FisHotel's 125

[Dierks]

Well, I might have gone and done a thing....

I have been looking for a 6-foot tank for a while now. The 8-foot tank is just too big for my space so 6 feet will have to be the size. I liked the size of this one being 18 wide and only 22 inches tall. To me, this is a perfect-sized tank for what I want to do. So I will try and keep this up-to-date as things happen. This will actually be the largest single tank I have had. So I am very excited to do this build as I get to use all the things I have learned. Also, I am excited to redo my Aquascape to be a bit more fish-friendly! Lastly, not having a timeline is super nice. I can take my time and do it at a slow pace.

Got this Bad boy for $100! This tank has never seen water as the guy said he never had the opportunity to set it up. It is literally a brand new, never used tank! I feel bad like I stole this from the guy...

We will do a water test on it and hope she holds water!! Stay tuned!!

 

[Vincelovesfish]

I really like the dimensions of a 125 it is much easier to maintain being shorter than a 120 and you can give fish a lot more length to swim. I am curious to find out how scaping an 18" wide tank fares

 

[Dierks]

I really like the dimensions of a 125 it is much easier to maintain being shorter than a 120 and you can give fish a lot more length to swim. I am curious to find out how scaping an 18" wide tank fares

Yup, It's essentially my 75 but 2 feet longer. So I am used to the 18" width. I think the key is breaking the rock into very small pieces and then reassembling them so no space is wasted. This is going at the end of a hallway so I didn't want it to stick out any further than it has to.

 

[Dierks]

Has anyone ever made a Coast to Coast Overflow? Is it worth it? Or just get a couple of these guys?

Prodigy L Low Profile Overflow Box (900 Gallons)

 

[Dierks]

Well with all the feedback I got I went ahead and made the call! Thanks, everyone for the help!!

Just playing around, we don't need your ideas and thoughts anyways! We will just do it the way we want... Also, I am taking my ball and going home!

Okay, okay....
So I did find another Craigslist purchase and have saved so much cash on this build I am starting to feel bad. Yet at the same time, it feels oh so good to get a deal! So I picked up a 46 x 18 x 16 Sump made by Fiji Cube for $200!! It's like people want me to build this tank!

Fiji Cube Fiji-44 Advanced Reef Sump 2nd Gen

Fiji Cube offers innovative and economical solutions on saltwater reef aquariums and accessories for your saltwater reef set-up.

www.fijicube.com

Mine of course is used but has been cleaned up and in storage and again wasn't used by the last owner. Was fun to meet him and talk fish as well as he has been in Saltwater for 26 years and is getting out... Mostly! So he is going to sell me his Regal Skimmer for what was on his 300 Gallon system so pretty excited about that as well! Not bad getting a 1k skimmer for $250.

Anyways here are some pictures of what I picked up. I did end up picking up the Prodigy L (900 Gallons) Overflow System.

 

[Vincelovesfish]

I like coast to coast visually but never owned one before. I would think that'd give the best surface skimmer potential

 

[Mrpizzaface]

I would just do one of the Fiji cube or modular marine overflows on a 125, no need for two. What you lose in surface skimming you gain in visual appeal and plumbing simplification.

 

[Dierks]

I would just do one of the Fiji cube or modular marine overflows on a 125, no need for two. What you lose in surface skimming you gain in visual appeal and plumbing simplification.

I wanted the 300 but I can't seem to find 8 feet of space anyplace in the shop so I had to settle for the 125. This will still be my biggest tank that I have had so it's still pretty nice to me but it would have been really fun to have a 300!

 

[saf1]

Has anyone ever made a Coast to Coast Overflow? Is it worth it? Or just get a couple of these guys?

Prodigy L Low Profile Overflow Box (900 Gallons)
View attachment 74033

There was a great article a while back on reef central about coast to coast overflows. I have an external overflow on my display although it isn't considered a coast to coast since it is a peninsula and on the side. One thing I would recommend if it isn't too late is to go with a smooth weir. Better surface skimming.

Slight risk of fish and snails going over but smother is 10x better than the teeth in my opinion. Only thing I've read about fellow hobbyist and true coast to coast is the space required if it is internal. External isn't as bad provided you have the room against the wall. Also for the bean animal overflow it is ideal.

Then again it goes without saying that I use a form of both. Well a true Bean Animal so I'm biased

 

[Flippers4pups]

Following. I too have the 72", 125 gallon. But mine is the Marineland Reef ready tank.
I have had larger tanks before like a 200 gallon Oceanic back in the day. The 125 is harder to scape and I find i'm trimming corals much more lately to keep the flow adequate.

 

[Wrangy]

 

[Count Krunk]

So cool! And crazy good deals. Lights?

 

[mattzang]

now i want to know about possible butterfly stocking

 

[Dierks]

So cool! And crazy good deals. Lights?

Right! Way to hard to pass up. I will build the canopy and the Stand....

I think I am going to switch back to T5's in this build. I just haven't had great success with Acros and LED's. I know it's not the LED's fault but I think I want to simply go back to what works for so many. I have been going back and forth on Hybrid Lights as I do have two Hydra 52's laying around that I could simply use for Sunrise and Sunset and then use the T5's all day.

With this being such a large tank and my Budget of 1k for lights I am somewhat limited....

What do you all think? Want to give me more money or maybe just suggestions on lights that can cover 72" (I think I can get away with a 60" Light and leave 6" on both side for "Darker" Corners that I can corals that need low light.

 

[Dierks]

now i want to know about possible butterfly stocking

Right now the sky is the limit!! But now that I have access to so many fun fish this could be a really fun build. It will be a mix of the "Misfits" that nobody wants due to blemishes or maybe really struggling through QT that made them a little wonky and "Show" fish.

As with all of my tanks the corals will be secondary so if things want to eat them, I dont care...

 

[Pebbleofdoom]

As with all of my tanks the corals will be secondary so if things want to eat them, I dont care...

This has been my mentality with all my tanks as well good luck with your build

 

[mattzang]

i still try to avoid straight up corallivore types, but honestly anything short of that i might be willing to give a whirl. my pearlscale is definitely not reef safe, but i've had him in the tank for a few months now and i haven't lost a single coral in that time, so..

a falcula would be real high on my list, i think that's maybe the prettiest butterfly, but they get big, so b team pacific falcula is the current plan if i can find one. semilarvatus would be a dream too, but those get real big and i don't want to make that mistake again

 

[Dierks]

semilarvatus would be a dream too, but those get real big and i don't want to make that mistake again

I will shoot you right now if you had a Chaetodon semilarvatus in your hand. I would then take it a way form you and place it gently in my new tank. I have always been a sucker for the Chaetodon fasciatus as well.

 

[Pebbleofdoom]

Chaetodon Paucifasciatus is a dream butterflyfish for me, I’ve searched high and low for one but alas it appears no one is importing from the Red Sea at the moment

 

[Dierks]

Working on the Stand Design --

I need the front to be able to span 50"+ so I will have to use 2 2x6's sandwiched together. Everything else is pretty basic. It will be centered in the stand so I may make it a bit longer so there is a 3" edge around the ends and then a 6" edge in the front. Just wanta place to be able to sit down and chat with people if they come over and want to shoot the . So I think having the rim will be really nice.

Here are some concept drawings of the framing. @ReefingAintEasy this should be okay to hold 1000 lbs of live weight yeah? This whole piece will be skinned in ply as well. Oh and everything will be Screwed and glued...