captbunzo's 120g reef tank -- 2023 edition

[captbunzo]

I'm pleased to start this build thread for my 120g reef tank. I picked up the tank those week from Prestige Worldwide Corals in Bethany, Oklahoma.

The tank is a beautiful 4x2x2 with low iron glass on the front. It was made by Planet Aquariums in Dallas, Texas.

 

[captbunzo]

Unfortunately the overflow arrived damaged, but Tanner from Prestige is getting me a replacement shipped out.

 

[captbunzo]

This weekend I'll be starting the build of the fish tank stand. I'm using this video as a guide for building the stand. Once I have the core frame built, I'm going to build some panels doors out of oak.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Great looking tank! Sorry about the overflow, arriving damage!

 

[captbunzo]

So do to financial constraints and life in general, this tank is going to take me a while to setup. However, I did want to post some updates.

First, I managed to snag some lights that I used on a tank back when I lived in the UK. These beauties are from the early days when LED were just starting to take over reef lighting. They are a trio of Tezla LED lighting fixtures from Giesemann. Alas, the ex-wife tossed out power supplies, so I am having to replace them. I was able to get the specs from Giesemann support.

Note that these are a good decade old and have not been powered on since I moved away from the UK in 2014, so I have no idea if they will still work. Fingers cross as, while a bit old they are a good set of lights.

Ordered this power supply off of Amazon today so in a few days I will power them up and see what happens!

 

[captbunzo]

And for my second update here, I built the skeleton / core / frame for the stand a bit back. I used this video as a guide and I have to say, I could not be more pleased with the result. It is sold as F*%K and will do the job nicely. Next step, sometime in the next month, is to buy some oak and add some pretty framing and doors.

More photos attached for anyone interested in seeing the build process a little more. And my cats helping.

 

[captbunzo]

Oh, and last but not least, I also found a refractometer I used for my last 120g reef tank I had back in the UK.

 

[captbunzo]

So I couldn't be more stoked. I got the power adapter in today from Amazon, plugged it in, and all three of the lights each just lit right up! Wow, they are bright!

So for a total of $40 more (2 more power supplies) I'll have the lights working. Then I'll add in this Bluetooth interface (€199, $213) and I'll be able to configure them up nicely. Won't be quite as modern as most options these days, but it will work quite well. (assuming they continue to work)