MY 80 gallon tank build

[bigbill]

iam starting this thread as iam new to reefing and am hooked and this 12gal nano ante going to cut it
iam new to reefing so i have a lot of ? to ask. it will be a long slow build but i want to do it right and not buy junk stuff

tank info 48x21x18
month one
will be takeng the tank to be drilled hopefuly on fri will post pics when i get started

1st ? how big of sump will i neeed to have for this tank

[EMUreef]

iam starting this thread as iam new to reefing and am hooked and this 12gal nano ante going to cut it
iam new to reefing so i have a lot of ? to ask. it will be a long slow build but i want to do it right and not buy junk stuff

tank info 48x21x18
month one
will be takeng the tank to be drilled hopefuly on fri will post pics when i get started

1st ? how big of sump will i neeed to have for this tank

is that a 75g tank?
either way fit the biggest sump you can under your tank. its the best option. a 30-40g would be good, a 20 wouldnt be too bad really but more water volume the better.

[bigbill]

its was sold to me as an 80 but when i use the gallon thing came out to 76.4 gallons but its 48 1/2 bye 21 1/2 bye 18 3/4

[EMUreef]

its was sold to me as an 80 but when i use the gallon thing came out to 76.4 gallons but its 48 1/2 bye 21 1/2 bye 18 3/4

are you building your own stand?

[bigbill]

are you building your own stand?

i have stand all ready

[cg5071]

ditto on the biggest sump/fuge you can fit in the stand. especially in your area you can find alot of used tanks either here or on michigan reefers to build a sump from. i wouldnt move downstate,lol but i see a heck of alot of deals that i cant get because of the distance!

[Sir Patrick]

Pics!!! I want to see this stand!!

[bigbill]

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww15/bigbill_01/IMG_2038.jpg

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww15/bigbill_01/IMG_2039.jpg

plz dont mind the mess havent cleaned it out yet

[thefishgirl]

Looks great! Can't wait to see it with a tank, water, fish, rocks, corals.... :) It's always great to see someone starting from scratch and documenting it all the way. Keep those pictures coming!

[Tom@HaslettMI]

its was sold to me as an 80 but when i use the gallon thing came out to 76.4 gallons but its 48 1/2 bye 21 1/2 bye 18 3/4

Those are some funky dimensions! By my calculations its 84.6 gallons.

Regardless, I can't wait to see if full of ocean life!

Be sure to use the inside measurements to calculate the volume..

[bigbill]

Those are some funky dimensions! By my calculations its 84.6 gallons.

Regardless, I can't wait to see if full of ocean life!

Be sure to use the inside measurements to calculate the volume..

yea i am a dum dum there where out side measurement

[bigbill]

ok going to go with a 30 to 40 long sump now witch light is better to use t5 our MH would like to no pros and cons of bouth not to worries about heat as this tank will be in the basment and its cool down there year around

[Sir Patrick]

I prefer the cheaper to run and for the most part more pleasent colors of T5- but really depends on your budget and what kind of corals you plan on keeping.

[MizTanks]

I'm following along on this one Bill-as I too some day hope to upgrade my 8g nano to my 75g that's sitting in storage :)

[bigbill]

going to mostly lps and sps and i plan on keepinf angals in this tank dont no if that matters

[bigbill]

well wont be keeping angels this will be a tank for my marrons if and when they pair up heres some new pics cleaned out and ready to be drilled tryed to take it sat but wouldent fit in the car got to find some one with a truck to take it up there

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww15/bigbill_01/IMG_2081.jpg

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww15/bigbill_01/IMG_2082.jpg

[bigbill]

i am going to run t5s on this will this 216W 4ft 4 lamp 54W High Output T5 be a nuf light for the tank

[MizTanks]

Depends on the corals your wanting to keep. Most LPS and softies should do fine-not to sure on the SPS.

[cg5071]

I would think you will be ok with sps too. It isnt that deep of a tank and you could keep some higher up if needed.

