mcleodm's 120 G Build Thread

[mcleodm]

Hello all

I am getting a new 120 Gallon tank with stand and I wanted to share my build with you and get your opinions as I build it.

My current plans are to put the aquarium upstairs and plumb it to the basement. I haven't seen the tank yet, but I believe it has dual overflows drilled in the bottom.

I get the tank on Saturday, so I can't wait to get started on it. First step will obviously be all the plumbing.

:cheers:

[MizTanks]

Welcome to CR! It's great your sharing your new build with us, as you will see we love watching and sharing a new build :)

[mcleodm]

I am trying to determine what kind of pump I need.

I used the calculator on reefcentral (http://www.reefcentral.com/index.php/head-loss-calculator), and have found that if i use a Mag18, i will get about 900gph.

Is that enough for the tank? Initially, it will have some very basic corals and livestock, but I eventually want to have some moderately difficult corals. So the question is, do I upgrade to a Mag 24?

I could also just get two return pumps, but that is a bit costly.

[Heidi]

Just so we are all clear here do you plan to only be using the Mag & your returns for you tanks flow, or will you have other water movement w/i the display tank itself? I think that Mag24 pump is like 2400gph or something like that am I close?

[Sir Patrick]

Looking forward to watching this tank happen!

[mcleodm]

I will be using other powerheads for flow, this is just for the sump/refugium. The mag24 is 2400gph. I am not sure how much gph it would be after all the movement.

[Sir Patrick]

I would suggest a return pump GPH to match, or be a little less than, the skimmer pumps GPH- to keep the water skimmed most efficiantly, and give dwell time in the refugium for nutrient export.

Too fast can be too fast, depending on the rest of the equipment you will have running, and what you will be keeping in your refugium.

Just some things to think about, while planning your return pump.

[mcleodm]

The skimmer I have runs at about 750 gph, so I think the mag18 (901gph after all the plumbing) would be a good match. The next step down would run at 660gph, so that would be under. If i've learned anything in aquatics, it to go higher rather than lower.

Thanks for the tip!!

[jimsflies]

I moved your thread over to Member's Reefs since it's more of a reef build than an individual DIY project. If you get to the point where you have a photo, you can edit your first post and attach it to the post. Keeping this updated with the latest will then display on the forum display page (http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/members-reefs/).

[Corvette Reefer]

sounds like its gona be like a cool tank!

[mcleodm]

So the building has begun! The tank came absolutely disgusting, so it took a while to clean and get it filled.

I got the majority of the plumbing done, but I have a few things to finish up tomorrow. Here are a few shots from todays work.

The tank before I cleaned it. This took almost 2 hours and 3 guys to clean, and it still isn't perfect.
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/224691_10150176285278177_572588176_6941877_4807243 _n.jpg

The plumbing in the basement.
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/221979_10150176285063177_572588176_6941874_6787716 _n.jpg

The plumbing at the fish tank
http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/221914_10150176285123177_572588176_6941875_4286231 _n.jpg

The 55g sump doesn't have any baffles in it yet, so for the purposes of testing the plumbing and trying to just fill it with water to try and clean it some more, it is just going to run straight.

Tomorrow, I am going to hook up the connections to the tank (dual overflows drilled in bottom) and get the sump up and running!

So, 14 hours later, goodnight!

[Captain]

Looking good!
Plan. Plan. Plan.

[MizTanks]

This plumbing stuff always amazes me.

[Corvette Reefer]

coming along good! nice job, gona be a very cool tank!

[mcleodm]

Well, all done for today.

I got the plumbing finished and it works perfectly. Their is a problem with the return creating a siphon when the pump loses power, so for now the heads are just at the top of the water line. I am eventually going to drill a hole.

I got the fluval canister filter all cleaned out. I wasn't going to use it at first, but it looks really nice and convenient.

So pictures...the actual tank!
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/223335_10150176812013177_572588176_6948014_1126150 _n.jpg

Finished under tank plumbing
http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/223189_10150176811723177_572588176_6948005_6357099 _n.jpg

The sump
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/222548_10150176813208177_572588176_6948035_6792220 _n.jpg

For now, it's filled with tap water. I put in the heater to attempt to get the water a little warm to aid in the cleaning process. The next step is getting the baffles in the sump. Should get that going later this week. Still need to measure out and plan how everything is going to look in there. I think, since I am using the fluval, it's just going to be supply water from tank, two baffles, big refugium, two baffles, return pump. The skimmer I have can be hob, so I think I will make the return section a bit larger for the skimmer and heaters.

Steps for the future...get the sand and rock (gotta start saving some $$)

Does anyone know of some good places to get quality, but cheaper live sand?

Thanks!!!

[BikerBret]

I would just get play sand from home depot, and then put a bag or two of live sand on top! $4 for 50 pounds as apposed to $20 for 5 pounds for live sand.

[Heidi]

I would just get play sand from home depot, and then put a bag or two of live sand on top! $4 for 50 pounds as apposed to $20 for 5 pounds for live sand.

