120 Tank Build... My first Saltwater Tank (Pics)

[Bigjohnwoody]

Ok so I have been working on this tank on and off for about 2 years now! I have had a lot of different things come up financially in my life that has delayed this project a lot but I am finally going to do a build thread and get this thing up and running!
So a little background on myself. I grew up around saltwater tanks when I was a kid so about 20 years ago and always thought they were amazing. My parents had three tanks but all were fish only tanks. They did not do any kind of live rock or corals what so ever. I think they were in the era of bleached out fake corals and crushed coral substrate. My dad does not have the time now to have a tank so he is living a little vicariously through me and is begging me to get this thing up NOW:).
So through much research I decided to go with a 120 because I heard I need to go as big as possible. Everyone seems to like the footprint of this tank and my wife insisted on no bigger than 4 foot tank. I really wanted to do a 180 but that will just have to be my upgrade :). So I bought a AGA 120 rr. I am going to put the tank against a wall and behind that wall is a walk in closet that I have turned into my fish room! I will have my sump in that room and will be running the drain and return lines through that wall.
Thanks in advance for all the support and ideas everyone has and I will be posting as many pics. as possible for your enjoyment and also to help make my questions and things more clear.

[Bigjohnwoody]

So I started with buying my tank and then I found on here a stand that I fell in love with and copied his build thread on the stand! This was about a year and a half ago and have now forgotten his name and I feel horrible about this because he was very very helpfull. If anyone knows who this is please let me know so I can give him credit. I know that within the year he got out of the hobby and many people were very upset about him leaving the hobby. He took absolutely amazing pictures and had a 90 gallon tank. So here are some pics of my stand.http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3211&pictureid=22630

[m_wonnacott]

http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3211&pictureid=22626

[mnellis3023]

Beautiful stand.....looks familiar:thumbsup:

[Bigjohnwoody]

More Pics of my Stand Build!http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3211&pictureid=22642
http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3211&pictureid=22641
http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3211&pictureid=22639
http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3211&pictureid=22638
http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3211&pictureid=22648

[Pallobi]

you did a wonderful job! patience is a virtue... kudo's my friend!

[Lynnmw1208]

wow I absolutely LOVE that stand! I wish I was handy so I could build things like that. the build looks good so far!

[scubasteve06]

Wow that is a gorgeous stand. I am going to skin my stand this winter with white pine and stain it to match our cabinets. I would love to add some crown molding to match what we have in our house also. Patience in this hobby only pays off tenfold!!!

Menellis that is also a gorgeous stand and even more gorgeous canopy you two guys are awesome craftsman!!! I like to think I am that handy too, but have never tried my hand at skinning a tank. I have only done cabinets and crown molding in our last two houses. Do you think if I can do cabinets and crown molding that the skinning and canopy building would be a snap? I built my stand too with the DIY plans in the DIY forum of the website. I used 2x6's for the top frame and 2x4's for the bottom frame and used 2x2's for the legs and L'd the 4 outer corners of the stand for extra support. I also ran two center braces out of 2x4's across the top frame for rigidity.

[Bigjohnwoody]

So the First thing that I ever purchased for my tank (even before the tank itself) was my skimmer. I bought a AquaC EV-180 with mag 7. I actually saw it on the first inside page of a marinedepot catalog and thought it was king! I did not know much. I am not saying that AquaC is not a good skimmer but I wanted to only do it once and have the best skimmer possible.
So anyways I ended up just dealing with what I thought was a mistake and built my sump around this skimmer! I modeled my sump after Melevsreef model f I just used a little different measurements. I built mine using 3/8 inch plexiglass G. My dimmensions are 47 1/4" x 18" x 15 3/4" and . I put my return section in the middle and my Skimmer and fuge section at either end. My Skimmer section is 18x11x10. The return section is 19 3/4x18 and the fuge section is 13x18x12 3/4.
I decided to go with 3/8 just because I wanted the piece of mind of it never bowing over time. Plus me doing this for the very first time I fugured my joints might not be the best so the more surface area to be in contact the better. I hope that is true.
So here are some pictures of my sump build.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3211&pictureid=22719
http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3211&pictureid=22716
http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3211&pictureid=22717
http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3211&pictureid=22720
http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3211&pictureid=22721

[allsps40]

Looking good so far. Good job on the sump.

[mnellis3023]

what did you do for your doors?

[Bigjohnwoody]

I Used mdf and routed the edges of it and of course then painted it black with a hvlp system. I actually painted the whole stand with an oil based paint and the hvlp system.

[BobNY]

Nice Job!!!
The stand looks awesome. I'm in the process of building a stand for my 125g. Today I went to buy a router bit to round the edges of my doors and almost fell over at the $40 price tag. What was I thinking when I thought building my own stand would save me money!
I have a AquaC EV180 that I am planning to use as well. I ran it on my 90g for a long time. It's a good skimmer, but it does take some fiddling to get it adjusted. I ended up using a Mag 9.5 with a valve to throttle it back on mine. That combo worked well for me.

Keep up the good work!

