Michael's 150gal build thread

[mpderksen]

It's time. I've gone from a 10gal nano to a 29 Bio-cube and finally a 75gal. My wife simple hates having a tank as a "piece of furniture", especially my dark stand. I suggested that, since the guest room closet is behind the tank, I could build it in there and cut a "window". I got a "are you insane?" look. But then she suggested I build a cabinet around it. The 75gal is a weird shape it wasn't an option. Then, I got a PM from a local reefer. Great deal on a perfect 150gal, 45 min from my house. Total score! He threw in a pile of dry rock too.
I put it in the garage on the original stand, added 40-50 gal of Saltwater and the rocks to start the cycle. I found the old thread by Rocket Engineer on stand builds. I have 15" extra room on each side for curios, books, or whatever. She wants it to go all the way to the ceiling with cove molding.
The picture below shows the stand in front of the cycling tank. Yes, the new one will be about 6" taller. The boxes underneath are a mockup of the sump. The box on the right will be the fuge. I can't connect them, because there is an outlet on the wall in the way. I did order a raceway to have this be much cleaner cord management. I'm ready for the undercoating. I built in a tray that will be sealed with a leak detector (see previous thread on my recent sump explosion).
I'll have lots of questions along the way, so please tag along.

 

[bobbravo2]

How did you start the cycle? Fish less?

 

[mpderksen]

How did you start the cycle? Fish less?

I never use a fish to cycle a tank. Since the rock had been used, there was plenty of organic matter to feed the process, even though I couldn't see it. A couple of Marine Pure balls from my 75, and a mag7 to circulate. That's it. No heater, no light. Simple if you're patient, right?

 

[Keelo]

Add a heater and crank up it up to 82 degrees I heard that speeds up the cycle nevertheless I believe you still need it as the bacteria might die off if it's too cold


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[mpderksen]

Add a heater and crank up it up to 82 degrees I heard that speeds up the cycle nevertheless I believe you still need it as the bacteria might die off if it's too cold


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Interesting. What is the lower limit? My garage is in the California Spring, so it wouldn't cost much to add a heater. Ammonia goes in this weekend. Maybe 40mL.

 

[Keelo]

Where in cali are you ? Im in so cal and my heater comes on ever so often but I run my tank at 80 degrees. I'm not sure on the lower limit but from what I've been told and what I experienced the cycle goes much faster with average or slightly above average aquarium temperature. I guess from a chemistry standpoint it holds true since heat accelerates chemical reactions this is just my opinion however


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[mpderksen]

Where in cali are you ? Im in so cal and my heater comes on ever so often but I run my tank at 80 degrees. I'm not sure on the lower limit but from what I've been told and what I experienced the cycle goes much faster with average or slightly above average aquarium temperature. I guess from a chemistry standpoint it holds true since heat accelerates chemical reactions this is just my opinion however


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Manteca, so not quite as warm.... yet....
I'm gonna add another 50gal this weekend and add a heater, as well as 40mL of ammonia.
Some shopping today. When I got to price of the cut list from TAP plastics, I decided to purchase, rather than build, my sump. I ordered a Bandsea 36" model. Lots of pictures to follow. I also got another EB8 and a box of reef crystals too. Blue PVC too much?

 

[mpderksen]

Heater actually had a leak. Ordered another one. Added a big, raw shrimp and enough ammonia to hit 8ppm. First coat of primer is done on the stand.

 

[Keelo]

Michael's 150gal build thread

Oh yea that way up north from me. Hopefully the bacteria in the marinepure gets to work on the ammonia break down quickly . By the way how you like marinepure ? Thinking of getting some for nitrate removal


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[mpderksen]

Oh yea that way up north from me. Hopefully the bacteria in the marinepure gets to work on the ammonia break down quickly . By the way how you like marinepure ? Thinking of getting some for nitrate removal


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Hard to say. I have a box of them in the sump. I like the golf balls better than the plates because I can fit them just about anywhere. I can't detect any Nitrates with the Red Sea kit, so it's <0.25ppm. I feed pretty heavy. I need to see the layout of the new Bashsea sump, but I'm pretty sure there is a section just before the return pump where I'll put them.

 

[mpderksen]

Coral transfer question time. (Yes, the glass is dirty in the photos, my bad). How do I get the encrusted SPS off the rock and into the new tank. I've got vermatid issues, so I can't pull the whole rock. My hammer is now the size of a volleyball and actually killing the corals it comes near. Time to give half of it away. Also, I have this green one encrusting onto the back wall. 99% chance that's breaking off when I move it. I also have some Xenia taking over that I need to leave behind. Anything I'm not sure is free of pests goes into the QT.
Tips appreciated:

 

[mpderksen]

2 coats of primer in the stand. Next Monday will be a huge UPS day! Sump, blue PVC, EB8, and a pile of regular stuff (DI resin, 2-part etc.). So I have this weekend to aquascape. Ammonia levels are dropping fast which means the cycle is starting. I still think that by end of April I'll be ready to pull the trigger.

 

[mpderksen]

Aquascapeing day! I have very little imagination. But, I'm trying to visualize my corals from the 75 placed on the rocks below. Now, how do I secure them together to make them stable? I'm trying the Acrylic rod idea.

 

[Hentz]

I just used Reef Cement from Nyos. Created some cool scapes with it.

 

[Hentz]

Here's what I created. All the rock was separate pieces.
The right island is 3 separate rocks.

 

[mpderksen]

Here's what I created. All the rock was separate pieces.
The right island is 3 separate rocks.

Perfect. Just what I needed. Tried drilling a few holes today, and probably have the wrong bit. Ordered just 1 can to see if I like it. Thanks.
Now I really need to figure out how much of my LPS I'm keeping, and how much I'm giving away. I will give multiple heads to fellow, local reefers, but I won't ship.

 

[mpderksen]

Michael's 150gal build thread

Christmas is tomorrow, Monday. #52 of yumminess. Gonna be VERY hard to focus on work....

 

[mpderksen]

Right on time. Fits perfect. It's like a work of art.

 

[mpderksen]

Old school planning..

The first stages of implementation outside..

Now the question: an EB8 on each side, and a standard, 12-socket powerstrip in the middle. Mount on the inside of the front rail? Not sure where to put the 6 meanwell drivers and the Apex boxes (WXM etc.)

 

[mpderksen]

A quick wet test of the chiller plumbing. The pump will actually be in the Skimmer section, and the output will be in the pod farm section.

Looking forward to getting clean everything and move it in. Rocks never cycle fast enough.....