Jim's 120 Reef Tank Build : )

[Fish Dad]

The start of my 120 gallon build thread....
Been messing with stuff all summer and finally got to a point I feel I'm making progress and maybe learned enough from everyone that's been helping me to have the confidence to move forward.

So decided to start this thread and see how it goes.

Started with a 55 gallon and now selling all the stuff and have moved up to a 120 gallon.
55 gallon and stand sold Friday house now has spot for 120

I bought a used 120 gallon about a month ago and been working on that and a new stand.

Anyway here we go.....

Thanks to everyone for your great advice so far, I know there are a billion more questions to come.

[larryandlaura]

Feel free to ask away. I can't wait to see your build.

[Fish Dad]

http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=296&pictureid=2330&thumb=1 ('http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=296&pictureid=2330') Here is the start of the stand, hope to get it 90% done today, built door yesterday, will add pics when complete.

Also got to figure out how to add multiple pictures - ha :duh:

[WillBattle]

Stand is looking good so far! Can't wait to follow this thread and see how it all goes for you

[Nano-Newb1983]

looks good so far.. looking forward to see progress.. Keep us posted :)

[larryandlaura]

Great looking stand. You got the ball rolling!

[purerebel]

Looking Jim, looking forward to seeing the progress!

[Fish Dad]

Ok so the stand is almost ready to put the tank on, putting last coats of finish and then we are moving...

Added a side door and trying to figure out if I want some peg board inside to mount stuff on, like power supply...

[Nano-Newb1983]

looking great, keep us posted with lots of pics

[Fish Dad]

I also need to reconfigure this sump,

Current layout wont fit my Skimmer, so have to make first section bigger and also need to review the return section....
Thinking the wall is to high only flow from bottom and will require constant top off with this configuration.

Would like flow from refugium to be more even with return to create a larger evaporation area??


Sump is 36 x 16X19 tall

IDEAS???


THANKS Mark, You probably don't recognize it ...now that its cleaned up....Once its redone it will work great

[Nano-Newb1983]

wow that sure did clean up nice

[purerebel]

Wow Jim that sump cleaned up nice, what you use to get the hard water stains out that thing? Cabinet looks great!

[larryandlaura]

Loo0king amazing Jim.

[Fish Dad]

To clean ....I used Vinegar and water, let it soak then a scrub brush, toilet brush and a very sharp razor blade......more vinegar and water more scrubbing and then its brand new.....
I got the toilet brush NEW at HD, not the one from the bathroom, just in case you wondered....

[bluwc]

I wouldn't think you would get it looking like that, it doesn't even look like the same sump. Bring your sump over here, we'll run up to A1 glass and get a couple pieces cut for new baffles and get things figured out. Then you can take my for panels home for my cube doors and add the trim on for me = op

[Fish Dad]

All right back in the setup mode, hunting season is over....

Got delayed with setup progress as my stand is 100% level BUT my floor is not.

its off a little less then a 1/4" front to back. so it leaning a little forward.

I got a shim for the front and got lucky my brother in law stopped by to help me get the empty tank off the stand so I can now make adjustments....also will shim the side to weight even.

Also just order my heater and hoping to get the sump figured out tomorrow with Troy....

[bluwc]

If you want to come over earlier too, go for it I'll be around just give me give me a call. We're also going to Saganos tomorrow too, Larr y, Laura and maybe Mark

[larryandlaura]

Now the cats out of the bag! Room for more at saganos! Oh yeah and Reef Paradise!

[Fish Dad]

Thanks Troy for helping me get the sump configured right ,I really appreciated the help

I still got to get to the glass shop for the last section, some how my boss doesn't think I should take a long lunch to go get it made,,,, Will have to be Monday as work sending me out of town...

I also replaced the Silicone on the front of the display tank, looks a ton better as the old silicone was loose in spots and had gray and black stuff trapped between silicone and glass? Only seemed to have it on the front glass verticals.
Anyways looks better a ton better as its clear again.... but not sure its the crease is as smooth as I wanted.

My new heater is also on route should be here by the week end....

[Sir Patrick]

Lets see what ya guys did to the sump! Got me curious!

Looking forward to new updates.

[larryandlaura]

+1 lets see some sump pics!

[Nano-Newb1983]

+1 lets see some sump pics!

yes please :highfive3:

also that candy apple red frag of yours is now like 5 polyps.

cant wait for some pics :fish2:

[Fish Dad]

Made great progress today....

Tank on Stand !!!!!!
Resealed front on glass,

THANKS DALE FOR THE HELP

Also got
New heater....
New Tek 5 6 bulb lights

On my way to get some plumbing supplies......

[Sir Patrick]

Very nice!!

[Fish Dad]

Sump done - last piece of glass installed.

Installed all the trim around the stand

STARTING PLUMBING

Started on some Durso pipes, very tight fit even with street 90s. cut them down and they look like they are gonna fit.

Original return plumbing is a little short - gets in the way of the center support - so will need to redo those also.

Trying a couple different configurations as the sump takes up a lot of room under the tank combined with the external pump.

