How to Proceed Setting up a 125?

[arbee]

I need some guidance to proceed with setting up a 6 foot 125 gallon tank. I will explain (I know this will be long--but want to give as much info as possible) where I am now and need to know the order on the best way to go from this point on. If you see any potential problems, let me know so I can correct before going any further.
I am upgrading from 2 20 gallon reef tanks and a 50 gallon rubbermaid QT. I have to consolidate.
All lifestock will be softies and LPS for now along with a false perc, yw gobie, royal gramma and an algae blenny and various shrimp, crabs and snails.

Right now the tank and stand are completed. The tank will set against the wall on a carpeted room in the family room basement (concrete floors under carpeting). The plumbing will go through the wall into the next room which will have the sump/ref tank, RO/DI unit and barrel for water storage and changes.
The display will have a lifereef overflow that is the 700gph 1 outlet style. (sorry, can't bring myself to drill--maybe in a year or two I will go with a reef ready 180 which will fit in the new stand---sheesh already dreaming of an upgrade--I'm a sicko too
I have a 55 gallon tank with baffles--which will house the skimmer (a Euroreef RS-250 with a GX6000 pump) on the right, the return with a Eheim 1262 pump in the center and a section on the far left for the refuge which will have 25% flow from the overflow going into the fuge side.

For the sandbed I have 80#'s of Reefgrade sand and 30#'s of Aragamax sand along with live sand from running tanks that will seed the 125 tank and the fuge.
The return will be a simple y shaped manifold of locline that will flow into the top of the tank......and I will add 2 hydor 4 water pumps in the display for water movement. So nothing real innovative and techno geeky--I prefer to go with simple as my DIY skills lack bigtime. When power tools are involved I call on the big guy (my hub) and bat my eyelashes. He usually comes through for me LOL.

Now, waiting for the tank as far as live rock, I have about 60#'s of various live rock that is in my other tanks along with 45#'s of baserock that I got from marco rocks. They are soaking in a large rubbermaid with flow and heat with an aquaclear with my liverock rubble in the filter. I don't want alot of rock in this tank so that the tangs listed below will have plenty of swimming room.

Now in QT, I have 9 chromis and a powder blue tang. In another tank that has been established for a year, I have a yellow tang. Both are young and doing great. I've had the yt for 4 or 5 months--he is healthy. The PBT is in a large rubbermaid with the largest Aquaclear filter, a sponge filter from a previous tank and a few pieces of LR and a couple balls of cheato. I also have a UV light in the tank. He has been in QT for almost 4 weeks--no sign of Ich or any other health issues. The QT tank gets waterchanges every 3 days. I wanted to add these tangs together at one time to keep aggression to a minimum. Both tangs eat like pigs, 2 times a day-algae flakes and various nori soaked in selcon and garlic extreme and even some mysis when I have some leftover from feeding my erectus seahorses.
Ok, now what I wanted to know is what would be the best way to put this all together? The steps to follow? I was thinking along these lines:
Put the base rock in the tank, add the base sand then add the water (ro drip) then add the salt? Or, should I add premade saltwater, add rock then sand?
Then, after the water is in and settled, when should I add the LR and LS? Will I get a cycle at that point?
Any suggestions, corrections to what I am planning will be helpful. If you see any problem with the equipment I have, let me know. I have been gathering info by just reading here and from the experience I have running nano tanks--Ha!.....this is a whole new ballgame going this large from so small. And now I am doubting myself as to whether I can pull this off successfully. Sometimes I think it's probably easier to start out with all new and cycle instead of trying to pull together several established systems and base rock and QT fish.

If I get some replies I may just use this thread as a progress thread for the 125 because I know I will be having more questions. I have taken lots of pics from my first start of putting together the stand, aquascaping and building the base rock into caves and pillars and putting together the sump.
Like the commercial sez--"Help me---please?" LOL
Thanks!
Rita

 

[arbee]

Bump

 

[arbee]

Well, I must not know the 'password". Hmmm--maybe it's pictures we need. Anyway...

This afternoon we set the skimmer in the sump and then added the gatevalve mod for the ER skimmer and made sure everything fit well. Made a stand for the skimmer from 3/4" spvc and elbows to set the skimmer up higher in the tank for the 6 to 8 inch specifications.

Siliconed in the last of the baffles and will put dirty change water in it this weekend to start the break in of the skimmer.
Went to the hardware and selected some fittings. We decided on spa flex for the overfow box to run through the wall, then will use a coupler then a T to attach pvc to run one end to the sump and one end to the fuge.
We decided to just set the sump tank onto some concrete blocks to keep it off the floor, but low enough for gravity feed from overflow. I painted some plywood with some drylock type paint and white enamel and will set the tank on top of that. Once we move the sump tank next to the wall where we want it, we can figure out the plumbing through the wall and what we will need.

