Sparty's 120 Mixed Reef Build

[iemsparticus]

Howdy!

So I'm building my first reef tank, and I wanted to make a thread following it's setup and progression.

The tank is currently being built right now by Glass Cages. So far they have been great people to work with. I asked them if I could get some pictures of the tank as it's being built, but that's probably not possible. We'll see. It's 120gal 48x24x25, and I am having them drill it for a BeanAnimal style drain, with two return lines.

I'm building my own stand and hood, and will wrap it with Walnut plywood, and stain it pretty dark to match the couches in the room it will reside in.

The sump I'm using is the Synergy Reef Systems SS-34. It's the Atomic Green color scheme... and it looks sweet.

I have about 90 pounds of dry rock that I have had curing since the beginning of April... a mixture of Pukani and Fiji. I have heard a lot of people say that different kinds of live rock look out of place mixed together, but one thing Inuave learned from my years of freshwater aquascaping is that things work really well that other people say don't. I'm going to try it out and see how I like it. If I don't, I just won't use any Pukani.

90 lbs isn't a lot for the tank, but it will give me plenty of filtration given that this will be a ZeoVit tank.

I have a bunch of stuff on order, and when I get back into town , I will have a lot of new things to unbox and post here. I'll put pictures below of what I have going on so far.

Stand and hood so far... they need wrapping.

My live rock.

My kids showing off my sump.

Can't forget the RO/DI station. That booster pump gets me a nice 80psi.

I'll post more pics as Inhave updates!

 

[KJ]

Nice start and more pics plz

 

[iemsparticus]

Nice start and more pics plz

Thanks KJ... you'll get pics just as fast as I can take them! I leave for CA on Wednesday to visit family, and when I get back on Tuesday, things will really pick up. I'll be ordering my Clowns when I get back to get them started in the QT.

 

[iemsparticus]

Just ordered my first fish for the tank today from Diver's Den... they will be here to star in my QT on Tuesday. It's a bonded Picasso Percula Clown pair... Im pretty excited about it!

Edit: Tuesday I should have a lot more pictures to post as well.

 

[iemsparticus]

Just got back home from my trip to California... and all of this was waiting for me. I have to get to Hime Depot really quick to make sure I'm ready for my Clowns today... more pictures coming.

 

[iemsparticus]

It's backwards here, but this is the basic layout of my sump. Skimz Monzter 162 Recirculating skimmer and the 2L KZ Magnetic ZEOvit reactor fit very well. The sump is the Synergy Reef SS-34.

My Clowns look great, energetic, and vibrant! Very happy with them... I have them acclimating in the QT tank.

 

[iemsparticus]

Here is a poor quality video of the end of the Clowns first day in the QT.

 

[iemsparticus]

Another better video of feeding time... the Clowns are really doing well in the QT.


And here are updated build pictures, as well as pictures post box openings

More coming soon... I expect my DT to be here by the end of the month... and then it all gets really exciting... haha

 

[iemsparticus]

Last updates for today.

I put the ballasts for my T5 fixtures on the top of the stand to keep them away from splashing water.

My T5 install is complete. These are 2x LET 48" T5 Retro kits from BRS. My LEDs and moonlights will go down the middle in between the T5s.

Testing the front and back rows of T5s. Everything works like a dream! The lights you see are 1x Giesemann Aquablue Azure, and 1x Giesemann Super Actinic. I'll have one of each on each side.

Back with more updates later!

 

[Maritimer]

Looks like all the ingredients are in place for a great reef soup ... now you just need the glass mixing pot!

Gonna be a beauty . . .

~Bruce

 

[iemsparticus]

Looks like all the ingredients are in place for a great reef soup ... now you just need the glass mixing pot!

Gonna be a beauty . . .

~Bruce

Thanks Bruce!

 

[ngoodermuth]

Looks like a great start! Are you just going to have the 4 T5 bulbs and LED moonlights? What type of corals are you planning to keep? If SPS, I'd consider two more bulbs

 

[sebastiaan1985]

Looks like a real nice set up, can't wait for pics of the DT.
Combo of T5 and Kessils looks promising!

 

[iemsparticus]

Looks like a great start! Are you just going to have the 4 T5 bulbs and LED moonlights? What type of corals are you planning to keep? If SPS, I'd consider two more bulbs

Thanks!

No, I wasn't clear. I will be putting 2x Kessil A360Ws in the middle, as well as a strip of moonlights (the Lunar module and lights for the Apex).

I plan to have a mixed reef, so a little of everything.

 

[iemsparticus]

Looks like a real nice set up, can't wait for pics of the DT.
Combo of T5 and Kessils looks promising!

Thanks! Hopefully those pictures will be coming soon.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Looking great, man! Following!

 

[iemsparticus]

Looking great, man! Following!

Thanks!

 

[iemsparticus]

Couple more updates.

I routed some air vents into the top of the canopy (I ended up going with 4):

I will also be putting a fan on each end of the canopy to suck hot air out... as well as I will be keeping the back of the canopy open. Should provide good ventilation.

I also got my sump all set up:

It barely fits!!

Clowns have been in the QT for 9 days now... and have had their second treatment of Paraguard today. They are still doing great!

 

[iemsparticus]

I'm hoping to hear from Glass Cages with a tank update next week sometime.

Mean while, I got this box of goodies today...

Not many people can understand how exciting a box of PVC fittings can be...

And my Clowns are still doing great, and are recognizably growing:

I'm using the quarantine process that @hawaiifavo outlined on his YouTube video... thank for sharing that!

Next update will hopefully include major steps forward in the stand/hood.

 

[iemsparticus]

I have some shots of the stand/hood that I am very close to having finished... I just got the wood to make the front panels of the stand and hood, so those are left out of these pictures for now:

Because of tight space constraints, I do not want doors that open on the stand. Instead, the right side panel (as you face the aquarium) comes off, and I will make the front panel do the same thing. I use braces that fit snugly inside the frame of the tank, and magnets on the top and sides for added stability:

It works very well.