Becact's 90g Build Log

[becact]

After having success with my 14g biocube, the bug hit me to upgrade to a larger tank. I've never done a larger tank before, nor do I have any experience with sumps, plumbing, or parts for larger tanks, so this will all be a learning experience for me!

I found a great deal on a 55g on Craigslist so I picked it up. I soon found it would be very hard to light with the lighting I wanted, and the system isn't really optimal, but I got some great fish and live rock, at least. The owner didn't know what he was doing. The tank was covered in slime algae, and it took a lot of cleaning. He topped off with tap water and hadn't done a water change in months. Moving it was a pain, also. But I finally got it up to good running condition and the fish are much happier. They didn't even know what the seaweed was the first time I put it in there :(. But they are all eating and doing very well, now. Here are a few photos of the tank as it stands in my home now:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/1.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/2.jpg

I will also be transferring my 14g biocube to the 90g when it is stable:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/Mar3009-1.jpg

Soon I started searching for a 90g on craigslist. Soon I found a 90g drilled tank, a few accessories, stand and canopy for $200! It was 2 hours away, but I made the trip to go pick it up, and am glad I did!

I am currently doing some woodwork to the stand to improve it. I figure now is the time to do all the stuff I need to do to make a good stand and canopy. I am re-staining the entire stand and canopy. I will also be replacing all the hinges, and adding some solid oak molding and planks.

When I got the stand, it was in pretty good condition:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/04022009-1.jpg

But it was basically a box of 3/4" plywood (with oak veneer). I see members building beefy stands out of 2x4s here all the time, so I added some for structural integrity. I plan to add a Vortech sometime, so with the standing wave it is important that the stand be rigid.

Here is a photo of the stand before:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/04022009-2.jpg

And after adding the 2x4 reinforcements, and a plank along the bottom to distribute their weight:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/04022009-3.jpg

After having a flooding incident the first night with my 55, I decided to make this stand waterproof. I caulked the seams along the bottom with paintable caulk:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/04022009-4.jpg

I also extended the canopy height. The original canopy stood about 6" off the water's surface, and this was too close for halides. So I bought some 6" wide solid oak planks at Lowes, and clamped them on the hood overnight. I am pretty happy with the result. The colors don't match, of course, but hopefully the re-staining will fix that. I also added those oak planks at the ends, and there is some molding on the front (no pics yet):

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/04032009-3.jpg

[becact]

I finished sanding the whole ensemble today, what a lot of work! I did the whole thing by hand, first with 120 then 220, being careful to get through the original stain enough to re-stain, but not so much as to sand through the veneer. If I had the do it over again I would have bought an electric sander :b. Here are the parts as they sit right now:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/04032009-1.jpg

I also applied Kilz to the inside of the stand and canopy for additional waterproofing:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/04032009-2.jpg

I am pretty happy with the project so far. The only power tools I have are a dinky little table saw and a cordless drill, everything else is by hand. I've never really done a wood project before, so I hope it turns out alright! I especially hope the new stain (darker than the original) will cover over the old stain (which I sanded down, but it is still there somewhat) and the new wood, and end up matching! Does anyone have tips for staining?

I picked up a 30g long tank which I will be using as the sump. I'm going to be resealing it and installing baffles and such soon. I want to go with a MSX200 skimmer and a Mag7 as the return, and hopefully a Vortech MP40 sometime later.

I have some parts in the mail, as well:

-2 x 250 DE metal halide pendants and ballasts, with Phoenix bulbs.
-RO/DI system

Let me know what you guys think, and wish me luck! :)

[tkeracer619]

Looks great! Welcome to a tank you can actually do stuff with =D

When you set up the 90 and transfer the fish do yourself a favor and take the 3 stripe and blue damsel in for store credit. They are very mean fish once they set up territory.

The msx and vortech will be really nice for that size tank.

Get a couple battery backup air pumps for hurricane season.

