125 Gallon Reef Build!

NastayNatron · 03/21/2011, 02:53 PM

Im going to start this thread off with my stand build pictures!!! Im away for a week so ill be finishing the stand off when im back and keep you posted.

Enjoy!

duncantse · 03/21/2011, 02:55 PM

Nice Start!

NastayNatron · 03/21/2011, 02:55 PM

The Stand

NastayNatron · 03/21/2011, 03:04 PM

Now that I have some pictures up, ill give a planned equipment summary.

125g 6 foot dual overflow tank (pic above)
Reef Octopus SRO 3000 INT skimmer
Reeflo Snapper Gold external pump
2 Vortec MP40 powerheads
3 250w metal halides with supplemental t5ho lighting
Reefkeeper Elite with net module

This is just the basics of what I am getting. Pump and skimmer should be in next week!

Brwestern · 03/21/2011, 06:09 PM

Looks good so far. How big is your sump? Doesn't look very big compared to the stand. You'll have plenty of room for other equipment though, that's for sure.

Brwestern · 03/21/2011, 06:10 PM

Is that where the tank will be? Can you get to the lightswitch?

NastayNatron · 03/22/2011, 12:07 PM

Its a 40g sump. I thought it would be sufficient but im thinking now I maybe should go with something bigger. . . or a seperate fuge tank. . either or. Thats where the tank will go. It comes right to the edge of the light switch. I built the stand as big as I could fit so there will be maximum room for equipment. Now .. . UV sterilizer or no UV sterilizer? That is the question.

Musbtr1pin · 03/22/2011, 11:31 PM

Pass on the UV Sterilizer. I had one, and actually if you maintain good water, and use an RO/DI setup you should be good. I would highly recommend the RO/DI. I use one in my 55 reef, and use it for my 180 as well...

Point Black IMO - UV is junk....

NastayNatron · 03/23/2011, 12:41 AM

Thanks for the advice. . ive been pretty against them as well so far. . and ya i have a 29 gal reef right now and have ro/di and all that good jazz. Ya can't expect good water without starting with pure water!

As for the sump size. . . ive been looking around and ive decided to add a 20 gallon refugium to the setup. Ill probably just take a line off my pump return and put a ball valve on it to make it a low flow fuge. Then have it drain back to the pump. Thats my thoughts anyways . . Anyone doing this?

Ibixable · 03/23/2011, 11:21 PM

Looking good so far cant wait for more pictures.

NastayNatron · 03/24/2011, 01:40 PM

Thanks ill be posting more in the next few days!

mess7777 · 03/24/2011, 01:56 PM

Nice stand dude! I am envious! Some people are just handy, guess that's you! That tank looks small for a 40g, you have so much room under your tank. My 110 is only 4 feet long, I have no room after putting in a 30g underneath.

jhs · 03/24/2011, 03:18 PM

Just tagging along for this....getting ready to start a 60 tall...

NastayNatron · 03/24/2011, 05:42 PM

Thanks Mess. I have officially decided to also put a 20g tank underneath as a seperate fuge. I deffinitly have the room. It will be fed by the return pump and overflow back into the sump. I have also just ordered my skimmer and return pump. I ended up going with a Vertex IN 280 skimmer and a Reeflo snapper return pump. I also have 2 TLF reactors, 1 for carbon and 1 for phosban which will be pumbed in as well.

Im going crazy im away from home for another few days! Can't wait to get back to work on the stand! Soo addictive haha

NastayNatron · 04/01/2011, 01:04 PM

Alright here is my plumbing setup which I will be starting tonight. Any thoughts? There will be the usual valves, unions, and check valves added as well. Lots of pictures to come this weekend!

NastayNatron · 04/03/2011, 11:05 PM

Alright. . . More Pictures!!! Enjoy!

NastayNatron · 04/03/2011, 11:08 PM

Ok attached are pictures of the finished stand, my 20g fuge, and the water change and ATO hoses under the stand that are ran from the basement!

NastayNatron · 04/03/2011, 11:09 PM

Skimmer. . . Can't wait to get this thing runnin!

NastayNatron · 04/04/2011, 02:01 PM

I am thinking of putting two mag drive 9.5 pumps in my basement top off and water change tanks. I have already ran two 3/4" ID lines up from the basement. It would be a total of about 10ft up and 6 ft across. I think the 9.5 should work for this application. Anyone have any suggestions?

