My Long Overdue 65 gal Tank Build Thread

[chull13]

This thread is long over due so I am finally going to start. So let me catch you up. I started this hobby in 2004 because the previous owner of the house I moved into left a running 75 gallon agressive tank behind. I knew nothing about the hobby so unfortunately all of the fish quickly died. (Hey don't blame me... blame the person who left em.) So I decided to start researching the hobby and finally rejuvinated the tank by starting a FOWLR non agressive tank. I soon had to move again so I downsized to a 12 gal nano. I began to collect corals and have had great success with them for about 2 1/2 years. So that brings me to this thread.

I bought the 65 gallon (26x24x18) reef ready back in November from Mark (FlyingArmy) as a package deal with a 20 gallon sump/fuge, a AquaC Urchin skimmer and Mag 5 return. It didn't have a stand but I had plans on building one anyway.

The tank needed a bit of work when I got it. I replaced all of the vertical silicon seams in the corners and did my best to get all of the old corallin off of the overflow.

The stand has been a slow process mainly because of my strict budget set by my wife and because I hate to work out in the cold. In the next post I will attach some pictures.

 

[chull13]

Here are some pics of my stand build:

In picture 1 you can see the finished frame. It is solid 2x4s adhered with tons of 3 1/2" decking screws.

For the "shell" I used 1/4" sanded ply with Red Mahogany MonWax stain. Followed by several coats of polyurethane for protection. (See pictures 2 and 3.
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[chull13]

In picture 1 you can see the finished stand. The stand is 38" tall (I love the height). I attached the ply to the frame with a finishing nail gun and wood glue. The only thing I didn't make were the cabinet doors. I got them for dirt cheap from cabinetdoorsandhardware.com. If anyone is in the market I recommend them.

As you can see in picture 2, I built the stand so the tank sits down so the bottom frame of the tank is not seen. Also you can see where the drain and return pipes will run.

Picture 3 shows the back of the stand and the sump/refuge.

Pic 4 shows my curing LR (100 lbs purchased from Sal) Thanks Sal!!!

I have not started the canopy yet but I am going with 6 T5s overdriven with Icecap 660s.

I am planning on adding water this weekend and while I am building my canopy/light rack I will be using a T5 unit that bobz so graciously let me borrow.
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[chull13]

The tank is 36x24x18 not 26x24x18 as stated in the first post. Woops

 

[chull13]

I was at Petco the other day and this giant tortoise was walking around the store. Check out my Jack Russell. Notice my lab in picture 1 wouldn't go near it.
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[sprayin70]

Great job bro!

 

[chull13]

Minor (or Major) setback! I filled my tank on Monday night and when I got home last night from work there was a leak. I can't tell exactly where it is coming from but it isn't very big. I can look at this in 2 ways: I can repair it or I can get a new custom tank with a starphire front. The tank would have to replace my calcium reactor that I was going to get for my B-Day.

 

[saltwater junky]

man that blows

 

[linda lee]

Beautiful job on the stand and I love the color. Did you build the doors?

What size is that sump/fuge? I'm guessing the skimmer is going in the sump and not outside? What kind of skimmer are you going to use?

 

[chull13]

Thanks Linda! No the doors were the only thing I bought. I got them from cabinetdoorsandhardware.com. They were only like $7 per door! I am placing my aquaC urchin pro skimmer in the sump. The sump is a 20 Long.

 

[jeff_mcphail]

do you have any updates for us? I'd like to see the new tank:up:

 

[chull13]

I got a new tank!! Got it from Jeff. I will post pics tomorrow becasue I am out of town this evening. That is awesome Thiago!! I am glad it has worked out for you.

 

[chull13]

Alright so I got a new tank from Jeff.McPhail. It is the same size footprint but it is about 5" shorter making the tank about 56 gallons. The tank is acrylic and the front 2 corners are seamless. It has a center overflow as opposed to a corner overflow on my previous tank. I love te clarity of the acrylic but I know I am going to have to be extremely careful not to scratch it. I am runing 2 koralia 3s in the 2 back corners. Right now I only have my 20 gallon sump divided into 2 sections. A skimmer section and obviously the return. I am going to be adding a separate 10 gallon tank for my fuge. The 10 gallon is actually going to sit above my 20 gallon. That's the advantage to having a tall stand I have started my canopy so here are some pics.

Pic 1. New tank with rock in it

Pic 2. Bottom of canopy frame that rests on tank.

Pic 3 Sides attached

Pic 4. Front and top in place (not attached)

I'll post more later!!
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[chull13]

Alright, I got a lot done yesterday. I got my lights in on Friday so I got them wired up. Also, I got my My Reef Creations MR-1 that I got from Scott (Mitchelliii) plumbed up. Here are some pics. The tank has been running for about 4 weeks but I think I am going to wait another week before I move all of my livestock from my nano. I have 2 chromis in there right now and they seem to be fine.

Pic 1-morning/evening lights
Pic 2-Tank w/ morning/evening lights
Pic 3-All lights
Pic 4-Tank with all lights
Pic 5-Dual Icecap 660 ballasts
Pic 6- 12 gallon rubbermaid refugium (actually sits above my return chamber of my sump)
Pic 7- MR-1 Skimmer at work.
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[linda lee]

VERY nice light set-up. Your coral colors are going to POP!!

Killer skimmer, too. Must be like Christmas over there.

 

[jetchris]

good job, are you putting sps under the t5's?

 

[chull13]

chrisjet;165160 wrote: good job, are you putting sps under the t5's?

Yeah... it is going to be a SPS dominant tank.

 

[gordob]

Nice, Chris! Congratulations!

- Brad

 

[purplegorilla]

Very nice and clean. I would get rid of that floating thermometer. It is known to break. Unless you are just letting it sit there temporary till the tank cycled.

 

[chull13]

Linda Lee;165157 wrote: VERY nice light set-up. Your coral colors are going to POP!!

Killer skimmer, too. Must be like Christmas over there.

Thanks Linda... I am really happy with the color. I would love to know my par readings. I asked Grimreefer on RC what configuration I should use to get the most par w/ great color. Here is what he recommended and what I am using:

Front to Back
Blue +
Sup. Actinic
UVL Aquasun
Blue +
75/25
Blue +