[bigbill]

well i finale got off my butt and took the tank to be drilled today went with an 1 1/2 inch drain cost me 19 bucks for the hole and the 1 1/2 bulk head will be done thurs going to pick up a 40 galllon long for 30 bucks on fri witch i will be useing as my sump this tank is finale starting to come along will post pics when i get the tank back and if any one knows where i can get a good price on a over flow box plz post still need the box

[Sir Patrick]

Sweet! ya got er drilled! looking forward to updates!

Ya get a light yet? 4 bulbs will be fine for your plans, and if they change, and sps starts tempting you- up high will do good for ya still.

[bigbill]

update got some of the plumbing done heres a few pics
took it down to a 1 1/4 pvc from 1 1/2 drilled whole in cap on top
http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww15/bigbill_01/IMG_2221.jpg

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww15/bigbill_01/IMG_2222.jpg

[EMUreef]

plumbing looks good dude!

[shovelhead91701]

Looks good! One question though...... why did you make the riser so tall in the back? It only needs to be as tall as the tank top unless you were trying to do something I'm not thinking of?

If you can get me some dimensions and will pay the shipping I think I have some acrylic scraps big enough to make your corner overflow with. I need the water depth that you want to maintain, the INSIDE height of the tank and the distance you want to come out from the rear wall and side wall. The acrylic and labor is on me if you want the help. All you will need to do is silicone it into the tank once you get it.

[bigbill]

ty shovelhead i got acrlic all ready i need to go get a router from my dad tom and it will be done too and to the hight of the pipe was thinking of cuting some off

[PolskaReefer]

Looks Great Bill!!!!! i look forward to many more pictures and updates!!! looks great so far bill!!!

[bigbill]

over flow box done looks ok i guess lol frist time useing a router and i suck at silconeing lol but the weld-on # 4 is the poo :thumbsup:

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww15/bigbill_01/IMG_2229-1.jpg

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww15/bigbill_01/IMG_2230.jpg

[Sir Patrick]

Overflow box looks perfect!!

[cg5071]

when I made my overflow before, I read somewhere that a taller pipe will quiet it down if you dont mind the look.
Congrats on your DIY!

[bigbill]

found me a pump going to get it fri a mag 12 :thumbsup:

[shovelhead91701]

That ought to do it! This project is coming right along! Everything looks good! Great job on that overflow!

[ReefSolutions]

Is that scotch tape holding your overflow together??? :redneck: The things people do. LOL. just kidding Bill.
Everything looks like it's coming together really well. Keep posting!

Shannon

[bigbill]

Is that scotch tape holding your overflow together??? :redneck: The things people do. LOL. just kidding Bill.
Everything looks like it's coming together really well. Keep posting!

Shannon

yes shanny that is scotch tape and it worked like a charm wink wink :thumbsup:

[bigbill]

Got a few things to day bought a mag12 and a redline skimmer + 40 pounds of nice rock ty to redfordreefer

[bigbill]

got the return pipes ran and blacked out the back of the tank will post pics when i get back for fishing

[MizTanks]

got the return pipes ran and blacked out the back of the tank will post pics when i get back for fishing

What kind of paint did you use?

[bigbill]

OIL BASED paint jet black

[bigbill]

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww15/bigbill_01/DSC00225.jpg

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww15/bigbill_01/DSC00228.jpg

[Sir Patrick]

Looks great man!

[bigbill]

order my light to day 48''T5ho 4x58watt 2 10000k and 2 antic blues should be here nexxt week this is the link
http://www.fishneedit.com/4ft4bulbs-with-l44.html

[Sir Patrick]

Movin right along on this build! Great!

[bigbill]

Got my lights today runing 2 10k and 2 antic blues and started trying differnt scapeing before i add water opions are welcome heres some pics Ps all so got my skimmer a ASM G-1x

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww15/bigbill_01/DSC00581-1.jpg

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww15/bigbill_01/DSC00582.jpg

[MizTanks]

Sweeeet setup!

[Sir Patrick]

I like it!!

