Travis L. Stevens
New member
Even if we don't go that route, I'ld still like to see what you found. 
Reefing on a Budget: 75g Tank Build
- Thread starter Travis L. Stevens
- Start date
captbunzo
Premium Member
My thoughts exactly. Diversity of thought is the mother of laziness. Wait, no, that's not how the quote goes.... Oh well....<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8511926#post8511926 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Travis L. Stevens
Even if we don't go that route, I'ld still like to see what you found.
somethinfishier
New member
I found some 18 gauge solid. They called it ballast wire. Most electrical supply stores have it. I am pretty sure it is high heat. It was 8 cents a foot. I bought mine at Sesco.
Travis L. Stevens
New member
It's been over a month since I really touched the tank. I stumbled on to some wire before what Nick ordered came in. I got all my T5's wired and set in my canopy. I went to take pictures of everything, but I only snapped two shots before my batteries went out. Here is what it looks like with the T5s placed in. I'm really excited to have the tank up to this point. All I lack now are rocks and a downdraft skimmer! Unfortunately, because of recent complications at home, it won't be set up until after we move. Too bad I could fill the tank with water right now if I really wanted to.
The T5 Bulb colors are just extra bulbs that I got from someone. Not necessarily what I wanted, but they will work. I have two Actinic+ and two AquaBlue+. As you can see, it's very blue. I'm hoping to get a different whitish color bulb.
The T5 Bulb colors are just extra bulbs that I got from someone. Not necessarily what I wanted, but they will work. I have two Actinic+ and two AquaBlue+. As you can see, it's very blue. I'm hoping to get a different whitish color bulb.
Travis L. Stevens
New member
Item.............................Price........Acquired?..
75g Tank (Undrilled)........$80.........Yes
-(Thanks indoreefer)
Stand and Canopy..........$100........Yes
-(Thanks JimmyS)
Wood for Stand/Canopy..$80.........Yes
-(Thanks Anheuser-Busch for Gift Card) This was a freebie and is not in the total.
Overflow.......................N/A..........Yes
-(Thanks YoungSilver)
1.5" Bulkhead.................$10..........Yes
Plumbing.......................$20..........Yes
DownDraft Skimmer.........$20.........No
Mag 9.5 Pump................$45.........Yes
-(Thanks JasonF)
Refugium.......................$10..........Yes
(4) T5 Bulbs...................N/A..........Yes
-(Thanks Cichlid67)
Ballast..........................$30.........Yes
Basic Endcaps..............$8..........Yes
VHO Reflector..............N/A...........Yes
~75+lbs of DIY Rock........$20...........Yes
-I don't have it made, yet.
100lbs Pulv Limestone......$10...........Yes
MaxiJet 1200 w/ Mod...$20..........Yes
------------------------------------------------
Total - ~$373
I've spent about $5 per gallon on this tank. Not bad I have to say.
75g Tank (Undrilled)........$80.........Yes
-(Thanks indoreefer)
Stand and Canopy..........$100........Yes
-(Thanks JimmyS)
Wood for Stand/Canopy..$80.........Yes
-(Thanks Anheuser-Busch for Gift Card) This was a freebie and is not in the total.
Overflow.......................N/A..........Yes
-(Thanks YoungSilver)
1.5" Bulkhead.................$10..........Yes
Plumbing.......................$20..........Yes
DownDraft Skimmer.........$20.........No
Mag 9.5 Pump................$45.........Yes
-(Thanks JasonF)
Refugium.......................$10..........Yes
(4) T5 Bulbs...................N/A..........Yes
-(Thanks Cichlid67)
Ballast..........................$30.........Yes
Basic Endcaps..............$8..........Yes
VHO Reflector..............N/A...........Yes
~75+lbs of DIY Rock........$20...........Yes
-I don't have it made, yet.
100lbs Pulv Limestone......$10...........Yes
MaxiJet 1200 w/ Mod...$20..........Yes
------------------------------------------------
Total - ~$373
I've spent about $5 per gallon on this tank. Not bad I have to say.
