IM SR-60 - 1st Build!

[Res_Ipsa]

UPDATE: I just removed the rocks, let them sun dry for a day, and put them in a fresh batch of RODI plus a hefty dose of AquaVitro Alpha to break down the leftover chlorine.

The chlorine smell is FAR reduced and weakening. After a few days rest I’ll pull the rocks out to dry and mix up a warm saltwater bath for them to sit in until Christmas.

 

[Haggisman14]

Following along! Look forward to the build!

 

[Res_Ipsa]

UPDATE: Sicce pumps were plumbed in and tested tonight. The stock pumps used a 1/2” ID hose to a double 1/2” Y-split. The larger Sicce pumps utilize a 1” to 3/4” step down outlet so I found a couple 3/4” to double 1/2” Y-splits to install. Hopefully this will decrease some of the flow restriction to better utilize the higher flow rates of the pumps.

The custom stand is nearly done from a local woodworker and being stained tomorrow.

RODI production has been good and I’ve managed to store 25gal to prep for cycling next week. I need to grab some ammonia, but also bought some nitrifying bacteria in a bottle to populate the tank. The plan is to do a fishless cycle inside my house.

I also snagged a Tunze osmolator ATO from the R2R forum and will be getting that set up once the tank is on solid ground.

The gear list and supplies keeps growing but after dozens of hours on R2R and YouTube, I’m feeling pretty optimistic that this tank will be up and beautiful real soon.

Santa and his elves will be moving and installing this tank Xmas night to surprise our kiddos (they have been sending letters to Santa everyday asking for a fish tank ). Then, we’ll aquascape, mix up some salt, and start dosing ammonia.

More pictures and updates to come!

 

[Haggisman14]

That tank will be getting some nice flow! What size Sicce pumps are those? Personal recommendation for down the road...change out those in tank nozzles for some RFG heads from @Vivid Creative Aquatics . I've got a 29 gallon biocube that I'm using a Sicce 3.0 pump, plumbed into a lockline splitter, and using 2 RFG's. Having 4 heads in the tank, I think it would create really really great random flow for you.

Looking forward to watching this come together!

 

[Res_Ipsa]

That tank will be getting some nice flow! What size Sicce pumps are those?

Thanks, @Haggisman14! The pumps are Sicce 2.0's so just those two will move about 15-20x tank volume per hour. I originally planned on using some Loc Line on the two outer heads and directing that flow more towards the sides of the tank, but apparently Loc Line and Innovative Marine fittings are kinda incompatible. But you're right - at some points I'd like to tweak that flow.

I'm also curious to see how the flow looks with the one MP10. I sized down from the MP40 thinking I'll likely add a second MP10 down the road, but if I can get the same result using the return heads, it might be cheaper.

 

[JBKReef]

@Haggisman14 beat me to the punch I was going to recommend @Vivid Creative Aquatics RFG's as well. There are some great videos out there showing some great flow patters with these guys. On the SR-60 should be excellent especially with those upgraded pumps, man those guys are beasts.

With avoiding a controller, which looks like you shouldnt have a problem I would recommend a heater controller at least, the Inkbird is a good example. Especially with using freebie heaters this is a good fail-safe in case one decides to go supernova. I run a Lagoon 25 without a controller and rely on the Inkbird to control my heaters.

Great build so far! I will say my wife's love for marine biology (and her eventual career as a veterinarian) really solidified with her senior science project which was maintaining a 180 gallon reef tank. It's a great idea for the kiddos. Best of luck!

 

[Vivid Creative Aquatics Verified Sponsor]

@Haggisman14 and @JBKReef - Thanks for the support , we really appreciate it.

Thanks, @Haggisman14! The pumps are Sicce 2.0's so just those two will move about 15-20x tank volume per hour. I originally planned on using some Line Loc on the two outer heads and directing that flow more towards the sides of the tank, but apparently Line Loc and Innovative Marine fittings are kinda incompatible. But you're right - at some points I'd like to tweak that flow.

I'm also curious to see how the flow looks with the one MP10. I sized down from the MP40 thinking I'll likely add a second MP10 down the road, but if I can get the same result using the return heads, it might be cheaper.

