TOTM quality 6' SPS tank for under $1k? The 5.56 build thread; AKA a really bad idea

[five.five-six]

So, here is my chalange: to build a TOTM quality SPS tank in under 30 months for under $1,000 not including salt or electricity. I get to start with $1,000 and the contents of my biocube 29 which already has good test kits, APEX classic and some supplements, fuge light, ATO, Tunze 6055 etc..


The rules:
Any money I get from selling tank stuff can be spent on tank stuff without counting against the $1,000. Leftover materials in my garage will not count against the $1,000. My wife will be refereeing and the penalties will be harsh.


I'm down to $800 here are my first 2 $100 expenditures:

135 gallon tank, stand, canopy and sump $100

Here is the tank peninsula style after my wife spent a LOT of time and energy cleaning corraline algae




A large lot of used aquarium stuff $100


There was a lot of stuff, and it looks like I am going metal halide lighting as there were 2 functional 250X2 halide setups. Also 3 X corellia 4's and this skimmer for which I am currently looking for an impeller. If I find an impeller, I'll clean it up



Before I fill this tank up, I still need to:

* Find sand, live rock
* Build a canopy that opens on both sides
* Build a removable cover for the back of the existing stand
* Wife wants more bracing inside the stand
* Figure some way to get flow at the front of the tank without a magnet on the tank being the first thing you see when you walk in my frond door
* Fix my skimmer or get a new one.

This is a tough challenge, I have $800 left and 30 months to go. It works out to about $27/month. I will document everything I spend in this thread.

[dodgerblew]

This is a fun thread. Interested in watching this come together. Following along and good luck Mark

[Kain]

Following along. This should be interesting.


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[reeftorlax]

This is a very interesting project to me. I can't wait to see how you do this. It's going to look awesome.

[five.five-six]

I think the key is going to be johnny on the spot with cash for tank breakdowns and being helpful and friendly. The other key is to be flexible. I prefer a 24X24X72 tank but this was the deal I got. I might have liked 3X radions but 2X halides will work great.

I got lots of extras to swap and sell, I spent 2.5 hrs sorting through that $100 lot and after discarding about 2/3 of it by volume I could barely fit what I kept in my empty 2500HD including stuff in the cab. I did keep the best air pump, is was going to give it to frogiii for his fumigation but it didn't pump much. Probably the diaphragm rotted in storage.

What do you think of a Rio3100 for return? I'm not big on huge return, several reasons. It's an expensive way to get flow heat/electricity/hardware. Also, the lower the flow, the more margin you have for overflow when the power shuts off and I don't ever trust a check valve anymore than I trust a fart. I've learned my lesson the hard way with both of those

[cosorio]

Originally Posted by five.five-six

Here is the tank peninsula style after my wife spent a LOT of time and energy cleaning corraline algae

Wait, let me get this straight...you partially blocked the entrance to your family room with a peninsula tank and SHE cleaned up the tank? I would have been out in the dog house faster than you know it (and we have an indoor dog and we don't even have a dog house).

[five.five-six]

Originally Posted by cosorio

Wait, let me get this straight...you partially blocked the entrance to your family room with a peninsula tank and SHE cleaned up the tank? I would have been out in the dog house faster than you know it (and we have an indoor dog and we don't even have a dog house).

LOL!!!

She cleaned the sump too

Here's the kicker, she's a great mom and drop dead georgous too. And coffee is ready for me every morning.


But if there is a powerhead on that front pane of glass (the one you see when you walk in the house) she will go ballistic.

Really, one of my biggest chalanges will be to get flow throughout the tank without powerheads everywhere. My plan is to make an acrylic drop down bracket connected to a small crossbrace on the now front of the tank and connect a tunze to it. I'll post photos as I build it.

[BigT75]

Following this is gonna be great


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[reeftorlax]

With your return, would you consider going external if you could mount the pump over the sump so that any leaks would drain in a safe place? That would help with the heat issue but I'm not sure about noise.

[Greybeard]

Difficult challenge.

I set myself a 4k budget for my 140g peninsula... I'm way overbudget, and have a long way to go.

Couple years ago, a group of firearms enthusiasts friends and I came up with a challenge to build the best 500 yard rifle for under $500. It was fun... and no, I didn't win

[bowlopho]

Originally Posted by five.five-six

LOL!!!

She cleaned the sump too

Here's the kicker, she's a great mom and drop dead georgous too. And coffee is ready for me every morning.


But if there is a powerhead on that front pane of glass (the one you see when you walk in the house) she will go ballistic.

Really, one of my biggest chalanges will be to get flow throughout the tank without powerheads everywhere. My plan is to make an acrylic drop down bracket connected to a small crossbrace on the now front of the tank and connect a tunze to it. I'll post photos as I build it.

