2x2 cube build (1 Viewer)

[Specsgirl]

After a LONG hiatus when we moved out of state I realized just how much I missed my tank. Unfortunately our current house doesn't support the 220 gal tank that I had back home, but when I saw this setup for sale on FB (I believe the seller is also a member here??) I knew this was the the perfect way to go. The tank and stand are GORGEOUS and I absolutely love that you can access the sump from both sides as well as the front door. Grand plan is a for a SPS dominated tank. Starting over with dry rock and BB so it will be a hot moment before we are mature and ready to roll. Waiting on a few things to arrive in order to finish setting it up, but I have the majority of it set and even started playing a bit with some of the rock scape.
Lighting will be a G5 XR30 blue
Water movement 2 x MP10's for the time being.
I would love to hear any ideas or feedback.
Last pic is of the elusive "cat fish"

 

[Chris Goetz]

Looks like Gary’s tank - an amazing setup indeed!
Congrats on getting back into the hobby.

 

[zoolan70]

Where is WI are you located? We are a pretty friendly bunch, here on the eastern plains.

 

[Varig]

Darn skippy. Hudson reefers unite!

 

[Specsgirl]

Looks like Gary’s tank - an amazing setup indeed!
Congrats on getting back into the hobby.

Yes! That's who it came from. Both he and his wife were super kind and helpful!

 

[Specsgirl]

Where is WI are you located? We are a pretty friendly bunch, here on the eastern plains.

Rhinelander area

 

[miltonkl]

Glad to see Gary's tank not only found a new home but that it's still in the club! Looking forward to watching your build come along.

 

[Specsgirl]

Glad to see Gary's tank not only found a new home but that it's still in the club! Looking forward to watching your build come along.

Thanks!

 

[Mathew0]

I really like your catfish. Plenty of space in there for it, too.

 

[Specsgirl]

I really like your catfish. Plenty of space in there for it, too.

Oh good! I'm glad you think there is plenty of space. I was a bit worried that the "catfish police" would be after me because the tank was too small

 

[Mathew0]

If it starts to look like this, you'll need an upgrade:

 

[Specsgirl]

If it starts to look like this, you'll need an upgrade:
View attachment 65196

I literally laughed out loud at this at work and got some funny looks. That made my day!

 

[zoolan70]

Rhinelander area

OK, you really are in the eastern plains!

 

[Specsgirl]

Tank is put together with some old rock that I had laying around. Waiting on a shipment of live Australian rock (boy that stuff is expensive, but they say it's close to what we had for live rock years ago) to finish it off and wait out the rest of the cycle. Time to fire up the QT tanks and decide what I want for fish now..

 

[Specsgirl]

Australian live rock from Jason @Pristine Marine Aquariums arrived today. It wasn’t the cheapest, but I’d buy again in a heartbeat. I’m super happy with how it looks. And a TON of rock for the weight. Into the tank it went to cure/cycle. I’ll rearrange things later. I didn’t take pics of all the pieces, just a few to give you an idea.

 

[Specsgirl]

Some more pics of it just tossed in the tank.

 

[Varig]

Awesome. So with that live rock you still need to do a cure? I was always under the impression that with live rock you’re getting rock that’s ready to roll. Maybe you cure long enough to take care of any die off from shipping?

To be clear I’m not judging. I’m a newbie and just looking to learn.

 

[Chris Goetz]

Awesome!
I feel so slow… you got this setup way after I got mine and you’ve already got water and life in yours…
Great job!

 

[Specsgirl]

Awesome. So with that live rock you still need to do a cure? I was always under the impression that with live rock you’re getting rock that’s ready to roll. Maybe you cure long enough to take care of any die off from shipping?

To be clear I’m not judging. I’m a newbie and just looking to learn.

Awesome question! You are correct, I always still cure it due to the die off from shipping. Dating myself a bit here, but the old live "boat rock" that we used to be able to get would take a longer cure time, around 8 weeks or so. This rock was collected, shipped in water then to me so while will still have some die off and need a cure time, it will be much shorter and pretty much ready to roll shortly.

 

[Specsgirl]

Awesome!
I feel so slow… you got this setup way after I got mine and you’ve already got water and life in yours…
Great job!

Thanks but you'll get there! Slow and steady wins the race!

My tank was a bit of a cheater, because I pretty much had all the equipment laying around and the tank, stand, and sump came ready to plug and play. I will be setting up QT tanks shortly, then decide what fish I want to go with so it will more than likely be 10 weeks or so before I add anything more than a small clean up crew if needed before then.