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View Full Version : Fresh Out of High School 75 GAL Build


Ursus
09/05/2006, 10:31 PM
I figured it was about time I started to log my progress on my 75 AGA setup. I have had the tank since April, but have only managed to have it drilled and an overflow installed since that time. Well today was the day that some work was actually done!

First off a little bit about my plans as far as equipment and livestock for this build:

Equipment
- 75 gal AGA (48" x 18" x 20")
- 20L sump w/ fuge
- Return pump: OR 2500 (650 GPH)
- Closed loop: OR 6500 (1700GPH)
- Octopus NW250 Skimmer
- RDSB fed by an Aqua Clear 50 power head
- Heater: Still undecided... (suggestions welcome)
- Lighting: 4 bulb IceCap T5 retro kit from reefgeek.com
- Shallow (1") Sand bed
- 80/90 lbs LR
- Chaeto

Livestock plans
- 2 Ocellaris clowns (have 1)
- Yellow Tail Damsel (have)
- 3 Zebra Dartfish
- Purple Tang
- Foxface Lo
- Mandarin Dragonette (after tank matures)
- 75 assorted snails (trochus, nassarius, ceriths, turbos)
- Fromia Sp. starfish
- Cleaner shrimp
- Tridacna Sp. clam (after tank matures)

Corals (need more suggestions)
- GSP (I know, I know... already have)
- Pink Hammer (have)
- Pulsing Xenia Sp.
- Ricordia (assorted)
- SPS (after tank matures)

The stand I buitl myself and I must say I over built the hell out of it. Don't have pictures tonight, but will post some tomorrow. Dimensions are 49" x 19" x 30". Really wish I hadn't over built it so much, but I was still a scared newb when I built it in April. Getting the skimmer in will be a tight fit, but can be done.

As far as equipment I have right now... well that doesn't amount to much. Im picking up my skimmer on Thursday and ordering one pump Wednesday evening. The other pump, heater, sand, and live rock will have to wait for another two weeks when I get paid. The lights will take another two weeks and then I should be in good shape to start adding live stock.

Today I assembled the return drain line. The tank is drilled with a single 2" bulkhead, so I'm not to worried about it getting clogged, but will take precautions to avoid this anyways. If I could do it all over again, I could have put in a coast to coast overflow, but that will have to wait for another tank.

I'll post pictures tomorrow and should have my skimmer to break in on Thursday if all goes well. Any comments or suggestions on my setup would be appreciated.

drummereef
09/05/2006, 11:00 PM
Do it now while you've got the $$$! :lol: Can't wait to see the pics! :D

Ursus
09/06/2006, 12:13 AM
I would, but that would mean a whole new tank because of the way it is currently drilled. My next tank will be sure to have the coast to coast. Funny how I've just begun to set this tank up and I'm already planning on the next.

drummereef
09/06/2006, 01:56 AM
That's the way it always goes! :D

mg426
09/06/2006, 02:00 AM
Looks like a pretty good plan, you running a fuge in your sump. Post some pics when it get going.

Ursus
09/06/2006, 10:51 AM
Here are some pics of my tank. The lighting is horrible and the camera sucks so they are pretty dark. Will use a better camera and get some better pics when I get home from work today.

Drain Plumbing

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/xexhalex/IMG00026.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

Overflow

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/xexhalex/IMG00028.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

Hope you can tell what that last one is as it's really dark :rolleyes:

Ursus
09/06/2006, 06:40 PM
Just got my skimmer, pics to follow shortly. Also, it doesn't seem to be sucking in any air so there are no bubbles.... anyone have a suggestion?

Ursus
09/06/2006, 07:06 PM
Ok, got the skimmer sucking air. Put it in some warm water and vinegar for a bit. Makes me sad that I won't see it running for awhile. :(

Pic's of things later tonight. Can't seem to locate the better camera.

Also, I was thinking instead of a Foxface getting a yellow eyed Kole tang. Think there will be any issue's between it and the purple tang?

Ursus
09/06/2006, 11:46 PM
Heres the skimmer... turns out to be more like a NW150, but made by Pacific Coast Imports. It's just like the Octopus, but with a Gen-X pump on it. Paid about $80 more than it's worth :(
Still debating whether I should take it back and order the Octo NW200 or not... GRR!!!!!!!!!!

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/xexhalex/IMG00030.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/xexhalex/IMG00033.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/xexhalex/IMG00035.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

I've got that horrible sinking feeling in my gut...

Ursus
09/07/2006, 02:37 PM
Ok, so I decided to stick with the skimmer as it is still a good size for my tank. I might switch the pump out sometime down the road, but we shall see about that. Going to get some baffles today and picked up 30 lbs of sugar sized aragonite. I will be using sand from my ten gallon 'fuge' as well as some sand from my 20 gal. I think this should be enough for a SSB, but if not, I can always get more.

My plan is to start filling it once I get the sump put together and the drain line connection made. I'll sit the skimmer in the display on a platform to provide water movement and to break it in. I'm sure it will look funny, but it will also give me a head start on cycling it.

Ursus
09/07/2006, 04:52 PM
Sump is finished. Now I just have to wait for it to cure. Decided to just go with three baffles, but might add another at a later time... not to sure. Got the union for the drain line and will be installing that next. Pic's to come later this evening.

Ursus
09/07/2006, 10:05 PM
Put the union on the drain line and all I can say is the tank sticks out from the wall just a little bit. Ok, maybe it sticks out a lot, but I can deal with that.