[bluwc]

Looking good Jim

[binford4000]

Nicely done,it's really comeing along nicely :thumbsup:

[Fish Dad]

Got Plumbing done and filled it for leak test...

But it failed the leak test - so back to pulling stuff out and redoing it.....:tear:

Unfortunately there isn't enough room with the big sump to put in a bunch of disconnect, so I will have to cut and replace.

YEAH this is FUN--- NOT!!!!!

Nice thing though it did run nice and didnt over flow when I turned off the pump....
Sump flow is good and the Durso pipes I made are working good.
Problem started when I turned down the returns - pressure up and the little drip drip drip that making me have a Blue Xmas.....



Well I have all next week to redo it....

[dlhirst]

It really looks great. Take your time and enjoy the holiday.

[Fish Dad]

UP AND RUNNING!!!!!!

FIRST THING...THANKS DALE Without your help I would be lost...

Plumbing was a pain- :stupidme: one thing I can recommend is use ALOT of pipe cement and once the pipe had water in it you need to upgrade to a PVC Glue that will work if pipe has moisture on it. Rain & Shine PVC cement.
Had other issues but let stay on the the positive side....

Saltwater in, sand in, rock in (arranged and arranged and then expertly arranged, by Dale) new Heater in.....

Now I wait and watch for cycle to start....

In picture the water is still cloudy from all the moving of rocks today....Got the Fuval 405 running in it which is temp for cleaning up the sand silt....doing a good job will be clear by morning, but wanted to post picture tonight.

[Sir Patrick]

Love that rock work!!!

[AJ :)]

Very sharp layout.
That plumbing looked difficult with so little room to work in. Nice to know there is a pvc cement that works with moisture.
Looking forward to your progress. :)

[Nano-Newb1983]

very very nice man.. i love it

[Fish Dad]

All credit for rock layout goes to Dale, he looked at my arrangement and went to town.....:thumbsup:

Its great to have such an expert so close....

Now I'm just waiting for thing to start cycling...

I also have alot of bubbles coming up from the sump - it like a little hot tub in there?

[Fish Dad]

Went to take a picture of the sump and look - I knew it was making too many bubbles,

Wife wasn't to happy to know that Chinese Hot Spring Monkey's are living in the house.
I bet Andy has something at Reef Paradise to clear this up....

[MizTanks]

LMAO thats priceless!!!

[Fish Dad]

Been running good, Testing levels are great.....

Water evaporation seems to be varying a lot so ordered a JBJ Auto top off , so I don't have to worry about running low in middle of the night or while at work. Petco having $1 gallon sale hoping to find 15 tall, but got a ten to start with.

Also added some snails and they love the overflows, must be a snail thing so added some snail guard on the over flow...



.

[purerebel]

Looking great Jimbo! Great seeing you and your son again today at RP.

[Fish Dad]

Came home last night and a small spot of brown algae had grown across the sand and all over the lower rocks.
Really just started in last 2 days.

So I'm NOT going to run the lights to see if that slows it down, hoping this is normal part of cycle?

Ammonia is at 0
PH is 8.2

On positive side, I got Pods running all over the place - added an established hang on Refugium and they are moving from that to the tank. I can now find them popping in and out out of the holes in the rock and digging little tunnels in the sand... to small to get good picture.

[bluwc]

Diatoms, signs your tank cycle is at the end. Common in new tanks

[Fish Dad]

Things are moving forward, starting to add stuff slowly - Water Still testing good and read to go......
Used a turkey baster to blow rocks cleaned up nice and it all floats on off and into the skimmer and socks.

Added JBJ ATO and that's a great help as water level stays constant, very east to set up.

Got snails running around, a mushrooms and a few other small pieces been very happy for about a week.
Also got the first fish, a Blue Green Chromie, nothing fancy but me and the kid like him.

In Tonawanda NY and stopped at a Salt Water Paradise, REALLY nice store full of awesome corals.
I will have to figure out how to get back here and get some stuff then get it across Canada to get it home to Mi.
They got live rock here for 7.99lb with so much stuff growing on it, it should be called super live rock

[Sir Patrick]

That looks like florida aquacultured rock to me. Nice score!

[Fish Dad]

Chort55 I agree- Thinking about it - I really would be afraid of what was in it that I didn't want. Safer to grow your own.

I saw a lot of really nice corals that were super nice, but not coming home for few days no way to keep it and not sure of rules bringing corals from New York across Canada to Michigan? I really dont want to buy stuff for the guys at the border....

[Fish Dad]

Update - Things are going well I can see things starting to grow and get bigger.

Still working on start up algae - Diatom but its getting better.
Keeping close eye on all parameters and testing daily. Everything is looking good except alkalinity & pH started registering low, but making adjustments, fortunately they are real easy tests and I'm adjusting slowly to get to normal.

Added some stuff and couldn't resist the coolest little snowflakes and some other misc frags picked up at show.

No more adding anything else for a while .... now I wait and watch things closely.

[Fish Dad]

Here some pics of 2 week of growth.....

1/23/12 til today....

