Darth Vedder's 120 Gallon Build - Page 2

Darth Vedder · 03/04/2012, 05:49 AM

Leak repaired. The DT is now circulations with the return pump on and I added the first powerhead to get the water moving. It is still filled with RODI as I still need to plumb the FRag tank and remote refugium and do the leak test on the entire setup before draining and adding saltwater.

Here is a mockup of what it will look like. I am going to paint the stand on the right and add a trim board RO hide the cinder blocks but here is the just of how my tanks will be laid out

I also got the 40 breeder (Frag Tank) and refugium (20 Long) drilled

Guillaume · 03/04/2012, 06:56 AM

Nice build Darth! Not so slow finally!

Will follow this one! I'm doing a slower build if interested and patient

. (Gouaill's spring 155g penninsula project)

I really like your idea of pods and phyto. I have a fuge with cheato I could use to do some things with it but I guess I don't realise the potential it has. I'm dosing phyto I buy currently but I need to be introduced at growing it.
Good luck with the project!

Apotack · 03/04/2012, 07:50 AM

Just a thought, for max strength the cinder blocks should have the holes top and bottom. I do not know if this will cause a problem. Hopefully someone with more knowledge than me will chime in.

Darth Vedder · 03/04/2012, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guillaume

Nice build Darth! Not so slow finally!

Will follow this one! I'm doing a slower build if interested and patient

. (Gouaill's spring 155g penninsula project)

I really like your idea of pods and phyto. I have a fuge with cheato I could use to do some things with it but I guess I don't realise the potential it has. I'm dosing phyto I buy currently but I need to be introduced at growing it.
Good luck with the project!

Thanks, I hopefully would like to breed clowns someday so having a good experience with phyto, rotifer, and pods will only help there plus it's free food for the reef tank in the meantime

Darth Vedder · 03/04/2012, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apotack

Just a thought, for max strength the cinder blocks should have the holes top and bottom. I do not know if this will cause a problem. Hopefully someone with more knowledge than me will chime in.

I agree with the orientation of the blocks.

That stand is being modified from an old chest of drawers so currently the weight is on 4 corners from these decorative feet. As I was mocking up the stand I had to place them that way so the feet could sit on the edge but I actually am cutting off the legs and am going o make a 2x4 base RO allow the weight to be evenly distributed along the perimeter. Once I do that I am going to flip the blocks to the correct orientation

Apotack · 03/04/2012, 03:41 PM

Ok, it just caught my eye and I was afraid you would have problem down the line. Glad you are on top of it. The build is looking real good, looking forward to seeing it finished.

Darth Vedder · 03/04/2012, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apotack

Ok, it just caught my eye and I was afraid you would have problem down the line. Glad you are on top of it. The build is looking real good, looking forward to seeing it finished.

I appreciate the feedback and there are plenty of things in this hobby I am destined to get wrong so I would rather be told something I already know than no feedback at all and make huge mistakes!

Thanks again

Darth Vedder · 03/09/2012, 06:10 PM

I split my phytoplankton culture today and harvested 4 liters. I bottled it in 16 ounce bottles to distribute as I dont need it myself at the moment

I also finished modifying the stand that the 40 breeder frag tank will sit. I reinforced the stand, and painted it to match the display tank stand

suoirotoN · 03/09/2012, 06:52 PM

So legit.

Darth Vedder · 03/14/2012, 05:50 PM

I got my 120 lbs do pukani rock. This stuff looks great and I think I have more than I will be able to use

I added all my dry rock to some rubs to see if it will leach phosphates. If it does I will treat with lanthanum chloride to reduce phosphates before I aqua scape and add to the tank

psteeleb · 03/14/2012, 07:35 PM

looking great !!!
tagging along

Darth Vedder · 03/23/2012, 09:14 PM

So I had some time again tonight without real life getting in the way and I constructed the overflow box for my frag tank. Of coarse I forgot to pick up black silicone to attach it so that will have to wait until morning.

I hopefully will get the plumbing on the external frag tank and refugium tomorrow. I also picked up an apex aquacontroller for a steal of a price so I'm exited about that.

Here is a picture of the overflow box.

Reef264 · 03/23/2012, 09:19 PM

Looks really cool man!

