Build thread: 125 upgrade from a 110 tall tank

[ChrisKirkland]

Ok so as the title says I will be upgrading to a new tank very soon. First I have been in the hobby for about 3 years now and a member her for like 4 or 5 months. We have no local clubs within 75 miles of us and have had no real reefing buddies until I joined RC and found out I was not the only one who had a reef tank in Lexington, Ky. I am very grateful for everyone on RC and thank them much. I decided to start this thread because I have never had a tank build thread and I desperately needed an upgrade in length. Sadly because I work retail and I am a college student this will be on an budget. I have most of the equipment but will need to upgrade a few items. Probably with second hand items so let me know what you might have I will discuss this latter in the thread.
The upgrade:
This has been in the planning stages for a while but I am still stumped on the lighting and filtration system. unfortunately the tank is not drilled nor do I want to venture to have it done (nobody here can or will) so I will still be using an over flow system (my current one has worked well). I just need so help on lighting and filtration along with water movement. I will be keeping a mixed reef mostly SPS but other LPS and softies too. I will also be transferring several tangs who have out grown my tall tank mainly because of it's short length (4 feet), the new tank is 6 feet long which means I can reach the bottom of it too . I will have pics as soon as I get the tank in the house (school has to finish first). Please give me any Ideas or comments on the above.

 

[ChrisKirkland]

Bump

 

[PaulieWalnuts]

do you have some pictures of the 110 i just upgraded to a 110, and will follow your 125.

 

[Jflip2002]

I love the 110g tall, its such an awesome size. It Kinda gives you more of a "reef picture" top to bottom. Id like to see some pics also.

 

[ChrisKirkland]

I will post some pics of the 110 tall. For me it is a great tank but my fish need more swimming room and I can't reach the bottom of it.

 

[ChrisKirkland]

Update

Update

Here is an update:
I plan on getting the tank tomorrow and stand tomorrow. The set up will look something like this:
Lighting:
3X250 metal halide pendents or 2X250 metal halide pendents.
T-5's to supplement color (2-4 bulbs)
(Suggestions are welcome)

Filtration:
40 gallon breeder sump with a 1400+ GPH pump
setup with a refuge in the intake side and a return side (any suggestion are welcome)
I also plan on using my existing Octopus NW-200 skimmer which should be fine

Circulation:
I plan on for now having seio's circulate the tank and later adding vortechs. I am also looking at using korallias to do some circulation.
(Suggestions are welcome)

Heating:
A 300 watt heat will be suppling the heat for the tank it will be run on a micro processor controller to prevent malfunction. This will be in sump.

Cooling:
Most of this will be fan cooled as it is in the finished basement which remains rather cool. So heating will be more of an issue (keeping it warm)

 

[ChrisKirkland]

Here is a pic:

This is with the tank empty of course. I will be adding some water tomorrow and look at beginning on the sump.

 

[Lynx113]

keep the pictures coming

 

[ChrisKirkland]

More pics...

More pics...

Here are some more these are pics of the old 110 setup:

 

[PaulieWalnuts]

love the tangs

 

[mg426]

Nice looking 110 !!

 

[ChrisKirkland]

Thanks guys that pics is kind of old too. Thats with my old light I will post an updated pic later.

 

[ChrisKirkland]

Most recent pic before tear down last night. Sorry the camera is need of some tuning or better yet I need a new camera.

 

[M.A.F.]

*EDIT* ~dc

 

[ChrisKirkland]

I might have won thats one

 

[ChrisKirkland]

Here is an updated pic with the tank and substrate filling up it's about 1/3 of the way full:

 

[ChrisKirkland]

Here are some more pics the tank is almost done filling up. I just added salt yesterday and will add the live rock I have tonight.
Pics:

In the second pic there is two pieces of raw non frozen shrimp. These will help me to start the cycle in the tank and give the bacteria something to eat or feed off of. This has been a practice in all four of my total reef tanks I have had in the last three years or so.

 

[PaulieWalnuts]

looking good i would have rather ate those then tossed them in there lol

 

[ChrisKirkland]

I agree. But they are of better use in the tank than in my stomach lol

 

[ChrisKirkland]

Here is an updated pic, I just put the live rock in and will be beginning on the sump this week.
I need some suggestions about the aquascaping. Anyone?