125 build thread after almost 2 years

[Flippers4pups]

Awesome articles. Definitely an eye opener. Makes me feel better about the health of my tank. Thank.

Really does change the way we look at things, doesn't it!?

 

[Auquanut]

Really does change the way we look at things, doesn't it!?

Sure does.

 

[asting]

are your heaters still in the overflow? no issue with them drying out/burning up?

 

[Auquanut]

are your heaters still in the overflow? no issue with them drying out/burning up?

No. When I replaced the wet/dry filter with the sump, I was able to put 2 heaters in the return section.

 

[asting]

No. When I replaced the wet/dry filter with the sump, I was able to put 2 heaters in the return section.

Nice. that would make me sleep better at night.

 

[PerplexyHexy]

I'm a little apprehensive about starting a build thread after so long, and especially after viewing the incredible builds our members have achieved. But my system has evolved so much in the past two years and I have no documentation. Hopefully I can give an accurate account of the tanks progression so far. Be warned. It's pretty low budget.
Here we go.

May 2017:
Purchased a used 125 gallon 72" tank on craigslist.

It came with:
the stand
aquaticlife MH/T5 lighting fixture
Iwaki 1300 GPH external return pump
30 gallon wet/dry filter
mixing tub and mixing pump
misc plumbing
about 60 lbs of live rock

Purchased:
BRS 4 stage 75 GPD RO/DI unit
Simplicity protein skimmer
50 pounds of BRS dry rock
Caribsea argonite substrate. (way too much!)
a couple of cheap power heads
Heaters that had to go into the overflows, because there was no room in the filter.
probably more, but I can't remember.

I put the live rock in a brute trash can with a power head and an old T8 light fixture on a timer to keep it alive. Painted the back of the tank black. Lined the bottom of the tank with egg crate. I knew I wanted engineer gobies, so the rock work had to be solid. I used flexible hose to plumb the system because the lid on the wet/dry filter had to be removed for maintenance.

On July 4th 2017 I turned it on for the 1st time. No leaks!

First lesson learned: I shouldn't have put it so close to the wall. It's really hard to get back there. One good point is that the back of the stand is open, allowing for decent air exchange under the tank and what I can't reach from the top and sides, I can generally reach from the bottom.

I used shrimp in stockings to cycle the tank. Didn't use any bacteria in a bottle. The system cycled surprisingly fast. I was growing a nice crop of diatoms, hair algae and coraline algae in less than a month.

Well, that is enough for now. Not trying to write a novel. Keep in mind that my system today hardly resembles what I started out with. Will continue the journey soon. My wife says I've been a good boy and we're going to the LFS today.

Im running the same model aquaticlife mh/t5 fixture on my frag tank currently... 48” model... I love that fixture... Only issue I have is finding the G12 mh bulbs... getting absolutely impossible to find bulbs for it... last I found them was on Amazon and I loaded up on them... found 14k and 20k... I have 4 sets each... how do you like it so far? Nevermind, saw that you replaced it

 

[Auquanut]

Nice. that would make me sleep better at night.

Yeah. I feel a lot better having them in the sump.

 

[Auquanut]

Im running the same model aquaticlife mh/t5 fixture on my frag tank currently... 48” model... I love that fixture...

If you ever want the 72" model, I just happen to have one.

 

[PerplexyHexy]

If you ever want the 72" model, I just happen to have one.

Hahahahaha! Right on

 

[Auquanut]

I installed a CW-100 ATS last week. My hope is to convert my fuge into a frag tank if the ATS can handle the nutrient export. I removed half of the macro algae from the fuge yesterday, and I'll monitor nitrates for awhile. My next project is cable management. My shop is behind the wall that my 125 sits against. I'm hoping to get most (not all) of my cables out from under the tank. Just starting the planning stage. First step is to clean and rearrange the shop. Since my mother and my son moved in, it's kind of become a storage unit.