Thats it for today. I do hope if someone sees that we are making a mistake they will chime in. If not, I'll assume we are going in the right direction. This will at least be a diary of the way we set up for future reference.
I think I hear an echo in here
Ok, pic time~
Here is the stand and the side of the room for the tank:

The other side of that wall into the work room where the sump will be set:

Wroking on the base rock structures:

Baffles in place:

Skimmer and stand:

 

[arbee]

The thread we followed to guide us through making a sump/fuge was Terry's thread. Detailed with lots of pics and he explained everything. Step by step which is what we needed.
Here is his thread
:thumbsup:

 

[jasert39]

i think you should put the rock and sand in as soon as possible to get a cycle going, are you using cured or uncured rock? If there is nothing in the tank but water there is nothing to cycle so get mixing! lol. good luck.

 

[arbee]

Hi Jason. I have all the baserock in a vat right now to clean it off. I can't put anything in the tank until we get the plumbing through the wall, then we can set the tank up against the wall and start filling. I was just unsure as to what to put in first...water, the base rock, the sand, the live rock and sand a combination of what????
I think what I will do is---once the tank is placed, put the RO water in first, mix the salt--then add the base rock, then the sand.
After all is settled, add the live rock and live sand to seed and watch for a cycle--which I know I will have.
How does that sound?

 

[arbee]

The live rock I have is cured--it's in established tanks. The base rock is just new and not seeded. I hated to buy more live rock to fill out this tank when I can just be patient and thrifty and add base rock.

 

[t11t5]

Hello Rita, I am glad to see that my thread helped someone. When I started my 150, I put RO/DI water in. Then added salt and two Mag-drive 9.5 pumps to mix it. I mixed for about a week to get it to the correct temp. Two 250w visi-therm stealth heaters heated the water while it mixed. When I put the water in it was 55 degrees F. When the water was ready I bought 130lbs large pieced LR uncured. Then added 125lbs LS. Then another 100lbs of LR. My cycle was done in 2 weeks.
I like your stand. I built mine out of oak. I also built the light. It is on a track system. It hangs from the ceiling. Its interesting. I will get some pics this weekend and post them.
I think you will be very pleased with the sump/fuge. Mine works great. The fuge is so full of macro its crazy. I bought these bulbs for the fuge ClICK HERE . They work great. I have one of these over the fuge.
About the drain pipe. I put mine in the corner so the skimmer pump wont suck in the bubbles it causes. You dont want it by the baffles cause the drain water will just flow through them. Dont forget to add a T so you can have another going to the fuge section. I put unions in places I did not need just so I could take the plumbing apart and clean it. Let me know how it turns out. Any other ?'s Ask. Thanks

 

[t11t5]

Oh yea, The R-250 skimmer. You made a great purchase and ill be very satisfied. Mine was pulling stuff in about 45 minutes. The gate valve was a good idea also. The first time I plugged it in I did not have it. Water went everywhere. It is so much easier with it. Terry

 

[arbee]

Hi Terry! Thanks for coming on over.
The oak stand is from Dayton Cabinets in TN that I bought off of Ebay. My husband was never into the woodworking, so I decided to give him a reprieve and let him just do assembly work LOL
I finished it in the white stain so that it would blend into the wall and decor. I just wanted the display tank itself to stand out.

As far as the display lighting, I am not sure which way to go. I doubt I will have a canopy--don't like the heavy look. So it's probably the Aquatinics fixture of the 6' T-5 lighting, or a combo of MH and T-5's. It will depend on what kind of heat I get once the system is set up and running. I don't have high light needs for now but later I may want to try my hand with some SPS corals. Then the big decision and big money will go toward the lighting.

OK, that is what I figured with the outlet from the overflow into the corner. Yep, will be T'ing off the overflow--need to water that macro
Thanks for the help with the sequence of water, heat, pumps, rock and sand. That really helps me out~~
Rita

 

[arbee]

Oh yea, The R-250 skimmer. You made a great purchase and ill be very satisfied. Mine was pulling stuff in about 45 minutes. The gate valve was a good idea also. The first time I plugged it in I did not have it. Water went everywhere. It is so much easier with it. Terry

Yep, I hope this skimmer performs and I have high expectations.
I know it's a bit of over-kill for a <180 gallon total system but it's there for later if I upgrade. Must be prepared for all options down the road LOL

Thanks again~
Rita

 

[t11t5]

I bought mine at salty critter. The sales line that sold was" This thing will suck the poop out of the fish befor they poop". Later,Terry

 

[arbee]

I bought mine at salty critter. The sales line that sold was" This thing will suck the poop out of the fish befor they poop". Later,Terry

Well, that is quite the sales pitch..and it worked !
We got the GV mod on and will give this a Go tomorrow. I'll let you know how successfull the testing will be~~
Thanks Terry

 

[arbee]

We worked most of the day on the set up. Got the RO unit re-situated on the wall and also placed the sump on the 'stand'. We just put down 3 concrete cinder blocks, some treated/painted wood for the stand. Primitive, but it should serve the purpose.