Darth Vedder · 03/23/2012, 09:24 PM

Thanks tango

Icedtc · 03/23/2012, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darth Vedder

I got my 120 lbs do pukani rock. This stuff looks great and I think I have more than I will be able to use

Nice build. I used the same exact rock from BRS. Ordered 60 lbs for my 92 gallon corner and it fit like a charm. It's so porous that you get a lot for the weight.

Just to let you know I soaked mine for about four days in Rodi then put it right into the tank. Two months in I'm having no phosphate issues. Hopefully you will fair the same way.

Great choice...I love the pukani!

Darth Vedder · 03/23/2012, 10:51 PM

I soaked mine in RODI for about a week and added seaklear (lanthanum chloride)

After bout a week phosphates were around 0.05 ppm so I'm hoping not to have any issues either

rl225 · 03/23/2012, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by psteeleb

looking great !!!
Tagging along

+1

Darth Vedder · 03/30/2012, 08:44 PM

Ok just a quick update, I finished the overflow boxes for the frag tank and remote refugium, however I banged one of my baffles and cracked it in half... Cheap lowes glass

Anyway, I replaced the baffle and waiting for silicone to,cure so I can finish plumbing and water test the remote frag and refugium tanks

Darth Vedder · 03/31/2012, 11:04 PM

So I have all three tanks online and plumbed into the sump, and no leeks.

I also started planning the aquascaping. Hopefully tomorrow I will get some reef putty and acrylic rods to start assembling inside the tank once I drain the test water out of it

What do you think? I may put a small puller in the front as well but need to get a hacksaw blade to cut some if the bigger pukani rocks I have left over. What do you guys think?

shaggss · 04/01/2012, 08:44 AM

darth great build. you seem to really know what you are doing.

sorry can help in any way as you have it all covered!

cheers

Darth Vedder · 04/06/2012, 11:59 PM

Ok i finally had time to do more work on my build. I got the rock aquascaping into the tank and secured so it won't fall when the livestock is added. Here are a few pictures. I can't decide if I should add more rock, like a small pillar in the foreground or anything. I still have plenty or rock left that if not used in the DT will go into the frag tank and refugium

And another slightly different angle

Any suggestions?

kelrn98 · 04/07/2012, 05:00 PM

a full tank shot would help, but it looks good to me.

Darth Vedder · 04/08/2012, 03:44 AM

Ok, I've made some good progress.

I got the aquascaping finalized in the display as well as the frag tank and refugium

Here is what I settled on. I added some rock behind the two big islands for some additional nook and crannies

Here is the rock work in the entire system

I also built the frag racks and got them painted with Krylon so the PVC matched the black egg crate. (this was taken before I painted the newly built racks)

And a top view (this was taken before I painted the newly built racks)

I also pulled out the sump and repainted the inside of the cabinet. It was a little rough looking and I thought this would be a good time to resell the wood before filling it back up.
I also made my first 50 gallon drum of saltwater and added the sand bed and started filling her up.

The second drum full is mixing so begins the two day process of making enough saltwater to get the system full

Darth Vedder · 04/09/2012, 09:38 PM

Quick update:

The entire system is now filled with saltwater at 1.026. I have the heater (JbJ True Temp) installed in the sump, got the media reactors installed and the skimmer up and running. I haven't put any media in the reactors as I assume I don't bother until after the cycle?

I also attached a length of tube to the manifold to assist in water changes when the time comes

Here is a quick shot of the sump now

iwishtofish · 04/10/2012, 12:06 AM

This is a really nice build so far! Just a couple thoughts came to mind...take them only for whatever they are worth to you!

I'm thinking it might be easier to do maintenance on your media reactor if it were raised higher above the water line. You might have more trouble unscrewing it if it is wet and covered in bacterial slime, and there may be more risk of contaminating the water if the top of the bottom housing dips below the water line when removed.

Your rockscape in the DT looks really good. I, too, have an arch like that. I'm finding, though, that I'm wishing I had created a lot more caves in my rock for fish to hide. I only have one fish now, but I'm afraid that when I add more, there will be battles for sleeping space.

Do you think you have enough flat surfaces and ledges upon which to mount corals?

EDIT: Ok, I see now that you can just lift the media reactor up higher when you need to work on it.

