The Dawn of my 125 gallon Reef!!!

[jacob.morgan78]

I had a clown jump!! Had no idea they were jumpers and unfortunately I wasn't around to save her... :-( Glad you were though!!

[Reefing Newbie]

Funny thing is that I would never expect this one to jump, or I would expect her to jump at least once per day. She bobs her head out of the water at feeding times and it is very fun to watch. Suprised she jumped today, wasn't even feeding time. She must have been excited to see me I guess... Sorry that you weren't around when the clown jumped.

[WDLV]

I highly advise you to put a cover on this tank. Either with egg crate from HD or with pond netting and a plastic window screen kit.

[Reefing Newbie]

My 125 will be getting a screen top for sure because of the wrasses I want. Funny thing is that a group buy I put together in my local club is starting today and materials for a DIY mesh top were on my list. They still are but the window frames are out of stock for this on BRS. For the 46 gallon tank(the tank the clown jumped out of) I don't know what to do... It is a bowfront tank, probably just egg crate it or switch things over to the 40 breeder I have on hand. Then I could build another screen top.

Anyways, I do have another piece of great news, of which I am excited about! A local reefer is tearing there tank down and is parting out. His price on an Vortech MP10 was too good for me to resist at $145. This is the cheapest I have seen them in my club and I am never able to catch the ones here so I am working something out to pick it up this weekend hopefully! I will eventually be doing the ES upgrade as I can afford to.

[Reefing Newbie]

More good news!! Someone else is having tank tear down sale as well. Another MP10 for $100! Now to figure out if I will need to add more than 2 mp10s, 2 750 koralias, and a 1200 gph koralia... Mixed LPS and SPS tank with a LTA and a maxima clam. I know the LTA is going to prefer a calmer spot.

[Reefing Newbie]

Well I got my light fixture on the tank. I have been needing my dad around to help me lift being that it is 6' long like the tank. I will probably get new bulbs soon(the lights will be off for a month so probably in that time) as they are the ones I got with the tank originally and I think they are now about a year old. Last bulb change before I get LEDs at least!

[Curious George]

Nice job with the aquascape. Looks real nice. Plenty of swimming room and I like the motto "less is more."

Great tank Kyle!

[Reefing Newbie]

Thank you very much Curious George. Looking at the picture(lol for some reasone I can't help but stare at it) the tank seems much much bigger than it used to with the old wall of rocks. I am also very happy that I painted the back of the tank black because it seems to make the overflow boxes disappear which is nice on the eyes. The middle island may get some revision for the top(I don't like the two little rocks on the shelf piece) with different pieces. I am going to go take some shots looking down the length of the tank. Also just to think that eventually the two koralia powerheads you see now will be Vortechs making the tank look even better IMO. Need to build a canopy for the tank because I don't like the towels and the wood top for the lighting.

Here is what the tank's aquascape looked like before(you will also see all the dinos and GHA that I had). I think I made a full 180 in the good direction so far!!

[Reefing Newbie]

[jacob.morgan78]

About the canopy... I used black plastic/acrylic and magnetic tape to put a shield so to speak in front of the lights. Works pretty well and easier/cheaper than a canopy.

[Reefing Newbie]

I don't know, I like the look of a canopy more. The piece of wood the lights are attached to is warped from evaporation and such. When/if I do a canopy there will be fans in it in addition to the ones for the LEDs to help keep pleny of air movement to help prevent this. I do like and love your idea though jacob.morgan78, thanks for it!!

[jacob.morgan78]

Options never hurt :-)

Enjoying following along!

[Reefing Newbie]

They never do. If I decide not to, or don't have the time I could just set up a new piece of wood and do what you are doing. Options are my friend, just not when it comes to being so many for stocking fish!

[Reef264]

Nice tank Bud!

[rogermccray]

if you build a canopy just make sure you prime every bit of the wood you use, that will keep the moisture out of it. Don't forget the cut edges....

[iwishtofish]

Looks like you are off to an exciting start! I'm a little confused about the layout of your sump...do you have a diagram of that, showing where the equipment will go, and which section is for which purpose?

I'm curious because your drain hose/sock are to the far left, avoiding the bubble trap altogether, etc.

[Reefing Newbie]

Here is my sump layout in pictures. I can't draw equipment on Google Sketchup, so here it is.

Far left side by drain and filter sock. Under the sock is a blue pump which goes to my AquaC EV-180 skimmer. There is a small MJ1200 behind the skimmer's pump which feeds my reactor with GFO. The little short baffle is simply to keep the pumps from sucking up sand.


This is the middle of the sump, which is a fuge section with a DSB that is ~4" with some dry rock in it for pods and worms. I have some more rock to add and will be adding macros in a few weeks when the anaerobic bacteria should be starting to flourish in the DSB.


Finally the far left section. Before entering there is a bubble trap. This section is the return section of the sump. It is also fed by the reactor's drain water(water that has passed through).


The thing I am noticing now is there are a lot of micro bubbles in the first section. Is there a way to adjust drain plumbing in the overflow box or the drain pipe to reduce the amount of air being taken in? Would a herbie drain help? My overflows are virtually silent already, so noise is of no isssue.

