Lyscer 65 gallon reef Build

[lyscer]

So I thought I should document my build since it has been quite a while in the making and I am still waterless at this point.

Background
A few years ago I setup my first Saltwater tank which was a 120 gallon SPS dominated tank that had a Calcium Reactor, Refugium, MHs, etc.. So I don't consider myself a complete newbie, but there are always things that you can learn! I then was in the process of moving so I setup a 10 gallon nano with a 10 gallon sump/fuge with a clamp on viper light and ran that for a while and then when I made the move I sold that tank and have been tankless for a few years and the itch has gotten so bad that I need a new setup.

Here is the list of failed setup attempts:
Tank #1
As I was trying to get back in I acquired a cracked bottom 55 gallon rimless tank and while replacing the bottom the tank had an accident and I decided to scrap it.

Tank #2
I picked up a 75 gallon tank with stand for pretty cheap locally. I resealed the inside, bought some cerium oxide and buffed out some of the scratches (will never do that again pita). Once the tank was ready to be setup my wife let me know that she did not want it in our main living area because it was "too big".
So that began the negotiation phase of the project which took a few months to have her nail down what size tank she would be fine with in our living area. She finally gave me a "small" space that I could put a tank. The dimensions that I have to work with are either 35" long or 41" long. I read a ton of threads and was tempted to build my own display that filled the space but I know if the tank seams were to fail (that I built) my tank days would be over forever, so I set out in search of tank that would fill the footprint. This is how I came to settle on a 65 gallon tank.

The chosen wall - I will be replacing the outlet with a GFI outlet.

Tank #3 - The winner... or is it?
So I then started searching locally for a 65 gallon tank and all of the goodies I need for it.

So I cleaned the thing with a razor blade, some water, and a ton of elbow grease:

While cleaning it, I found a bunch of scratches in the glass and I not sure how I feel about them so I will wait until the lights are built. If I don't like how the scratches look with lights then I will be buying a new tank.

So here are the plans.

65 Gallon Display
2x - 60w DIY LED pendants
Koralia Powerheads
Eheim 1260 return pump
Durso Overflow
AirWaterIce Dual Reef RO/DI unit with 15 gallon emergency/storage water bin

I just picked up a few goodies from amazon and marine depot:
- Red Sea Coral Pro Salt Bucket
- Red Sea Refractometer
- 60lbs of Tropical Eden Reef Flakes
- Eheim Jager submersible heater

I am more than likely going to pull the trigger on the new mp40's in the next couple of weeks but am having to look at REALLY expensive things first so that the price on those seems more reasonable.

I decided I don't like the Stand so I will be building a new stand and matching canopy which I will document and add to the thread.

 

[lyscer]

I wanted to post some pictures of the RO Unit all hooked up.

I decided to not use the saddle valve that is included and picked up a "T", some pex rings and a 1/4 turn shut off valve to feed to RO unit from the main water line.
1. I turned off the water
2. Held a buck under the line
3. Cut the line
4. put the rings on, then the "T" and crimped it all
5. Ran the water line to the RO unit and turned it all on
6. Ran a water line from one side of the house to the other to get from my utility room to the "chosen fish wall"

Once I have the storage bin hooked up I will post some pictures of it

 

[lyscer]

Things brings 4 months of work up to date. I picked up a portion of the rock I am going to be using for this project. I purchased it dry and while inspecting it I found dried majano anemones and a whole slew of flat worms so I decided that I would do this right and I bleached the rocks.

1. Put the rocks in buckets of water
2. Add 5 Gallons of water and 1/2 gallon of bleach (I know that the rocks displace water so it wasn't a true 5 gallons of water but I didnt need to be 100% precise with killing things ).
3. Let the rocks sit for 24 hours in the mixture

I am going to be picking up a larger bin this weekend and giving these rocks a Muriatic Acid bath to try and limit the amount of phosphates that they will put off during the cycle. I will post some pictures of that process once I have done it.

Should start on the DIY LEDs in the next couple of weeks and then this thing is going to fly together. I am going to pick up another 20-30 lbs of rock to add to the tank and I may go with Live Rock to help seed things along but I am holding on that decision until things get a little closer to being done. I still need to build the stand/canopy.

 

[macscale]

I'm following, this should be interesting!

 

[PostShawn]

Any updates to this tank?

I'm picking up the same size tank this weekend. I also have limited room so for me it was between a used RSM250, a 90g cube (36x24x24) or this 65g tank. I was able to find a nice deal on the tank, stand, and everything except a pump for the sump return which I already had. The 90g's don't come up often so I would have had to spend a lot more to get new. And the RSM's have their own complications other then also being pricey. So for now I'm happy with finding a good 65g setup and can't wait to start putting it together.

 

[lyscer]

I actually ended up selling this tank. My wife agreed to letting me get the cadlights 68g versa so I hurried and picked one up before she could change her mind. So it is basically this same build just on a different tank. You can see that build thread here:

https://www.reef2reef.com/posts/2324691/