My 75g build

BluegrassReef · Aug 18, 2009

Well I have been without a tank long enough....lol

After seeing all the great tanks/corals you guys have I have decided to start anew and build a 75 gallon display with a little twist.

Plan:
75g display drilled with closed loop
25g sump for skimmer,heater.carbon/po4 reactors (DIY)
20h refugium
15g return section (DIY)

YES...that is 3 different tanks all plumbed together...I know I am strange...lol

to add to my strangeness i will also incorperate a 40b frag tank.

The tank is far from done but i do have alot of pics of my progress so far...I hope to have water in it by Christmas....Stay tuned...pics later

oceanparadise1 · Aug 18, 2009

thats not strange! i have a 180 plumbed to a 75 sump plumbed to a 100 gallon fuge and also tied in is a 55 gallon prop/frag tank!

cant wait to see some picturtes!

BluegrassReef · Aug 18, 2009

I may just add a 75g frag tank instead of the 40b since i already have it...LOL.....I will post some pics later this evening.....mike

BluegrassReef · Aug 18, 2009

Pics as promised...Holes being drilled for returns and closed loop...shot of the skimmer not the best in the world but since the tank will only have a couple clowns in it till spring i think it will do the job...it's a Fission recirc. skimmer rated for 225g...also a shot of my reflectors...they are Lumen something..the guy I got them from did not remember which ones they were.

oceanparadise1 · Aug 18, 2009

Thanks for the pics!!!! looks like its going to be a GREAT system!

Reef Pets · Aug 18, 2009

Mike - Good to see that you are starting up a tank! I cant guarantee it but the reflectors look like LumenMax Reflectors. They are great reflectors and do a great job.
Gary

BluegrassReef · Aug 18, 2009

More pics

overflow box painted black...this is actually the front piece of a lifereef overflow...I drilled a 1" hole for a bulk head and now it is ready to go....I hope:bigsmile:

The 25g sump I made from a cracked 40b I had laying around...cut it down with a wet tile saw....The silicone is ugly but I don't care it will be under the tank and out of sight.

20h refugium...need to strip the old blue paint off and then it is good to go this will actually sit in the next stand that will hold the grag tank..the 15g return tank will also be in that stand.

BluegrassReef · Aug 18, 2009

reefpets said:
Mike - Good to see that you are starting up a tank! I cant guarantee it but the reflectors look like LumenMax Reflectors. They are great reflectors and do a great job.
Gary

Yeah you and all the other sponsors are driving me nuts with all the nice coral that you guys are putting up...so basicaly it is your fault...:bigsmile:

This tank will be basically empty except for a couple clowns until spring so it can cycle and mature so I can stock it MIXED but heavy on the SPS and ZOAS and PALYS

BluegrassReef · Aug 18, 2009

Her is the tank,stand and canopy as it sits now....I wish I could say I built the stand and canopy but I got it from a buddy that did...He is upgradeing from a 90 to a 4ft 120.

I will get some pics of the closed loop plumbing....I am running a OR 6500 for the return since it has to travel so far to get to the the returns I figure after head lose 90's and 45's it will be fine....Will be using a Mag 18 for the closed loop....worked out nice so it can sit in the sump to keep it cool...I thought I was gonna have to run it external.

BluegrassReef · Aug 19, 2009

I will have more pics tomorrow..My mag 18 for the closed loop should arrive tomorrow...I also picked up 2 3/4" enductors for the returns.

ahayes13 · Aug 19, 2009

looking great. i love the stand and canopy, you got a really nice tank setup (your buddy did a good job

) cant wait to see some more pics...

BluegrassReef · Aug 19, 2009

ahayes13 said:
looking great. i love the stand and canopy, you got a really nice tank setup (your buddy did a good job ) cant wait to see some more pics...

Thank you...I have been going nuts not having a tank....going on 5+ months...I never thought I would find something that I could get this far into and stay....It is all i think about....LOL

ahayes13 · Aug 19, 2009

me too.... im always thinking reef, researching reef, and sometimes dream reef ... lol.... i dont think my boyfriend understands.... lol.

BluegrassReef · Aug 19, 2009

ahayes13 said:
me too.... im always thinking reef, researching reef, and sometimes dream reef ... lol.... i dont think my boyfriend understands.... lol.

I know my wife doesn't...lol....at one time she wanted seahorse...since this is all I talk about she has since said to **** with it...lol

BluegrassReef · Aug 21, 2009

Not much of an update...I had to order a new impeller for the mag 18 I got off RC...and found a small leak in the 25g tank I made...still need to drill a couple holes and wait for the impeller to arrive........mike

ahayes13 · Aug 21, 2009

ahhhh... patience really is a virtue isnt it...

well at least everything is in process. cant wait to see it filled up ! so what corals are you gonna go with ? mix ?

BluegrassReef · Aug 21, 2009

yeah I think it will be a mixed reef.....If i can ever get water in it...lol...I will start out slow and be adding the SPS part sometime next spring and summer.

I want to run 175w Iwasaki 15k and some atinics...i have read and heard they are the best 175w bulbs. Not sure what i want to run as atinics?????