Lynnmw1208 · 04/04/2011, 02:03 PM

Jealous! I wish I had the ability to customize a stand like that as it is awesome! you have so much more room underneath!! Mine is just one of those standard crappy stands. Keep up the good work!

NastayNatron · 04/04/2011, 03:10 PM

Thanks Lynn!

NastayNatron · 04/06/2011, 02:13 PM

After two 6 hour evenings full of plumbing and re-thinking where to put valves that wouldn't fit, the tank is finially wet! It is just over half full and hopefully by late tonight or tomorrow I will be able to fire up the pump and see what happens. I will have a full list of updated picutes up later tonight.

The next step im in the process of is rock, sand, and lights(which includes building the canopy with fans). I am going to start with rock and sand to get the cycle going and after the next pay cheque, get the lights ordered. I am going to buy 100lbs of dry marco rock and add the 40lbs of live rock I have in my current tank. I think this should do the job. As for sand I like the sugar fine sand look. Im thinking some kind of Carrib-sea.

Now lights! I have my lighting setup kind of picked out. I will be getting 250w galaxy ballasts to drive 4 metal hallide 250w mogul bulbs with spider reflectors. I will have radium 20k bulbs to start I believe. I am going with the spider reflectors because they are only 11.5" wide and this will leave enough space in my canopy for 2 t5ho fixtures. I will have four 36" TEK t5ho bulbs running for supplementation, one on the back and one in the front.

Just some thoughts, Pictures soon to come!

NastayNatron · 04/08/2011, 09:13 PM

Here's a few pictures of the wet tank! Its actually full of water now and running. Ill have a full update with the completed plumbing tomorrow. Im also picking up 100lbs of dry Marco rock tomorrow! And have ordered the Neptune Apex controller package and am super excited to get it next week! Things are starting to come together!

NastayNatron · 04/09/2011, 08:24 PM

Alright. I have 100lbs of marco rock in the tank as well as 90lbs of sugar-sized sand! Also have a powerfilter running with carbon pads to help clear up the water. Its been such a crazy day I haven't had time to post pictures and now im at work overnight so hopefully tomorrow ill find some time. I also ordered my lights today. Four 250w metal halides and four 39w T5's. Hopefully they come in the next 10 days or so!

NastayNatron · 04/10/2011, 05:56 PM

Here are some pictures of the finished plumbing! Its all up and running and working great!

03/24/2011, 03:18 PM	#13
jhs Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Ks. Posts: 117	Just tagging along for this....getting ready to start a 60 tall... __________________ Signatures???? We don't need no stinkin signatures.... Current Tank Info: 29gal reef 65gal reef

04/04/2011, 02:03 PM	#20
Lynnmw1208 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Brunswick, Ohio Posts: 3,306	Jealous! I wish I had the ability to customize a stand like that as it is awesome! you have so much more room underneath!! Mine is just one of those standard crappy stands. Keep up the good work! __________________ equipment: Eshopps psk-200 skimmer, Mag 12 pump, 30gal sump, 2x 300w Finnex heaters, glass-holes 1500gph overflow kit with 3/4" return kits, 72" 8x36w t-5 AquaticLife light, 66lbs of LR, 150lbs of tropic eden reeflakes, 2 Koralia Evo 1400, JBJ ATO, BRS dual GFO/carbon reactors, Hydor smartwave Current Tank Info: 125gallon

04/06/2011, 02:13 PM	#22
NastayNatron Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Calgary, Alberta Posts: 146	Update After two 6 hour evenings full of plumbing and re-thinking where to put valves that wouldn't fit, the tank is finially wet! It is just over half full and hopefully by late tonight or tomorrow I will be able to fire up the pump and see what happens. I will have a full list of updated picutes up later tonight. The next step im in the process of is rock, sand, and lights(which includes building the canopy with fans). I am going to start with rock and sand to get the cycle going and after the next pay cheque, get the lights ordered. I am going to buy 100lbs of dry marco rock and add the 40lbs of live rock I have in my current tank. I think this should do the job. As for sand I like the sugar fine sand look. Im thinking some kind of Carrib-sea. Now lights! I have my lighting setup kind of picked out. I will be getting 250w galaxy ballasts to drive 4 metal hallide 250w mogul bulbs with spider reflectors. I will have radium 20k bulbs to start I believe. I am going with the spider reflectors because they are only 11.5" wide and this will leave enough space in my canopy for 2 t5ho fixtures. I will have four 36" TEK t5ho bulbs running for supplementation, one on the back and one in the front. Just some thoughts, Pictures soon to come!

