Ctimpson's 135 gallon Reef Tank... Build Thread...

Ctimpson · 10/19/2007, 12:05 AM

Ok, so this tank is going to be my new baby... I am so happy with this purchase... I will post pics tomorrow morning of this beast...I love this tank... Basically, tank specs are as follows... 135 gal. AGA 72" x 18" x 24" with right hand corner overflow... Stand that is completely wired for all electrical needs and the entire stand is fully insulated... The canopy opens from the front on two hinged doors. Lighting consists of 2x 250 watt Metal Halides with ballasts, 4 VHO 112watt Super Atinics, with an Ice Cap 660, 4 moonlights... Just to give you an image of where this tank is going to go, my bedroom is 12' x 8'... On the 12' wall, there is my 42" Plasma and then this tank... My bed is in front of the plasma, so really the rest of the entire room, is this tank...

Next up comes all the questions, I am sorry for this is going to be a long post, so thanks in advance...First, in the overflow there is 2 inch bulkhead and 2 1inch bulkheads for the returns... All I have at this moment in time is a Rio 2500 as the return pump for my 60 gallon. I know this will not be suitable for the new tank so can anyone recommend what I should use... I am going to use my 40 gallon as the sump and fuge, so should I run the overflow piping from the right side of the tank to the left side with some ball valves to cut the flow, and into the skimmer portion of the sump/ fuge, then returning straight up to the returns... Also, I currently have a brand new EuroReef RS80, do you think it would be ok to still use the skimmer, or upgrade to like a Octopus? Any other thoughts would be appreciated.... Thanks...

Ctimpson · 10/19/2007, 08:29 PM

Ok, so here are the first images for this build thread... Today was spent sanding down my stand... Whoever painted this setup was an idiot... The stand and canopy were painted with the stone textured spray paint, SEA FOAM GREEN of all colors, so the surface was as rough as sandpaper... Upon sanding, I discovered that the stand is constructed of really nice finished plywood, so barring any screwups, we have decided to stain the setup with a very light stain... The canopy still has to be sanded and all of the trim on the stand, but it will be worth the work. I ordered my bulkheads today, and will be ordering my new metal halide bulbs tomorrow. Any recommendations on 250 watt Mogul Based bulbs. I am thinking of 14000k but I am open to suggestions... The tank is currently filled with 3 gallons of vinegar and like 120 gallons of water... I will let that soak until tomorrow when I get home from work and will scrub it and refill again... The pics are nothing special, but hey at least they are some pics... Thanks everyone in advance...

10/19/2007, 12:05 AM	#1
Ctimpson Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 22	Ctimpson's 135 gallon Reef Tank... Build Thread... Ok, so this tank is going to be my new baby... I am so happy with this purchase... I will post pics tomorrow morning of this beast...I love this tank... Basically, tank specs are as follows... 135 gal. AGA 72" x 18" x 24" with right hand corner overflow... Stand that is completely wired for all electrical needs and the entire stand is fully insulated... The canopy opens from the front on two hinged doors. Lighting consists of 2x 250 watt Metal Halides with ballasts, 4 VHO 112watt Super Atinics, with an Ice Cap 660, 4 moonlights... Just to give you an image of where this tank is going to go, my bedroom is 12' x 8'... On the 12' wall, there is my 42" Plasma and then this tank... My bed is in front of the plasma, so really the rest of the entire room, is this tank... Next up comes all the questions, I am sorry for this is going to be a long post, so thanks in advance...First, in the overflow there is 2 inch bulkhead and 2 1inch bulkheads for the returns... All I have at this moment in time is a Rio 2500 as the return pump for my 60 gallon. I know this will not be suitable for the new tank so can anyone recommend what I should use... I am going to use my 40 gallon as the sump and fuge, so should I run the overflow piping from the right side of the tank to the left side with some ball valves to cut the flow, and into the skimmer portion of the sump/ fuge, then returning straight up to the returns... Also, I currently have a brand new EuroReef RS80, do you think it would be ok to still use the skimmer, or upgrade to like a Octopus? Any other thoughts would be appreciated.... Thanks...

10/19/2007, 08:29 PM	#2
Ctimpson Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 22	Ok, so here are the first images for this build thread... Today was spent sanding down my stand... Whoever painted this setup was an idiot... The stand and canopy were painted with the stone textured spray paint, SEA FOAM GREEN of all colors, so the surface was as rough as sandpaper... Upon sanding, I discovered that the stand is constructed of really nice finished plywood, so barring any screwups, we have decided to stain the setup with a very light stain... The canopy still has to be sanded and all of the trim on the stand, but it will be worth the work. I ordered my bulkheads today, and will be ordering my new metal halide bulbs tomorrow. Any recommendations on 250 watt Mogul Based bulbs. I am thinking of 14000k but I am open to suggestions... The tank is currently filled with 3 gallons of vinegar and like 120 gallons of water... I will let that soak until tomorrow when I get home from work and will scrub it and refill again... The pics are nothing special, but hey at least they are some pics... Thanks everyone in advance...