Another Dumb Reef Tank Build Thread

[aphoucks]

Well I decided to add another thread regarding the setup and life of a Reef Tank. I figure it would help me track the life of it and allow pointers from other enthusiast. Also it may help other novice at setting a reef. I too have spent hours reading other individuals post regarding the same topic, I have gotten ideas and also learned from other mistakes. Soooo here it goes, I have just recently bought a previously used tank All Glass 90 Gallon from Petco at a great price. They threw in the Sump, Heaters, UV sterilizer, and some cheap lights for 800 bucks. I felt it was a good deal and I and my wife have decided to upgrade from our 55 Gallon. Plus my interests these days have migrated to the SPS world, so I wanted to create a SPS only tank.

Well I got the tank home and decided to clean it through inside and out. You never know what the fish store people have added and done with a tank. It shined up like a new penny. I hope to add live rock by tomorrow afternoon and get it cycling I will post pictures as soon as this is done.

 

[Reefscape]

good deal if you ask me...Looks like a nice setup indeed..What lights have come with the tank?

Niko

 

[Almondsaz]

Wow, that was a terrific deal and it looks great. Really like the setup. Are you planning on running the UV all the time?

 

[Rbishop]

Nice start.

 

[clown-lover]

Very good deal.. Can't wait to see more.

 

[aphoucks]

Atnixon, I got a dual 55 PC setup It was cheap and I gave it to a buddy of mine, I'm going to be putting on a Coral life Dual 150W MH with 2 96 PC Actinic's.
Almondsaz, I do not plan to run the UV all the time I may a little during initial setup and periodically after that.

Does anyone have any suggestions on a Calcium reactor I'm in the market for one want to buy a good one the first time around.

 

[aphoucks]

Live Rock has been added, I went with the Tonga branch it give a nice reef look that I grew up knowing and it offers a lot of spots to plug in colonies and frags. Its 82 pounds worth right now I plan to add another 20 later. At $4.50 a pound at the LFS it doesn't come cheap. I know I could have went online and got it cheaper, but I wanted to pick my specific pieces. It me and my buddy about 3 hours to get it together and tie strapped together (reef putty would not hold it together.



I also went ahead and got 70 lbs of sand that I have not added yet. I'm going to cycle the rock bare bottom first and then add the sand in afterwards.




I have not got my sump refugium tank combo in yet so I currently running the sump that the fish store gave me with the setup to begin the cycle process of my rock. I'm expecting my 40 gallon sump/refugium combo next week, when I get it I will install everything hardline. Also I will get my Aqua C Remora Pro installed with this Combo. Cannot wait!!

:headbang2:
Another thing I did before set up was paint the back of the tank to hide cords, water drops, etc etc. I used the Krylon Fusion paint for plastic and glass and it worked great. I left the back of the overflow unpainted so I could see inside of it in case of a fish trying to jump ship. I posted a picture below. More to come on this build within the next week.

 

[dieselman]

Looks nice!

 

[Almondsaz]

Great progress and terrific idea on not painting the overflow so you can see who jumped.

 

[alinlis]

Very nice deal!!! Congratulation buddy. How about your light is it blue or the background is blue?
Very nice setup!