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03/21/2011, 02:55 PM	#2
duncantse Fish Advisor Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,604	Nice Start!

03/21/2011, 03:04 PM	#4
NastayNatron Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Calgary, Alberta Posts: 146	Now that I have some pictures up, ill give a planned equipment summary. 125g 6 foot dual overflow tank (pic above) Reef Octopus SRO 3000 INT skimmer Reeflo Snapper Gold external pump 2 Vortec MP40 powerheads 3 250w metal halides with supplemental t5ho lighting Reefkeeper Elite with net module This is just the basics of what I am getting. Pump and skimmer should be in next week!

03/21/2011, 06:09 PM	#5
Brwestern Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Celebration, Fl Posts: 600	Looks good so far. How big is your sump? Doesn't look very big compared to the stand. You'll have plenty of room for other equipment though, that's for sure.

03/21/2011, 06:10 PM	#6
Brwestern Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Celebration, Fl Posts: 600	Is that where the tank will be? Can you get to the lightswitch?

03/22/2011, 12:07 PM	#7
NastayNatron Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Calgary, Alberta Posts: 146	Its a 40g sump. I thought it would be sufficient but im thinking now I maybe should go with something bigger. . . or a seperate fuge tank. . either or. Thats where the tank will go. It comes right to the edge of the light switch. I built the stand as big as I could fit so there will be maximum room for equipment. Now .. . UV sterilizer or no UV sterilizer? That is the question.

03/22/2011, 11:31 PM	#8
Musbtr1pin Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 293	Pass on the UV Sterilizer. I had one, and actually if you maintain good water, and use an RO/DI setup you should be good. I would highly recommend the RO/DI. I use one in my 55 reef, and use it for my 180 as well... Point Black IMO - UV is junk....

03/23/2011, 12:41 AM	#9
NastayNatron Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Calgary, Alberta Posts: 146	Thanks for the advice. . ive been pretty against them as well so far. . and ya i have a 29 gal reef right now and have ro/di and all that good jazz. Ya can't expect good water without starting with pure water! As for the sump size. . . ive been looking around and ive decided to add a 20 gallon refugium to the setup. Ill probably just take a line off my pump return and put a ball valve on it to make it a low flow fuge. Then have it drain back to the pump. Thats my thoughts anyways . . Anyone doing this?

03/23/2011, 11:21 PM	#10
Ibixable Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 54	Looking good so far cant wait for more pictures.

03/24/2011, 01:40 PM	#11
NastayNatron Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Calgary, Alberta Posts: 146	Thanks ill be posting more in the next few days!

03/24/2011, 01:56 PM	#12
mess7777 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: QC,QC Posts: 987	Nice stand dude! I am envious! Some people are just handy, guess that's you! That tank looks small for a 40g, you have so much room under your tank. My 110 is only 4 feet long, I have no room after putting in a 30g underneath.

03/24/2011, 05:42 PM	#14
NastayNatron Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Calgary, Alberta Posts: 146	Thanks Mess. I have officially decided to also put a 20g tank underneath as a seperate fuge. I deffinitly have the room. It will be fed by the return pump and overflow back into the sump. I have also just ordered my skimmer and return pump. I ended up going with a Vertex IN 280 skimmer and a Reeflo snapper return pump. I also have 2 TLF reactors, 1 for carbon and 1 for phosban which will be pumbed in as well. Im going crazy im away from home for another few days! Can't wait to get back to work on the stand! Soo addictive haha

04/04/2011, 02:01 PM	#19
NastayNatron Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Calgary, Alberta Posts: 146	I am thinking of putting two mag drive 9.5 pumps in my basement top off and water change tanks. I have already ran two 3/4" ID lines up from the basement. It would be a total of about 10ft up and 6 ft across. I think the 9.5 should work for this application. Anyone have any suggestions?

04/04/2011, 03:10 PM	#21
NastayNatron Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Calgary, Alberta Posts: 146	Thanks Lynn!

04/09/2011, 08:24 PM	#24
NastayNatron Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Calgary, Alberta Posts: 146	Alright. I have 100lbs of marco rock in the tank as well as 90lbs of sugar-sized sand! Also have a powerfilter running with carbon pads to help clear up the water. Its been such a crazy day I haven't had time to post pictures and now im at work overnight so hopefully tomorrow ill find some time. I also ordered my lights today. Four 250w metal halides and four 39w T5's. Hopefully they come in the next 10 days or so!