Here is what I am starting with. Picked it up yesterday. It is a 125g RR tank. I would have preferred a 180g because I am not fond of the 18" width of a 125g but for $200 I could not pass it up. I am a broke single mom so this will be a L O N G project, lol. That is ok. I have my 65g reef to keep me occupied untill I can buy everything I need for this one. After 15+ years in this hobby I have plenty of patience.
It came with a big sump so that will save $$ and it also has all of the plumbing. I plan to make the durso stand pipes for it so it will be fairly quiet. My boyfriend with be here in the next week to add floor jacks in the basement under where the tank will eventually be placed.
I am all for DIY projects so I will be building a canopy. I prefer not to have a canopy because of the heat issues with MH but I also do not like being blinded when looking at the tank

Things I have already: (in my 65g that will be moved over).
Skimmer (asm G3)
55lbs rock
corals and fish
redsea wavemaster pro w/ 4 mj1200s
compat dosing pump (top off and kalkwasser)
4- 36" t5 light (will be taking it apart and retrofitting it using it for 4 actinic lamps)
100 lbs of sand ( in the 65)
2 50lb bags of southdown sand (still dry in the bags)
110 gpd RODI unit
Will be getting the next week - 1 month
50-100 lbs rock ( will add a few pieces lr to the tub abd let it seed for a month or 2)
200g box or reefcrystals salt
Further down the line
3-250w MH
SWC 160 cone skimmer
more sand ??
I am sure there is more that I just cant think of right now.
Angie