Building my first 120 gallon reef tank

[Lindsay1126]

Hi everyone. So I am building my first reef tank. Here is what I am doing so far. Any tips or suggestions always welcome. I will get some pics up this weekend, as we will be wrapping and painting the stand.

I have been keeping fish for many years. I am finally taking the leap to keeping a reef. I have been going slow, so I can learn as much as possible. I have been lurking and learning for quite a while. Things are finally starting to come together and I am super excited. I will be starting with softies, then LPS. After my tank is established, and I have the experience I may try to delve into sps. Here is what I have so far.

120 gallon (48x24x24) tank: its being drilled this weekend for a bean animal overflow. Haven't decided whether I want the returns drilled or over the top, yet. Suggestions?
ETA: I will be painting the back side black.

Overflow: Modular marine 1800gph (18") overflow

40g breeder sump: I am setting it up to do the Triton method so it will be refugium, (chaeto and caulerpra) (16"), skimmer (10"), return 10" ( Jebao DCT-8000)

Skimmer: Eshopps x220

RODI: BRS 6 part system

ATO: Tunze osmolater

Lighting: Kessil AP700

Heater: 2 cobalt 200 watt neo therm

Powerhead: Gyre XF250

90 lbs pukani dry rock: I have been thinking of doing the acid bath method before letting it cure in tote with heater and powerhead. I have heard it helps the smell factor. Being its winter the rocks need to be inside and Id rather them not smell up the house.

I have been cycling my 29 gallon quarantine tank for about a month. It has an aqua clear 70, cobalt 100 watt heater, bare bottom and tons of decorations and pvc for hiding (this is where I let my kids choose character decorations so they are happy).
One question I have about quarantine, since its bare bottom how do sand sifting fish do? Is that a problem?

Fish being considered:
firefish, orchid dottyback, watchmen goby, bangai cardinal, royal gramma, wyoming white clownfish (2), flame or coral beauty angel, tomni bristletooth tang, maybe a small school of chromis or anthias (I am just looking for something to add a ton of movement to the tank overall).
Any experience or tips here appreciated!


This is a pic of my girls in front of the tank at my LFS, it has just come in, just waiting on getting it drilled.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Welcome to R2R!!!

As far as the overflow, definitely do drilled if you are able to, its such a cleaner look. My current tank has a hang on back overflow and a over the top return and while they work I hate them. I have another tank in the garage waiting to go that is drilled and it just looks so much better IMO.
The sand sifting fish will be ok in bare bottom, Just give them some pvc piping and pcv elbows to hide in and they'll be fine

 

[Dsnakes]

Sounds like a fun build! Looking forward to seeing the progression

 

[Lindsay1126]

As far as the overflow, definitely do drilled if you are able to, its such a cleaner look. My current tank has a hang on back overflow and a over the top return and while they work I hate them. I have another tank in the garage waiting to go that is drilled and it just looks so much better IMO.
The sand sifting fish will be ok in bare bottom, Just give them some pvc piping and pcv elbows to hide in and they'll be fine

Should I do 2 returns or just one. I was leaning towards the drilled returns, but read they have a tendency to leak. Where is the best place for the returns to be drilled? I see people do it at the bottom and that kind of scares me;Nailbiting.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Nice build thread! Keep the updates coming....with pictures.

 

[Lindsay1126]

Here is a pic of the base for the stand. We will be wrapping it and painting this weekend. I will post that progress as it happens. The second is an old pic of the quarantine, will get some newer ones of that this weekend too. Please forgive the sponge bob and little mermaid, this is how I got away with not allowing in kids stuff in my reef . I have also added some straight cut pipes for hiding. Thanks again!

 

[Crabs McJones]

Should I do 2 returns or just one. I was leaning towards the drilled returns, but read they have a tendency to leak. Where is the best place for the returns to be drilled? I see people do it at the bottom and that kind of scares me;Nailbiting.

I did mine via the back towards the top.

 

[Lindsay1126]

I did mine via the back towards the top.

nice tank! So just 1 return will work?

 

[Crabs McJones]

nice tank! So just 1 return will work?

With your setup and an 1800GPH overflow i'd probably do two 3/4" returns.

 

[Lindsay1126]

With your setup and an 1800GPH overflow i'd probably do two 3/4" returns.

It will probably be closer to 12500-1300 gph, I went with the 1800 to allow for the loss of flow from the piping. I am setting it up to use the triton method, so it has to be at least 10x turn around. Would the two 3/4" still be a good fit?

 

[Crabs McJones]

It will probably be closer to 12500-1300 gph, I went with the 1800 to allow for the loss of flow from the piping. I am setting it up to use the triton method, so it has to be at least 10x turn around. Would the two 3/4" still be a good fit?

Yes, I would still do dual 3/4 returns

 

[don_chuwish]

2 x 3/4" returns for my 120G.

 

[Lindsay1126]

2 x 3/4" returns for my 120G.

Where did you get the grey pipe? It looks better than regular white pvc. Thanks for the picture!

 

[don_chuwish]

Where did you get the grey pipe? It looks better than regular white pvc. Thanks for the picture!

It's schedule 80 pipe - not usually at a typical big box store but a local plumbing supply place might have it. I got some of mine online and some local. The 90 elbows at the top I just got regular schedule 40 white ones and spray painted them with a Krylon grey primer. All schedule 80 stuff, pipe & fittings, is a lot more expensive than schedule 40 - it's meant for higher pressure applications. We don't need it but it does look good ;-)

 

[Lindsay1126]

Ok gotcha, doubt I will pay the extra money . Thanks though.

Here’s a pic of the beginning stages of wrapping for the quarantine tank. Door isn’t done yet though, the sides are up on the DT. I will begin staining tomorrow.

My overflow came in today. I am very impressed with the quality. Excuse all the wrapping on the overflow, i don’t want to take it off till the end to keep scrates at bay.

 

[Lindsay1126]

It’s coming along. Going to get some more sample stains the ones I tried I didn’t care for.

 

[Lindsay1126]

First coat of stain on the quarantine stand. I’m hoping a second coat and poly will help bc I’m not loving it now.

The DT stand is mostly complete. I get my holes drilled tomorrow. I will update later how the stain works out. Have a feeling I may just paint it.

 

[don_chuwish]

Staining soft woods can be tricky - they get 'blotchy' easily. A light 'sanding sealer' coat first can help prevent it.

 

[Lindsay1126]

Yeah I new working with soft wood was tricky. I used wood conditioner. It’s not as blotchy today, but I just don’t care for it. Off to the store for some paint.

 

[Lindsay1126]

Thanks for the sanding sealer tip. I knew I should have just shelled out the money for a hardwood.