Enjoy the tank =]

[becact]

Thanks! Those damsels came with the 55, so I can't complain. I will probably give them away when it is time to transfer.

Is a hawkfish reef safe? He also came with the 55. The guy has so much personality, it would be a shame to give him away if we didn't have to. I have a cleaner shrimp in the 14g that my girlfriend is very attached to, so if he ate the shrimp it would not be good, lol.

One concern I have is that the canopy opens from the top. I guess I will bolt my halides and T5s (if I get them) to the top so it all swings open together. It just seems like an odd place to put the door. Maybe when I get it set up I will try my hand at building a canopy from scratch, with front doors :)

[tkeracer619]

Hawkfish are reef safe but can eat shrimp. Cleaners almost always get out of that due to being a cleaner. Fish seem to know they are not lunch. I have 6 cleaners and a hawkfish just like most tanks I work with. Have yet to see any aggression to the shrimp.

Example =]
http://www.aboutfishonline.com/images/cleanershrimp2.jpg

[becact]

Got my halides in the mail today! Getting mail is so fun :)

[becact]

Finished up the woodwork, and got some staining done today. I suck at staining! I tried to put the stuff on with a foam brush, but it was horribly uneven. I think the liquid is too thick. I ended up wiping the whole thing down with mineral spirits to try to wipe up the stain and start over, but to my surprise the mineral spirits thinned the stain down enough so that I could get it on evenly. I went through a few rolls of paper towels sopping up the excess stain, but at the end of the process I got a pretty good result. Next coat I am going to try to thin the stain down from the start.

Here is the stand. I added the molding on the bottom and sides:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/04042009-1.jpg

And the canopy (in two parts):

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/04042009-2.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/04042009-3.jpg

Hopefully the stain will even up a bit after sanding and another coat. I also totally forgot to do the doors!

[Jerry Gonzales]

I like the dark stain you applied. Very nice:)

[becact]

Thanks! I was very worried the panels weren't going to match after staining, but that fear was unfounded, luckily :).

I hope the staining turns out alright in the end. It is slightly pooled in some of the corners...

[litenyaup]

wow its lookin really good! im going to seal my stand like what you did...great idea!

[macronut]

I like the way you have your rockwork...I believe in your 55. Nice look. I really like the stain application. Good job.

[becact]

I sanded the first coat of stain down, becuase it was a little uneven (didn't sand it completely off), and applied another layer with a rag rubbing technique. I think it turned out a lot better. I will probably sand lightly then add one more layer.

Here they are drying in the garage:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/04062009-1.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/04062009-2.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/04062009-3.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/04062009-4.jpg

They look a lot like the last photos, but the stain gathering in corners, pooling in spots, being thin in spots, etc, is greatly reduced. It's still not perfect, but it's about as good as it's gonna get, I think!

[Reeftanks6]

Looking good!

[becact]

Last coat of stain went on today! I also got my Vortech in the mail and am testing it on my 55. It is sweet :D

I have everything ordered that I need, except my actinic supplemental lighting which isn't really a necessity, I guess.

-MSX200 skimmer
-RO/DI unit
-in-line TDS meter
-refractometer (I'll be making a standard solution at the school's lab)
-Vortech MP40w
-Mag7 return pump
-30g sump (need to clean, reseal, and have the glass cut for the baffles)
-2 x 250w halides w/ phoenix bulbs

I think that's everything I should need! I have about a dozen spare heaters and a 10g quarantine tank, too.

I'm going to give the stain a full day or two to dry before applying the poly.

[becact]

Progress is slow but steady. I got the stand and canopy finished! Staining and applying polyurethane is a real #####! I finished the poly with 0000 steel wool and wax and it looks great! I also changed out the rusty old hinges with new ones, and installed knobs to match.

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/04172009-2.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/04172009-1.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/04172009-3.jpg

I've already installed the halide pendants in the canopy, you can see them in the background of one of the stand pics (I'll get better pics of them later.)