[bigbill]

sump is done finale went with a total diy sump 1 30 gallon tub 2 18 gallon tubs with 1 1/2 drains to ea here are some pics


http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww15/bigbill_01/DSC01302.jpg

frist chamber water level 11 inches with a ASM G-1x skimmer
http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww15/bigbill_01/DSC01309.jpg

2nd chamber 18 gallons water level 11 inches for mud and live rock
http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww15/bigbill_01/DSC01304.jpg

3rd chamber 18 gallons water level not sure yet Mag 12 return
http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww15/bigbill_01/DSC01307.jpg

[Sir Patrick]

Pretty Cool!!!

Have ya test ran it yet?

[bigbill]

nope waiting for silcone to dry will be adding water tom and runing it for a week to make sure the tubs will hold the water will post pics tom runing

[XSiVE]

Lookin good bill! I had not seen you on here in awhile and wondered if you were still around ;)

[ReeferRob]

Lookin good bill! I had not seen you on here in awhile and wondered if you were still around ;)

I was wondering the same thing!

Might want to add some support to those DIY sump ( which are sweet I might add ) they tend to bow out at the centers when filled with water. Using the lids with two center circles or squares cut out will do the job. I mention two so that there is a cross brace running dead across the center of each tub. Keep us updated man love the go go gadets DIY set ups.

[XSiVE]

I was wondering the same thing!

Might want to add some support to those DIY sump ( which are sweet I might add ) they tend to bow out at the centers when filled with water. Using the lids with two center circles or squares cut out will do the job. I mention two so that there is a cross brace running dead across the center of each tub. Keep us updated man love the go go gadets DIY set ups.

good point on the support issue, I remember filling one of those things up with water and it bowed like crazy.. the lid did not even help, it just kinda popped off :doh: perhaps some sort of upside-down U-shaped wood brace?

[bigbill]

yea the lid poped off the big one going to have to make some kinda brace had a couple set backs today but not bad one had small pin hole leak in over flow box and my mag 12 shaft broke but every thing else held water and worked like i want it to so will see once i get a new shaft and brace the big tub

[Sir Patrick]

Looking forward to seeing this in action!

[jolson10450]

looks good bill but man that thing has to be loud with them overflows like that!

[bigbill]

na not to bad i going to run pipe in to the the water so i wont hear any of it

[bigbill]

well i got the big tub braced up and half panted would like to hear some feed back before i do the other 2 i used 1/2 inch ply wood and 1 bye to tye it all in

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww15/bigbill_01/DSC01325.jpg

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww15/bigbill_01/DSC01326.jpg

[bigbill]

got my 2 inchs mud 40lbs of rock in my sump to day with a power head for flow going to run for 2 our 3 weeks to get a jump on the cycle pics to come

[lionhead]

I cannot wait to see pic of the whole setup, once it is done.

[Sir Patrick]

Bracing looks like it will work well!

[bigbill]

got the scapeing done to day now just waiting on a part for my mag 12

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww15/bigbill_01/IMG_2245.jpg

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww15/bigbill_01/IMG_2246.jpg

[lionhead]

This little project of yours has really come together. Are you going to put more liverock in there?

[bigbill]

yea i have a half butt list

2 blk clowns
1 choc tang
1 powder blue tang
1 white long ten nem
xmas warsse witch is in my nano all ready
and prob 1 to 2 more fish

[ReeferRob]

well i got the big tub braced up and half panted would like to hear some feed back before i do the other 2 i used 1/2 inch ply wood and 1 bye to tye it all in

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww15/bigbill_01/DSC01325.jpg

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww15/bigbill_01/DSC01326.jpg

Ah yes, Motown Engineering at its best. I love it! Should do the trick and keep things dry.
Looking forward to more pics bro!

[Sir Patrick]

^ Same here! I want to see more!

[bigbill]

got my impeller for my mag its on like donky kong now need couple odds and ends and it will finale be finshed

[Sir Patrick]

Pics!!!!!!!!!!!