Reef Central Online Community

Go Back   Reef Central Online Community > General Interest Forums > Tank Journals & Builds
Blogs FAQ Calendar Mark Forums Read

Notices

User Tag List

Reply
Thread Tools
Unread 07/07/2018, 11:55 PM   #1
Ramracer32
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 29
The 120 Gallon Custom Build

Well its time to make the upgrade. I have been keeping a nano tank for about a year and I told myself If I can keep coral alive and looking good in that tank for a good amount of time then I would pull the trigger on a big tank. I have learned so much about what I would want and not want in a tank and how i would like my tank ran. Its amazing how fast swings will happen with a nano reef I am so excited for more stable water parameters

This 120 I will be going more old school. Metal halides and a calcium reactor. I have played around with dossers, and the ecotech radions and while those pieces of equipment are pretty amazing I just Love how the old technology works. I have even used the apex controller in the past and would much rather turning on and off a physical switch for servicing than go through profiles on a screen to do the same task.

I just started building the stand and got my influence by Marino420tD stand build a number of years back. I will be putting all my free time into this build and hopefully in a couple of weeks ill have water in the tank

image1_4

image2_4

image3_1

image4


Ramracer32 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07/08/2018, 12:56 AM   #2
spiritwalker
Registered Member
 
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 52
Off to a good start.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk


spiritwalker is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07/08/2018, 02:50 PM   #3
Ryan Darilek
Registered Member
 
Ryan Darilek's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 376
Beautiful stand!! Painting it or staining?

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk


Ryan Darilek is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07/08/2018, 06:58 PM   #4
Ramracer32
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 29
thank you, I will be painting the stand should be able to get final coat in tomorrow and will take some updated photos. The sump, lights, and protein skimmer going on order tonight. hopefully i can get going on canopy tomorrow as well to match. I was contemplating ordering some custom cabinet doors, but looking at those prices per sq ft im happy to do them myself I was able to score a new 120 reef aquarium for only $325 store going out of business. The 2 overflows are in each corner and would much rather had one in the center, but for that price i couldn't say no


Ramracer32 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07/08/2018, 10:34 PM   #5
Ryan Darilek
Registered Member
 
Ryan Darilek's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 376
That's awesome! Which sump and skimmer are you going with? Looking forward to the update pics!

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk


Ryan Darilek is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07/11/2018, 03:44 AM   #6
Zoahoarder
Registered Member
 
Zoahoarder's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 364
Wow love the stand. Great craftsmanship I'm in the process of doing a 120 and plan on going with halides and t5.


Zoahoarder is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07/11/2018, 04:41 PM   #7
Ramracer32
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 29
Thank you guys! dang hard to be a HVAC tech with this hot weather and have time to get this tank running, but will get there asap. Here is a little update I got the stand painted and my first packages came in for the lights and skimmer. The skimmer is a bubble magnus curve 7 and lights are 2 hamilton bali sun metal halide hoods that will house 2 20k 250w metal halide bulbs. for the sump i went with the icecap 30 sump and should be a perfect size to fit all my equipment under the tank. I Also have on order a 3/4" sheet of white cutting board to line the bottom of the tank as this will be bare bottom. i should have the canopy done this weekend and doors to hopefully put everything together.

image1_4

image2_4

Zoahoarder youll have to post a pic of your setup the halides with t5 sounds awesome


Ramracer32 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07/11/2018, 06:28 PM   #8
Zoahoarder
Registered Member
 
Zoahoarder's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 364
Lol. I've got the same fixture and going with the 20k radium bulb. Quick preview.


Zoahoarder is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07/11/2018, 09:28 PM   #9
Ryan Darilek
Registered Member
 
Ryan Darilek's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 376
Nice! I've got the Bubble Magus Curve 5 Elite on my 60 cube and that thing works amazing. I'm sure you'll be happy with yours too

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk


Ryan Darilek is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07/11/2018, 11:25 PM   #10
Ramracer32
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 29
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan Darilek View Post
Nice! I've got the Bubble Magus Curve 5 Elite on my 60 cube and that thing works amazing. I'm sure you'll be happy with yours too

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
thats awesome! I feel like the price is right on it as well and couldn't pass it up. I just noticed you are in Colorado springs im actually in highlands ranch colorado if you ever make it up this way there is an amazing store to get corals called aquatic art inc. they are only opened Fridays and Saturdays but definitely worth the drive


Ramracer32 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07/11/2018, 11:45 PM   #11
Ryan Darilek
Registered Member
 
Ryan Darilek's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 376
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ramracer32 View Post
thats awesome! I feel like the price is right on it as well and couldn't pass it up. I just noticed you are in Colorado springs im actually in highlands ranch colorado if you ever make it up this way there is an amazing store to get corals called aquatic art inc. they are only opened Fridays and Saturdays but definitely worth the drive
Oh hey neighbor! That's great to know actually. For the longest time there wasn't even a decent store down here in the Springs and I was going up to Denver, but about 10 months ago we had an online only guy start up a brick and mortar location and it's pretty ridiculous how much selection he has (more than I saw anywhere in Denver), not to mention the quality. So if you're ever this way, check out Reefkoi Corals!

