My 60 gallon hex tank

[marietrg]

Around 2002 I purchased a 5 gallon acrylic tank. The tank developed a blemish after the acrylic reacted with some cleaning solution. I was introduced to Animal Jungle by a friend. There I found a 60 gallon hex tank. Initially I tried freshwater fish but were quickly drawn to the vibrant colors and interesting behaviors of salt water fish.

I started with the 15 watt bulb light fixtures that came with the tank but quickly graduated to a metal halide light. It was difficult constructing a hex shaped canopy. I also quickly realized that tap water was polluted with phosphates and purchased a 4 stage water filter. I started out with a canister filter but then moved on to a hang on skimmer. Finally, I settled on a custom acrylic sump and skimmer.

The fish survived 2 disasters: Hurricane Isabel during the fall of 2003 and the freezing cold winter of 2003 while we were on vacation. During the hurricane we had no power. During the latter incident we put our home heater thermostat on vacation mode to save $$$. Little did we know the temperature would drop to 20 degrees. Our neighbors thought the fish were dead. However when we came home and turned on the light, the fish swam out of the rocks!

Throughout the life of the tank we struggled with hair algae. At one point I took each piece of live rock out and scrubbed them down to try to debulk the hair algae. Towards the end of the life of the tank, I discovered the refugium. I took a 10 gallon tank and drilled 2 holes in it with a diamond tipped Dremel tool bit. Some bulkheads, piping and a pump were added before adding macroalgae and a high spectrum 15 watt bulb. After this, the hair algae problems were solved.

I experimented with corals and anemones throughout the life of the tank. It wasn't until the refugium that our corals seemed to thrive.

[Hockeyben51]

interesting story

[marietrg]

I should have mentioned I'm taking the tank down. I'm moving to Okinawa, Japan where we will have a reef tank in the backyard. The tank looks a little empty up top because I've been avoiding putting livestock in it because of the move.

The fun of the tank really was the adventure. In retrospect, it would have been much cheaper if I started with high quality stuff.

Notice the milk crates under the refugium