GK's 125 Has Begun (pics)

[gkarshens]

Well today I picked up my AGA 125. I got it for $200 from a local wholesaler.



Here is the start of construction on the stand:









It is going to be a little slow going at the beginning. We are installing new flooring so I have to wait until that is done. Hopefully less than a month.

[Ky_Yaker]

I wish I had the skills to make my own stand. Keep us posted as it progresses. By the way, what kind of car is that in the garage?

[gkarshens]

That is my 66' Impala.

[kaspm]

Im along for the ride, cant wait to see it finished

[gkarshens]

Today I made some more progress on the stand. I still need to put trim on the edges and stain it.

[MarksReef]

The stand looks like it is coming along nice. The car looks like it is in very good condition.

[gkarshens]

I have worked on the car for the last 2 years. I am probably going to sell it soon and get a new project. Or spend it all on reef stuff.

Here is a pic of how it started and now:

[gioNVA]

tagging along. Please keep us posted on your stain process.

[GregM779]

I'll tag along

[gkarshens]

Hey Greg, it is an honor to have you. I am hoping to model my 125 on some of yours.

[doody]

What are your plans for this tank?

[GregM779]

Originally posted by gkarshens
Hey Greg, it is an honor to have you. I am hoping to model my 125 on some of yours.

Thank You, what are your plans for this tank??

[MyMonkey]

I too will tag along if you don't mind. Nice stand BTW. I will be making one soon.

[gkarshens]

I plan on a mixed reef with lot's of fish. I plan on having 3 islands. Softies in the middle and SPS on the sides. I will be moving my 55 into this one. It has softies and 2 ocellaris with a BTA and a Yellow Tang and a clean up crew. The 2 fish I know I am going to add for sure are a PB Tang and a Green Mandarin. I also want a Fairy Wrasse or two but not sure which ones.

[gkarshens]

Originally posted by MyMonkey
I too will tag along if you don't mind. Nice stand BTW. I will be making one soon.

Thanks! It has been a little harder than I thought it would.

[GregM779]

Sounds good, I'm sure you know to wait on the powder blue till later as they can sometimes be aggressive.
I've had the worst luck with fairy wrasses lately dying from cyanide poisoning. Don't even think about adding one until you have a canopy on also.

[doody]

Yeah, Gregs tank is da shhhhizzzzznit. A great tank to model after, as I plan some of the same. What kind of lighting? Gregs uses 3x150w 10k halides if I remember right. And it looks great. And everything looks healthy under those lights too.

[GregM779]

any idea for the lighting, skimmer; are you gonna use UV, ozone??
I do use 150w HQI Double-Ended bulbs and am very impressed so far. If they were the single ended bulbs at the same wattage I definitely wouldn't have the same results.

[gkarshens]

I was thinking 250 single ended 10K. I can get a retro kit for $135 from Hellolights. I have 2 skimmers. I have a prizm and a Coralife Super skimmer. I am going to start out running both and see if they both pull. If one doesn't I may sell it. It may be awhile before I get into anything like ozone or UV. I have a pretty limited budget.

I was planning on adding the PB last and I am going to build a canopy to match. Thanks for the tips though, I need all the help I can get. I have read a ton, but I am still pretty new at this.

[Chaotic Reefer4u]

nice startup tank, the 66' is clean too.

[drunktank]

how many guys did it take to move ur tank... took 3 to move my 150

[gkarshens]

Just me and a friend. I would hate to try to move it with anything in it though.

[GregM779]

I would really recommend checking out HQI bulbs, 150w are almost equivelent to 250w standards except you save on electric and the bulb cost is lower. They also put out much less heat.
The Coralife skimmers work great, this will probably be the one that you keep.
I would really suggest adding UV, makes life a lot easier and if it saves one fishes life it may be the same cost as the UV (they aren't very expensive)

[gkarshens]

I will check into UV and the lights. Any advice on a good place to buy the lights?

[GregM779]

Originally posted by gkarshens
I will check into UV and the lights. Any advice on a good place to buy the lights?

I'm able to get some pretty good deals at LFSs around here. This is a retrokit of the fixture I use, I don't know your budget but this will handle all of your lighting.

http://www.hellolights.com/72aqprorekit.html