[92Bow]

nice. hope it works out for ya

[scubasteve06]

That sump looks 100% professional really good job on that.

[Korrine]

lookin fabulous!

[Highlandjedi]

nice looking sump, it looks huge :)

[Bigjohnwoody]

I have been tiling my Fish room that was once a walk in closet! It is finished being tiled now but I have to wait to grout it! I will take another pic when its completely finished!
http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3211&pictureid=22769 Fish Room

[kaserpick]

Looking amazing! :thumbsup:

Thanks for the link!

[Bigjohnwoody]

Ok So I finished my tiling job and am now ready to start moving stuff into the room.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3211&pictureid=23206

[Bigjohnwoody]

I Brought the tank in the house! My wife was actually kind of excited! All she has really seen so far is money going out:). Now she finally saw something come in. She will come around....I hope.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3211&pictureid=23207

[zmckenzie]

Looks great so far. I am looking forward to your progress.

[Bigjohnwoody]

So I got my Light! Thanks Champscorner! I decided to go with the Current Outer Orbit 2X250 mh and 4 t5's with 18 lunar light fixture! I did not really want to do the retro fit thing. I don't know if that is a good or bad decision only time will tell.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3211&pictureid=23208
http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3211&pictureid=23209
http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3211&pictureid=23210

[Alunai]

WOW. Impressive. That's what I hope to do as well with my next setup, plan plan plan plan and save save save save for the best setup possible. Looking real good. Tagging along!

[Bigjohnwoody]

I am a little behind on updating my tank build so there are going to be a few posts to catch everyone up to speed. So next up is my skimmer! I ended up selling my aquac ev180 and bought a Bubble King 180! I heard these things are absolutely tanks and the best so I droped way more than I should have and bought one used from Kaserpick. He was awesome to deal with and the skimmer was everything he said. This thing is amazingly built. I still have not plugged it in but I am sure I am in for a treat. So here is some eye candy for all to see!
http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3211&pictureid=23211
http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3211&pictureid=23212

[Bigjohnwoody]

So I took my sump outside and decided to start to water test it! Holding my breath that everything is ok. I have never worked with acrylic and did have some bubbles but only a lot of bubbles on my insert pieces and my top piece eveything else actually had pretty good seams for an amatuer. So I was optimistic but also hesitant as I had no idea what I would do if it leaked. So I started by filling my fuge section and I was so excited to see it was completely water tight. So on to the return section.... Yay it is water tight as well. I felt like a champ but I still had one section to go... It was perfect as well. So I filled the whole thing up and let it sit just to make sure and all is well. Thank God.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3211&pictureid=23213

[Bigjohnwoody]

Ok so I have plumbed in my tank for the most part but have not finished it all the way so if you have any suggestions on things I should change now would be the time to voice them:). So I have two overflows and am going to use the durso standpipes that I have already started to make. I had some problems with my bulkheads I bought but I think I have solved that problem. I then used flexible PVC to run the two drain lines which is 1" and my return line which is 3/4". I ran one line to my fuge and the other to my skimmer section and I have my return coming from the center of the sump and then T'ing to both the returns. I thought about using a Y but it just did not seem to quite make the angles I needed it to. I am using Vortechs for flow anyway so I dont care if the T slow things down. I am going to run an eheim 1262 for my return. All the lines are running through a wall into the fish room.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3211&pictureid=23216
http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3211&pictureid=23217
http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3211&pictureid=23218
http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3211&pictureid=23219

[john rochon]

are you plumbing that with LAGUNA hose? I had nothing but issues with that crap. I'd use FLEX PVC or hard plumb it.

[MJinMN]

Congrats on the sump and stand. I'm not experienced enough to tell you how well it's all going to work, but damn it looks good!

[zmckenzie]

Wow you move very quick. I guess you had so long to plan everything out that it is going together smoothly.

[Bigjohnwoody]

So I got my order from thefilterguys.biz and ordered the water saver unit as my water rates are really high and I fugure within a year or so it will pay for itself. I don't have another RO/DI unit to compare it to but this thing is built like a tank. The craftmanship seems very very well done. They are an absolute pleasure to deal with as well. They are always there to answer all of my questions and extremely helpfull. The install process was an absolute breez. Eveything was labled so easily my three year old could have installed it. (Actually as you can see in the picture he did:)..LOL) It was very easy though and I am very glad I went with thefilterguys. I hope my new tank is happy as well!

http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3211&pictureid=23214
http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3211&pictureid=23215

[Bigjohnwoody]

are you plumbing that with LAGUNA hose? I had nothing but issues with that crap. I'd use FLEX PVC or hard plumb it.

No I used Flex PVC from Marine Depot. I am glad that I did! It is fun to wrk with. I just hope that it holds forever now.

