My 125 Gallon Revamped .. Lots Of Pics Inside

MeridiaRose

Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2016
Location
Guelph
I had a different tank thread but I figured since my tank has changed a fair amount in the past 10 months I would start a new one.

My fiance originally purchased the tank from another forum member for my birthday last year.

When we first got it and filled it
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First few months, changing the lights adding the black background
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When we got the tank it came with two ocellaris clownfish and a yellow tang
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The hang on back filter that came with the tank failed rather quickly and as I wasn't in the position to figure out a sump I went with a canister, there seems to be a great debate regarding canisters but I really like mine, never have a problem with keeping my parameters in check, but I perform weekly water changes like clock work.
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I purchased a sand sifting goby and a copper band butterfly, but they didn't last very long
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MeridiaRose

Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2016
Location
Guelph
I decided not to purchase anything for months after I lost those two. When I was finally ready to add more fish, I got a niger trigger which has very quickly become my favourite and a dog face puffer.
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However I didn't QT and the dog face puffer developed ick and died, killing my two clown fish in the process. That's when I found out about Polyp Lab medic and treated my tank. I have since implemented a QT and have successfully introduced a coral beauty and maroon clown fish.
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Everything has been working well and I've been really enjoying the tank, until I happened to mention to my fiance that it would have been nice to put the tank in the wall. He decided that was a brilliant idea and we made plans to construct a new, taller stand and move the tank into the wall. Of course I was told this would be a two-three weekend job ... Two months later we are finally finished. We enlisted the help of my father in law as wood working is his hobby and passion.

Building the stand.
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Starting to cut out some of the drywall
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Hole has been cut and stand moved into place
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Moved the tank into the wall
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New rock scape
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Finally added the moulding today
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Thanks for taking a look



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MeridiaRose

Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2016
Location
Guelph
Oh yeah, forgot to mention, we got rid of the black background and decided to plasti dip the back and sides blue.

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MeridiaRose

Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2016
Location
Guelph
Thanks so much.

My current stocking list:
-the original yellow tang
-niger trigger (my favourite)
-coral beauty
-maroon clown fish

I will eventually add more but the cost of putting the tank in the wall has put a dent in my tank fund.

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MeridiaRose

Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2016
Location
Guelph
Every thing was set up first, like the stand and all the drywall were finished. The tank was originally set up right in front of the wall it's in now. I bought a couple of 40 gallon containers to hold some of the water and the fish. I also had a bunch of 5 gallon buckets filled and an 11 gallon garbage can that's only ever been used to hold water.

Once the tank was emptied minus the sand my fiance and I lifted it and originally tried pushing it through the wall but I wasn't tall enough for that to work so we had to walk it around to the back room. Once it was on the stand, he plasti dipped it. I then put the rocks in and filled it back up with the original water. I ended up putting about 20 gallons of fresh saltwater in.

Hope that answers your question @ColbytheClown

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SamB

Super Active Member
Joined
Aug 9, 2015
Location
GTA
Wow quite an incredible journey
Wonderful project and it's great that you and your loved ones are so involved in the process
Looks fantastic
Thank you for sharing with us
 

MeridiaRose

Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2016
Location
Guelph
Thanks @SamB it was definitely more involved than I had originally thought, but it was a fun first home project for fiance and I

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MeridiaRose

Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2016
Location
Guelph
@ColbytheClown I definitely think it looks way better being in the wall, plus it opened up a lot of space in our living room. I have a couple corals in there now, but down the line the plan is to add more. I'm a softie fan so nothing overly fancy. If my Kenya Tree would like to take over I'd be more than happy.

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ColbytheClown

Member
Joined
Oct 15, 2016
Location
Mississauga
@ColbytheClown I definitely think it looks way better being in the wall, plus it opened up a lot of space in our living room. I have a couple corals in there now, but down the line the plan is to add more. I'm a softie fan so nothing overly fancy. If my Kenya Tree would like to take over I'd be more than happy.

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I am also a softie lover, happy that they are fairly easy to care for!
 

Dima

New Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2017
Location
Brampton Ontario
wow just reading and thinking what a couple! working together on the beautiful reef. The best help I get from my wife is being quite I am starting my in a basement so I wont bother anybody with my setup. But it is incredible what you guys did. I love your niger trigger , do u find him any aggressive to other inmates ? or any special care needed ? I was reading its not an easy to keep fish but always wanted one.
 

MeridiaRose

Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2016
Location
Guelph
@Dima thanks so much my fiance and I have been together for 7 years so he's used to it by now. It's his fault we have such big tank, he told me that a bigger tank would work better in our living room and who am I to argue. He would rather a freshwater tank, so we have 20 gallon planted one just for him lol

As for the niger trigger, thanks, he is definitely one of my favourites. I've actually found him to be one of the easiest fish to care for, when I had an ich outbreak awhile back he didn't even bat an eye. I used to have a sea urchin in the tank, and he never paid him any attention, I also currently have a strawberry conch and the trigger never goes anywhere near him. Periodically I'll toss in a mussel and he goes to town on it, he always eats the seaweed I put in for the yellow tang. I feed pellets, and frozen as well and he eats it all. He has also never bothered any of the corals. I love him, hopefully he stays this carefree as he gets bigger.

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Josh

Active Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2017
Location
London
Link works. Best of luck with the trigger hes really beautiful. Definately small enough that he hasnt developed that trigger meanstreak.
 
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