Bret: This is a good idea to save money which is always a great idea in this hobby :)
However, mcleodm, You need to make sure that the sand you pick is NOT silica based. Silica sand is what they are using for most of the play sand out there. I looked into this idea also because I think "live sand" that you buy from the pet store is kinda a sham. I ended up getting sand that was dry from "AgraSea" (I think thats what its called) It was nowhere close to the cost of live sand but it is safe for marine aquariums. Someone chime in if I am wrong here but silica based play sand causes really really bad things to happen.
Just trying to state this beautiful looking tank off on the right foot :)
Heidi

[mcleodm]

If you mix the live sand and play sand, are they going to look the same though? I am not opposed to this idea, I am just worried about how it will look.

[Captain]

Careful dude, I know not everyone is a big fan of the playsand at home depot. Its usually silica based.
It can be sharp and benthic creatures wont like it.

Another tip, that pump is big for a 55 sump. I would recommend giving it a nice size return compartment in the sump.

And I told it would clean up well!

[mcleodm]

Sam, how big should the return compartment be? My plans call for a 5.5 inch area. The only thing I am nervous about is the water not being able to move from one end to the other fast enough.

I have never designed a sump before, so some input would be welcomed.

[Captain]

The less water the return compartment holds, the more often you will have to top off. Im not sure how big you need to go with that size pump.

[Corvette Reefer]

great progress! i bet its quite with the sump far away looking forward to seeing the rest!

[mcleodm]

It is extremely quiet! One of the return jets is loose or something so you can hear some water splashing around, but other than that, all you can hear is the fans for the lighting.

I am extremely glad with how all the plumbing turned out.

[BikerBret]

No arguments on the sand from me, if you can afford it go with the expensive stuff! But i don't have that kind of budget. Ive had the play sand mixed with live sand in my tank for about 4 months and haven't had any problems yet....not to say they might not show up later.

[mcleodm]

So, I am looking for recommendations on my 55g sump setup. My tank runs at about 900 gph, so I am worried this is too fast for anything that would be in the refugium.

Here are the plans...

Any ideas?

[mcleodm]

Bret: This is a good idea to save money which is always a great idea in this hobby :)
However, mcleodm, You need to make sure that the sand you pick is NOT silica based. Silica sand is what they are using for most of the play sand out there. I looked into this idea also because I think "live sand" that you buy from the pet store is kinda a sham. I ended up getting sand that was dry from "AgraSea" (I think thats what its called) It was nowhere close to the cost of live sand but it is safe for marine aquariums. Someone chime in if I am wrong here but silica based play sand causes really really bad things to happen.
Just trying to state this beautiful looking tank off on the right foot :)
Heidi

So, I have been to home depot, lowes, and walmart...no luck on finding any aragonite sand, just silica. Where did you get your sand from? I was planning to get about 80-90 pounds of dry sand then mix it with 20 pounds of live sand. If only I could find some "cheap" dry sand.

Also, got the sump baffles installed and filled the tank with saltwater. The water is heating up now and will be ready for sand within a few days.

Thanks in advance on the sand info

[mcleodm]

And...I had my first flood! :(

I got 120lbs of dry sand from petsmart today. $80 for 120 lbs (it was $1/lb at petconnection).

I got home, turned off the return pump, and filled the tank with the sand. I completely forgot that sand takes up volume in the tank, and overflowed my sump! Luckily, it wasn't a major flood, but enough to get the floor soaked.

So, in a few days, once the cloud storm settles, I am going to add about 40lbs of live sand to the tank. Hopefully, I'll remember to siphon out some water from the sump before I do it!

[mcleodm]

Added 5 lbs of live sand as well as about 15 lbs of live rock from fantastic fins (awful store by the way, never go there). Should get the tank cycling while I save up the money for another 125 lbs of live rock from live aquaria.

I was planning to move all my fish over to the new tank next week, provided all the water parameters are close to the same. It has about 55-60 lbs of live rock in it that I am going to move as well. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to move all of these guys safely and the most stress-free?

I was planning to move the hardier fish first, maybe 2 or 3 at a time, and move my corals last.

Thanks!

[Captain]

You only want to move your damsels over before your cycle is complete.

[mcleodm]

You only want to move your damsels over before your cycle is complete.

I don't think they'll know what to do with so much room all to themselves!

Just keep swimming...

[Heidi]

I am not sure what kind of fish you have but I am sure its going to stress them out. That is just the way it is moving fish. I would make sure you have like a 6 or larger inch net so you don't have to chase them so much. If you can get one of those acrylic hang on boxes from petsmart thats the best thing fill it with water from the old tank put a fish in it take it over and acclimate like you would with a bagged fish. Expect any blennys, jawfish or golbys to act like they are going to die and hide. Expect the clownfish and damsels to not care :) I hate netting fish, so much that if I ever work in a store I will have to get some serious training on that. Good luck dude.
Oh here is something that some people told me after the fact of my tank switch. You need to use the old tanks water in the new tank so save as much of it as you can when you get all the stuff out and make sure you put it in your new tank. Lots of good stuff in that established tank water.

Oh and about the sand yeah I know silica sand is BAD for reef tanks no matter what anyone tells you. I got my sand at petsmart and pet supplies plus, just made sure it didn't have silica.