After we moved the tank into it's final resting place, we filled it up. I know, I know, RO/DI is the 'only' way to go, but I've been using tap since I started and it hasn't caused me any trouble so far. I will be getting a RO/DI unit in a few weeks.

Heres some pictures of how things are right now.

Full tank shot
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/xexhalex/IMG00038-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

Skimmer
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/xexhalex/IMG00039.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

Drain line
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/xexhalex/IMG00045-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

Sump
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/xexhalex/IMG00043-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

Ursus
09/21/2006, 10:51 PM
Got my pumps today. Hooked up the Quiet One 3000 for the return and am working on getting the OR6500 setup for the closed loop. The manifold is pretty much done but I managed to leave home depot with two less parts than I needed.

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/xexhalex/HPIM0122.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

At a later date, I will be replacing the 90 degree elbows with flexible ball joints. Also dropped in a Hydor theo 300w heater and hopefully I won't have any issues with it. Was planning on ordering LR this week, but I think it's going to have to wait untill next pay day.

drives300
09/22/2006, 05:20 AM
Looks good but are you keeping the skimmer in the tank??

Ursus
09/22/2006, 11:04 AM
No, that was only so I could break it in untill I got the sump hooked up. It is currently in the sump, but im having a problem with tons of microbubbles coming out of it. My baffles are doing an excellent job of stopping any large bubbles and a lot of the micro bubbles, but there are still a lot making it through. Im going to give it a little more time and see if they subside on their own.

Ursus
09/22/2006, 11:25 AM
Here's the skimmer in the sump

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/xexhalex/HPIM0128.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

And the right side of the sump

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/xexhalex/HPIM0127.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

Ursus
09/22/2006, 11:26 AM
As you can see in those pictures, there are a ton of microbubbles in the first section, and there are still a lot making it to the return.

easye123
09/22/2006, 11:29 AM
what kind of return pump is that

rekn
09/22/2006, 11:56 AM
the damsels willpester the dartfish into the ground

drives300
09/22/2006, 11:59 AM
Looks like for just out of high school your doing a great job. The force is strong in you !!! Remember Patience!! and control your anger!!

Andrew
09/22/2006, 01:30 PM
Looks like a good start to me. I wish I would have taken the time to do a CL on my 75 but all well.

tkeracer619
09/22/2006, 01:43 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8199679#post8199679 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rekn
the damsels willpester the dartfish into the ground

I agree, I will never put another damsel into any tank again. I currently have one in his own 10 gallon. When the day comes he will go to another owner.

It was given to me when with some rock when I was new in the hobby, killed two new entires one was a fire fish and one was a black cap basset.

They are mean and nasty. There is a reason they cost 2.99. Nobody wants them unless they have a tank full of them.

When i ripped my tank apart b/c i wasn't qting and had to get the fish out to let the tank go fallow he ended up being treated then put into his own tank. It is going to be the qt tank for my manderin. When the manderin comes the 3 stripe will be given away.

Ursus
09/22/2006, 02:10 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8199481#post8199481 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by easye123
what kind of return pump is that

It is a Quiet One 3000. It's 780 GPH but after head loss, im figuring about 500 ish GPH. I probably should have gotten something a little smaller as the water is still moving rapidly through the sump. Perhaps I'll just have to get a larger sump :)

As for the damsel harassing the dartfish, I'm not worried about it. Although I see why everyone is concerened, this is the most mild mannered damsel I have ever seen. I am confident that he won't be bullying anyone. In fact, I'm hoping that the schooling dartfish will encourage him to leave his cave a little more often.

flfirefighter13
09/22/2006, 02:53 PM
Looks good, one thought i had is that you may want to put a clamp of some sort on that return pump. Ive been using zip ties with good luck and not haveing to worry about them rusting. It sure is a mess when the line pulls off while your messing around under the tank...... zaps like hell if you get the spray in the wrong place to! Cant wait to see this tank finished!

Ursus
10/27/2006, 12:38 PM
Update time! And to think it's only taken me a month to get around to posting some new stuff on here...

Anyways, the hard stuff is over with. Got the closed loop running, installed and have got to say I love the flow and so do the fish. Also transfered the contents of my 20H (Ocellaris clown, Foxface Lo, Yellow Tail Damsel, GSP, and Pink Hammer to the 75. Everything is looking really good except the Hammer, but he has always been very picky. Hopefully he will improve soon. The fish all seem to love the new tank and I haven't had an issue with the damsel and his new chromis tank-mates. My clown loves to 'surf' the flow and is really having a blast. Interestingly, in the short few weeks the Foxface was in the 20H, he and the clown seem to have bonded as wherever the clown goes, the Foxface is not far behind. It's rather amusing to watch.

FTS
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/xexhalex/HPIM0326.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

Left Side
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/xexhalex/HPIM0327.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

Right Side
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/xexhalex/HPIM0328.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

Long Shot
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/xexhalex/HPIM0329.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

As you can see I haven't gotten my lights yet. Soon enough I will get them though. That and the canopy will really finish this thing off. So far I am most proud of my CL intake. I painted it with a textured black krylon fusion and you can barely tell it's there against the black background. How long it will stay clean enough to not be noticed is anyone's guess, but for now it's awesome. More to come soon enough.

bill9999992
10/27/2006, 01:03 PM
All the fish like the left side.

Looks good

Ursus
10/27/2006, 01:10 PM
Yeah, when I first put them in, they were all on the right side. I think they like the left side pile because it's basically one big cave. I still need to get about 20-30 more lbs of LR so make the mounds a little higher.