My 75 Gallon Minimalist SPS build

cracker · Oct 29, 2017

You got a great deal. The tank cleaned up real nice too. Lot of good planning also. So to stop back siphon from the return. You drill a small hole just at or below the water line. when the water drops to the hole it sucks air & breaks the siphon. Check out the term "siphon breaks" . I love my 75. just the right size for a decent display & ease of maintenance. Sounds like it will be a while before You convince Your Lady into a bigger tank !

Montiguy1287 · Oct 29, 2017

Thanks cracker. She doesn’t care about the size persay just he cost and this was too good of a deal to miss. I’ll finish the basement this winter and have space to build up to a 180 in wall but I don’t want to if I can’t get this one to the point I want.

So the hole goes in the return line in the overflow correct? That makes a lot of sense.

Montiguy1287 · Oct 29, 2017

Pic of my 29 that’s recovering from 2 moves.

Montiguy1287 · Oct 30, 2017

Dry fit the system tonight. Will run plumbing tomorrow. Here’s my (extremely) crude drawing of plumbing plans. I’m looking for brutally honest feedback. Will this work? Where will I need valves for either noise reduction or future additions (reactors, etc...) I’m thinking of using hard PVC for all plumbing. Thoughts on this? I want to plumb tomorrow so your thoughts and suggestions are extremely helpful!

Montiguy1287 · Oct 31, 2017

Thoughts on how I did? I didn’t add any extra t’s or anything because of the limited space. If I want to add stuff later I’ll have to figure it out then. So for now I plumbed the drain line with 2 90’s and the return with a piece that increases the M1 from 3/4 to 1” followed by a coupler for easy maintenance of the return pump without having to drain the sump, followed by a ball valve for control if needed.

I rebuilt the Durso return portion to now be 1” instead of 3/4”. I haven’t drilled the siphon break hole yet as I don’t know where the water level will sit and I want the siphon break about a 1/2” below the water level.

Right now, it’s all curing and maybe I’ll start a leak test tonight. Haven’t plumbed he ATO yet because I want to make sure all of this works well and assuming it does, I’ll plumb that into the system tomorrow along with the reactor.

Montiguy1287 · Oct 31, 2017

Here it is all plumbed and cleaned up. I have decided to leave it black but I’m going to touch up the black and change the doors.

Here are the doors in the house and I’ll change the doors to match:

Montiguy1287 · Oct 31, 2017

Filled it and the tank isn’t leaking but my plumbing is on the return line

why would I think I would get lucky and it would all work the first time?!

Montiguy1287 · Nov 2, 2017

So frustrated. I have the tiniest drip from the underside of both bulkheads and I cannot figure out why! I think I’m just going to order new ones because I’ve tried everything...,

Montiguy1287 · Nov 3, 2017

Replaced three bulkheads and the tiny leak is gone. Unfortunately I had to replace all of the plumbing since it was cemented in. Now I am waiting in anticipation as the cement cures and hope hope hope I don’t have a leak somewhere in the new plumbing

Montiguy1287 · Nov 4, 2017

I had he tiniest leak at one of the 90’s but other than that all is good. I will get that fixed easy. The system was LOUD at the sump. Couldn’t figure out what was going on. Dialed closed the ball valve on the return line and that fixed that problem. Apparently that Vectra M1 pushes so much water that it’s just loud when it enters the sump. Dialed back though it’s quiet. Going to let the system run for a couple days and then drain it all and start adding RO

Montiguy1287 · Nov 11, 2017

Draining has begun. Will replace all of the hose water with fresh clean RO by end of day!

Montiguy1287 · Nov 11, 2017

It’s filled back up with salt mix and I threw in some food to get the cycle going. Now wait time

Montiguy1287 · Nov 12, 2017

Just sitting around waiting.......... for a little ammonia showing up on the test tonight. Turns out they’re not MP40’s but I still feel like it was a good deal. I’ll transfer mine over from the other tank and pick up a couple for this one when the time comes.

In the mean time... let’s talk sand bed. Anyone have experience or recommendations with sand bed? I don’t want bare bottom but I’m wondering if deep sand bed is necessary. My current tank has about 2 inch worth and it seems to do ok. Thoughts and suggestions on depth pro’s and cons and also what kind of sand to go with?

I’m also looking for some rock scape inspiration! Show me your rock scapes so I can dream while I wait to order some rock tomorrow

progression pics would be cool to see scapes.

Montiguy1287 · Nov 15, 2017

Ordered brs dual carbon and gfo reactor with the maxi jet pump along with some bulk media of each and the ultra low phosphate Hanna checker tonight. Will be first time ever running gfo in a tank. Any suggestions I should know?

Montiguy1287 · Nov 18, 2017

Sand in. Waiting to clarify and will add rock. Ammonia spiking so moving along. Would like to start transition of other tank to this one in the next couple of weeks but we’ll see how cycle goes.

Montiguy1287 · Nov 19, 2017

Got nitrite! Cycle moving along

brs dual reactor came in the other day. Need to get that and the ATO set up next. Also got some rock and am working on the rockscape. This week should be fun!