Mishri
Active member
This will be a slow moving project.
I purchased a used 96"x24"Wx30"H 1/2" acrylic tank. It's about 7-9 Years old. It was used in a school to keep trout, and then was sold after 3 or 4 years to the guy I bought it from. He had it for 4 or 5 years. The owner kept arrowanas, catfish, pacu, and bichir.
The seams look perfect, there is a little bit of crazing but it doesn't look bad. It was full when I first looked at it.
It came with a nice 60 gallon acrylic sump. but the tank isn't drilled. The overflow is vacuum and does come with a pump to keep it primed. However, I think for safety I'll drill it. The return pump is 1800gph.. I'll have to look at the brand later.
The original stand was a massive steel stand.. much larger than the tank itself. It was too big to get into my basement so I opted for the stand he built (He couldn't even fit it in his doorway) His stand is 10 3x6" posts with 2x6's to hold it together, 1/2" plywood, and he put the top of the old stand on top, heavy oak. the 3x6s look to be in good shape, but the 2x6's some are cracked throughout I think I should replace those. I'll need to redesign the stand so the sump will fit under it. (He had it next to the tank). It was also too tall, 32" 3x6's, I'll cut that down by 6" I think.. 24" tall stand.. I'll need to do some measuring.
The acrylic doesn't have any deep scratches, just very fine surface scratches that keep it from appearing as clear as it could. I ordered some Novus 1,2,3 and I'll get it polished up.
I'll need to drill 3 holes for a bean animal overflow.. - looking for suggestions here on which overflow to buy.
Right now I'm leaning toward using just the 60 gallon sump, first compartment will have calurpa in it(maybe an algae scrubber), 2nd compartment will have the skimmer, and 3rd will be the return, which I figure I'll leave the same, just the 1800gph.
I like the way sand looks I'll probably do a 1" sand bed, should take about 120lbs I think. -I am considering going deeper if I want to get something like a leopard wrasse, but I think the sand will get moved into piles anyway..
None of this is purchased yet, I'll take feedback/suggetions:
Skimmer: Reef Octopus Regal 250INT
circulation: 2x maxspect Gyre xf250 one on either end, I might pick up a pair of spares as well as I see they are relatively cheap now. (Mine have been rock solid, had them since they first came out)
Controller: Apex - The latest $800 one seems a bit spendy, not sure if I need that. I might go with the classic.
Lights: Can't decide on LED or MH... This will be purchased in the spring (income tax return time).. so I have a lot of time to decide.
ATO: I'm not sure here, i looked at a couple of systems... I might just do a DIY system.
RO/DI: I need a new system, my 50gpd isn't going to cut it. looking for suggestions on a 150gpd system. (I wonder how easily I could modify my existing one? I'd just need to add a 2nd RO stage and switch to 75gpd membranes I think)
The sump has a built in filter sock holder so I'll likely pick up about 15 of those to change out every other day and then wash in the washing machine monthly.
I will keep the stocking relatively light, Right now I'd like a pacific blue (hippo) tang, a sailfin tang, and a 3rd tang which I haven't decided on yet. Other than that several smaller fish, haven't decided on those either.. pair of clowns which I already have.
Should be mostly SPS tank, there are a few LPS I like (such as open brain) that I'll probably put in there as well.
I'll post pics as things progress.
I purchased a used 96"x24"Wx30"H 1/2" acrylic tank. It's about 7-9 Years old. It was used in a school to keep trout, and then was sold after 3 or 4 years to the guy I bought it from. He had it for 4 or 5 years. The owner kept arrowanas, catfish, pacu, and bichir.
The seams look perfect, there is a little bit of crazing but it doesn't look bad. It was full when I first looked at it.
It came with a nice 60 gallon acrylic sump. but the tank isn't drilled. The overflow is vacuum and does come with a pump to keep it primed. However, I think for safety I'll drill it. The return pump is 1800gph.. I'll have to look at the brand later.
The original stand was a massive steel stand.. much larger than the tank itself. It was too big to get into my basement so I opted for the stand he built (He couldn't even fit it in his doorway) His stand is 10 3x6" posts with 2x6's to hold it together, 1/2" plywood, and he put the top of the old stand on top, heavy oak. the 3x6s look to be in good shape, but the 2x6's some are cracked throughout I think I should replace those. I'll need to redesign the stand so the sump will fit under it. (He had it next to the tank). It was also too tall, 32" 3x6's, I'll cut that down by 6" I think.. 24" tall stand.. I'll need to do some measuring.
The acrylic doesn't have any deep scratches, just very fine surface scratches that keep it from appearing as clear as it could. I ordered some Novus 1,2,3 and I'll get it polished up.
I'll need to drill 3 holes for a bean animal overflow.. - looking for suggestions here on which overflow to buy.
Right now I'm leaning toward using just the 60 gallon sump, first compartment will have calurpa in it(maybe an algae scrubber), 2nd compartment will have the skimmer, and 3rd will be the return, which I figure I'll leave the same, just the 1800gph.
I like the way sand looks I'll probably do a 1" sand bed, should take about 120lbs I think. -I am considering going deeper if I want to get something like a leopard wrasse, but I think the sand will get moved into piles anyway..
None of this is purchased yet, I'll take feedback/suggetions:
Skimmer: Reef Octopus Regal 250INT
circulation: 2x maxspect Gyre xf250 one on either end, I might pick up a pair of spares as well as I see they are relatively cheap now. (Mine have been rock solid, had them since they first came out)
Controller: Apex - The latest $800 one seems a bit spendy, not sure if I need that. I might go with the classic.
Lights: Can't decide on LED or MH... This will be purchased in the spring (income tax return time).. so I have a lot of time to decide.
ATO: I'm not sure here, i looked at a couple of systems... I might just do a DIY system.
RO/DI: I need a new system, my 50gpd isn't going to cut it. looking for suggestions on a 150gpd system. (I wonder how easily I could modify my existing one? I'd just need to add a 2nd RO stage and switch to 75gpd membranes I think)
The sump has a built in filter sock holder so I'll likely pick up about 15 of those to change out every other day and then wash in the washing machine monthly.
I will keep the stocking relatively light, Right now I'd like a pacific blue (hippo) tang, a sailfin tang, and a 3rd tang which I haven't decided on yet. Other than that several smaller fish, haven't decided on those either.. pair of clowns which I already have.
Should be mostly SPS tank, there are a few LPS I like (such as open brain) that I'll probably put in there as well.
I'll post pics as things progress.