Heidi

[mcleodm]

I am not sure what kind of fish you have but I am sure its going to stress them out. That is just the way it is moving fish. I would make sure you have like a 6 or larger inch net so you don't have to chase them so much. If you can get one of those acrylic hang on boxes from petsmart thats the best thing fill it with water from the old tank put a fish in it take it over and acclimate like you would with a bagged fish. Expect any blennys, jawfish or golbys to act like they are going to die and hide. Expect the clownfish and damsels to not care :) I hate netting fish, so much that if I ever work in a store I will have to get some serious training on that. Good luck dude.
Oh here is something that some people told me after the fact of my tank switch. You need to use the old tanks water in the new tank so save as much of it as you can when you get all the stuff out and make sure you put it in your new tank. Lots of good stuff in that established tank water.

Oh and about the sand yeah I know silica sand is BAD for reef tanks no matter what anyone tells you. I got my sand at petsmart and pet supplies plus, just made sure it didn't have silica.

Heidi

It was caribsea dry aragonite. They sold it in 30 lb bags for $20/bag. Good suggestion on the bigger net. I plan on moving all the live rock from the new tank over, so at least they have no where to hide. That said, they will still go crazy when I try to net them. And my foxface lo is the only one I am worried about moving. He is so shy and gets stressed extremely easily. Hopefully, he makes it through, but the big tank will be nice for him, lots of room.

Woo, just gotta wait and wait and try and be patient.

[mcleodm]

Time for a quick update...I got the fish moved over about a month ago, and all is well. The tank cycled nicely and had a week long diatom bloom following by insane amounts of green algae. Last week my ballast died, so I sent it in for repairs last friday. I purchased a new galaxy ballast so I plan on selling the old one once it gets fixed (dual 250 w hqi bluewave 7).

I had bought a koralia magnum 7 which was WAY too powerful for the tank, i found my corals weren't opening up, so I have to return it and will probably buy somethin a bit smaller, probably two of them. Not quite ready to eat the cost of some vortechs just yet. Any reccomendations on which koralias to get??

I started working on the fish room this evening. Got the countertop built and it looks pretty good. Tomorrow I am going to work on building the water storage rack.

I also bought a spectrapure maxcap 90gpd RO/DI unit (got it on sale for $288 shipped), which should be in thursday.

Next step is to get a sink installed, setup a hospital/quarantine tank, and eventually purchase a aqua systems controller.

Wooo

[Captain]

Big plans dude!

[Heidi]

I have 2 700 and a 1400 in my 150g for flow but I wish I could just have 2 1400s.. That would be perfect for my tank, maybe a good starting point for you to figure out your flow?? There maybe better peoples for helping with this then me so feel free to chime in people :)
Heidi

[mcleodm]

Well, The RO/DI arrived and is installed. I also got a tank shot and some of the new work done in the fish room

The TANK! Tried out some 14ks this time. It's a hard transition because of how blue it is, but I sort of like it and it will help with color, which everyone in my tank is really lacking!
http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/263503_10150222535633177_572588176_7374440_1366099 _n.jpg

All the water will eventually be stored here. Gotta get the aqua controller first and some pumps and whatnot.
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/260172_10150221049988177_572588176_7361024_4677834 _n.jpg

The general shot of the fish room. Kinda a crummy shot, but you get the point.
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/248936_10150221050023177_572588176_7361025_7373131 _n.jpg
Still deciding if I want to laminate the countertop or just stain and waterproof it...

The spectrapure unit...this was a LOT bigger then I was expecting! Seems to be running well so far. I eventually am going to get a thermostatic mixing valve so I can run 77 degree water into it (best for the membrane) and also get a solenoid valve and float switch so when the reservoir is full, it turns off the RO/di and saves me water.
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/263573_10150222585558177_572588176_7374720_7032485 _n.jpg

[Sir Patrick]

I would cover the counter top w/ cutting board- make a great work/fragging area. Nice and white and easy to clean.

[mcleodm]

Got started on the plumbing for the auto water change system this weekend

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/261338_10150225045363177_572588176_7401194_4909545 _n.jpg
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/263750_10150225045933177_572588176_7401207_386295_ n.jpg

I'm all out of money at the current moment, so once friday rolls around i'll get all the fittings for the pumps and 4 mag drive 3 pumps...not looking forward to that purchase. I don't think the mag drive 2 pump would have enough power to go up 5-7 feet, so i am stuck buying these bigger pumps.

I drew out the plans for how to AWC system should run. Now i just need my apex!

[mcleodm]

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/264688_10150243963823177_572588176_7528000_6342446 _n.jpg

Autowater change complete. I upgraded to some nicer containers that hold more water. Had some problems getting fittings on the trash cans. Since I bought this stuff on friday, it was too late to buy bulkheads online, plus they're expensive. So i made some. Final product was a 1/2" Male threaded to female threaded PVC connector. It works great and makes a great seal around the plastic without the need for the rubber piece. I had to use conduict PVC though, because normal PVC has tapered threaded connections.