120 Gallon Setup Has Begun

[marino420td]

I broke down the sump platform today because it was attached to the wall studs causing vibration noise. Once I finished that project, I put everything back together and finally got saltwater into the tank today.

Mixing saltwater

Bubble towers for the overflow pipes in the sump

Rinsing the sand

Sand in the tank

A long awaited sight, saltwater going in!

Cloudy

About 4 hours later, beginning to clear up

 

[marino420td]

Final plumbing set up.

I'm still getting a vibration sound, even though the platform no longer touches the walls. But it is much better.

Escutcheon plate covering hole in wall. I plan to stain a matching piece of wood to hide the space between the tank and the wall.

Skimmer beginning to foam.

I'll be ordering rock soon!

 

[itstheantitang]

Cool, looks great.

 

[kzoo]

I love your tank looks great and you look skilled in your set-up, one question do you think your having one return is ok for a sps tank, what you tring to get your flow rate at? I guess you can run some big power heads.

 

[marino420td]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7800446#post7800446 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kzoo
I love your tank looks great and you look skilled in your set-up, one question do you think your having one return is ok for a sps tank, what you tring to get your flow rate at? I guess you can run some big power heads.

You will notice in the behind the scenes pics a capped pvc pipe coming through the wall on the left. This will be a closed loop when I get around to building it. I really don't want any powerheads in the tank so I hope to achieve my desired flow level with the closed loop.

 

[Ursus]

I had the same idea for rinsing sand, did it work well? I was thinking I could use it to rinse the majority of the sand I currently have in my 20 for when I put it in my 75. I'll save some for seeding, but does the bucket and hose work well?

 

[marino420td]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7801306#post7801306 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ursus
I had the same idea for rinsing sand, did it work well? I was thinking I could use it to rinse the majority of the sand I currently have in my 20 for when I put it in my 75. I'll save some for seeding, but does the bucket and hose work well?

I believe it does. I rinsed each batch for about 20 minutes, pushing the end of the hose through the sand to the bottom of the bucket. My tank still clouded up a bit but it is already clearing this morning.

 

[carpetride]

Looks like your coming right along, looking forward to seeing it full of frags!

 

[Rijinals]

One of - if not the most best looking tanks I have ever seen! Nice DIYing to squire!

 

[Ocicat]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7743925#post7743925 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by marino420td
After reading about how they leak, I decided to replace the bulkhead that came with the stock tank. I replaced it with one purchased from savko.com. I had to chisel out some of the ribs in the stock tank so the bulkhead would seat flat against the tub.

Could you tell me precisely which bulkhead you ordered from Savko? I need to do that.

 

[spongebobby]

Looks great... Now let the fun begin...

 

[marino420td]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7804876#post7804876 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ocicat
Could you tell me precisely which bulkhead you ordered from Savko? I need to do that.

Here is the part number of the ones I ordered 8837930334

 

[tsmitti99]

I missed where you stated that you made the stand yourself, or purchased it? Everything looks great...how many lbs or liverock are you going to use, and any ideas as to your aquascaping for it?

 

[marino420td]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7808692#post7808692 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tsmitti99
I missed where you stated that you made the stand yourself, or purchased it? Everything looks great...how many lbs or liverock are you going to use, and any ideas as to your aquascaping for it?

I made the stand. Here is that thread

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=787189

I'm thinking about only putting about 80 lbs of live rock. I am going to use Marshall Island rock because I really like the shapes. For aquascaping, I am considering two piers with an open middle.

 

[T reef K]

WATER!!! finally...I'm in cloud 9

 

[marino420td]

Live Rock Added

Live Rock Added

I received my shipment of live rock today. 80 lbs of Marshall Island rock from Premium Aquatics. They are great to deal with, and this rock ROCKS!

contents of 1 box

contents of 2nd box

Close ups

In tank pics (no real attempt at aquascaping yet)

My skimmer has already started foaming since adding this today.

 

[Mike.B]

Looken good. 120 is such a perfect size.

I think you should get another 50lbs atleast to make your two piers stand out. We'll have to see once you actually aquascape it.

 

[marino420td]

Yeah, I'm hoping I can make the rock appear more dominant without adding a lot to it. I see so many tanks just piled full of rock and I'm trying to avoid that. Not to mention, this stuff is expensive! I want to have a lot of open space for corals to grow into.

 

[marino420td]

Skimmer is beginning to pull out some gunk

Here is a pic of the sump with the little bit of rubble that came in my live rock order.

 

[itstheantitang]

Looks good. I also chose to get marshall islands rock, and it is great. I love how many holes there are to put frags in.