90 gallon reef

[Pat02026]

I'm setting up a new tank. The goal is to try to keep my sanity! The 54 corner had its highs and lows, and it was a great learning experience. Now that we are out of the apartment and settled into the house, I am ready to get the empty tank I've been staring at for the past three months filled up! I need to acquire a Quite a few things before it's ready for water but figured I'd start sharing progress with everyone. First thing was add a few holes to the already reef ready tank. I have always been intrigued by the bean-animal drain, and I figure now is the time to implement it.

A 1" hole was added in the back glass for the emergency drain. A pair of holes were added in the top corners of the back glass as well, for the returns.

Back was painted black with a few coats of krylon fusion.

Lighting will be provided by a pair of inexpensive full spectrum dimmable LED fixtures.

If I keep the factory AGA stand, which I would like to for simplicity sake and the top down viewable height it puts the tank, I will have to ditch the idea of using the 29 gallon sump that was used with the 54. Stinks since it is laid out perfectly and runs very quietly at a very high flow (eheim 1262 running full tilt pumping through it quietly!) In which case I will build a similar design but in a 20l for the height savings.

Skimmer, and return pump will more than likely be RLSS/waveline combo's, both DC powered.

Also hoping to keep hearing positive feedback on those little jeabo power heads, can't be beat for the money, obviously keeping with the DC power theme, planning to employ a pair of wp-40's

Overall goal is energy efficiency, and try to keep this system simple and PEST FREE!!! I've got plans to have another small tank running as I stock the 90 to qt all incoming coral and fish. I honestly never had an issue with fish, they always seemed to be happy. Never experienced any ich outbreaks so hopefully I won't have to deal with medicating any fish this time around. I do plan to eliminate as much as I can, the possibility of introducing any reef pests to this tank though. I watched too many corals get wiped out last attempt over what was lack of experience and being too lazy to properly dip and qt new arrivals!

Will be buying new sand, and already have ~100 lbs of fresh Marco rock ready to go.

 

[freakit]

Nice! I'm following along.

 

[jason401]

Looks good Pat, Hey I fit a 29g sump/fuge in my stand. Pretty sure I have the same one.

You planning on another algae scrubber?

 

[Pat02026]

Scrubber could be implemented in the future. As of now, and hopefully for the first year or so the system should be low on nutrients to the point where I hope to not even be able to grow algae. I want to go back to the basics on this one and see how nice I can build the system without too much going on. I don't even really plan for a refugium at this point. My last refugium was really a breeding ground for cyano and although loaded with pods and cool critters, I feel it was more of a garbage collector than anything else. I am highly considering building a new stand as of right now, but we shall see what happens; I went back and dug up jayinnh's old 125 build and that stand he built is quite inspiring (although with his carpentry experience it far surpasses anything I am capable of creating!) my concern with stuffing the 29 under the AGA stand is ease of maintenance; there will be very little room to sneak a decent sized skimmer cup in and out on a weekly basis.

 

[Pat02026]

Small update; 3/4" return bulkheads and locline nozzles installed.

Made a trip to the depot and got everything to build a new stand. Again I am by no means a carpenter, but plan on copying a stand that was built here a few years back. It will be stained dark to match the rest of the furniture in the living room. Here's the frame

Hopefully next weekend I can get the trim done and doors made. I have enough room for my 29 sump, but there's 18-1/2" of depth inside the stand now so I may even go with a 40 breeder sump instead to leave room for future equipment and or fuge/scrubber/frag rack etc. below the display.

 

[Pat02026]

Not a lot of time this past weekend, but started on the trim. Also picked up a PM bullet one skimmer, which will be driven by either a jebao 1200 dc pump or a pair or 9000's.

 

[lex_lutha111384]

Nice stand! I'm glad that rock will be put to good use keep updating us.

 

[Pat02026]

Quick shot of how I think the sump will end up. The outlet of the skimmer will be only half submerged so it should be quiet as well as flow just fine; I may even raise it up so it's 3/4-fully above water line if I've got the height clearance. Going to be close, but it fits with room to spare as it is. It will sit on an acrylic platform in the sump with the pump(s) directly beneath it. Return pump will reside on the right, and there's plenty of room to the left of the sump for a good sized top off container, which will be custom made with acrylic to maximize use of space. The stand has an enclosed cabinet on the left side for electronics, and over on the right end will be another door for access as well. The entire back will be open for 6" at the top so the sump can breathe and allow room for all the plumbing to enter the sump.

 

[Pat02026]

Skimmer shelf built/installed in sump

Sorry for the confusing looking pictures, the sump was standing on end when I snapped the pics

Also hoping to finish the stand this weekend as well as order the light fixtures. I've decided on a pair of 120w reef radiance color fixtures. My goal is to get water in it and cycling by mid November. I may even start cycling the rock this weekend in a plastic tote. I have to pick up some salt first, and change my RODI filters.

 

[Nicole79]

Looking good!

 

[s_kelley]

Looks good Pat, did you make the sump? Good design

 

[Turbosnail]

Looks great!

 

[Pat02026]

Thanks!

Shane, I built that sump when the 54 corner was running. It was in a stand/cabinet under a 20l frag tank and all the other equipment for the system in a closet behind the 54 display when we were still in the apartment. It works very well, handles a ton of bubble free flow and has plenty of reserve room for drain back after a pump shut down. This sump is the reason behind me building a new stand for this 90. It won't fit and be serviceable inside the AGA stand.

 

[Pat02026]

Need to start on some doors, but the stand is done and ready for sealer/stain/poly. The inside will be painted white, there's a coat of primer inside now.

 

[Pat02026]

Lighting in the basement makes it tough for photography, but here's the stand with the stain; doors are getting done also. Hopefully it'll be finished and in the living room by the end of the weekend!

 

[s_kelley]

liking the dark stain, all my stuff is light oak, maybe i have to reconsider the dark look

 

[Pat02026]

It had to go dark to match the rest of the room; the coffee table and bookcase is the same color stain (kona) and the couch is a dark brown/tan two tone so the furniture blends very well together. Now if I can jam pack it with colorful fish and coral to throw everything off I'll be all set! I can't wait to get some doors on it too they're going to make a big difference. I've also decided that it's defiantly going open top, a canopy will be too much for just a 4' tank. The LED lights will be hung from a couple of black iron pipes mounted to the back of the stand from behind the tank for a little bit of the industrial look.

 

[Turbosnail]

The stand came out great! I am just finishing a stand for my downgrade I am going lighter this time I have always done black. I am going with a red mahogany this time. Can't wait to see it when you get it all together.

 

[DBLeite]

Wow......
That is some gorgeous trim work!!!!
Looks like an elegant mantle piece...
are you using poplar?

 

[Pat02026]

Quick update. Reef radiance fixtures shipped today, got some salt and a few last odds and ends to wrap up the plumbing coming from bulk reef supply. Doors are all cut and ready to go together, and I scored a free 30 gallon tank that will be my fish quarrentine tank. I can save the two 20 longs I have for frag/coral quarrentine. Here's some pics the last is for a more accurate representation of color, the stand looked way darker than it really is in the first few stained pictures.