JKH's 125 Project

[JKH]

Well, after seeing all these tank threads, I may as well make mine public as well. I currently have a 55g FOWLR and I want to get into some SPSs. I've been wanting a larger tank for some time, and since we are about to get new flooring down, now seemed as a good a time as any. I purchased the tank a few months ago.

The Tank
Its a glass 125 but not a standard. It's 60L X 24D and 20H. I really wanted more front to back space but not too deep so this is what I decided on. I also didn't like overflows taking up space from the top of the tank to the bottom.
I wanted to keep the bottom of the tank as open as possible for aquascaping. So, this is what I come up with. Its just an internal overflow box. It is glass(4" X 4" 36") but it is sheeted with a black plastic where the overlow teeth could be cut in. I have 4 1.5 Bulkheads in the box and one 1.5 bulkhead below it for a closed loop.

The Stand
I didnt take any pictures of the progress of my stand. I actually built it at my uncle's house. He has about every kind of woodworking tool you could think of. I spent a few hours a week over at his house for about a month. I wish I would have taken some progress pics but I didn't. I plan to for my canopy though.
I framed it with 2X4's. It is skinned with 1/2" birch cabnet grade plywood and trimed with bass wood. Birch and bass go together pretty well and stain similar. I used an Early American stain, a coat of sanding sealer and 3 coats of marine spar varnish to finish it off. All trim patterns were done on a table saw. He has some kind of craftsman sawblade that has interchangable bits for different patters(its pretty cool). I painted the inside of the stand with a marine topcoat. Its very hard and should hold up for a long time. Here are some pics.

Next is the plumbing. You can see I already have the pumps below stand. 2 Seq Stingrays. I will get more pictures when a get a little further in.

Jason

 

[JKH]

Well, I guess I shouldn't have used the the small thumbnails haha. Here are some larger ones.

 

[murdervilleusa]

deleted

 

[charley75]

I've never seen an overflow like that. Did you build it yourself or buy it??? Are there any cons to that design? Looks great BTW.
Charley

 

[29reef]

i like the stand and the overflow idea
keep up the hard work\

 

[JKH]

I didnt build it, I told the guy how I wanted it though. I don't know if there are any cons yet. I will definately let you know if there are though.

Jason

 

[JKH]

Well, I started my plumbing about 2 weeks ago. Here is what I have. All drain is 1.5 and returns for the OM is 1.0 and returns from the sump are .75. Returns from my OM go down the back wall of the tank and run along the botton. I have the pipe down the back wall painted black. I painted my back wall black as well. I used Krylon Fusion. I didn't paint the pieces that run along the botton as they will be covered by sand. I painted the 45's with purple pvc primer. I still need to paint the lines coming from the sump but I wanted to get some water in the tank to look for leaks.

I hope this way I can get plenty of water movement without creating a sand storm. I should be turning the tank over about 40 times an hour. I may cut the valves down some. I'll make that decision when everything is in. So far, I dont have any leaks other than having to tighten down some bulkheads. Well, If anyone cares, this is what I have so far.

 

[JKH]

 

[bassman57]

that looks really great. I cant wait to see it stocked. The plumbing looks good too, but its kind of confusing for me. Could you maybe explain it a little better. I dont know much about plumbing tanks but I would like to learn how. THanx

Also, what kind of pumps are those???

 

[JKH]

Well, The 4 -1 1/2 Lines across the top of the tank are my drains from my overflow. They go into the sump. There, the water from the sump goes through a Sequence Stingray into the manifold I created. on the back left of the tank. You will see 6 outlets. 4-3/4 which go back to the tank and the 2- 1/2 lines(which go no where right now, will go to 2 10 gal fuges I will have on top of the tank.

Below the 4- 1 1/2 lies is another 1 1/2 line that is my return for my closed loop. It goes to another Sequence Stingray and it goes into an OM HD4 way. Out of the 4 way are 1 inch lines that run down the back of the tank and along the bottom.

Jason

 

[JKH]

Well, Its been about a year since I started this project. Unfortunately, I had to put it on hold for various reasons. I am back in action though, and have been for about a month. I have taken some pics of my recent progress. Too bad the camera is a piece of crap.

Here is my canopy. It didnt take me very long to build, just many days due to sand,stain,sanding sealer, varnish,varnish,varnish. Then came painting the inside. Prime,paint,paint. I think over all it turned out well. I'd imagine its the best piece of furnature in my house. haha!!

Here is the front side and rear views of it.

Those are just some cheapy $5 wally world fans, but they move alot of air.

Here is the command center! Disregard those wires hanging down, they will be tucked away neatly.

Thats it for now, I still have some plumbing to tie in. I'll work on that this weekend.

JKH

 

[kybreos]

Nice setup looks sweet. Btw how is the noise level on the drain? You gave me some sweet ideas for my next tank. Definately love your electrical setup. WTG!!

 

[JKH]

Its not bad. I do have a slight gurgle on one of the drain pipes. I stuck a tube down it and it stoped. I am going to drill and tap a hole in the top of the elbow that turns down. I am going to put a barb fitting on each dran with a air flow adjuster to fine tune them

 

[avshockey311]

Are you going bare bottom? I love the overflow idea.

 

[120reeferman]

damn man what lighting are you using????, that is a sweet setup, im just starting up a 125long and im looking for ideas!

 

[JKH]

av-
I purchased sand about 6 months ago. I suppose I am going to use it. I know I will be shuned in the BB community, but I plan on moving in about 4 years so I should be ok.

The jury is still out on the overflow. Only time will tell

120-
I'm using 2X250 14K ham MH's with spider reflectors. Also using 4X110 URI VHO's(2 atin, 2 whites)

 

[JKH]

Well,

Where to begin. It's been 2 1/2 years since this post started. And my tank has been running for 1 month. Hurricane Ivan and Katrina a year later pretty much turned my life upside down. But, all is well now and I have my tank up and running.

Its pretty sad when you install your new equipment and its already fell out of warranty. Here are some misc picks I took. Not much to explain. 4 VHO's and 2 250 MH, ASM skimmer and 2 sequence pumps. Sorry for the POS camera

Full tank shot

Under the canopy

The sump

One thing I did forget to mention is my DIY rock. Pretty simple to make and I feel I did a pretty good job. Here it is mixed in with my existing LR. I can pull a piece out and take a good pic if anyone cares.

More rock

Looking down the back. You can see my CL intake under the overflow.

A look down the tank

 

[costa13]

Looks great JKH. I see you are located in Mobile, I am in Daphne.

 

[JKH]

Cool, I work in Daphne.