[Bigjohnwoody]

So I spent about 1600 more dollars today on bulkreefsupply, saltycritter, and socaltropicalfishoutlet today! My wife is probably going to kill me. I bought another deluxe reactor, carbon, gfo, two BRS dosers, two part kit, etc. from BRS. I bought another mp40 and an Apex controller etc. At Saltycritter, and a vortech battery backup and an mp40 upgrade kit for my other mp40! Yah... She is definitely going to kill me but I am super excited. :)

[razataz5]

looks like its going to be a nice build You did a good job on the stand

[christpuncher]

For a first tank, you are making me look like an amateur and I have about 4 under my belt.

[saltwater4life1]

Very nice looking build. Goes to show that planning and research pays for it's self. Wish i had that kind of money to throw into a tank :P Anyways hope it all goes well can't wait to see it up and running!

[Mrbeachbum2]

This is awesome. Go big or go home. What made you go with vortechs vs tunze?

[Bigjohnwoody]

So I have my pump installed and ready to go! I hope its not big. I went with the eheim 1262 because I wanted to make sure that it was enough pump. I guess I can always install a gate valve if it is to strong!

http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3211&pictureid=23223

[Bigjohnwoody]

I started to work on my Drain and return system! I decided to go with the durso style drain and return. It seemed to be the best option for my tank since it is pre drilled with two 1 inch holes for the drains and two 3/4 inch holes for the returns.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3211&pictureid=23238

[Bigjohnwoody]

Also got some goodies! This was just two pics out of about 8 boxes that came over about three days!:)

http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3211&pictureid=23802
http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3211&pictureid=23803

[Bigjohnwoody]

So I have done a lot and have not kept this up to date! I feel bad for doing this and hope to get everyone caught up to speed by the end of the evening! To save everyone some excitement.... Yes there is water in it!..... Yes it is saltwater!..... And yes the tank is currently cycling and has been for about 4 days! :)

[Bigjohnwoody]

Ok so now that I can continue as if you guys are going along with me! (Sorry again) I am filling the tank in this picture doing my water test! Everything went well except that of course my pump is way to strong and I have to dial it back. Oh well! From what I have read and from calling eheim, there is absoulutely no problem restricting these pumps! Just a waste of money on my end. I ended up just running it with plain RO water and letting it go for about a day and then emptying the whole thing and making new RO/DI water to mix in batches and adding it to the tank two 33 gallon brute trash cans at a time! I wanted to aquascape without getting water everywhere! I also figured it would be way easier to add the sand!

http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3211&pictureid=23804
http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3211&pictureid=23805

[Bigjohnwoody]

Ok So here are some pictures of my Aquascaping! Tell me what you think! This is all rock from Marco rocks that I bought over a year ago. It was when he was still selling fuji rock! I did also get some of the key largo rock as I figured it was not going to be enough! I bought 80 pounds of the fiji and 25 of the key largo! This stuff in amazing! I also just bought his E-marco 400 for aquascaping! It was a little hard in the beginning to work with just because I thought it would set up sooner! He said it takes about 15 minutes until it has set up a little and I would say its more like an hour! Once I got it dialed in though it was awesome! So this is not exactly how it looks now as I had to add some seed rock too it to actually get it to become live at some point! I realize this will take some time but was a lot cheaper option and the rock is awesome! You have to have patience in this hobby and I figured this was a good area to have that in considering it saved me close to a grand doing it this way!

http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3211&pictureid=23806
http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3211&pictureid=23807
http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3211&pictureid=23808

[Bigjohnwoody]

The sand that I went with was Tropic Eden Miniflakes by the way! It ended up being close to a 2 inch sand bed!

[Bigjohnwoody]

Ok so we are caught up for the most part! Here are some pics as my sump sits now! Any advice on how to set this up would be awesome. I am planning on doing live rock and cheato in the fuge section! So what you see here in the picture with cheato on top is that ok? Do I need a small powerhead in there for movement or is the drain going through the bubbletrap with live rock in it enough flow? It seams very stagnant! I am also curious on my return section since I have 2 heaters. I think I am going to switch and have both on the same side since I still have to fit my prob holder in there for my apex and 2 maxi jet pumps to supply to reactors. One for carbon and the other for gfo. When should I set thous up and get them running? Also my skimmer is not running at the moment. I have heard different things on running not running! Advice would be cool! Thanks

http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3211&pictureid=23810
Fuge Section

http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3211&pictureid=23811
Return Section

http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3211&pictureid=23812
Skimmer Section

http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=3211&pictureid=23813
Full sump shot

[syedjilani]

Looks good.....

Nice built....;)

[Bigjohnwoody]

Current tank peramaters are as follows. Ammonia .25ppm, Nitrite 0ppm, Nitrate 5.0ppm. I used API test kits that are brand new. I bought Salifert for the more precise things like kalk, Cal, mag and a hanna phosphate meter. I have not checked these yet because I am cycling and figure they don't matter. I am at 79 degrees and my SG is at 1.025 using a VEE GEE Refractometer that is calibrated using Pinpoint Salinity calibration fluid. Is that Normal to have Ammonia no Nitrite and then have nitrate? Test kit is brand new through Marine Depot! Thanks

[Timmy77]

Update?

[mapleredta]

WOW! Great looking build.

[jackfrost]

Any updates ?