03/04/2012, 06:56 AM	#27
Guillaume Another reef dependant Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Québec Posts: 505	Nice build Darth! Not so slow finally! Will follow this one! I'm doing a slower build if interested and patient . (Gouaill's spring 155g penninsula project) I really like your idea of pods and phyto. I have a fuge with cheato I could use to do some things with it but I guess I don't realise the potential it has. I'm dosing phyto I buy currently but I need to be introduced at growing it. Good luck with the project! __________________ G Current Tank Info: 150g mixed reef

03/04/2012, 07:50 AM	#28
Apotack Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: New York Posts: 297	Just a thought, for max strength the cinder blocks should have the holes top and bottom. I do not know if this will cause a problem. Hopefully someone with more knowledge than me will chime in. __________________ Adam Current Tank Info: 125gal

03/04/2012, 03:41 PM	#31
Apotack Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: New York Posts: 297	Ok, it just caught my eye and I was afraid you would have problem down the line. Glad you are on top of it. The build is looking real good, looking forward to seeing it finished. __________________ Adam Current Tank Info: 125gal

03/14/2012, 07:35 PM	#36
psteeleb Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: DFW Texas Posts: 5,249	looking great !!! tagging along __________________ A smooth sea never made a skillful mariner Current Tank Info: 110g Mixed Reef, LED's & T5's

03/23/2012, 09:19 PM	#38
Reef264 Where's The Reef? Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Southaven, Ms Posts: 2,098	Looks really cool man! __________________ I'd rather Die on my feet, than Live on my Knees. Current Tank Info: 150g SPS Reef, 2x250w 14k Pheonix Metal Halides w/T-5 Actinics, 2 Tunze 6095's, Tunze 7096 controller, Ozone, Precision Marine Skimmer, Reef Octopus Bio-Churn Bio Pellet Reactor, GFO & Carbon Reactor, Ozone Reactor, ATO, Reef Keeper.

03/04/2012, 05:49 AM	#26
Darth Vedder Sith Lord Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Saint Charles, MO Posts: 481	Leak repaired. The DT is now circulations with the return pump on and I added the first powerhead to get the water moving. It is still filled with RODI as I still need to plumb the FRag tank and remote refugium and do the leak test on the entire setup before draining and adding saltwater. Here is a mockup of what it will look like. I am going to paint the stand on the right and add a trim board RO hide the cinder blocks but here is the just of how my tanks will be laid out I also got the 40 breeder (Frag Tank) and refugium (20 Long) drilled

03/09/2012, 06:10 PM	#33
Darth Vedder Sith Lord Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Saint Charles, MO Posts: 481	I split my phytoplankton culture today and harvested 4 liters. I bottled it in 16 ounce bottles to distribute as I dont need it myself at the moment I also finished modifying the stand that the 40 breeder frag tank will sit. I reinforced the stand, and painted it to match the display tank stand

03/09/2012, 06:52 PM	#34
suoirotoN Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 40	So legit.

03/14/2012, 05:50 PM	#35
Darth Vedder Sith Lord Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Saint Charles, MO Posts: 481	I got my 120 lbs do pukani rock. This stuff looks great and I think I have more than I will be able to use I added all my dry rock to some rubs to see if it will leach phosphates. If it does I will treat with lanthanum chloride to reduce phosphates before I aqua scape and add to the tank

03/23/2012, 09:14 PM	#37
Darth Vedder Sith Lord Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Saint Charles, MO Posts: 481	So I had some time again tonight without real life getting in the way and I constructed the overflow box for my frag tank. Of coarse I forgot to pick up black silicone to attach it so that will have to wait until morning. I hopefully will get the plumbing on the external frag tank and refugium tomorrow. I also picked up an apex aquacontroller for a steal of a price so I'm exited about that. Here is a picture of the overflow box.

