughter can appreciate from the floor. If I go salt, I would have to go reef (because how could I not?) and then I'd want SPS and clams, and end up spending a lot more than I had hoped to on both equipment and maintenance. I did however keep a conversion to saltwater in mind, and set things up in a way that would easily translate over to a big reef when that day potentially comes.(Evolving) Equipment List: - 265 Gallon Marineland CornerFlo Aquarium (Montery Stand & Canopy) - Pro Clear Freedom 4-in-1 300 Sump & Fluval FX6 Canister - 72" Current USA IC LED Light For those interested in following the build through Big Al's VOD: Delivery Dayhttps://youtu.be/kSKHmMdpf-A Tank/Stand/Canopy overviewhttps://youtu.be/TlyJB2rwKnc Filtration overview https://youtu.be/VF25t0cgKgg Lighting overview https://youtu.be/Kfo5QKwwWAM Leveling the Aquarium https://youtu.be/2jTgdWZ586I I will update this thread as things progress, post photos of some upgrades I've done that aren't covered in the video series (like under cabinet lighting, magnetic door locks, cord management, etc), and hopefully inspire some of you to go massive! Thanks 10 Quote Link to comment
Droy008 Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 It's not too late to come to your senses. Lol That would be such an amazing tank for saltwater. Looking forward to watching this buildout. 3 Quote Link to comment
Mariaface Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 Following! Can't wait... 1 Quote Link to comment
debbeach13 Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 Just curious why not FOWLR? Either way that is a sweet tank. I will be following along. 1 Quote Link to comment
TJ_Burton Posted January 3, 2017 Author Share Posted January 3, 2017 Just curious why not FOWLR? Either way that is a sweet tank. I will be following along. Salt costs, and I know myself... Ain't no way I can go salt and not go reef. Besides, I can fit way more freshwater fish in that 265 comfortably than I could if I went salt FOWLR. 1 Quote Link to comment
Veng Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 Ain't no way I can go salt and not go reef. Instead I'll go fresh and convert it to a reef in a year or two instead.Fixed that for you 3 Quote Link to comment
spectra Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 Great start and good to see you have help from witness protection moving the tank inside. 1 Quote Link to comment
Sancho Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 love the videos! Hey man your wife already has a freshwater tank with the betas and such....Pretty sure you need to put salt in this one to have one of each in the house 2 Quote Link to comment
TJ_Burton Posted January 4, 2017 Author Share Posted January 4, 2017 love the videos! Hey man your wife already has a freshwater tank with the betas and such....Pretty sure you need to put salt in this one to have one of each in the house I am tearing down the wife's tank when this one is running, so maybe I will do another nano. I've always been a fan of those Redsea Reefers... we shall see. 2 Quote Link to comment
Veng Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 I am tearing down the wife's tank when this one is running, so maybe I will do another nano. I've always been a fan of those Redsea Reefers... we shall see.Red Sea Nano or 170 would be a perfect reef complement to this tank! 2 Quote Link to comment
TJ_Burton Posted January 4, 2017 Author Share Posted January 4, 2017 If all goes as planned, I will video document the reef build as well whenever that happens 2 Quote Link to comment
Veng Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 If all goes as planned, I will video document the reef build as well whenever that happens I like that it's a "when" not an "if" the reef build happens. 1 Quote Link to comment
metrokat Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 Reef reef reef reef reef reef reef reef 3 Quote Link to comment
Bobbitworm13 Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 This would be great for some Central American cichlids 1 Quote Link to comment
Veng Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 Did we mention we are really bad influences? I mean we've gotten Kat talked into upgrading twice in the last 2 years, we'll have you a reef tank by July! 3 Quote Link to comment
Sancho Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 This would be great for some Central American cichlidsdont encourage this fresh water nonsense 1 Quote Link to comment
TJ_Burton Posted January 5, 2017 Author Share Posted January 5, 2017 Hahaha this is why I love NR!Central or South American cichlids are one livestock choice I am considering.As for the reef, it WILL happen, just not in a 265, and not until after it is completed. If I ever do convert the 265 (a couple years maybe) I'd likely just do a big soft coral reef with angels and some other fun fish.I actually already have a Gen 4 Radion Pro kicking around for the next nano reef I put together 2 Quote Link to comment
metrokat Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 We can drag him over to the dark side. He's just trying to be good, we know he's a reefer inside. 2 Quote Link to comment
TJ_Burton Posted January 5, 2017 Author Share Posted January 5, 2017 We can drag him over to the dark side. He's just trying to be good, we know he's a reefer inside. Oh, I shall reef again... you have not seen the last reef of TJ! 1 Quote Link to comment
RIP Sebastian Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 We do, after all, have cookies.....and corals. 1 Quote Link to comment
Sunstar Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 it will be n ice to see a sumpped freshy. 1 Quote Link to comment
TJ_Burton Posted January 6, 2017 Author Share Posted January 6, 2017 I don't think I've mentioned this yet, but my Monteray stand was jealous of my tank's RGB LEDs, so I went ahead and gave it some as well. 7 Quote Link to comment
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