psychofishy
New member
All,
A couple of months ago I started building my 120 Setup.. (un)fortunately, I had to start from scratch... and when I say from scratch, I mean that I started out in a room without walls, without flooring, without ceiling, without electricity... you get the picture
Since my residence right now is not permanent, I wasn't sure on how I wanted to move forward, as you all know a tank move is very painful and difficult. I decided, since it will be 1.5-2 years until I will purchase a home and home, to set up a tank regardless, and do it right..
Once I move, I will build a better/bigger tank in the new home, transfer livestock/equipment and use the tank I start right now for a different project (fish only perhaps)
Then I had to decide on the size... I started thinking about a 90 gallon, got annoyed with the HUGE jump in price from 75 to 90, so decided on a 75 gallon... got a promotion at work, so ultimately ended up buying a 120 instead
The below process took place over several months, as my work keeps me very busy and I don't have a lot of time!!
120 gallon DT & 40 gallon sump (also a glimpse of how my living quarters looked right after building walls, but before finishing them:
After building the room and adding drywall, I had to decide where to put the tank.. I decided on the location below because there is a closet/pantry right behind it.. Nice and convenient to drill through and put the sump/plumbing in!
for overflow/plumbing I decided to do a BeanAnimal C2C (almost c2c) setup. Purchased the glass at a local shop and started drilling/siliconing:
End result:
Sump all ready:
By this time the fish-tank-room was completed and I gather most of my supplies/purchases related to the fish-tank together, and made a picture.
The floating wall (gray board) actually has a led light behind it to allow for any color light to shine over the wall.. for those interested, here's a link to a minute-long video of the things it can do:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knKD4L43Dfo
Time to build the stand:... I never really built a "fancy stand" before, but figured I would give it a try.. I purchased a Router, Kreg Jig and what not to accomplish this.. After approximately a week of labor, to make all patterns/molding/panels myself, i'm not unhappy with the final result! Still have to build a canopy, but that can wait...
End result:
End result with the backlights on Red and the actinics on the tank:
I am now working on finishing the closet where all plumbing/filtration will go (just mudded the drywall yesterday) but anticipate to have some water in the tank by this weekend.
Very excited to see life in this thing!
Equipment/Purchase List: (so far, $5500 in the game...UGH)
Tank:
120 Gallon Tank (48x24x24)
(2) Vortech Mp40w
(2) Maxspect Razor (120W 10k)
(2) Heaters (400w)
Egg Crate (Black)
Vortech battery backup
Controller
APEX
APEX PM2
Conductivity Probe
Neptune I/O breakout box
EB8
WXM
Temp Probe
probe holder
Sump:
40 Gallon Breeder Tank
Filter Sock Mount (4&7")
Filter Socks (7")
return pump (Eheim 1262)
Skimmer
(2) BRS Reactors
Other
BRS 5-stage Ro/Di (75 Gpd)
Refractometer
stand wood
Glass
50foot python hose
net
Plumbing:
(2) 1" bulkheads
(2) 3/4" Bulkheads
Diamond Drills (2)
NPT Conectors
LOC-LINE Hose
LOC-LINE Nozzles
Black Elbows
(3) true union ball valve (1.5")
float switch
ATO
various plumbing
Media:
BRS Carbon 1/2 gallon
BRS GFO 1/2 gallon
2part dosing 1/2 gallon
salt & 2 powerheads
Nitrate Test
Nitrite Test
Caclium Test
Phophate Test
Ammonia Test
KH/ALK Test
Reef Crystals
LiveStock
Tonga 10lbs
fiji dry 30lbs
reef saver dry 50lbs
aragamax Sand 90lbs
I will continue sharing pictures and updates as I move along.. can't wait to get this going
I will be up in the Rochester area around April 20th.. with some luck the tank will have cycled and be ready for some corals so I can raid the local stores and maybe even visit some old friends!
A couple of months ago I started building my 120 Setup.. (un)fortunately, I had to start from scratch... and when I say from scratch, I mean that I started out in a room without walls, without flooring, without ceiling, without electricity... you get the picture
Since my residence right now is not permanent, I wasn't sure on how I wanted to move forward, as you all know a tank move is very painful and difficult. I decided, since it will be 1.5-2 years until I will purchase a home and home, to set up a tank regardless, and do it right..
Once I move, I will build a better/bigger tank in the new home, transfer livestock/equipment and use the tank I start right now for a different project (fish only perhaps)
Then I had to decide on the size... I started thinking about a 90 gallon, got annoyed with the HUGE jump in price from 75 to 90, so decided on a 75 gallon... got a promotion at work, so ultimately ended up buying a 120 instead
The below process took place over several months, as my work keeps me very busy and I don't have a lot of time!!
120 gallon DT & 40 gallon sump (also a glimpse of how my living quarters looked right after building walls, but before finishing them:
After building the room and adding drywall, I had to decide where to put the tank.. I decided on the location below because there is a closet/pantry right behind it.. Nice and convenient to drill through and put the sump/plumbing in!
for overflow/plumbing I decided to do a BeanAnimal C2C (almost c2c) setup. Purchased the glass at a local shop and started drilling/siliconing:
End result:
Sump all ready:
By this time the fish-tank-room was completed and I gather most of my supplies/purchases related to the fish-tank together, and made a picture.
The floating wall (gray board) actually has a led light behind it to allow for any color light to shine over the wall.. for those interested, here's a link to a minute-long video of the things it can do:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knKD4L43Dfo
Time to build the stand:... I never really built a "fancy stand" before, but figured I would give it a try.. I purchased a Router, Kreg Jig and what not to accomplish this.. After approximately a week of labor, to make all patterns/molding/panels myself, i'm not unhappy with the final result! Still have to build a canopy, but that can wait...
End result:
End result with the backlights on Red and the actinics on the tank:
I am now working on finishing the closet where all plumbing/filtration will go (just mudded the drywall yesterday) but anticipate to have some water in the tank by this weekend.
Very excited to see life in this thing!
Equipment/Purchase List: (so far, $5500 in the game...UGH)
Tank:
120 Gallon Tank (48x24x24)
(2) Vortech Mp40w
(2) Maxspect Razor (120W 10k)
(2) Heaters (400w)
Egg Crate (Black)
Vortech battery backup
Controller
APEX
APEX PM2
Conductivity Probe
Neptune I/O breakout box
EB8
WXM
Temp Probe
probe holder
Sump:
40 Gallon Breeder Tank
Filter Sock Mount (4&7")
Filter Socks (7")
return pump (Eheim 1262)
Skimmer
(2) BRS Reactors
Other
BRS 5-stage Ro/Di (75 Gpd)
Refractometer
stand wood
Glass
50foot python hose
net
Plumbing:
(2) 1" bulkheads
(2) 3/4" Bulkheads
Diamond Drills (2)
NPT Conectors
LOC-LINE Hose
LOC-LINE Nozzles
Black Elbows
(3) true union ball valve (1.5")
float switch
ATO
various plumbing
Media:
BRS Carbon 1/2 gallon
BRS GFO 1/2 gallon
2part dosing 1/2 gallon
salt & 2 powerheads
Nitrate Test
Nitrite Test
Caclium Test
Phophate Test
Ammonia Test
KH/ALK Test
Reef Crystals
LiveStock
Tonga 10lbs
fiji dry 30lbs
reef saver dry 50lbs
aragamax Sand 90lbs
I will continue sharing pictures and updates as I move along.. can't wait to get this going
I will be up in the Rochester area around April 20th.. with some luck the tank will have cycled and be ready for some corals so I can raid the local stores and maybe even visit some old friends!
