125gal Split: 46gal SPS reef / 37gal Softie Reef

**ILuvMyGoldBarb** · 11-05-2009, 10:08 PM

So the titles basically says it all. I am "downsizing" my reef, and creating 2 separate reefs instead. The 37gal will house nothing but Palythoas, Mushrooms, Anthilia, and a couple of other leathers. The 46gal will get all my SPS and 3 of my LPS.

Lighting for the 37gal will simply be a 1x96w PC fixture. No need for extreme lighting due to the corals being kept. Also, due to the fact that this tank will house all soft corals, there will be no skimmer on the tank. The Anthilia will provide much of the filtration needed. The fish in this tank will likely be just 1 or 2 fish, possibly a GS Maroon Clown.

The 46gal SPS tank will be lit with 8x39w T5HO lighting along with a BH-100F Octopus HOB skimmer. Undecided about the fish in this tank yet. Just going to get started with the Corals and work on the fish later.

The liverock from the 125 will be split between the 2. I have roughly 140lbs of rock to work with, so both will get plenty of rock.

So, this is the planning stage. Next comes all the work. Gonna have to clear a whole day or 2 for this project. :)

**MCHRKiller** · 11-05-2009, 10:26 PM

Ya still keeping the 125G as something else? Sounds like those are going to be 2 nice reefs tho...cant wait for pics

**ILuvMyGoldBarb** · 11-05-2009, 10:29 PM

Yes Jenn, the 125 will become a FW tank. Not entirely sure what I am going to do with it yet, it's going to take a good bit of cleaning to get it ready though. It has 2 years worth of coralline on the back panel. :) I am actually thinking of doing some larger fish in it. Not sure what yet though.

**MCHRKiller** · 11-05-2009, 10:33 PM

lol! Good luck on getting that coraline off, thats gonna be an epic task in itself.

I must vote on a CA cichlid community with a shoal of SDs and some plecos

**Northernguy** · 11-05-2009, 10:39 PM

That does sound like two nice tanks!
Looking forward to seeing them done.

About the 125,I think everyone should have an Oscar or two! lol

**ILuvMyGoldBarb** · 11-05-2009, 11:01 PM

Originally Posted by Northernguy

About the 125,I think everyone should have an Oscar or two! lol

Better tell that to my wife.

The tank is in the master bedroom and she doesn't like Oscars. LOL

**VoidParadigm** · 11-05-2009, 11:17 PM

Get two guppies for the 125 and let them go nuts! =P /joking.
(Actually, I've always wondered how long it would take a pair of guppies to fill up a 100...

)

**lobsternoob** · 11-06-2009, 02:46 AM

Originally Posted by MCHRKiller

I must vote on a CA cichlid community with a shoal of SDs and some plecos

I second that! looking forward to photos of your reef splitup operation.

**ILuvMyGoldBarb** · 11-08-2009, 01:15 PM

Ok, so this project just got a little easier, and one step larger. The sump for my 125 was a 20 long. The aqualifter pump for my overflow decided to go out on me last week, so the sump is no longer in use. Yesterday I broke down the sump and cleaned up all the equipment and set about cleaning up the 20 long. My 10gal planted will be upgraded to the 20. This will allow me to move the few fish in the 46 to the 20 and leave it empty. Once the cleanup of the 46 is done, the only thing left to do before I can make the move will be to build the frame to hold the light fixtures.

The total width needed for the fixtures is 14" plus an additional 2" to accommodate the HOB skimmer. The 46 is only about 17" at it's widest point. I can set the fixtures right on the tank, but then I won't be able to get into the tank. The plan is to build a frame to hold the fixtures and then suspend it from the ceiling above the tank. This will work to my advantage in that it will still allow for access to the top of the tank, and it will give me some distance for the lighting so I don't bleach my corals from all the light.