110g "What Did I do?" Build

[meverha1]

I began the hobby a few months ago with a Biocube 29 and instantly fell in love. I hadn't really been thinking about a larger tank but a work-related bonus gave me a bit of fun money to play around with so I thought I would at least start looking.

I happened to be checking out Craig's List one day when I saw a post from a service member who had been given orders to move and had to sell his 100 gallon tank. I went to pick up everything today and it was a HUGE haul.

For $1000 I got:

110 Gallon glass aquarium
Neptune Apex base module
Neptune Apex WXM module
Vortech Ecosmart MP40 X 2
Vortech battery back up system
DIY LED lights, programmable with Neptune Apex
TrueTemp digital titanium heater 500+
Tunze ATO with 50 gallon tank
Sicce return pumps 4.0 (950 gph), 3.0 (714 gph), 10.0 (2500 gph)
Two little fishes canisters X 3
Skimmer ETSS 600
50 lbs of live sand
200 gallons worth of Salt
30 gallon sump
10 gallon fish tank
Bubble Magnus Dosing Pump


All of it in working order and leak free. Although it is a bit dirty.

Pictures of most of the haul:

The pictures don't really do the purchase justice. Everything is full of usable, working stuff.

I decided right away that I really didn't like his DIY LED system so I ordered:

2 X Radion XR30w G4 Pro

I'm also not a huge fan of the skimmer so I ordred:

AquaMaxx ConeS Q-2 In-Sump Protein Skimmer

Along with new Wet sides for the MP40s and the QD upgrade kit.


I also ordered a very nice aquarium stand, which should be delivered late this week. My original plan was to use an existing cabinet but the aquarium is plumbed on the bottom so it just won't work.

To Do:

Clean Everything - Suggestions? How does one best go about cleaning used aquarium equipment?

Figure out how to plumb this thing inside the cabinet. Links and suggestions are encouraged.


More to come...

 

[electronaught]

Nice grab.

Hope it all works out well and turns out to be worth it!

 

[meverha1]

Better Shot of the Sump

Clearly the water enters via the far left chamber and exits via the right.

What's the best placement for the Skimmer and fuge in this setup?

I also have a spare 10 gallon tank that I could probably turn into a fuge if needed.

 

[scubadan206]

The sump looks kind of, rough I guess would be the word. Plus you might not want to use the bulkhead for an external return pump.
My .02, pick up a 40 breeder at petco 1$ gallon sale and build what you want.
Vinegar is probably sufficient for cleaning. Just give stuff a good long hard soak. Metal scrapers for the stubborn stuff if you choose.
Again good haul. I picked up my 90 [unused currently] with a ton of stuff as well.

 

[meverha1]

The sump looks kind of, rough I guess would be the word. Plus you might not want to use the bulkhead for an external return pump.

If I were building from scratch I'd probably do something different with the sump. It's clearly not built with a fuge in mind. That being said, after doing a bit of research I'm not sure I'm going to go with a fuge. Part of me thinks that they are more trouble than they are worth and any pod population should be able to sustain itself in the main tank with 150lbs of live rock.

Of of curiosity, why wouldn't you use the bulkhead for an external return? I have a Coralife Turbo Sea I was going to use for the return an a manifold.

 

[scubadan206]

An internal pump would just be easier I guess. 30 gallons is small for a sump to serve this big a system. You'll want more elbow room.
You don't need a refugium, but every little bit helps.
Unless you plan on filling up the main tank with rock, not recommended as fish need room to swim and coral need room to grow, pods in-tank will be few and far between.
Bigger systems are a different animal.:reading:

 

[meverha1]

You guys are making me spend more money...

Going to upgrade the sump. I also have a Sicce Syncra 10 pump to use.

 

[scubadan206]

You guys are making me spend more money...

Going to upgrade the sump. I also have a Sicce Syncra 10 pump to use.

Wait for a sale, or find a deal on a used ugly tank. You need to plumb things and build stuff, and wait for the tank and rock to cycle so you have time.
Is a Sicce 10 submersible? 2500 GPH sounds like a lot for that line. I'm not familiar with that one.

 

[meverha1]

The Sicce 10 can be used as a submersible or a external so no problems there. It's a monster pump but I figure that I can run a gate valve and it will be plenty to service my return and manifold.

I can find cheap 40 Gallon tanks on craigslist all day long. A bit of plexiglass and silicone and I should be able to whip up a decent sump.

I also have a bit more left in the budget so I could go with something pre-made if I wanted. Trigger Systems or similar in a 40 gallon size.

 

[scubadan206]

The Sicce 10 can be used as a submersible or a external so no problems there. It's a monster pump but I figure that I can run a gate valve and it will be plenty to service my return and manifold.

I can find cheap 40 Gallon tanks on craigslist all day long. A bit of plexiglass and silicone and I should be able to whip up a decent sump.

I also have a bit more left in the budget so I could go with something pre-made if I wanted. Trigger Systems or similar in a 40 gallon size.

Plexiglass and silicone don't mix. It almost seems like the plexi has grease on it. It won't hold in the long run and you will have to drain it and fix it.
Just use glass. Easier and cheaper for that size. Unless you plan on finding an acrylic 40 gallon. Then go right ahead and use weldon.....:bigeyes:

 

[meverha1]

Sorry for the lack of updates and pictures but not a lot has happened in the last week that is worth documenting.

- Cleaned and leak tested tank. Seems fine and is as close to spotless as it will ever be.
- Purchased 100 lbs of live sand
- Received my new skimmer, ATO, 40 gallon Sump, LED lights.
- Decided not to upgrade the MP40s to quiet drive. Instead I've purchased new MP40s.
- Purchased a lot of plumbing supplies.
- Received 100 lbs of Dry Rock
- Received 100 lbs of Live Rock

Aquarium stand arrives tomorrow so with any luck I'll be able to get the aquarium on the stand so I can start plumbing it on Tuesday.


Here's 100 lbs of live rock chilling out in a trashcan

 

[meverha1]

More pictures to come soon but I was curing/washing a bit of dry rock from reefcleaners.org and I found a very unique hitchhiker.

Trying to find a home for it now...