DSA 120

[Forjam64]

So after 4 years of watching every YouTube video and reading every book I could find, I finally pulled the trigger and got a tank. It’s a a Deep Sea Aquatics 120gal. It’s 60”x20”x20”. Considering the tank is kind of divided by the center overflow, is it possible to create 2 different flow “zones”? I was thinking of putting a gyre vertically at both back corners to sweep the back of the tank, hopefully keeping detritus from the back of the tank and supplementing with mp’s. If I did a couple of 40’s on the back of the left side and a couple of 10’s on the right side, would I be able to do SPS on the left and LPS on the right?

 

[Forjam64]

Little tank update, leak tested earlier this week, no apparent issues. Just painted the back and bottom of the tank. This week I plan on finalizing my stand frame plan. I work for a steel fabricator so I have access to materials and a professional welder. So my stand frame will be 1-1/2” schedule 40 Galvanized pipe. Here’s a sketch of how I’m thinking I’m going to do it. I will have a 1/4” plate for the whole surface that the tank will sit on and where the sump will sit. Feedback is welcome.

 

[Forjam64]

Got the tank and stand in its final position. Gonna finish the stand while I wait for rock to come in.

 

[BaysEndReef]

Excited to see your progress! Following!

 

[Forjam64]

LED strip lights behind the tank. I’m hoping the affect holds when lights get added down the road.

 

[DeniseAndy]

Nice. Sound like you did your homework too.
Honestly FME, flow will come down to the rock formations you build and corals you have. I will tell you that over the years, the more versatile the powerheads the better. I am always changing mine around. Not daily or even yearly, but every few years I change it up. Granted, right now I am moving it around almost every 5 months due to my own changes in tank.
Cannot wait to see it come together for you. Enjoy.

 

[Forjam64]

Got a question, should I plumb to minimize turns in the overflow, or minimize turns in the return plumbing? I would figure the return plumbing because you’re paying for that flow.

 

[DeniseAndy]

My powerheads ( the flow inside the display) are set to turnover over 40+ times the volume of water. Maybe a bit higher. My sump is about 4 times the volume of water. This is per hour.
I prefer a low turnover in my sump. Some are higher. Does that help?
I also never count my return flow as part of my flow of my display.

 

[Forjam64]

I’m sorry, I should have explained that better. My question was should I plumb the tank so that the overflow drain has to run to the left to enter the sump? This would make the return plumbing a straight shot. Or should I plumb the sump so the overflow drain runs almost straight down?

 

[DeniseAndy]

Man, I was thinking way off on that. Too much work. Read it wrong. Sorry.

If you have a choice, do what works best for maintenance. Seriously, it does not really matter either way.

 

[Forjam64]

Got my 2 medium base rocks. I have a large one on the way and 50 lbs of regular Marco rock to start my aquascape.

 

[Forjam64]

My boss came over and gave me a nice piece of redwood to use as a ledge around the tank and got it covered with plywood. I have white shiplap for the bottom. Should get that on tomorrow for a more finished look.

 

[Forjam64]

Shiplap on the side. I’m not going to finish the top until I have the tank filled and leveled. Once I have that done I’ll add some sort of molding

 

[Forjam64]

Gluing up the front.

 

[Forjam64]

This is as far as I’m gonna go until water is in the tank. Once I ensure everything is full and level, then I will finish.

 

[Forjam64]

Getting started on the aquascape. I can already tell it’s going to be more time consuming than I thought. The tank is only 20” tall so the plan is keep it low with a peak or two for special corals when I get to that point. Should have it glued up this weekend, and hopefully mortared next weekend. We have our first baby due at the end of March so I’m pushing to get as far as can before then.

 

[DeniseAndy]

Oh, congrats on the new baby. It will be more work than you can imagine for the baby, so it is okay to let it take time.

Have fun with the scaping.

 

[Forjam64]

Getting started on the scape.

 

[DeniseAndy]

Bear in the rock.... (first picture). Cool.

 

[Forjam64]

I hadn’t seen that but now it’s so obvious. I just had to reattach it because I got cocky and left it unsupported. Plan is to complete gluing this weekend and mortar next weekend.