HPballer76's 130g Rimless Reef

[HPballer76]

Had some free time finally so i thought I would start documenting the progress of my new tank. I bought this used about two months ago and have been working on getting it running and tweaking little things to my liking. The tank is 48x30x22 rimless 3/4 starphire on the front and sides built by miracles in Canada. The stand is 2x2 steel powder coated white and it has a flat black wood cover that slides around the stand. The light is a custom made 8x54w t5 with 4 led moonlights that is painted to match the stand. It will be running an elite aquatics custom skimmer powered by a sicce psk-1000 pump, elite aquatics custom sump, and a cadlights biopellet reactor.

On to the pics!

Stole these first few from the previous owner, this is when the tank was new. I bought it used from the owner of elite aquatics.

And now onto my pics

Moved into my place.

With the wood cover on

 

[HPballer76]

Then it was time to start building my mixing station which is located in my unfinished basement directly below the tank.

Bulkhead installed in a 32g brute. My papillon Nikki had to be in the pic lol.

In place in the basement getting the plumbing, float valves and iwaki pump installed.

More plumbing work done.

Installed a washer box in the wall behind the tank to keep things neat. This is where the plumbing for the mixing station comes threw. It is split so I can fill the sump directly or attach a hose and fill straight into the tank. You can also see my ato line coming up and the apex cable that runs down to an eb8 in the basement to control everything.

Once that was done it was time to get the Ro/Di setup so I could start making water.

Picked up a garden hose Y to split my washers cold water line.

 

[ReefPops]

Very cool setup. Can't wait to see how it comes along. Well thought out for sure.

 

[HPballer76]

Then dumped whatever Ro water I had left in to the tank.

The hose hooked to the mixing station filling the tank.

Finally got it filled, salt mixed, and then put in the rock that I had been curing.

Then I picked up two 10g tanks, heaters, and an air pump to do the tank transfer method with.

Did my scaping before I added sand but I guess I didn't take a pic of that step..

So sand added waiting for it to clear up.

About this time was when my 72g bowfront sold so it was time to break that down. Which was a huge pain..

 

[Aqua fire/medic]

This is awesome. I love that stand!

 

[KJAG]

Agree: killer stand. Love the steel stand look, and am having a buddy who's a welder make me one in a few weeks. Following along.

 

[HPballer76]

Thanks! I absolutely love it as well. Makes working on things under the tank so easy.

 

[HPballer76]

Cadlights biopellet reactor

Elite-Aquatics cone skimmer with sicce psk-1000 pump and acrylic skimmer stand.

Skimmer and reactor next to each other

PVC t with 1/2 inch barbed fitting to attach the outlet of the biopellet reactor to the intake of the skimmer.

And all hooked up.

Then my return pump which is a laguna max flow 2900 was vibrating a lot against the bottom of the sump so pulled it out and used some 1/2 inch tubing to reduce the vibration.





Return pump.

Before

Supplies.

And after.

No more vibration!

 

[HPballer76]

Apex head unit and mp40 mounted.

Meanwhile the water had cleared up.


Aquascape with the lights off. May do some small tweaking later but for now I am satisfied.

Then I decided I hated seeing the apex wire hanging there. So ran that in the wall.

FTS with all 8 bulbs on. 6 blue plus and 2 purple plus which is what came with the light. I think I am going to change to 5 blue plus, 2 coral plus, and a purple plus. Suggestions?

Closer FTS

Looking in from the right side

And looking in from the left side

 

[House]

Build is coming nicely. Great progress!

 

[wrasseluver]

Awesome build man the steel stand looks great.

 

[HPballer76]

Thank you!


Took a pic looking at the tank from the stairs to the left. You can see my sailfin tang hanging out that completed 2 weeks of prazipro and the tank transfer method last week.

Which dosing pump does everyone think I should go with? I am pretty much decided on brs pumps located in my basement next to the mixing station controlled by my apex. What I can't decide on is if I should get the 1.1 ml per min or the 50ml per min pumps? I already have a 50ml min pump so ideally I would like to use that and only have to buy 1 more pump but if everyone thinks it would be better to go with the 1.1ml pumps I could always sell the 50ml I already have. Opinions?

 

[laynframe]

bubble magus pumps work great and are controlled on their own

 

[HPballer76]

Teaser. Been working on a few things arty:

Anyone care to guess what is in the boxes??

 

[ruppertb]

Looking great

Sent from my LGL75C using Reef2Reef Aquarium Forum mobile app

 

[Zack]

Seriously sweet build

 

[Devilish Dukie]

Very nice. What type of sand are you using?

 

[HPballer76]

Not sure what the sand is. It was in the tank when I bought it. I just gave it a good cleaning and reused it.



More pics!

Some of the stuff from the boxes.

Andddddddd the main item.

New 65g water storage tank. Will be using 2 of these in the new mixing station/auto water changer.

About half of the plumbing parts. I think I made at least 10 trips to lowes. (Seriously)

Installed some lock line inside for mixing. Also the float switch the renew system.

 

[RollinReefer]

looking good!

 

[stlcard]

go big or go home. this is a sweet build. Keep the posts coming.