New set up space / new reefer / upgrade

[Peter luu]

Hi, just started into reef hobby on November 14 when I brought my first 75 gallon tank. After filling the tank and waiting, over 3 weeks I gather and ordered all my equipment and my cycle was over in 2 weeks. Due to last minute situation I’m upgrading
my 75 gallon to a 100 gallon that comes with 30 gallon sump. It’s a pacific aquarium from my LFS which is on sale for $750 from $1400. I’m picking one up next week and getting things ready for it’s arrival. I’m planning to hook up 2 tanks and a display refuigum to one sump.

I have following equipments for my current 75 gallon;
Coralife super skimmer 65GALLON
Pair of viparspectrum LED lights ( from amazon )
Pair of DSunJ LED lights ( from eBay )
Jebao cross flow cp55 ( from eBay )
Fluval cp3 circulation pump
DSunJ 900 gph circulatio pump ( from amazon )
Eshopp Es-200 sump
Fluval sp2 return pump
Jebao 4000 pump ( never used, back up )
Eshopp pf1000 overflow
Innovation marine in-sump bio-pellet reactor ( from eBay )
Pair of 2 little fishes media reactor 175L
300W Heater & 150W Heater
Fluval FX5 canister filter

I recently got a Red Sea max 130D for $200 which was a steal consider condition of it. I’m planning to have it an SPS only tank and wondering if the stock lighting is enough or should I remove the stock hood and get an spectrum LED light?

I’m planning to keep most of my old equipment for the new 100 gallon tank but getting a bigger skimmer and better lighting.

Here a few things I’m planning to get

-160-250 gallon skimmer since that’s the biggest I can get for my eshopp sump
-3eshopp overflow box ( one for Red Sea, one for refuigum and other for 100 gallon to have 2 overflow ) since I’m worry to drill the Red Sea and break it, I will have to figure out how to remove the stock hood and replace lighting and add overflow box.
-stronger return pump unless I can show how use two pump for return?
Still looking around for the lighting fixture as the tank is 48” long, 18” wide and 24” deep
Any suggestions with price range under $700?

 

[Susan Edwards]

Nice tanks. That will keep you busy for quite a while!

 

[gallagherkyle55]

Would you do 550

 

[Peter luu]

Would you do 550

550 for?

 

[Peter luu]

Nice tanks. That will keep you busy for quite a while!

Thanks! Yeah but not much physical work till I set up the new tank but have to repaint that way to a focus wall colour which will be blue jean colour lol

 

[Peter luu]

So my wife didn’t allow me to have a big tank last minute... ended up getting smaller version of the one I was going to get. It’s a 60 gallon with 15 gallon sump.

I’m going to use the sump that came with it and turn it into full refuigum because of how the baffles are laid out...
I’m using my eshopp rs 200 for Sump and will be building a stand for the sump and my future 97gallon cube reef ready for sps that my LFS ordered but will take a month for arrival, already left deposit
I’m connecting my drain from the 60gallon to sump and have return pump into refuigum then another return pump will return to 60gallon with Tee towards the 97 gallon but will cap it off till it set it up.
Will be having two reactor for gfo and another for carbon. My in-sump bio pellet reactor will arrive on the 15th.

60 gallon will have two cross flow at each end ( 1 cp55 and other cp25 )
Will remove stock canopy that has built in LED to replace with two hydra AI 32LED.
Haven’t thought of what skimmer to get yet as I will have around 190 gallon of water between two tank, sump and refuigum.
Return pump is jebao 4000 for return from sump to reactors and refuigum and ordering jebao 8000 for return pump to two display tank.

Today is day 2, added 40lbs of live sand and 25lbs of live rocks to start off.

Just threw the rocks in and will arrange and update picture when the water clears.

 

[Susan Edwards]

exciting. Cute kid too!

 

[Reef-junky]

You do know saltwater is very conductive right? I would not hang a surge protector above it. I hope your using GCFI outlets and not just a surge protector. Just a safety tip.

 

[Peter luu]

You do know saltwater is very conductive right? I would not hang a surge protector above it. I hope your using GCFI outlets and not just a surge protector. Just a safety tip.

Hi yes it was just there while I was cleaning up, it was only there for an hour and placed it back to original spot.

 

[Peter luu]

So been awhile since my update, had a leak from the overflow bulkhead due to sand being underneath the rubber ring. Had to drain whole tank and place live rocks in a QT tank left in my bathtub with heater and pump... it had been there for a week till today when my RO/DI finally filled my sump, refugium, QT and display tank = total 85 gallon system

The sump that came with my display tank is very small.... and very useless... I didn’t plan it very good... and already hooked up my plumbing and glued it so here how it goes.

Overflow from 60gallon display goes to one inlet of sump going through socks, skimmer section then return section. With the plumbing of return, it goes through 4manifolds ( 1 extra closed up for future use / drain ) then goes behind cabinets into 60gallon display refugium. ( 33” long x 11” wide x 12” deep. From the refugium, there is a return pump that is pumping return water to 60gallon that has valve and reduced 1” pvc to 3/4” pvc . I added a T fitting to the return pump to feed my future 70 gallon cube.

Still in process of my DIY stand for the 93 gallon cube with lots of extra space for my 20gallon fluval set up ( QT ) and still deciding on a frag tank that will be fit with whatever remaining space I will have.

Got my salinity level to .025 with my new refractormetor, added back my live rocks and the sand was left inside the tank so it kinda dried up so I’m guessing it’s dead live sand now and hoping to bring it back to live again. I didn’t rinse it cause I thought it should still be new since I only had it set up for 3 days before I had the leaking problem. Can anyone chime in on this?

Can anyone tell me what’s best for my tank when it comes to lighting? I was thinking getting one hydra AI 52 or two hydra AI 26?
My tank is 36” long x 27” deep x 15” wide .


I regret getting this tank because of odd size... but my wife loved the look on it and only agree to let me keep reefing if I get this set up and I’m allow to have another tank also with remaining space... so I decided to go with two tank because I wanted to keep one for nems only while the 60gallon will focus on sps and lps. I was thinking getting something small but hold large amount of water, so it’s either 93 gallon cube or 70gallon cube which is the only one I can find in Vancouver, Canada. I was told by my LFS that he can get a 93 gallon cube reef ready when he goes to the states and he doesn’t know when but sometime in February. So I’m in no rush and he gave me a good deal I think. $800 CAD no tax lol if I pay in cash.

The stand I built it 30”wide x 4’ long x 34” high
I wanted extra room inside the cabinet for plumbing and able to move things around without hitting my head. I’m putting support in middle once I complete setting up so that way the 93 gallon can sit on the outside edge corner while frag will be in middle and QT will be on the other end against the wall. Will be building overhead cabinet above the tanks to hang lights and storage. ATO will sit next to sump under the floating shelf plumbed to the RO/DI system.

Ps. Sorry about the mess in the picture lol been busy for past week so had no time to clean up for pictures

I wouldn’t recommend using aqua Buddie RO system for first time filling a tank if you don’t mind wasting a lot of water and time consuming. Good for ATO for the price

 

[Peter luu]

 

[Peter luu]