After selling our 29g 6 months ago when we bought our house, we decided to get back into the hobby. I found a free 45g tank that leaked. Brought it home and took out all the silicon and re-did the entire tank. Filled her up for a leak test 48hrs later and all was good to go after 5 days of observing.
Instead of going out and buying a new CPR Aquafuge, I decied to make my own from scratch, total DIY cost was around 40.00. The next plan is to add in a closed loop system with a Squid for water movement and current.
----Tank specs so far----
45g tank DIY Stand and Hood DIY Power station
2 x 40w antics
1 x 250w DIYMH 65k Iwasaki w/ DIY Reflector (for now)
1 x 100w DIY flood fuge light
6g Custom HOBfuge (3 x mangroves and cheato) DIY spraybar
2 x maxijet 1200's
20lbs of Fuji LR
10lbs of Lace rock
2 blue hermits
2 false percs
1 neon dottyback
1 golden head sand sifting goby
2 false perc clowns
1 yellow tang
Thanks Rob. I stumbled on your pod casts on itunes. I was very excited to see that somone finially decided to take advantage of podcasts to provide reef keeping information for beginners and advanced aquarists. I have to drive and hour for work so your shows make my drive go faster and I learn a little bit , I have been doing reefs now for 5 years. I started out with a 11gal via aqua tank, I was very anal about it, did weekly watter changes daily tests ..ect and the tank just florished. Next was a 20, then a 29 and now a 45g. Can you see a pattern . I am one of the lucky guys out there that my wife shares in the hobby. I am located in Mn.
awesome, well i welcome you and your experience, as im sure we will all benefit from it.
i know how it goes, but i skipped the middle tanks.
i went from a 29 gallon right to a 100 gallon.
i guess that just means that my next upgrade will be HUGE...lol
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I will be picking up a carpet anemone in a few days for our clowns. We have tried sebeas ect.. in the past w/no sucess. Carpets have always been a sure winner, although there size and agressiveness is a con with other tank mates. Thought I'd post a pic of our previous carpet and clowns from our tank that we sold.
MURPHYS LAW has struck. The bottom of the tank has sprung a small leak. Water is leaking around all 4 sides We loose about a 1/2" of water a day. So tomorrow morning I am off to pick up a new tank, either a 58g or another 45g. So far we have been lucky that it is a small leak, we are keeping our fingers crossed over night.
Love that carpet anemone...wish I could try them again...but I've learned my lesson after an anemone went into my overflow tube and I was left with a drained sump, overflowed tank, and a small fire! Woo Hoo for anemones! But...they are gorgeous! Good job taking care of that beautiful carpet. That shows a dedicated and meticulous reefer there!
-Jon
Tank lost about 4" over night, but the corals and live stock are all ok. I bought a 65 gallon tank this morning. I am really loving the 18" depth vs the 12" of the 45g. The length and height deminsions are the same as our old 45 so I was able to use our exhisting stand.
Tore down the 45g put the live stock in a cooler with powerheads and a few heaters until the 65g was filled, heated and salinity matched. The transition went nice and smooth. Luck was on my side.
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, I have been doing reefs now for 5 years. I started out with a 11gal via aqua tank, I was very anal about it, did weekly watter changes daily tests ..ect and the tank just florished. Next was a 20, then a 29 and now a 45g. Can you see a pattern 
We loose about a 1/2" of water a day. So tomorrow morning I am off to pick up a new tank, either a 58g or another 45g. So far we have been lucky that it is a small leak, we are keeping our fingers crossed over night.