03/23/2012, 09:24 PM	#39
Darth Vedder Sith Lord Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Saint Charles, MO Posts: 481	Thanks tango

03/23/2012, 10:51 PM	#41
Darth Vedder Sith Lord Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Saint Charles, MO Posts: 481	I soaked mine in RODI for about a week and added seaklear (lanthanum chloride) After bout a week phosphates were around 0.05 ppm so I'm hoping not to have any issues either

03/30/2012, 08:44 PM	#43
Darth Vedder Sith Lord Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Saint Charles, MO Posts: 481	Ok just a quick update, I finished the overflow boxes for the frag tank and remote refugium, however I banged one of my baffles and cracked it in half... Cheap lowes glass Anyway, I replaced the baffle and waiting for silicone to,cure so I can finish plumbing and water test the remote frag and refugium tanks

03/31/2012, 11:04 PM	#44
Darth Vedder Sith Lord Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Saint Charles, MO Posts: 481	So I have all three tanks online and plumbed into the sump, and no leeks. I also started planning the aquascaping. Hopefully tomorrow I will get some reef putty and acrylic rods to start assembling inside the tank once I drain the test water out of it What do you think? I may put a small puller in the front as well but need to get a hacksaw blade to cut some if the bigger pukani rocks I have left over. What do you guys think?

04/01/2012, 08:44 AM	#45
shaggss Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 1,709	darth great build. you seem to really know what you are doing. sorry can help in any way as you have it all covered! cheers __________________ NEVER get eye level with an infants anus! New build, planning stages. 30 x 20 x 20", Geisemann Spectra 250W with Radium, Profilux controller, Profilux doser 2, Fluval SP4 return pump, Life Reef 28

04/06/2012, 11:59 PM	#46
Darth Vedder Sith Lord Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Saint Charles, MO Posts: 481	Ok i finally had time to do more work on my build. I got the rock aquascaping into the tank and secured so it won't fall when the livestock is added. Here are a few pictures. I can't decide if I should add more rock, like a small pillar in the foreground or anything. I still have plenty or rock left that if not used in the DT will go into the frag tank and refugium And another slightly different angle Any suggestions?

04/07/2012, 05:00 PM	#47
kelrn98 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Biloxi, MS Posts: 856	a full tank shot would help, but it looks good to me. __________________ ~Kelly~ Current Tank Info: 96x24x30 -300g mixed reef: 75g sump, 35g fuge, 2x MP60, 4x Radion Pros, reef octopus X5000 skimmer, way too much LR and a few fish

04/08/2012, 03:44 AM	#48
Darth Vedder Sith Lord Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Saint Charles, MO Posts: 481	Ok, I've made some good progress. I got the aquascaping finalized in the display as well as the frag tank and refugium Here is what I settled on. I added some rock behind the two big islands for some additional nook and crannies Here is the rock work in the entire system I also built the frag racks and got them painted with Krylon so the PVC matched the black egg crate. (this was taken before I painted the newly built racks) And a top view (this was taken before I painted the newly built racks) I also pulled out the sump and repainted the inside of the cabinet. It was a little rough looking and I thought this would be a good time to resell the wood before filling it back up. I also made my first 50 gallon drum of saltwater and added the sand bed and started filling her up. The second drum full is mixing so begins the two day process of making enough saltwater to get the system full Last edited by Darth Vedder; 04/08/2012 at 03:49 AM.

04/09/2012, 09:38 PM	#49
Darth Vedder Sith Lord Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Saint Charles, MO Posts: 481	Quick update: The entire system is now filled with saltwater at 1.026. I have the heater (JbJ True Temp) installed in the sump, got the media reactors installed and the skimmer up and running. I haven't put any media in the reactors as I assume I don't bother until after the cycle? I also attached a length of tube to the manifold to assist in water changes when the time comes Here is a quick shot of the sump now

04/10/2012, 12:06 AM	#50
iwishtofish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 4,949	This is a really nice build so far! Just a couple thoughts came to mind...take them only for whatever they are worth to you! I'm thinking it might be easier to do maintenance on your media reactor if it were raised higher above the water line. You might have more trouble unscrewing it if it is wet and covered in bacterial slime, and there may be more risk of contaminating the water if the top of the bottom housing dips below the water line when removed. Your rockscape in the DT looks really good. I, too, have an arch like that. I'm finding, though, that I'm wishing I had created a lot more caves in my rock for fish to hide. I only have one fish now, but I'm afraid that when I add more, there will be battles for sleeping space. Do you think you have enough flat surfaces and ledges upon which to mount corals? EDIT: Ok, I see now that you can just lift the media reactor up higher when you need to work on it.