Flipside's 120g Budget Build (Yeah Right)

Flipside · Dec 9, 2014

Hello everyone,

Inspired by a buddy in the local reef club, I'm going to try and bring my build up to date. I actually started collecting all the reef gear that I have on August 7th, this year. It's up and running right now, and corals are growing-out (SPS mainly, with one single LPS).

With this build, I was inspired by many other reefers in the hobby. The only two items that I did differently (than my other build threads) was that I wanted to incorporate two different items that I never recorded publicly before: I wanted the way I have always done "floating dry rock" to be recorded (I cannot take credit for this... I read about how to do this on many reef forums in the past and the theory resonates well with me) and I started the build by keeping track of all my expenditures, publicly. I am pretty "behind" on keeping up with costs (almost 2 months behind), but the main stuff is covered in my google spreadsheet. I'm not going to log what fish, corals, and monthly maintenance costs (I mean, from here going forward) because that's all easily research-able. You can check it out if you want:

Flip's Running Reef Tally

This all started off as a budget build, but the guys that have been doing this for awhile know better than that. To be honest, I think that what I've spent so far has been pretty cheap as I picked and pulled used pieces from locals, classifieds, and reef items that were on sale, etc, etc... Besides, I really have no other expensive "things" that I do. I ride MTB, golf, game online, martial arts, read a LOT, etc... Wait... maybe I do have a few costly activities... I may need to reassess the finances, but I digress...

That being said, and as stated in the opening paragraph, my reef is fully functional right now. I'm just growing sticks now. Can I get more? Of course! Will I? Of course! That will all be logged away as I go; but first, I have to play catch up in this thread by posting pictures of how I got where I am.

Future plans? Well, currently, I'm in the process of fabbing-up a frag tank to plumb right into my current system. The stand is built and the tank has been cleaned up. I have much to do to get the remote tank online, but I'll try to get this thread up-to-speed before going into that. I'll also try to update the spreadsheet with all of it's costs when I can.

Prepare yourself! It gets ugly from here!

The goal was functionality not "purdiness," as we say in Texas.

Thanks for reading, in advance! I can empathize on what it takes reading through the drivel.

Flipside · Dec 9, 2014

So, to get the pictures going:

This is what I started off with.

A local reefer was selling this tank and I have always loved the footprint of a 120g.
They are easy to light, pretty compact (all things considered), and have a good width to them for aquascape.

This deal took place on 08/07/2014. He included a BM Curve 7 Skimmer, that I had to replace the pump on, a Mag Drive 7, and an Eheim 1262. I use the Mag for my water changes and the Eheim for my return.

Flipside · Dec 9, 2014

This was the next item I started installing on 08/08/2014:

It's nothing like I'm used-to using, but it's doing the job. I got it from a local business that I felt like supporting, through eBay.

And, for drinking water:

Flipside · Dec 9, 2014

Then, during the same day, I got my light in. It's a Odyssea 48" Metal Halide System Advance Plus. After a few months of use, I've replaced the MH's with Phoenix bulbs, and the T5's with some ATI's to get the color I want. I also added a Reef Brite LED strip recently, that gives the corals a bit more pop... But, I'm getting off topic... Here it is, as I got it:

Yes, you get what you pay for, but all-in-all I was pleased with the light in it's stock form. It did grow corals like this, and I still like the light today.

Flipside · Dec 9, 2014

Then, on 08/09/2014, I got some odds-and-ins in:

I think I got all of that on Amazon because they were the cheapest at the time.

Flipside · Dec 9, 2014

Then, I bought a 48", 6 bulb, T5 fixture by ATI. My buddy sold this to me at a great price, so I couldn't let it slide.

It also has LED supplements on the sides. The PO installed them, and they do make a world of difference (purely aesthetic on coral "pop").

Shout out to my good friend Huy for the hook up here!

d2mini · Dec 9, 2014

Looking good, man! :becky:

Flipside · Dec 9, 2014

Then on 08/13/2014, I got my order from another online vendor.

A magnet cleaner for the DT, Smart ATO, and 36" Trigger Systems Ruby Sump.

Flipside · Dec 9, 2014

d2mini said:
Looking good, man! :becky:

Thanks Dennis!

Flipside · Dec 9, 2014

Then, on 08/14/2014, I had a metal stand built by a local welder. It leaves a "lot" to be desired, but it's been doing the job so far.

Here's a pic he sent me when he built it. His "shop" is quite disturbing. LOL

Then, I he delivered it and I got to cleaning and painting it:

This was after wiping it down a bit.

This is the paint I used. I used-to use this stuff on offroad vehicles that I used to build. It's more than enough, IMO.

Done!

Flipside · Dec 9, 2014

On the same day (08/14/2014), I got all this stuff. I definitely could have paid more for this stuff, or less by using cheaper methods; but... meh...

Dosing reservoirs and ATO tank.

Flipside · Dec 9, 2014

Then on 08/21/2014:

The rock is Pukani, in-case anyone is interested.

Flipside · Dec 9, 2014

This update was from 08/21-28/2014:

Leak testing. Found out what that center brace was for. :tongue:

Mock-up

Hindsight being 20/20, I would have purchased all of this new. Had problems buying it used. Nothing against the seller, just standard wear and tear items needed to be replaced, and it wound up costing quite a bit to get this controller on par. That being said, very happy (as always) with Neptune customer support, and their products.

Vinegar bath, AHOY!

Floating Pukani work.

Completed product

Still leak testing...

Cable management much? LOL

Flipside · Dec 9, 2014

From there, I added the rock and let things begin the cycle. Here's kind of what it looked like when I started the cycle (dead shrimp method is all I ever do).

This was on 09/02/2014.

Rocks are setup differently today, but you get the gist.

Flipside · Dec 9, 2014

09/09/2014

I didn't like the BM Curve 7 so I sold it off to a friend for cheap. I think I charged him the price of the replacement pump, or something (it's in the spreadsheet). I went to my buddy's store and he just got some new skimmer in that I wanted to try out. So far, I like the DC power pump-type skimmers because they are pretty quiet. I think that for the price, you can't really go wrong with these, but be sure you have the bioload needed for it.

If I don't run my BP reactor directly into it, it doesn't skim that well on smaller tanks like mine. For a 180+, it'd do fine out of the box.

Been running it with no problems for... 3 months? Not nearly long enough to conclude anything, but it skims very well (surprisingly)!

Oh yeah... and it's packed very well too! LOL

Flipside · Dec 9, 2014

09/16/2014

This is how the rock has remained to date. Added the sand for a little mystery wrasse that was in the works; plus... I like conchs and cukes.

I was nowhere near ready for livestock at this point, but I had a good friend breaking down his tank at a good deal for the livestock. Funny thing is, not so long afterwards, he took most of it back, but the SPS (like 2-3 pieces) and the fish. LOL! Gotta love this hobby.

Here's some of the livestock that I got from him, on the same day:

Don't know what this is, and I had to use my camera phone for all pictures up to this point (and a little beyond).

The rock is from his tank. The algae subsided completely in my tank, after blooming like crazy. It never has gotten me too crazy to see these outbreaks. It's a part of the cycle.

Flipside · Dec 9, 2014

09/17/2014

I took this picture to show how the T5's looked. I wasn't fond of it.

Got this mimic at a LFS. They do well on algae, IME.

Here's a shrimp that I got from the same buddy in the post prior to this one.

Then, I went out in the garage to build a quick shelf for the dosing pumps that I had purchased way back in the beginning of this build (that I failed to mention, but it is in the spreadsheet).

I use Kreg's Pocket Hole system when I can.