[iwishtofish]

Thanks for posting the pictures! You've chosen a somewhat difficult design (no offense, I hope). What's the size of the sump? I have a few questions/comments - hope you don't mind:

* You still stand a good chance of sand particles, small critters, and macroalgae particles being sucked into your skimmer and gfo reactor pumps. Detritus, as well - the source being from the refugium, rather than the drain pipe. And suppose you get tired of changing filter socks every 3-5 days? The absence of a sock would add turbulence. Is there any possibility of squeezing your skimmer pump in with the return pump, and maybe Teeing off the return pump to feed any reactors?

* I have a big fear that your sump might overflow when the power is cut, as it is filled so high. Have you absolutely ruled this out?

* I think I see three heaters. Is one partly buried in the sand, or is that another device?

* You might want to consider having your gfo reactor drain somewhere other than the return section, just in case fines (gfo dust/particles) make it through the reactor sponges.

Just some initial questions and thoughts. Is it possible to get the sump out of the stand easily?

[Reefing Newbie]

I was actually getting around to thinking a few minutes ago about taking the sump out and making a sump/fuge out of two 29 gallon tanks instead. The only problem I will have is getting the darn thing out because the stand has no side doors and the sides if I did make a door are just 13" for a door. The current sump is a 55 gallon tank.

The particles are something I worry about as well and and I don't want to break the pumps. I could put the skimmer pump in the return section, but hosing is getting cluttered under there. I could tee off the return pump to feed the reactor, but need to get the hose size down to the reactors inlet size.

I have cut power to the return pump and I have a few inches to spare, which makes me uneasy because what happens if something gets in an overflow and pumps a drain line?

There are three heaters, I just took one offline because it isn't needed and that thing you see in the sand is indeed a heater. The suction cups on it have worn out and it won't stay on the glass. Do you have any suggestions for this?

The drainline on the reactor has some very fine mesh netting on the end of it to prevent this. If it is still a problem I will move the drain line on it. The possiblity of getting that 55 gallon sump out easily is a no and what makes me regret using it again, or at least the stand. I have a feeling that if I needed to get it out I would have to drain both tanks and jack the stand and DT up to remove it. I don't know would it be better long run to take my sump out and redo it with something different?

[iwishtofish]

If you did want to cut a door out of one end of the stand, could that be done without cutting or removing a vertical support? Would you then be able to slide the sump out?

I'd love to see you have a sump that provided you with the most ease and versatility.

[Reefing Newbie]

I could cut a door out of the side without taking out any supports. I also read the online manual for my skimmer and the way it is now isn't going to work well drain wise because you aren't supposed to have any elbows on it which I would need to make sure it drains into the tank. I guess I will get to the drawing board for a new sump.

[iwishtofish]

Sorry you have to go through this! But I think you'll be more pleased in the end. There will be plenty of suggestions forthcoming should you ask for advice (from me, too, if you want ).

[Reefing Newbie]

I would much rather redo something now and know I have to before I have corals and fish all over! Now to explain to my dad that we need to take the sump out and build a new one. I will start a thread in the next few days and would be very happy to have your help! So keep your eyes out for it I am definantly looking long term for this tank and if possible I wan to have it during college(if I rent a house or apartment). I would hate to get rid of my fish lol.

[Reefing Newbie]

I still need to talk to my dad about the new sump issue. I am a little nervous about telling him because he doesn't like spending lots of money. I will save the project for when I have a job. I got an idea today though after looking at a thread of someone's 40 breeder fuge.

My plan is to set the 40 breeder fuge outside of the stand on its own stand. Put a DSB in(using the 80lbs that I have already added to the sump) and add more sand(I have 40lbs left), configure the lighting I have on the 40 breeder, add some rock, and put some macros in. I was thinking of setting up the feed with a drain, but not sure how well it would work. I don't want the 40 breeder on the floor! The drains for the 125 come out of the bottom(about 36" off the ground). I know I need to build a shorter stand for the 40, but can the top of it be higher than 36"? The fuge would then drain into the sump.

My sump would be a standard 40, which is 48"x13"x16" I believe. Are these hard to come by? It would keep my skimmer, heaters, and return pump. I do want to include the bubble tower like the ones on melev's reef. Crituqe!

[Reefing Newbie]

Update-
My dad said no to changing the sump. He said he wouldn't help out with it until I have had fish swimming around in it for awhile to see if it will work. He is a little stubborn when it comes to things like this. I would do it myself but I have a shoulder injury that won't allow me to move something so heavy(have a hard enough time picking up my backpack).

Now for actual goings ons in the tank. I picked up two female pylei fairy wrasses last weekend. They settled in right away and ate mysis on the first day. They are now taking formula 1 and formula 2 flakes. The LFS I got them from said they ate NLS pellets so I will be getting some this weekend. Today, I noticed the beginning of what I think is cyano. I have been cycled for over a month and haven't had the lights on much for it to come up. I will just do a three day lights out starting tomorrow to get it before it becomes a problem. Some pictures below.