I also built my sump. Here it is after adding the baffles, resealing it, and water testing it:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/04172009-5.jpg

The 90g is in the garage right now drying from a complete reseal, as well.

And here's a photo of my new RO/DI. It's great! No more trips to the LFS with 5 gallon buckets. It will pay for itself after about 180 gallons (It was $132, and the water from the LFS was $.75 /gallon). I added an inline dual TDS meter, as well. The unit is plumbed under my sink, but I broke my sink knob installing it!

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/04172009-4.jpg

I also bought all the PVC pipe and fittings I'd need to do the plumbing, and will do that after the 90g has dried and passed it's leak test. Also, my skimmer, vortech, refractometer, and some other stuff have all arrived. Getting close! :)

[becact]

Got some more work done today. I didn't have anyone to help me so believe it or not I dragged the tank across the house and got it up on the stand myself without scratching it. I also leak tested the sump, and fit most of the components into it. I built a little table for the skimmer to sit on to get it in 8" of water.

I also went to the LFS and picked up a JBJ ATO, since I figure now is the last time I'm really going to have open access to the nice open back of the sump like this. I got a 5 gallon gas can from Lowes that fits perfectly in the available space. Literally, I used every centimeter of space (side to side space). I also bought 3 slim waste cans that had more capactiy that I thought I might be able to fit in there, but the gas can was the only thing that fit. It is also made of thick plastic so it doesn't bend when full of water, and thus doesn't put any pressure on the sump tank.

I fit the ATO reservoir sensor into the gas can, and used my old biocube14 pump for the ATO return. It is a little large for this application, but I didn't want to spend any more money when I already have about 5 spare power heads laying around. The other sensor is in the return section of the sump, of course.

I wanted to do the plumbing tonight, but had no one to help install the bulkheads, so it will have to wait until later in the week.

Here is the tank on its stand!

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/4202009-5.jpg

And the sump from the back of the stand (now against the wall):

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/4202009-1.jpg

The sump from the front, with my catfish checking it out:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/4202009-2.jpg

And both sides of the sump from the front:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/4202009-3.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/4202009-4.jpg

Here is my plan for the plumbing. I will be using Herbie style overflows, matching the drain flow rate to the pump rate, and a split sump design where I send less flow to the fuge (~25%). Forgive the drawing, I am using MS paint!

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/4202009-Plumbing1.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/4202009-Plumbing2.jpg

What do you all think? :)

[becact]

Plumbing is done! It was quite a tight fit under there.

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/04232009-1.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/04232009-2.jpg

The return line is actually hanging on the tank edge, so the pump is suspended in the sump about an inch off the base. Hopefully this will eliminate vibrations from it. I didn't plan it that way, though, lol. The pipes test fit a bit differently than when they glue together, because the glue acts as a lubricant and allows the pipes to go all the way into the fittings. So a few final exits under there are a but off from where I planned them, but it should work just fine.

I also bought a ton of 1/2" PVC and will be building a live rock frame from that.

I am in the process of selling the fish I don't want from the 55g, then after finals next week I will start the wet phase of the build!

[becact]

I built a live rock frame from 1/2" PVC today. I've also started filling the tank with RO/DI.

I'm not sure how the live rock arrangement will turn out, I tried to make it so that there would be lots of overhangs and caves. I wanted a very airy look. Also, this will make it so that I will not have to buy more live rock. I think with the frame, I won't need to waste any building a foundation.

I glued any pieces that would twist under the weight of the rocks, and left everything else unglued in case I need to change anything or remove it all together.

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/04242009-1.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/04242009-2.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/04242009-3.jpg

I sure would appreciate some feedback, guys! :)

[firemedic0135]

I have never seen a frame like that before.
I guess you are going to put live rocks atop those pieces?
Very nice setup bro. I am also waiting for finals next week to get done with my tank(also a 90g)

[becact]

Yeah, I'll still be placing rocks on the bottom, but the branching of the PVC will allow me to epoxy/zip-tie some pieces onto the frame. The idea is to have the PVC completely hidden by the rocks when it's all done so it looks like only the rocks are holding it up. It should provide lots of arches, branching structures, and caves for frags and for fish to swim through :)

I can't wait for finals to be done, then I will be able to devote two whole weeks without interruption to the build!