I like that when I do water changes, I will be able to just pump out the dirty water into the drain pipe that is in the floor next to the stand. That is also plumbed to our air conditioner run off water and also the waste water from the water softner.

Husband finished the plumbing for the overflow box. Simple spa-flex through the wall (I think about 18") then he connected to pvc T and put on ball-valves one into the fuge and the other to the sump. I'll put pics of that tomorrow.
I put the skimmer in the sump, filled it with waste water from todays water changes on the other tanks and fired up the ER. Keeps overflowing so I think we need to shorten the drain pipe that is sitting too far down into the water. Must be too much back-pressure. Will fix that tomorrow and try again.
We put a sheet of heavy plastic sheeting behind the sump on the wall to protect the drywall and studs from splashing.
Time to feed the babies (seahorses) and kick back for the night and wait for the tank to fill--started to put RO in the display.

 

[t11t5]

Rita, When I filled my tank I did not have a RO unit yet. I bought 32 5-gallon jugs from Clear-water. Carried them in and filled my tank. I was beat when I was done. The sales guy asked if there was a party. When I told him it is for an aquarium, he said I was crazy. I took pics to him awhile ago and he was impressed. There is alot of people out there that have no idea how interesting this stuff is, or that it even exists.
Your set-up is comming along. I cant wait to see some pics of it running. Later,Terry

 

[arbee]

Terry, that must have been backbreaking work. Well, I guess the water bottles aren't that heavy, but the redundancy of it would be a strain. I used to buy my water in 1 gallons jugs but then it wasn't too bad for only a 12g nano.
I have def put my ro/di unit to work these last couple days.

Have to crop and lighten some pics from Sat and Sun...and a couple from today. Lots of progress!

 

[arbee]

The skimmer is running after quite a bit of fiddling with the gv and venturi knob. At least now it's not overflowing. We tried at first to put the gv higher up on the outflow pipe, but that is when we got too much water and the overflowing started. Once the gv was put back down lower into the water, near the elbow that was shown in the diagram, it works much better. Problem is, now the knob is partially in the water, and the overflow pvc may be in my way. Hubby still has to finish the overflow pipes yet.

Some white foam, but not much skimmate yet. Not sure if I have the right level of foam in the neck. Will tinker more later when the whole system is connected. I'm sure it will pull funky stuff when the cycle starts.
Today:

 

[arbee]

Ok, here is a bit of a problem I am having. I know guys who do this don't have this problem , do you? Don't read the next paragraph if you don't want to listen to some whinning ~~~

Not to complain (much), but sometimes it is very hard to accomplish what you want setting up a system like this when 'someone' who never reads the threads and books to learn how reefs must be set up and work feels they need to question every step.
Hey, we've been married for 31 yrs, but I am starting to loose my good humor here
Why would someone think that you must use metal clamps on every connection on a reef tank?:mad2:
I talked him out of using any of them and I won that wee argument, but good grief.
Now, if only I can tell him that I noticed we have no couplers on the overflow to either side of the sump. Maybe later.:strange:
That and he would use the smallest hose for the return....if it fits, we should use it (heck yeah it will fit--put a metal clamp on it!! :hammer: LOL
I even had to hide my AIRLINE hose for gosh sakes!



Ok, it's safe to read from here if you didn't want to hear me vent.
I asked for help and he is giving me help....all forgiven. I just won't turn my back on him for a second.



I woke this morning at 4 am to see how high the water is...and we have an almost full tank:dance:
I shut the RO off for now and put in the base rocks (pics next post)

 

[arbee]

So, after shutting off the RO, I checked the temp and it was about 76*. After waiting a couple hours-around 6:30 am, I checked again and it was up to 78*. I have only one Ebo 250w heater in there and it did the job
So I mixed in the IO salt, got the salt level to 1.25. Put in the power heads and let it mix it up for a couple hours. There are 2 MaxiJet 1200's and one Quit One 1200.

And then, I put in the base rock this afternoon. I hope it wasn't too soon. Later tonight or tomorrow I think I will add the base sand. (note to self: must remember to shut off all pumps first)

 

[arbee]

I have to figure out if it's possible to change the dark oak color of the top tank trim (and some of the bottom that shows on the edge of the stand) to a light color or even black.

Is there a stick on veneer that would cover that? I don't like that look at all.

Too late to paint it with krylon --if that would even work.