My 125g budget build!!!

Scorchx1245 · Jan 8, 2021

So I had a 40 breeder for several years and suffered from not having any of the fish i wanted. And my RBTA took up 1/3 of the tank. I couldn't get a bigger tank due to weight restrictions of my apartment. Well now I finally got my 125 with sump off a friend who got a 280. And a new place

So first thing I did was vinegar and clean clean clean.... on the over boxes there was montis growing on them and the skeleton would not come off. I tried and it I felt I was going to break/crack the boxes so I did what I could do. Remember I'm working on a budget. So no replacing them. I then replaced the bulkheads with new and kept it simple with Herbie style drains. I then filled the rest with tap water to double check everything and forgot one crucial thing....how do I level this tank? What if it does leak as I live in apartment and can't leak test outside plus its 20 degrees out etc etc. So I had 4 days off of work and got to work

I re drained the aquarium and did a rinse and went to lowes and bought 3 packs of composite shims.

The concrete slab was leaning inwards and i placed the shims every 6 inches apart...this took a while cause the slab was so curvy and not a good flat pour. (Theres also linoleum.)
Finally got it level and begin to fill! To leak test of course.

Now with being in apartment and scared of leaks etc I bought several wifi leaks detectors and placed them in certain areas.

Screenshot_20210108-222743_Amazon Shopping.jpg

Now to start plumbing while the tank sits...I put caps on the bulk heads temporarily incase the overflow boxes leaked.

Scorchx1245 · Jan 8, 2021

Now if you look at the sump photo, there's a refugium chamber on the back. I ran a T and a valve (the U was just temporary for testing) and plumbed the rest. After plumbing was all done and the leak test passed even with plumbing it was time to fill with RODI (mixing salt in tank.)

jsker · Jan 8, 2021

Looking good!!

CMMorgan · Jan 8, 2021

1 - you are brave to do that in an apartment! You must have amazing landlords to let you do that. around here, rentals won't let you have a goldfish.
2 - love how you are approaching this. Smart and thoughtful planning. I am most definitely going to look into those wifi leak detectors. Thanks!!

Scorchx1245 · Jan 8, 2021

CMMorgan said:
1 - you are brave to do that in an apartment! You must have amazing landlords to let you do that. around here, rentals won't let you have a goldfish.
2 - love how you are approaching this. Smart and thoughtful planning. I am most definitely going to look into those wifi leak detectors. Thanks!!

Well I did have to add onto my renters insurance the aquarium and possible leaks.

Scorchx1245 · Jan 9, 2021

So now the fun start of breaking down the 40 and transferring to my new place. The tank is filled with saltwater mixed and plumbed( FYI tank is running and has been for about 3 weeks prior....) i should have taken pictures but was more focused on getting the fish and corals transfered in 20 degree temps. So I grabbed 3 totes from Walmart and my bucket brigade and began grabbing rocks. All tbe rocks with coral were placed in the bucket and used plastic soda bottle filled with water to prop the rocks in the bucket to prevent shifting. Loaded up my whole truck. (Fish and corals on the crew cab) and trucked across town 30 mins roughly. And did a drip acclimation to everything.

All tne corals survived!!! One acro is bleaching though =(

Scorchx1245 · Jan 9, 2021

I was working an aquascape but with my lease expiring and my time frame everything had to be done that weekend. I was hoping to have the new tank earlier but my girlfriend had to quarantine which meant I had to quarantine from covid which set everything back by 2 weeks.

So in the tank I spread out all the LR and corals in the middle and what left over LR on the edges.

Then it was back to finishing my aquascape. I used the sand and superglue method and used @Glue Masters glue to adhere everything and I ran out of the 8oz bottle alot quicker then I thought with only 2 pieces to go... so I went to lowes and bought 8 tiny bottles of superglue to finish. Then I added to tank and added my pre existing LR to the new scape.

Scorchx1245 · Jan 9, 2021

I still have more dry rock to scape to finish everything and lots more to do and add! But this kinda catches up my tone frame to a week ago.

CMMorgan · Jan 9, 2021

Looking great! What are you running for lighting?

Scorchx1245 · Jan 10, 2021

Well for now its just 2 xr15's gen 3 pros with 36 inch ati hybrid, im adding 1 or 2 more xr-15's and another 36" hybrid and gonna daisy chain the t5s together.

Zionas · Jan 10, 2021

My apartment does not have restrictions on fish tanks! In fact I share the same complex with 2 other hobbyists (we’re in China) though my tank will be the biggest by far. Good that the walls are load bearing, and I live close to the foundation and nobody living below me. My tank will be similar to the OP’s except more width and less height.

I confirmed that if anything happens my tank won’t fall into anywhere with people, but the building’s “deep” structure.

ScottR on here is an American living in Hong Kong and has a 120 (though 4ft so his exerts more pressure on the floor, mine will be a 6ft) on the 10th floor of an apartment. It’s holding up well.

Scorchx1245 · Jan 10, 2021

Agreed, i was just super paranoid of a leak, theres 6 wifi leaks pods scattered around the tank/stand. So as long as my phone is on, and have service and no power outages, i will recieve an email haha.