[firemedic0135]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14893237#post14893237 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by becact
I can't wait for finals to be done, then I will be able to devote two whole weeks without interruption to the build!

I hear that man!! I cant wait. It is very hard to refrain from reef building to study.

[becact]

Finals are finally over, so I have been working on it a bit. I redid my return plumbing. By going from 3/4" thick wall PVC to 1" thin wall, I was able to go from 422gph from my mag7 to 471gph! I calculated these figures using Sanjay Joshi's very detailed Excel program. I also redid the drain plumbing a bit, and get good flow to both the fuge and skimmer section, so I'm happy with it.

When I first installed the mag7, I had the return plumbing hanging off the back of the tank with a pad under it, thinking that suspending the pump would quiet the noise. It was pretty quiet, but I got it much better :). I built a stand for the pump out of three slices of egg crate wrapped thickly with drawer liner foam, and ziptied the pump to it:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/04292009-1.jpg

After placing the pump in the sump, the end of the return pipe was about 1/2" above the rim of the tank. I thoroughly wrapped the pipe with padding, and ziptied it to two holes I drilled in the plastic rim. This tie does not hold the pipe in place at all (the return assembly is free standing), it is just a little insurance against the pipe somehow coming loose and squirting water on the floor.

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/04292009-2.jpg

The result is dead silence, from both the return and herbie style drain plumbing. People complain about mag pumps being noisy, but I am convinced their troubles are due to poor installation. Really, my biocube is quite a bit louder than the 90g now, you can't even tell the water is running.

I will be wiring up the lights tonight, stay tuned! :)

[becact]

Got my salt in the mail today so I am currently mixing it in tank. I also got the lights wired up:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/04302009-1.jpg

I will add two 48" T5s later when I save up some more cash. I need to get some fish first :)

Here is a photo of the tank with the canopy on. I think it looks pretty nice!

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/04302009-2.jpg

And under the stand. I will be cleaning the wires up before it is finished, it's a little sloppy right now. I want to run everything in to get a stable temperature and make sure nothing is on the fritz.

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/04302009-3.jpg

Is anyone still reading this thread?

[runningnreefing]

Great job on the stand and canopy.

[becact]

Broke down the biocube and 55 today. The fish are in the 55 and the corals are in the biocube under the sunpod while I see if the new tank cycles.

I am abandoning the PVC frame, though I may incorporate parts of it into the aquascape. It just took up too much room, and would have been too hard to conceal. The tank is all clouded up from the sand, of course, so I have to wait that out...

[becact]

Teaser shot : :smokin:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/05082009-1.jpg

[becact]

Added more frags, a new clam, a Koralia 4, a new heater, and did my first 10g water change B). Nitrates and phosphates still at 0, and the skimmer is starting to pull some nice gunk. On a darker note, my jawfish is MIA :( :tears:. I checked the overflow, sump, under all the rocks, behind the tank, and can't find him. Also my chromis school now consists of 4 chromis. Other than these deaths though the tank is doing very well.

Here's what it looks like as a package. I keep the elctronics in the cabinet to the right as well as my food and maintenance stuff. You can see the split loom on the floor that houses all the wires between the cabinet and tank. The vortech cord wasn't long enough to get to the floor :angry:. I also keep the Vortech control unit in the cabinet:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/05182009-1.jpg

And I installed a new switch panel too. Much easier to feed and do maintenance:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/05182009-2.jpg

Some new FTSs!!!!