Pick up a gyre icecap 3k. This should make things more "pretty"

[five.five-six]

Originally Posted by Greybeard

Couple years ago, a group of firearms enthusiasts friends and I came up with a challenge to build the best 500 yard rifle for under $500. It was fun... and no, I didn't win

A mosin is $100, what did you spend the other $400 on? J/K


If you listen, you can hear my spotter call the hit "nice"

Home Depot bucket lazered at 600 yards

500 yard $500 gun? I think K98 with an old Japanese bushnell trophy on it. What did you build?



Either that or a K98 and tap and mount a buck mark

[Dhoggs]

I will be following along as well .

Also, great shot Is that in Burro Canyon?


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[BeanMachine]

You definitely cheated with that $100 tank stand and canopy. Nice come up.

My budget was obliterated... and my tank isn't even wet yet.

I have a HOB Eshopps skimmer good for around 100 gallons you can borrow temporarily if you don't find something.

[five.five-six]

Bean Machine,

There was no cheating, I just play hard

Eshopps is nice but it looks like I just worked out a deal on an old euroreef RS-135. I think I have skimmer covered


At some point, I am going to have to figure out a calcium reactor. I'm confident the right opportunity will appear in time for my need. For now I have a jug of kalkwasser, a ph probe and a dosing pump

[GrandPa_J]

Following Also,

Is the skimmer an ASM 2, 3,4, ?
Impeller for Sedra 3500 $38.49, Sedra 5,000 $45.49.
New Sedra 5000 pump for G4 on Marine depot is $99.99. (This works great on my G3)

[dodgerblew]

Originally Posted by five.five-six

Really, one of my biggest chalanges will be to get flow throughout the tank without powerheads everywhere. My plan is to make an acrylic drop down bracket connected to a small crossbrace on the now front of the tank and connect a tunze to it. I'll post photos as I build it.

Go with gyres on the short end on wall side. Problem solved

[Greybeard]

Originally Posted by five.five-six

A mosin is $100, what did you spend the other $400 on? J/K

What did you build?

Ruger American in .308 ($379) + Leopold VX1 3-9x40 I found on sale at Bass Pro, with rings, $99. 'Brand New' was part of the deal... no surplus rifles. Best 10 shot group at 500. Bragging rights were won by a Savage Axis in 6.5 Creedmoor with a package Bushnell scope on it. Mine shot well, his shot better.

[five.five-six]

Originally Posted by Greybeard

Ruger American in .308 ($379) + Leopold VX1 3-9x40 I found on sale at Bass Pro, with rings, $99. 'Brand New' was part of the deal... no surplus rifles. Best 10 shot group at 500. Bragging rights were won by a Savage Axis in 6.5 Creedmoor with a package Bushnell scope on it. Mine shot well, his shot better.

That's BS, dies for his 6.5 should have eaten some of his $500.


Good times

[SchnitzelReef]

Stay away from Rio pumps as a return, they are junk!! Like a few have recommended, Gyre pumps seem to work great on peninsula tanks. At least until acros grow into large colonies...then you might run into some issues.

[moondoggy4]

You can find a Iwaki 30 for a song once in a while, should work great. I saw a Eheim 1260/1262 for 120.

[moondoggy4]

FS: 2 Tunze 6100 PowerHeads
Sorry link does not work on RC there are these two pumps for 125.

[five.five-six]

Originally Posted by moondoggy4

FS: 2 Tunze 6100 PowerHeads
Sorry link does not work on RC there are these two pumps for 125.

Those are some great deals!

From what I'm reading, Gyre is the ticket. I need to keep my eye out for one of those.


I don't know if you remember my foye, but what do you think of this peninsula there?

[bobafet1]

I have a XF150 Gyre with Icecap interface. $150 or 10.5% of your budget.

[dodgerblew]

Originally Posted by five.five-six

Those are some great deals!

From what I'm reading, Gyre is the ticket. I need to keep my eye out for one of those.


I don't know if you remember my foye, but what do you think of this peninsula there?

Mark, don't buy the xf-1 series (xf-130, xf-150, no offense Mike) unless they've already been converted to the newer paddles. Coralvue is ripping us, the customer, off. The biggest issue with the original gyre are the paddle bushings. They tear about every 3-5/6 months depending on how lucky you are. When they rip the gyre gets very loud and the paddle is unable to move water from that side. What sucks is the bushings go out at their pace so you're constantly having to remove pump and do the 5 minute repair. The bushings which are worthless were $3 a pair and then they charge you $6-$9 to put in a padded envelope and mail it. Ridiculous! So what was Coralvue's solution? Well, Maxspect redesigned the paddles with a new bushing as well as a new controller and they introduced the xf-2 series. However and a huge however, the newer bushings don't fit on the old paddles studs so completely incompatible. So Coralvue or Maxspect or both then discontinue the older bushings which forces you to buy the new paddles, at $50! so, unless prior owner has eaten the money and replaced paddles your gyre will become useless once the old bushings tear.