 

[Auquanut]

So I created a build thread and promptly neglected it. Go figure. Well, the ATS has been running for about a month. Nitrates are dropping slowly. The weird thing is that while the ATS is working great, the chaeto and caulerpa in the fuge have really taken off. I remove half during each water change, and it just grows like crazy. I'm going to pull out quite a bit more today. I tend to sweat any change I make to the system, and don't want to completely abandon the fuge until I'm sure the ATS can do the job. I still haven't done anything with my cable management. My non-reef life (there shouldn't even be such a thing) has been taking up too much of my time.

Edit: Alk consumption has risen from 150 ml per day to 170 since adding the ATS. Calc consumption has risen from 120 to 150 ml per day and has dropped from 440 to 400. I will retest after the water change today.

 

[Bryson.bobby]

Beautiful tank! When I upgrade my tank, I’m probably going to do a 125 gal. How are you liking the dimensions?

 

[Qasimja]

great looking tank

 

[Auquanut]

Beautiful tank! When I upgrade my tank, I’m probably going to do a 125 gal. How are you liking the dimensions?

I really like the 72" length, but wish I had a little more depth. If I had it to do over again, I would have to seriously consider a 6' 220.

 

[Auquanut]

great looking tank

Thanks. It really is a part of me.

 

[rodney]

Beautiful tank Auquanut you have done a nice job putting it together!

 

[Auquanut]

Okay. Update:
Since I added the ATS, My nitrates have really come in line. I'm still running the fuge and taking out about a gallon of macro algae every three weeks. For now I'm going to scrap the frag tank in the sump idea and just keep running both the fuge and ATS.

About a month ago, I removed a large pocillopora (about the size of a cauliflower) and a birds nest that was nearly as big. In anticipation of lower Alk and Calc consumption, I reduced dosing slightly. Within a couple of weeks, I had to return to my current dosing levels. That kind of surprised me. And to update my dosing, I'm currently dosing 200 ml of BRS soda ash and 220 ml of BRS calcium chloride solutions daily. Alk is consistant at about 8.9 dKH and Calk is hanging around 440. I only dose Mag as needed.

I have done absolutely nothing with my cable management. No excuse.

I FINALLY replaced my heaters and incorporated a heater controller. It really is a huge weight off of my shoulders. Don't know why I didn't do it sooner.

I am in the purchasing stage of setting up an AWC system. Once I get everything I think I need, and get it dry fitted, I'll post the particulars.

Overall, the tank is doing very well. Corals are growing like crazy and the fish are all fat, dumb and happy. I've got some coral warfare going on. I need to frag. Again, no excuse.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Okay. Update:
Since I added the ATS, My nitrates have really come in line. I'm still running the fuge and taking out about a gallon of macro algae every three weeks. For now I'm going to scrap the frag tank in the sump idea and just keep running both the fuge and ATS.

About a month ago, I removed a large pocillopora (about the size of a cauliflower) and a birds nest that was nearly as big. In anticipation of lower Alk and Calc consumption, I reduced dosing slightly. Within a couple of weeks, I had to return to my current dosing levels. That kind of surprised me. And to update my dosing, I'm currently dosing 200 ml of BRS soda ash and 220 ml of BRS calcium chloride solutions daily. Alk is consistant at about 8.9 dKH and Calk is hanging around 440. I only dose Mag as needed.

I have done absolutely nothing with my cable management. No excuse.

I FINALLY replaced my heaters and incorporated a heater controller. It really is a huge weight off of my shoulders. Don't know why I didn't do it sooner.

I am in the purchasing stage of setting up an AWC system. Once I get everything I think I need, and get it dry fitted, I'll post the particulars.

Overall, the tank is doing very well. Corals are growing like crazy and the fish are all fat, dumb and happy. I've got some coral warfare going on. I need to frag. Again, no excuse.

Sounds your on the path! Pictures please!

 

[Auquanut]

Sounds your on the path! Pictures please!

Latest full frontal.

 

[Auquanut]

Well, I got everything I think I need to set up my new AWC system. Decided to dry fit everything together today and realized that I have way too much cra... stuff in the way in the shop. I would post pictures, but I'm way too ashamed. I started cleaning the mess up, and will continue tomorrow. Since my mother and son moved in, the space I have designated for my tank's life support has become a storage unit. In all fairness, most of the stuff is mine ((relocated to make room). Update to follow. This could tale awhile.