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/05182009-8.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/05182009-7.jpg

The right:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/05182009-6.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/05182009-3.jpg

From the right tank panel:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/05182009-14.jpg

[becact]

The left. Redid the scape here a bit too:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/05182009-5.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/05182009-4.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/05182009-11.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/05182009-12.jpg

And the center:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/05182009-13.jpg

I know you all are eyeing that chalice. ;) She's a beauty, huh? It's a Tyree Blue :D. The same as the smaller one on the right side of the tank, but it is colored up a bit differently.

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/05182009-10.jpg

And finally, my new clam. He is still coming out of his shell, so to speak ( :P ), and will probably move tonight after lights out.

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/05182009-9.jpg

[Tangweed]

Very cool looking set up... nice job.

[Peale]

Beautiful! I am jealous!

[phenom5]

Looks awesome.

Love the gas can for the ATO reservoir. Never thought of that, but the ~14x~9" footprint looks much more agreeable then the 12" diameter of a 5 gallon bucket. I'm going to be stealing that idea.

Listen to me, only a reefkeeper could look through those pictures, and get excited about the ATO reservoir of all things.

:thumbsup:

[becact]

Thanks for the compliments! The gas can works out perfectly, in that I use all the available space under the cabinet. I have a large funnel attached to a hose that goes into where the gas pour tube used to be, so when it is refill time, I just pull the hose out, refill from a 5g bucket into the large funnel, and slide the hose back in. My only regret is that the can is not blue ;). I know they're out there, I just couldn't find one locally.

[becact]

This is my first update in five weeks, I just wanted to show some growth on the corals. Nearly all my fish died due to an ich outbreak. My hawkfish and chromis survived, but everything else succumbed. On the livestock front, I've added an emerald crab and tons of ceriths, and a few nassarius to both the fuge and display. I also planted some mangroves in the fuge.

Other than the fish die off, the tank is doing well, though. Here are a few shots with before and after comparisons! I've tried to compare shots that are as similar as possible...

Now:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/06222009-1.jpg

5 weeks earlier:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/05182009-7.jpg

Now:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/06222009-2.jpg

6 weeks earlier:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/05092009-5.jpg

Now:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/06222009-3.jpg

5 weeks earlier:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/05182009-3.jpg

[becact]

Now:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/06222009-4.jpg

5 weeks earlier:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/05182009-4.jpg

Now:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/06222009-5.jpg

5 weeks earlier:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/05182009-13.jpg

Now:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/06222009-6.jpg

6 weeks earlier (not a perfect comparison, I know):

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/05092009-3.jpg

I took more photos but I kind of rushed and some were out of focus. Is anyone interested in seeing more?

Let me know what you all think! :)

[dogstar74]

Looks fantastic! I love the stand. It turned out much nicer than the previous finish. Also, did you endup using the PVC rock support? I don't see annoying white pvc in the tank anywhere. I'm quite surprized. I usually, don't like PVC rock frames, but if you used the one you built, then You really hid it well.

Well done!

Aaron

[becact]

Thanks! I actually did not use it. I tried to, but it would have been impossible to cover all the PVC. In the end I got a pretty good structure just stacking the rocks and using epoxy in needed places.

[becact]

Well, it's been two months since my last update, so I thought I'd post a few shots of the tank's progress. I won't bother with the before and after comparisons, you should be able to check the pics above to see the changes :)

I've added a new Jawfish, a mandarin goby, and several new frags. All seem to be doing well.

Tank shot:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/08182009-1.jpg

Left:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/08182009-4.jpg

Middle:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/08182009-6.jpg

Right:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/08182009-8.jpg

Looking in from the left pane of glass:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/08182009-7.jpg

My new jawfish. He already has two burrows!:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/08182009-2.jpg

A cool looking scroll I got for $5 from the LFS:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/08182009-5.jpg

I don't think I've posted these zoas before, they are really fast growers. I'm trying to get them to go up the side of that rock the plug is propped up against:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/bchandlerucf/08182009-3.jpg

[ddinox64]

Nice one.