My 80 Gal Cube Reef Tank Build

[spd3001]

Hello from Las Vegas, NV. I finally have the funds to do my first saltwater aquarium build in over 25 years. I've been lurking on reef central for a decade so I know things have changed immensely since then. I'm planning to go first class on this build so I know I'll appreciate any guidance I can get.

I've purchased the following items so I can get my live rock properly cycled and kick things off:

100 Gal Black Polyethylene Tank 28" x 45" for RO/DI water
55 Gal Natural Closed Head Poly Drum (23.3"Dia. x 34.9"H) for mixing SW
45 Gal Plastic Wheeled Tub for cycling Live Rock
Aqua Logic Delta Star Chiller 1/4 HP, DS-3 with Temperature Controller
Iwaki MD30RLXT Water Pump (Japanese Motor)
SpectraPure MaxCap RO/DI System w/ Manual Flush - 90 GPD
Red Sea Coral Pro Salt Mix 175gal - Bucket
Live Rock (100 lbs)
Plumbing Components
Elos Osmocontroller Digital Water Level Controller
Milwaukee Seawater Digital Refractometer
Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Ammonia Aquarium Test Strips
Seachem Laboratories MultiTest: Marine Basic Test Kit

I'll get this all set up and while things cure/cycle I'll order components for the next round. I'm modifying a built in cabinet in my living room to take the 80 gal cube. The sump/refugium will be underneath it but accessible from the garage. The garage is where other components (chiller, skimmer, etc.) will be situated as well.

The final goal is to get the reef setup and stable and then introduce some small number of fish. I'm thinking an uneven sand bed with a depth of ~ 4" because I would like to introduce a yellow headed jawfish (or pair) as the first fish in the tank. I kept one for years back in the day and I love their personality. Feel free to tell me why or why not to consider the yellow headed jawfish.

 

[spd3001]

I got the RO/DI system set up and it seems to be working well. As soon as I get my two large containers, I'll get my saltwater mixed and plumb the tub I'll be using to cure my live rock. I'm going to add an ATO system to the tub to keep the salinity constant while I cure the live rock. Is there any consensus on whether to do partial or total water changes while curing live rock?

 

[spd3001]

Here is my first cut at a path to a happy reef display tank with a small number of fish. All advice is welcome.

1. Get tub in which to cure live rock and storage tanks for RO/DI water and SW.
2. Plumb tub for chiller/heater/pump.
3. Setup RO/DI system and get sufficient water for RO/DI storage tank and SW mix tank.
4. Pump saltwater mix through the live rock tub and let temperature/salinity stabilize.
5. Add live rock and dry rock to tub(s).
6. Cycle live rock with water changes as needed. Scrub rock with soft brush occasionally before performing the water change.
7. Order Display Tank (DT) and add Bean Animal quiet overflow system.
8. Order sump and mod as desired (refugium, etc.)
9. Build base, mod cabinet as needed, and install.
10. Install plumbing for overflow, return, reactor, skimmer, chiller and pump(s).
11. Install lighting, reactor, skimmer, chiller and pump(s) when rock is cycled.
12. Do plumbing check with RO/DI water and fix leaks.
13. Put down eggcrate and add sandbed to DT and refugium.
14. Add Automatic Top Off (ATO) and Automatic Water Change (AWC) system.
15. Layout cycled rock as desired and add saltwater.
16. Cycle the DT and Sump without running the reactor, skimmer, and only minimal lighting.
17. Start adding cultured detritivores and CUC to DT.
18. Start skimming and establish lighting routine.
18. Setup a Quarantine Tank (QT). Bare tank with nothing but water, pvc habitat, lights and a heater.
19. Start quarantine of a small number of coral frags.
20. Add corals to DT when ready.
21. Rinse and repeat until corals, detritivores, and CUC are established.
22. Prepare QT for the first fish.
23. Put the fish in the QT using eggcrate to prevent jumpers from leaving the QT.
24. When fish is ready for DT, put it in its new home.
25. Rinse and repeat until done.

 

[james30ct]

Sounds like you've got some work ahead of you. Looking foward to some pics.

 

[spd3001]

I'm going to try something different (at least I think it is) to cure my live rock. I've purchased a Genesis Reef Systems RENEW Pro + STORM Pro + Pumps Bundle that will ultimately wind up on the DT. However, in the meantime, I think I'll get to know the system by using it to cure my live rock. I've got a 47 gallon tub that I'll plumb up with the system and see how long it takes to get the live rock from the LFS to cure.