Last edited:
Travis L. Stevens
New member
Just sent it? Wow! Well, it is the holidays. When do you expect to get it in?
Travis L. Stevens
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8792699#post8792699 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nIx_tank
Oh, about two months ago. You know, details, details.
They sent me the wrong voltage wire first, and then gave me the run around.
Oh Travis, your box be full.
Doh! I came to work with 10 messages waiting. I guess the replies filled up the sent box. Give me just a moment.
Travis L. Stevens
New member
No. I'm afraid not. I'm kind of holding off until I get moved before setting this up. Pretty much the only thing I can do is make the rock for it and a downdraft skimmer before I fill it up.
Travis L. Stevens
New member
Don't worry. I'll make sure to keep this updated. I'm quite proud of it after all.
joshuasamuels
New member
Time for another update???...
Travis L. Stevens
New member
Still on hold until after the move after tax returns come back. Sorry.
Travis L. Stevens
New member
Finally, a little progress has been made! As of last night, we've started construction on the downdraft skimmer. With the help of Poke75 (Steve), or should I say with Steve's diligent work and him asking me questions on the diagram, we've put together the body of the skimmer. Tonight, we will attempt to place the top of it on, make the bottom, and possibly drill the holes. The third night of work will most likely be finishing up little things on it. Anyways, here is the diagram that I had made.
The dimensions on the skimmer body are 11" tall x 10" long x 4" wide. A few changes that we have made is that the drain of the skimmer will be on the broad side of the box and not the narrow side. Also, we will be using a heat gun to warp the acrylic so that the neck of the skimmer will attach and force the bubble to form in the skimmer neck and not accidently on the edge of the skimmer. It's hard to explain, but you'll see what I mean later. Lastly, we found out that our original skimmer neck fits right over some 2" PVC pipe. So, now we will also have an adjustable skimmer neck I'll take more pictures later. I don't have any at the moment.
Downdraft Skimmer
Broken SeaClone Skimmer for Skimmer neck and collection cup: FREE
(Thanks JimmyS)
Scrap Extruded Arylic for Skimmer Body: FREE
(Thanks for the extra pieces Poke75)
Scrap 2" PVC for Skimmer Neck Riser: FREE
(Thanks again Poke75)
1.5" Bulkhead: ~$10
PVC Parts for Skimmer Drain: ~$20 (Valves, pipe, connectors, rubber washers)
Total
~$30
About two nighs ago, I started one of the more expensive projects. I'm making a unique internal structure that all rocks will be mounted on. This will allow me to make pillars, shelves, overhangs, archs, etc. With the help of about 50 ft of .5" PVC, 40 .5" T's, 28 .5" Four Way Cross, Eggcrate, and a few more odds and ends, I have all that is necessary to make my rock work.
I'll also post picture of this later. In the mean time, I'll work out a diagram for future reference.
PVC Internal Structure
PVC Parts: ~$50
Eggcrate: ~$10
Zipties: ~$1
Mason Drill But: FREE (already had)
Ultimate DIY Rocks: ~$25 for 150lbs
Total
~$90
The dimensions on the skimmer body are 11" tall x 10" long x 4" wide. A few changes that we have made is that the drain of the skimmer will be on the broad side of the box and not the narrow side. Also, we will be using a heat gun to warp the acrylic so that the neck of the skimmer will attach and force the bubble to form in the skimmer neck and not accidently on the edge of the skimmer. It's hard to explain, but you'll see what I mean later. Lastly, we found out that our original skimmer neck fits right over some 2" PVC pipe. So, now we will also have an adjustable skimmer neck
I'll take more pictures later. I don't have any at the moment.Downdraft Skimmer
Broken SeaClone Skimmer for Skimmer neck and collection cup: FREE
(Thanks JimmyS)
Scrap Extruded Arylic for Skimmer Body: FREE
(Thanks for the extra pieces Poke75)
Scrap 2" PVC for Skimmer Neck Riser: FREE
(Thanks again Poke75)
1.5" Bulkhead: ~$10
PVC Parts for Skimmer Drain: ~$20 (Valves, pipe, connectors, rubber washers)
Total
~$30
About two nighs ago, I started one of the more expensive projects. I'm making a unique internal structure that all rocks will be mounted on. This will allow me to make pillars, shelves, overhangs, archs, etc. With the help of about 50 ft of .5" PVC, 40 .5" T's, 28 .5" Four Way Cross, Eggcrate, and a few more odds and ends, I have all that is necessary to make my rock work.
