Some sort of 120 build

[arts007]

Well it started with the crash of my 40 gallon long tank, some melted acrylic fell into it and the corals did not seem to like that. So my thought was why not get a bigger tank. I was looking into a 75 gallon but thought a 120 was better.

To start off here a few pics of the 40 gallon. It was lit with 2 250 watt 20k's and 4 T5's.

So the quest began for the 120...

I bought a new 120 RR AGA that will go in the basement


and there it is..in the basement.... thank you and good night

ha joking theres more


I was looking for stands but couldnt find anything to fit what I wanted, so why not build my own..

I built this out of 4x4's and connected with 6"x3/8" lag bolts, yeah its way over built and Im sure I could park my car on it, but I wanted to feel safe. I was going to skin it with countertop formica but I couldnt find anyone that carried plain black. So I sealed both sides and put 3 coats of paint on and 2 coats of polycrylic and finished it off with a couple of snazzy handles

It stands 35" high which I thought was good for viewing as most store brands are a bit shorter

50"L x 26" W x 35" H

Joe

 

[arts007]

And I cant have a stand without a canopy.. So I built that as well in the same fashion as the stand.

I was having a debate with myself on which lights to go with, first it was radiums then XMs and I finally won the debate and went with 2 400 watt 12k reeflux running on CoralVue dimmable ballast. Also 4 110 watt VHO's on a Ice Cap 660 dimmable. I also needed some reflectors for uh..reflecting, for that I went with the lumenbrights, I really like these and are good for my application

I also wanted a controller .. I was debating myself again but went with the Solar 1000, this will control the lights by slowly dimming them on and off through out the day, also controls the heaters, of which I have 2 250 watt stealth's, will control wavemaking of the 2 MJ modded 1200's and 2 MJ modded 900's, pH, ORP, lunar phases which I use 3 blue incandescent bulbs and dosers with X10 devices

looks like an old modem

 

[arts007]

Ok it was time to move the tank and stand to its final location

and then I thought I probably should put some kind of pipes down there for places for water to go.

This will drain into a 40 gallon breeder for the sump, the pipe on the left where the ball valve is for water changes, I wanted to make it a fairly simple for changes so, I just open the valve and place the bucket under it, works great

and I was at a debate again with myself on which return pump to use, either the mag 18 or the ocean runner 6500, I won again and went with the OR6500, I really like this pump, its very quiet and puts out a good volume of water.

 

[arts007]

I didnt really decide on a skimmer until I was at the store and the guy had this precision marine on sale for 100 bucks, so I took that..this thing really works well, Ive had ASM's in the past but I think this works better. I put a gate valve on it and running it on a mag 9.5.
Im also running 2 phosban reactors, 1 with carbon and 1 with rowaphos

I wanted to centralize my power, so I built a compartment to house 2 of the DJ power strips and the ballasts inside. I cut out the front to fit the power strips and inserted and screwed in. Then added some lights underneath to see and for a nice effect

 

[BLKTANG]

lookin good.

 

[arts007]

Let there be light

Time for a leak test, everything was good

And now time for sand, I used about 50% from my old tank along with a mixture of oolite and reef grade,

I heard that fish like water, so I picked up one of these from the filterguys, 75gpd with dual TDS, bypass valve and pressure gauge

 

[arts007]

I wanted to do a pillar style and have some open spaces. I built the pillar structure out of 1/2" PVC

funny thing is I noticed that the pipes said HI after I got it on my computer... so HI

I went through this kinda fast... I started this build at the end of December and its been setup and running since the end of January

I moved all of my live rock from the old tank, which was about 80lbs and added about 15 more.

 

[arts007]

To recap:
Tank- 120 RR AGA
Lights 2x 400 watt 12k Reeflux on CoralVue dimmable ballast, 4 110 watt VHO on Ice Cap 660
Skimmer- Precision Marine w/gate valve on a mag 9.5
Other filtering- 1 phosban reactor w/carbon, 1 reactor with rowaphos
Return pump- Ocean Runner 6500
Circulation- 2 MJ modded 1200's 2 MJ modded 900's
Controller- Solar 1000 LWM

Live Rock- 95lbs of mixed Fiji, Tonga, Khalini

Corals- Multiple Acros, SPS and selection of Zoa's
Fish- 3 green chromis, mated pair of pink skunk clowns, powder blue tang, Lo Fox face and a orange diamond goby to keep the sand clean

I dose ESV Magnesium, Calcium and ALk until I get the reactor online


These are the pics of how the tank is today.

Full tank shot

Left Side

Right Side

Thanks

Joe

 

[BLKTANG]

very cool,love those LR islands.Nice collection of SPS too.

 

[arts007]

Shortly I will also be moving my Caribbean tank from the 20 gallon long to the 55 g

this is the 20 gallon caribbean tank, everything in it is from the caribbean/atlantic. Polyps, mushrooms, plants and a royal gramma, chalk bass and an African flameback

 

[arts007]

So I did some rearranging today since I picked up this nice piece for 50 bucks

 

[WallyBackm]

Sweet. I am doing a 120 upgrade now and this has given me many ideas

 

[kar93]

Please tell me that isnt treated wood?

 

[TikiDan]

love the aquascape. Keep up the good work

 

[spleify]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12441489#post12441489 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kar93
Please tell me that isnt treated wood?

I thought the same exact thing.
Tanks looks really nice, but I am afraid you are going to have issues with the stand in time. Treated wood tends to warp and twist as it ages.

Spleify

 

[spleify]

Pages 1 and 2 of this thread might give somemore insight on treated wood.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1321123