75g reef rebuild

[skyshrimp]

Well i recently moved and took my 75g down so that this time i could set things up alot better. When i set up my last tank i did alot of things wrong that probably affected the overall health of my tank. For starters i didnt start with ro/di water i just used regular ol tap water, i didnt clean the sand before using it, long story short i did alot of things wrong that i wanna do right this time. So in the mean time ill be looking for a few things. Right now i'm looking for a good tank stand that is strong and i can put a sump under(29g sump). I dont have a truck so i cant move it if you have one. Or if you could point me to a good tank stand that would help as well. Thanks in advance.

 

[4adam12]

The DIY Stands and Template Calculator thread in the DIY section is a good one for building a good sturdy stand. I followed it and it turned out well and is very strong. It is actually going to become my workbench when I sell the 90.

 

[skyshrimp]

Thanks i may try it. Buliding things like that kinda intimidate me.

 

[4adam12]

It is actually pretty simple if you follow it. I made one 10 feet long in one afternoon. Fairly inexpensive too.

 

[skyshrimp]

I guess since it's named properly i will go ahead and make this a true rebuild thread. So as i get equipment i will post videos and pictures so you all can help ensure im doing the right thing or if i can do something better. I have my eye on a few tank stands and now i'm thinking of either keeping my asm g3 skimmer or seeing if there is a more efficient one i could get. So i'm open to reccommendations or if i'm good with that skimmer just lemme know.

 

[dadyoj21]

you may want to consider the mesh mod for the asm g-3 skimmer. However IMO the g-3 should be more than adequate as is. I have considered the mesh mod for mine on the 90, it will supposedly greatly improve performance, but will require more frequent maintenance/replacement of mesh and if it aint broke dont fix it is my motto.

 

[skyshrimp]

I agree jorge. I had your 90g in mind which is why i was leaning more towards keeping it. I was considering doing the gate valve mod to make it more quite though.

 

[skyshrimp]

Just an update of a few things i pulled the trigger on.

-(1) vortech mp40 - 75g deep blue tank and stand w/ internal durso overflow and return holes predrilled.

I have a few things on my equipment list already and a few things to figure out such as plumbing and how to hang the 6 bulb ati sunpower. I also have a sump build ti do and figuring out the ato system.

And i have to buy another base for my sedra 5000 pump the goes to my skimmer, i was cleaning some things off and the base broke but the pump is okay. I only got one mp40 because of course they are expensive but after having a talk with the guy down at ecotech the 1 mp40 may be enough to provide flow to the entire tank for now.

I dont plan on having a ton of live rock in the new tank this time ill do a bit of strategic planning. Just some places for the fish to hide and places for corals to grow. I although I'll be using some of the same rock from my last tank I will be cooking it for about 2 months to get any phosphates out that my have binded up in my rock from the last tank.

More to come folks, pictures too.

 

[dadyoj21]

1 vortech should be enough for a 75, I am thinking about two mp-10s for my 93 cube, the mp-40s are a lot of flow and 2 seems to be enough for my 220

 

[skyshrimp]

Yea ,thats what im hearing alot if too, i also keep hearing that 2 mp10's would not have stuck to the glass because it would have been too thick. Glass on the deep blue tank is 1/2 inch thick and the guy at ecotech said they would've fallen off or not worked properly.

Just excited to see how well this pump works on the new tank but, that will probably be in 2 months at least. I'm taking my sweet time letting rocks cook and proper cycling of the tank.

 

[skyshrimp]

Double post.

 

[skyshrimp]

Well, got some prep work done today just because I'm off work and was bored at home. I went to walmart to pick up a few things because initially. I decided on spray painting my canopy black to match the tank stand i have.

Before i did that i wanted to see how well this krylon paint everyone uses actually worked. So I decided to go ahead and paint the containers that hold the filters black to prevent that brown stuff from growing in them again, unless it was just all the contaminants in the tap water that turned it brown. Either way it looks good and I like the spray paint ,nice and glossy. I have a replacement filter kit in the mail now for my ro/di unit.

I went ahead and did the sterilite tub I'm using for cooking my rocks as well. It was blue but light was penetrating through the wall of the tub so after i sprayed the ro/di containers i figured why not I'm in a spraying mood anyway.

Heres some of the rock I'll be cooking for 2 months.

The rocks are alot bigger than they look. I also have a few more on the porch drying and turning white again,and some more that i bought today. Enough for some good real estate in my tank. Last and kinda left out is my old 75 tank that i self drilled, dont know what to do with it just yet.

I'm still going to paint the canopy black but i have to buy more bottles of spray or paint it with a roller, thises can of krylon didnt long as i thought they would. I bought 2 of them and used 1 on the ro/di containders and 1 on the sterilite tub. Welp thats it for now folks, I'll take any advice you guys have and hope it makes for a better and healthier tank this time.

 

[4adam12]

Have you gotten a stand yet? You could use the old 75 for a sump if you are going to build a stand. Just a thought.

 

[skyshrimp]

Yea i have a stand and a new tank, i wish i could put a 75g sump in there but i think i can go as big as a 30g in my sump. Its a deep blue series 2 stand.

 

[4adam12]

That is a nice looking stand.

 

[skyshrimp]

Thanks, it will be even nicer when i get it in my living room with everything up and runnig.

 

[dadyoj21]

sounds like you have a plan instead of winging it like I usually do.

Where did you buy the deep blue tank and stand?

 

[skyshrimp]

I actually got the tank and stand from p.a.w. I broke down my old system when i was moving and turned everything in for store credit and just turned around and put it in the tank and stand set. Did'nt cost me so much doing it that way, I got a offer i just couldnt refuse.

 

[Tim gixxerman]

Sonds good!

 

[skyshrimp]

I have more updates to come and more pics too. Just gotta wait until morning come to take more pics.