On my usual perusing of Craigslist, I found this whopper. 125gal, brand new, reef ready (pre-drilled), All-Glass aquarium. I got such a good deal, my first intention was to resell it. Then I was thinking about how I could still use it as a sump in the basement as long as the water wasn't over the overflow. When my fiance got home, I told her that she could pick. Having been wanting a tang to complete our Nemo collection, she decides we need a new display tank in the living room. Knowing how much work was going to be involved, I wasn't thrilled. The next day, James and I build a stand with 2x4s and 3/4" plywood top. It's 37" tall and doesn't even wiggle with the tank filled. Unfortunately the pre drilled drains are only 1" so I do get some siphoning even after 1 1/4" Durso standpipe and 1 1/2" pipe the rest of the way to the sump in the basement. Don't use silicone on the bulkhead fittings as I had read online. Just cleaned the glass really well, pipe it all together, then tighten the nut down. I've got the shallow sand bed, coral, and a clown fish moved over. The Xenia isn't doing so hot, which I suspect is from the tank being too clean. I've left the tank fallow for the last month and got a new Reef Octopus Extreme 200 protein skimmer. The canopy is a work in progress, and the new lights will be here on Monday.