I'll also post picture of this later. In the mean time, I'll work out a diagram for future reference.
PVC Internal Structure
PVC Parts: ~$50
Eggcrate: ~$10
Zipties: ~$1
Mason Drill But: FREE (already had)
Ultimate DIY Rocks: ~$25 for 150lbs
Total
~$90
Travis L. Stevens
New member
Okay. I have a REALLY crappy diagram of the internal structure grid that I will use. The white grid lines are PVC. Lot's of Tee's and Four Ways are being used to make the grid.
The bottom base of it is used for two things. First, the wide grid will help support the rocks and keep the thing from falling over. Secondly, I'll attach some Tee's and have them point upward. I'll then put PVC in these in order to make free standing pillars. All of the bottom piece of this will be placed under all of the sand.
The back pieces will then have Eggcrate secured with zipties to the back. I'll then build a rock wall with it by drilling small holes in my DIY Rock in order to ziptie it to the eggcrate. Any extra gaps I can fill in with DIY Rock straight on the eggcrate. You'll also notice a few pieces of pipe will be sticking out from the middle of the back piece. I'll use these to make pillars, archs, ledges, etc that will come out of the rock wall.
You'll also notice that there is a piece left out on the side. This pieces is used to go around the overflow.
Key
White = PVC
Light Grey = Eggcrate
Medium Grey = PVC outcroppings
Hopefully all of this hard work and more money than I need to spend in or to make this reef-budget friendly will be well worth the effort.
The insiration of all of this originally came from the first thread below, but I've since found other rock formation variations that I really like, and even seen some of my plans in action on other people's tanks. (Click the picture to link to the thread)
Dugg's Cement Wall Tank
(Cement Wall with Ledges)
Masterswimmer's 16g Reef Wall Biotope
(Reef Wall with Eggcrate Back)
Pwhitby's 600g Reef
(Pictures of Pillars with Montipora on them)
The bottom base of it is used for two things. First, the wide grid will help support the rocks and keep the thing from falling over. Secondly, I'll attach some Tee's and have them point upward. I'll then put PVC in these in order to make free standing pillars. All of the bottom piece of this will be placed under all of the sand.
The back pieces will then have Eggcrate secured with zipties to the back. I'll then build a rock wall with it by drilling small holes in my DIY Rock in order to ziptie it to the eggcrate. Any extra gaps I can fill in with DIY Rock straight on the eggcrate. You'll also notice a few pieces of pipe will be sticking out from the middle of the back piece. I'll use these to make pillars, archs, ledges, etc that will come out of the rock wall.
You'll also notice that there is a piece left out on the side. This pieces is used to go around the overflow.
Key
White = PVC
Light Grey = Eggcrate
Medium Grey = PVC outcroppings
Hopefully all of this hard work and more money than I need to spend in or to make this reef-budget friendly will be well worth the effort.
The insiration of all of this originally came from the first thread below, but I've since found other rock formation variations that I really like, and even seen some of my plans in action on other people's tanks. (Click the picture to link to the thread)
Dugg's Cement Wall Tank
(Cement Wall with Ledges)
Masterswimmer's 16g Reef Wall Biotope
(Reef Wall with Eggcrate Back)
Pwhitby's 600g Reef
(Pictures of Pillars with Montipora on them)