Given the return pumps you installed, the 1/2in RGFs would be a great choice and could easily fill that tank with randomized flow. 1/2in Lo-line may be compatible with the the stock fittings on t hat tank. It's hit and miss - sometime it's perfect and other times it a bit loose. If you do decide to give the Random Flow Generator nozzles a try, then you'll want to take a look at the 19mm to 1/2in loc-line Slip-Fit drop adapters. They are designed to replace the stock adapter and will directly fit the 1/2in RFG nozzles.

 

[Res_Ipsa]

Great stuff here for options on generating some random flow patterns from the returns. Thanks @Vivid Creative Aquatics!

In other update news, the stand is taking shape! We'll be cutting out some pass-throughs for the rear of the stand, adding doors, trim pieces, and a lip to cover the bottom 1" or so of the tank,then it's off to stain and seal. We are also doing a veneer between the tank bottom and wood to offer some extra protection against moisture.

Don't mind the wood footers - those are just for protection and will be removed once it's inside the house.

 

[Res_Ipsa]

XMAS UPDATE:

Santa was very busy tonight and moved in a new tank under the cover of darkness. Luckily, he also stuffed it full of goodies from @Bulk Reef Supply and other R2R sponsors so that we can aquascape and fill this baby soon!

The cabinet gap will be fixed after the holidays.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

 

[Res_Ipsa]

Mocked up most of the equipment today and found out my power/cable management needs some work. Hah. Too bad my cabinet partitions are too narrow (16”) for the 19” DJ bar power rack options.

 

[Reef man 89]

Looking good. Thanks for sharing!! The note to the kids was awesome to read.

 

[TheWB]

Mocked up most of the equipment today and found out my power/cable management needs some work. Hah. Too bad my cabinet partitions are too narrow (16”) for the 19” DJ bar power rack options.

Nice job so far, following along. I had a similar problem with the dj switch because of the way the APS cabinet is set up for my IM Lagoon 50. I ended up mounting a piece of 30x20 x 1/2 inch thick wood to one side of the cabinet and I’ve hung the dj switch towards the bottom. Now it take up virtually no room inside the cabinet and I can still get to all 9 switches. Using some 6” plug extensions to make it easier to connect power supplies. It wasn’t the look I was originally going for but it’s functional. Don’t want to picture-jack your thread but I’ll pm you a pic if you want to see it.

 

[Res_Ipsa]

Playing around with some aquascaping today and feeling pretty good about this for a first attempt. Any suggestions?

It’s only held together with gravity for now, but if I still like it after a day, I’ll start chiseling to get the fit a bit more snug and then use a combo of epoxy and superglue to firm it up.

Great tips so far and it’s looking like I’ll probably be cramming an Apex EL in here sometime in the future.

 

[cancun]

Looks great so far! I am looking forward to seeing all set up and ready to go!!!! [emoji16]

 

[Res_Ipsa]

Checking the fit for my ATO reservoir. No fancy acrylic yet, but I think a USGI water jug oughta do.

Also started rinsing and placing some MarinePure spheres near the return pumps to offset the more minimalist aquascape.

 

[btmedic04]

I hope that water jug wasn't on your hand receipt! Everything looks great and I look forward to seeing your build progress!

 

[SDK]

Really good job so far and I want to look into those RFG nozzles.

 

[cancun]

Looking good! [emoji16]

 

[Res_Ipsa]

She’s wet today!!!

 

[Res_Ipsa]

Happy New Year!!!!

It has been quite a holiday working with the family getting the tank up and cycling! After the kiddos getting a *little* too enthusiastic with the salt, I was reading about 41ppm following the initial fill. Whoops!

But I read the nitrifying bacteria can survive in salinity as high as 44ppm so I left it alone for a couple days and monitored. Today, I did a 10% water change and managed to get the salinity down to a respectable 36ppm. Numbers seem to be on track so fingers crossed everything is going as it should.

I’ve got no filtration at all right now and plan on leaving those off for a couple more days to make sure everything calms down.