Finally... My 120 gallon SPS build!

[Nathan4Wvu]

This project is a long time coming... Since I set up my 40 breeder last year then discovered I would be moving from Morgantown back to Charleston just a few months later I have had my heart set on a 120 gallon tank. :bounce2:

This is going to be a long process so hang in there!

The 120 bare bottom will be in the den and all the equipment will be in the garage. The sump is a 100 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank with a external return pump. Attached to the sump I will have a 29 gallon fuge/ sand bed and a 40 breeder frag tank. These will be fed by a separate pump. Also, the system will have a auto water change system that I made.

Hope you guys enjoy! :bum:

The tank is going to be right beside the couch.

Another angle

The sump and other equipment will be right where the fridge and empty 40 breeder are.

My utility sink and water prep area.

Here is the beginnings of my stand. I'm going to wrap it in birch plywood with walnut trim.

Here is a shot of the tank and light. I need to give the tank a good cleaning.

 

[carb850]

Very nice looking start. So your going to plumb through the wall? On my old 120, I never was able to get the overflows noise level down so it was a constant roar in my office, that and the fans in my light were a bit loud as well. I think having a quiet setup is underrated.

Having an automated or otherwise/easy water change system is awesome as well. Keep us posted with pics. :bounce2:

 

[Nathan4Wvu]

Yep, its going to be plummed through the wall. What was causing the roar? Was it the design of the aga overflows or the water going through the pipes to the sump?

 

[carb850]

The water entering the sump, I believe. I tried about a half dozen or more different ways to slow down how the water entered the sump. I got the bubbles under control but it was still far from quiet.

 

[Nathan4Wvu]

Made some major steps towards getting the tank setup today. Being worried about the temps in my garage where my sumps are going to be located I insulated the attic above and ordered a new garage door.

 

[Nathan4Wvu]

Had a very productive weekend! I even got some work done on my stand.

 

[Nathan4Wvu]

Snapped a growth shot today as well.

 

[Nathan4Wvu]

double post

 

[Nathan4Wvu]

Updates at last!!
Since I last posted I have made some steps...

Installed a new R17.5 garage door, painted the walls and purchased my sump.
Here are a couple of pictures of the garage/sump room it's a mess from painting but it's soon to be orginized.

 

[Nathan4Wvu]

How everything will be setup...

 

[Nathan4Wvu]

This reef club is all but dead it seems.... I will always remember the good old days. If you want to follow along I have a thread over on the reef discussion forum. I have made a lot more updates.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2131997

 

[rsuplido]

I have the same black Rubbermaid for my sump that I got from Tractor Supply. I have two returns hanging from a shelf at the top, going down to about 2" below the sump water level so it would be quiet.

At first I thought of not using filter bags and later on decided to use one. I just placed a hook at the above shelf and I have the filter draw string hooked on to it. The water will start to go up the bag as it filters gunk and when it's almost filled, which usually takes about a week, I change it. I got the the filter bags from BRS. Stock around 5. I wash 3 at a time in the washing machine with some Stain Solver (not bleach).

What are you planning to put on those two other tanks? If you are thinking of using one as a refugium, with chaeto or caulerpa, don't run bio-pellets since they won't be able to outcompete the bacteria which you will be culturing with the bio-pellets.

If you are planning to use bio-pellets, there is no need to use GFO. You can use GFO at the start to lower phosphates. As soon as it is low, run it with the bio-pellets for maybe a week, and the take the GFO offline.

 

[coralreefer]

Looks great! I'm jealous of your progress...my 120 is still out in the shed.
We did design the stand and pick up the materials last week. Started cooking rock for it Saturday. Now that the kitchen is almost done maybe we'll be where you are in a couple months.

btw those coons are just too cute. :beer:

 

[Nathan4Wvu]

Not sure if you guys looked at the progress thread on reef dis. forum but there are a lot more pictures of my progress. I'm using one of two tanks as a frag tank and the other as a sand bed and fuge. I'm still going to run some macro algae for nutrient export.

As for running GFO and bio pellets I have found you still need GFO. I'm not planning on heavily skimming the tank since my skimmer is only rated for 150 gallons and my total volume is around 340 gallons.

 

[Nathan4Wvu]

Update... After 3 days of running the tanks are filled and I turned on the pump for the first time. I'm getting better then expected flow. I'm very happy with the finished product.

:beer:

 

[Nathan4Wvu]

 

[rsuplido]

I suggest adding PVC extensions on the sump returns, which are slightly under water so it would be silent. I wish you could have both of them near each other so you only need one sock. You have to lower the sock as well since it clogs in time and it might spill out of the sump and short your iwaki pump.

 

[Nathan4Wvu]

Yea, that's not the completed setup. I'm working on holders for the socks and bubble towers to help with the micro bubbles.

 

[rsuplido]

The filter socks should be able to contain the micro bubbles already.

 

[Nathan4Wvu]

A few updates...

Picked up a little sps colony from my moms tank...