Rebirth - 2 x 50 gallon lowboy build

[scottw]

This fish room had 2 x 80 gallon frag tanks, another 400 gallons of sump and fish system. I lost my dad very unexpectedly in oct of 2020. He lived with us as many of my ARC friend know, and I just couldn’t go downstairs so I sold everything and turned the room into a hoarding room of stuff.

Setup the IM 50 in my office a short time ago and got the love back. My wife was instrumental in getting me back down into the fish room. So we spent the day clearing out the stuff and finished the room adjust from this room as the full time storage room.

This room has 6 dedicated 20 amp breakers as my old 300 gallon tank was above this room, I had all power running through a hole in the floor to feed that system and this room. I’m going to put in a 500+ gallon tank down here next summer if everything goes right. I have to knock out 2 windows and put in a double door to even get the tank in the house. So that’s a project for the summer.

So for now I’ll have 2x50 gallon low boys filled with corals and start growing for the big tank so I don’t have to start with tiny nubs.

Equipment -
2 x 50 gallon low boys
RedFlex Reef 300 pro clear sump
Bubble King 200
Full Neptune system
2 x 48” Reef Breeder Photon Pros (ordered)
Red Sea roller mat (ordered)
Red dragon return pump
KH Guardian
DOS AWC (only bc I don’t care about noise in the room bc they are the loudest pumps I’ve ever used).
Couple 4k pumps for flow, couple of MP 40’s.


Once it’s running I’ll order the
Focustronic - Dosetronic, Mastertronic, and Alkatronic. I won’t need to run a calcium reactor since it only 100 gallons. I’ll just do 2 part with the Dosetronic.

On to the room at 9am this morning. I almost quit before I started lol. I opened the door my wife said NOPE, and started walking away haha. Promised her a steak dinner she agreed to help





Still have lots to clean but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

 

[DiefsReef]

You got a lot done today, looks awesome!

 

[scottw]

You got a lot done today, looks awesome!

Thank you! I am getting too old for this haha.

 

[scottw]

Couple more things done. Picked this up from a buddy.

I’ll add another EB832. I do miss the old EB’s. They weren’t Lego material.

Built the sump. Had to install the dosing lines, the bulkheads, and power cord holders. Great little sump.



installed the bulkhead and overflows.

 

[chemaholic]

Really sorry you lost your dad suddenly. I am glad you were able to work through that and rediscover the hobby in time.

The room looks great! I am working on setting up a 50 low boy myself. I will definitely check in on this thread for ideas as I am new to the hobby. I would be happy to bring you some frags of stuff that you do not have once you have things up and running. That mixing station is awesome by the way!

 

[scottw]

Really sorry you lost your dad suddenly. I am glad you were able to work through that and rediscover the hobby in time.

The room looks great! I am working on setting up a 50 low boy myself. I will definitely check in on this thread for ideas as I am new to the hobby. I would be happy to bring you some frags of stuff that you do not have once you have things up and running. That mixing station is awesome by the way!

Thank you very much! It was hard to go back down, but I know he would want me to so I still feel like he is in there helping me.

 

[scottw]

Got some more done. Had to change the filters on the rodi. They sat for a year +. Ran them for about 2 hours. Down to 0 TDS on both TDS meters. Got it all cleaned out now. Ran to Lowe’s for a couple reducers for the vats. I’ll get them plumbed tomorrow. Tanks are ready to be plumbed tomorrow too. PVC prices are insane, criminals. Cleaned out the sink, good lord was that smelly lol.

 

[Reefplumber13]

That's going to be nice!!!

 

[scottw]

That's going to be nice!!!

TY brother! I am trying to make it as clean as possible from the start with wiring, etc.

 

[DiefsReef]

TY brother! I am trying to make it as clean as possible from the start with wiring, etc.

Good Plan. You know if you dont get it now, it will never get done!

 

[scottw]

Good Plan. You know if you dont get it now, it will never get done!

You are exactly right!

 

[billyocean]

I feel like it comes alive at night and tangles itself

 

[scottw]

I feel like it comes alive at night and tangles itself

I agree 100% with you!

 

[scottw]

Well... after spending time at @Adam house I decided to get the same troughs he had, which is funny b/c 1 of them was mine from forever ago when I changed my fish room to house the filtration for the big system. I decided to do pocket holes like he did to hide the 10,000 screws I normally us. I sold the 2 low boys to another ARC member that wants to grow some corals, so it worked out for us both. I am 90% done with the stand, the first coat of sealer is on her now.

I got rid of the big stainless table, well I took it out, now I need to sell it, it took up too much room. I built a 13" shelf 7 feet long. I am going to put up 2 more below to hold more crap.


Below system was sold.



Built the frame


Shelf (I sealed it last night with coat 1. this is before.


Had to bring in the room to finish before it was too big to fit through the doors.

 

[scottw]

Also setup my controller board on my IM 50


Setup a 15g for my 7 year old in her room



added a 2nd old school EB8 (TY @Adam )

 

[scottw]

Finally getting there.. Fit like a glove.. Thanks @Adam for the exact cut sizes, went together perfectly!






Test fill.



Sump I will use for now. 50 gallon rubbermaid $99 at tractor supply. @Adam talked me out of a custom sump lol. (need to run to lowes to get a full sheet of plywood, it was raining all weekend so I didn't have a chance.




I re-plumbed the water tanks, ordered a new sticker for the salt water side, and just did SALT to match, the OCD wouldn't allow it to look that dumb.

 

[chemaholic]

Man this is really coming along nicely! I am really excited for you. What kind of trough did you get for the frag tank?

 

[scottw]

Thank you very much! I will have everything running today. Just finished making the water. I bought it over in Buford but any local hydroponic store can order them. Botanicare is the brand, and its 115 gallons. They are 83 x 34.25 x 15.625.

 

[chemaholic]

Ahh nice so pretty much like two lowboys in one. I like that you can easily drill it for overflows and returns. Much easier than a glass tank. You also do not have to worry about leaking silicone or scratching the glass. Probably lighter than a glass tank too. Great choice! Now I know what my next frag tank will be made from.

 

[scottw]

Ahh nice so pretty much like two lowboys in one. I like that you can easily drill it for overflows and returns. Much easier than a glass tank. You also do not have to worry about leaking silicone or scratching the glass. Probably lighter than a glass tank too. Great choice! Now I know what my next frag tank will be made from.

That was my issue with the low boy, the 10" height vs 15" height. I want fish in the system to help keep it clean so that was the reason I sold. This weighs exactly 30 pounds so I carried it inside alone.

I may have also picked up an 80 gallon low iron frag tank yesterday to add LOL. I think I have a sickness.