Europhyllia
Tue, 15th Jun 2010, 07:32 AM
I picked up the 75g tank combo last night. Was a little disappointed because it looked pretty dirty, stand is definitely DIY with plywood doors and the reef ready only applied to the drain. The second overflow box doesn't have a hole drilled on the bottom and is supposedly a 'powerhead box'? If I had had more time I probably would have considered having a hole drilled under the second overflow box and made that my return.
Right now I am running my own old return pump with my own plumbing because the return plumbing that came with the tank needed some adapter hardware to fit onto my pump.
It's black tubing that splits into a 'Y' using a SCWD. It switches output between the two return nozzles in the opposite corners of the tank and I bet that would be kind of cool too.
Never heard of a powerhead box before...
Then again I also had never heard of reef ready when I purchased my 125g combo last year and in many ways the ugly little 75g combo would have made a much better reef starter tank than the snazzier 125g.
There's lots to like really. The doors are plywood but they are huge, meaning the front opens completely leaving full access to the sump, which was also included -again appears to be home made but well thought out, functional and sturdy.
The old 125g just came with a bioball thing so the 75g combo is already ahead in that.
The 75g has an oversized drain and it's a bit noisy but it definitely drains well and not having to rely on the siphon really is very nice.
The 75 has black overflow boxes on a black back. I didn't think I would like that but I really do! It actually makes a very nice backdrop in black!
It came with a canopy which of course I don't use.
And oh did I mention everything is black?
As dirty as it was I figured it would take me forever to clean but it actually wasn't too bad and cleaned up pretty well.
Still took forever and the fish didn't actually go into the tank until around 11:30 last night.
Initially I had second thoughts about buying it but when I got home and found my little Blue Gold blenny dead it felt all worth it to save the rest.
It's actually a very nice set up and I'm hoping to be able to resell it at little or no loss in a couple of months
http://www.dominopads.com/75rr515_1.jpg
http://www.dominopads.com/75rr515_2.jpg
http://www.dominopads.com/75rr515_3.jpg
Since it was getting late I pretty much threw everything in there in a hurry so no complaining about aquascaping and livestock arranging please! Speaking of placement: in the holding tub the acan echinata was able to reach my Duncans and frogspawn and kill most of it. :(
The anthias, clowns and PJs all appear to be doing well and already ate last night (were pretty hungry since I didn't dare feed in the tiny 10g)
My female mandarin came back from the 10g with a white patch on her back. Could be just a bite wound from living in such close quarters with a bunch of other stressed out fish.
I had been dosing Stressguard and Prime to optimize water conditions and give them whatever protection I could.
Hopefully it will be enough.
I am looking forward to seeing them once the main lights come on. Fingers crossed.
Right now I am running my own old return pump with my own plumbing because the return plumbing that came with the tank needed some adapter hardware to fit onto my pump.
It's black tubing that splits into a 'Y' using a SCWD. It switches output between the two return nozzles in the opposite corners of the tank and I bet that would be kind of cool too.
Never heard of a powerhead box before...
Then again I also had never heard of reef ready when I purchased my 125g combo last year and in many ways the ugly little 75g combo would have made a much better reef starter tank than the snazzier 125g.
There's lots to like really. The doors are plywood but they are huge, meaning the front opens completely leaving full access to the sump, which was also included -again appears to be home made but well thought out, functional and sturdy.
The old 125g just came with a bioball thing so the 75g combo is already ahead in that.
The 75g has an oversized drain and it's a bit noisy but it definitely drains well and not having to rely on the siphon really is very nice.
The 75 has black overflow boxes on a black back. I didn't think I would like that but I really do! It actually makes a very nice backdrop in black!
It came with a canopy which of course I don't use.
And oh did I mention everything is black?
As dirty as it was I figured it would take me forever to clean but it actually wasn't too bad and cleaned up pretty well.
Still took forever and the fish didn't actually go into the tank until around 11:30 last night.
Initially I had second thoughts about buying it but when I got home and found my little Blue Gold blenny dead it felt all worth it to save the rest.
It's actually a very nice set up and I'm hoping to be able to resell it at little or no loss in a couple of months
http://www.dominopads.com/75rr515_1.jpg
http://www.dominopads.com/75rr515_2.jpg
http://www.dominopads.com/75rr515_3.jpg
Since it was getting late I pretty much threw everything in there in a hurry so no complaining about aquascaping and livestock arranging please! Speaking of placement: in the holding tub the acan echinata was able to reach my Duncans and frogspawn and kill most of it. :(
The anthias, clowns and PJs all appear to be doing well and already ate last night (were pretty hungry since I didn't dare feed in the tiny 10g)
My female mandarin came back from the 10g with a white patch on her back. Could be just a bite wound from living in such close quarters with a bunch of other stressed out fish.
I had been dosing Stressguard and Prime to optimize water conditions and give them whatever protection I could.
Hopefully it will be enough.
I am looking forward to seeing them once the main lights come on. Fingers crossed.