Heidi's 150g "Cube" Mixed Reef

Hey everyone!
I am new around the 3reef scene. I wanted to share my humble tank will all of you so I can get to know some of you and feel more at home here.

So here is all the technical stuff

150 gallon marineland "cube" dimensions 36x36x27. This is my second reef I set up and got this tank wet The first week in March 2011. I have a 30 gallon square sump with 3 chambers. I run a Super-reef octopus 3000, with that nifty new "bubble blaster" pump which I love. I have a front refugium on the cube sump filled with cheato, 2 inches of sand from my old reef tank, softball sized chunks of live rock, a few "naughty crabs", snails, and little sponges etc.
I have a snapper return pump, and run 2 750 Hydor Evolution and one 1400 H.E. for flow in the main tank. (I am not too happy with this as I want to save up and get just 2 of the huge vortec so I can have some more random and stronger flow. (but for now : this will do)
I love SPS, zoanthids, yuma, and maxi anemones.

I started my tank with the live rock from my 35 gallon Hex tank I had before this one. I added about 50 pounds of Live Rock fully cured and really light porous stuff (I love it) to the 20 pounds I had and tied and epoxied my rock together, attaching all the foundation pieces to 1/2 egg crate and placing them right on the bottom (cause I have a love for fish that burrow and we didn't want any avalanches! I have an inch and a half sand bed which is a mix of "reef special" and fine crushed coral ( not in love with this either)

Life in my tank: SPS, frags and a few small colonies, ricordia Flordia, Yumas, a maxi mini, huge elegance coral, green bubble tipped nem, frog spawn, blastos, acans, 15 or so zoa colonies, tonga mushrooms, gonipora (sp?) scroll coral, favia... couple shrimp, crabs, worms, etc with the CUC.
Fish: Yellow Tang (named Byah that stands for something) Sailfin Tang (Stripy), Yellowhead Jawfish (Jolly), Midas Blenny (Midas), Yellow-eyed Kole tang (Franky) , White Freckled-face Tang (Freckles), 2 occy Clownfish ("The Nemos", 2 PJ Cardinal fish, Solar Wrasse (Whistle) and Orange-back Wrasse.

A little about me:
I have been "in" the hobby since August 2010. I started saving reading and buying stuff for a "tank" then. I Started throwing around the reef tank idea when my husband and I came back from the Bahamas in the beginning of 2009. We had been snorkeling in the Keys and and then in the Bahamas and I have always been fascinated by the ocean.

I have 4 kids 3 will be in school full time this year and one still at home. I am married and I have found a "rarity" in this hobby as I got into it all by myself, I am female, and my Husband really wants nothing to do with it. He likes to look at my tank but thats about it. He bought me a fish as a present while I was away with my girlfriends the last weekend in February. It was a Yellow Tang... lol that is the reason I now have a 150g system instead of my 35g hex. ;D
I currently work for a friend of mine one his dot.com for coral SO I am a bit spoiled by that I think... most of m coral I have has been "bought" with my time rather then money. I love reading and learning new things. I love people and meeting new people who have common interests as me. I have been around many "popular" forums And I normally go by "Heidi" on them, that was taken here.

I have been on vacation in the U.P of Michigan now for almost 2 weeks and have another week to go so I don't have a Current of current FTS but following will be a bunch of pictures for your viewing pleasure

I don't have a good fancy camera, I use a Fuji Film Underwater and my iPhone to tank all the pictures. (so heads up not always the best quality)

 

Welcome! Can't wait to see some pics!

 

side full tank shot June 1ish


bad full tank shots I know.. still June..

sump

picture of my lights.. 2 LEDs Aqua Illumination Fixtures and controller

skimmer/ sump

First set up.. March 4th-ish

setting up

old picture of the "Sexy Hexy"

April 2011

 

Very nice looking set up, great rock work, congrats and enjoy watching it grow out.

 

And now to get up close and personal



Jolly He is my favorite ... today

 

Thats good for now Hope you all enjoy!
Heidi

 

Wow.. Awesome tank! and welcome to 3reef!

 

Nice reef tank! I love the aquascape. You have some nice corals and fish as well. How big is the flame scallop?

Welcome to 3reef!

 

Thanks!

Thanks a lot, for the kind words and the welcome!

Thank you! I love to post so there will be well documented growth hehehe

Thanks everyone for looking, and the warm welcome!
Heidi