[Fish Dad]

Got to figure out how to attach more than one pic....

[creefer]

Nice work. The tank really looks nice.

[purerebel]

Looking great Jim! Love how you're taking it slow. I'l trade ya some red and grey shrooms for a few of those blues =)

[woods4542000]

What are you feeding your snowflakes? I also got some from swap lost one already, not sure if the other one is eating.

[Sir Patrick]

Tank is looking great Jim!

[bigbill]

What are you feeding your snowflakes? I also got some from swap lost one already, not sure if the other one is eating.

my guess is he was feeding them top dressed otohime from reeds most of us breeders have been using it but cant say why your having problems switching him to reg food

[bluwc]

That's some sweet aquascape for sure. Your tank looks great!

[Fish Dad]

As far as the snowflakes - I got one that eats everything, the smaller one a little picky and I worry about him.

I got some food from Andy at Reef Paradise Frozen pack - also got some small fish Spectrum Thera +A

The smaller one likes to come up to the turkey baster and grab a bite, I just have to watch because the Yellow tang is a hog and likes to eat first, so I get him eating then try to get some to the little snow.

I'm hoping he is getting enough as he is super cool....

I also sent an email to Booyah's Reef - reply...
Jim. The best thing to get a clown to eat after moving is massago. It can be found at oriental grocery store. It is the orange egg on the outside of a sushi role. Rods food is also a favorite food.

I have yet to find either here in town......

[Fish Dad]

Been a month thought I would check in with an update....

Everything going pretty good - got a bunch of new stuff growing great....
Once i figure out how to get this Camera to take a picture that looks right I will post some pictures.

[woods4542000]

Clowns doing good?

[Fish Dad]

Clowns doing good been a month now since they came home... both are eating well. The smaller one was a little bit of a struggle but seems to be doing well eating everything now... He does however freak me out every once in a while as he lays on the bottom of the tank in the evening after light out? He does have really cool marking on his left side...

[Fish Dad]

Why is it the stuff you like the best and cannot replace gives you the most trouble?? :duh:
My kids have named all the fish and the 2 clowns are Nemo and Marlin....

Nemo living up to his name as I found him in the overflow this morning....

I'm not sure how he really got in there but feeling blessed as it better then the floor....
He must have jumped over the overflow - rolled across the snail guard and fell through the back.

I'll be watching him close today as I'm sure its not the best thing for him to be flopping around on gutter guard..

Also installing the netting I bought for the top of the tank....

[MizTanks]

Clowns are tough....it'll be just fine :)

[woods4542000]

Been a month thought I would check in with an update....

Everything going pretty good - got a bunch of new stuff growing great....
Once i figure out how to get this Camera to take a picture that looks right I will post some pictures.

I really like your aquascaping!

[Fish Dad]

A few pics of stuff - things are really starting to grow
http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/members/fish-dad/albums/my-corals/2921-dsc-0736.jpg

http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/members/fish-dad/albums/my-corals/2927-dsc-0630.jpg

http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/members/fish-dad/albums/my-corals/2924-dsc-0375.jpg

http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/members/fish-dad/albums/my-corals/2923-dsc-0744.jpg

http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/members/fish-dad/albums/my-corals/2922-dsc-0738.jpg

New Stuff
http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/members/fish-dad/albums/my-corals/2928-dsc-0627.jpg

[bluwc]

Looks good,I see done familiar pieces

[Fish Dad]

Been a busy summer - Just wanted to say things are going great. :thumbsup:


A lot of stuff filling in... compare to same coral in pic below....

[MizTanks]

Sure looks like they're going great! It's been a great journey watching this build Jim. :highfive3:

[Fish Dad]

Just an update - been super busy- but time has passed and stuff continues to grow - including the Green Algae...

[Fish Dad]

A few pics of stuff - things are really starting to grow
July
http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/members/fish-dad/albums/growth/3194-growth-july-2012.jpg
November
http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/members/fish-dad/albums/growth/3195-growth-nov-2012.jpg
July
http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/members/fish-dad/albums/growth/3192-growth-1-july-2012.jpg
November
http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/members/fish-dad/albums/growth/3193-growth-2-nov-2102.jpg
July
http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/members/fish-dad/albums/growth/3190-july-2012.jpg
November
http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/members/fish-dad/albums/growth/3191-november-2012.jpg

[Fish Dad]

Got a RBTA - but the clown still prefer the Pally

[Fish Dad]

Pretty cozy

[MizTanks]

Hopefully he'll discover the nem. Palys look kind a irritated.

[Fish Dad]

Clown and Paly still in Love - no ill effects..
One clowns is now sleeping in the paly at night and both spend all day around it.

They totally ignore the RBTA which is still moving around to different locations of the tank...

[MizTanks]

That is an awesome picture. Way cool :highfive3:

[Fish Dad]

Wow I really need to update .....My Tank Aug 2014
http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j369/zimmybows/DSC_0325.jpg

My happy Clowns
http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j369/zimmybows/DSC_0320.jpg

[Sir Patrick]

Wow! Nice tank man!

I had thought you got out a while back....