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk


Ryan Darilek is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07/12/2018, 03:01 AM   #12
Zoahoarder
Registered Member
 
Zoahoarder's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 364
Here's what I've got so far. Need to make a floating canopy for the lighting now.
https://www.amazon.com/photos/share/...QxlKpjH6Q6pRqt


Zoahoarder is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07/17/2018, 10:22 PM   #13
Ramracer32
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 29
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan Darilek View Post
Oh hey neighbor! That's great to know actually. For the longest time there wasn't even a decent store down here in the Springs and I was going up to Denver, but about 10 months ago we had an online only guy start up a brick and mortar location and it's pretty ridiculous how much selection he has (more than I saw anywhere in Denver), not to mention the quality. So if you're ever this way, check out Reefkoi Corals!

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
awesome!!!! I will have to check them out soon

Quote:
Originally Posted by Zoahoarder View Post
Here's what I've got so far. Need to make a floating canopy for the lighting now.
https://www.amazon.com/photos/share/...QxlKpjH6Q6pRqt
Zoa that looks great. I hope the 2 halides alone will be enough to light my tank, ill probable have to get some light strips as well.

Update! I finally got the stand canopy and doors all done I think i have about 40 hrs into this dang thing and half way through this project i kept telling myself i should have just bought a tank stand, but im happy with the outcome and its set up to make servicing the tank very easy. I can finally work on the actual equipment and design the rockwork. Anyone wanting to build a similar stand here is a link to marino420td thread that will point you in the right direction. I couldn't have done it without his thread. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=787189

image3_1

image4

image2_4

image1_4


Ramracer32 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07/18/2018, 09:53 PM   #14
Ramracer32
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 29
Quick update! Got the rocks in, my cutting board white base, and also Hung the lighting very excited to get some water in here

image1_4

image2_4

image3_1


Ramracer32 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07/18/2018, 10:02 PM   #15
Ryan Darilek
Registered Member
 
Ryan Darilek's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 376
Looks bad *** man!!! I think the aquascaping looks great, but would look even better if you could find a large very flat rock to create a "shelf" spanning a few of those rocks! Just an idea

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk


Ryan Darilek is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07/19/2018, 03:05 AM   #16
Zoahoarder
Registered Member
 
Zoahoarder's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 364
Dang man that looks great. I love your stand. Wish I made a custom one but already went way over my budget. Doesn't help when you buy coral off a fire sale. lol aquascape looks good as well. I need to start a thread on here. Just need to figure out how to get the pics up on here now since photobucket when down.


Zoahoarder is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07/19/2018, 09:31 PM   #17
Ramracer32
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 29
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan Darilek View Post
Looks bad *** man!!! I think the aquascaping looks great, but would look even better if you could find a large very flat rock to create a "shelf" spanning a few of those rocks! Just an idea

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
Thank you, great idea! I do want stuff to be a bit taller I will be adding some Tonga branches in there and the shop up the street has some live shelf that I’ll add in there to seed the tank after water is in.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Zoahoarder View Post
Dang man that looks great. I love your stand. Wish I made a custom one but already went way over my budget. Doesn't help when you buy coral off a fire sale. lol aquascape looks good as well. I need to start a thread on here. Just need to figure out how to get the pics up on here now since photobucket when down.
Cheers! I was having some issues as well posting pics with photobucket down I finally found a good hosting site called imgbb. They give easy image codes you copy and paste in the forum


Ramracer32 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07/24/2018, 12:02 AM   #18
Ramracer32
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 29
Finally have water. I added some tonga rock and plate also started dosing ammonia the cycle cant come soon enough. I also went against my first post in this thread and pulled the trigger on an apex controller. I cant see loosing the entire tank due to a simple equipment problem to me it just makes sense to have the alerts on the phone if anything is wrong. More to come

IMG_0966_1


Ramracer32 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07/24/2018, 12:07 AM   #19
Ryan Darilek
Registered Member
 
Ryan Darilek's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 376
Wow that looks great!!! Have a game plan on your stock list??

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk


Ryan Darilek is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07/24/2018, 12:24 AM   #20
Ramracer32
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 29
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan Darilek View Post
Wow that looks great!!! Have a game plan on your stock list??

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
thank you! I love the colors of a great sps tank but like corals that sway in the current a bit more so this will be a lps, softy tank with a few sps that im transferring from my little tank.
this video is the tank look im after https://youtu.be/IZMmmb8Al2Q

Ive also been following this tank for a long time https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeSLFepTq3M&t=5s
love these corals. fish wise im not sure yet but will try to keep it to a minimum. Growing a big squamosa clam is on the to do list as well


Ramracer32 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07/24/2018, 12:32 AM   #21
Ryan Darilek
Registered Member
 
Ryan Darilek's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 376
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ramracer32 View Post
thank you! I love the colors of a great sps tank but like corals that sway in the current a bit more so this will be a lps, softy tank with a few sps that im transferring from my little tank.
this video is the tank look im after https://youtu.be/IZMmmb8Al2Q

Ive also been following this tank for a long time https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeSLFepTq3M&t=5s
love these corals. fish wise im not sure yet but will try to keep it to a minimum. Growing a big squamosa clam is on the to do list as well
Hell yeah man. Those tanks are incredible! That's the direction I went on my tank as well (I just upgraded tanks less than 3 weeks ago, so it's still got a bit of filling in to do)

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk


Ryan Darilek is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07/25/2018, 11:05 PM   #22
Ramracer32
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 29
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan Darilek View Post
Hell yeah man. Those tanks are incredible! That's the direction I went on my tank as well (I just upgraded tanks less than 3 weeks ago, so it's still got a bit of filling in to do)

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
WoW! that looks Awesome! I think softy tanks are making a comeback


Ramracer32 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07/30/2018, 10:10 AM   #23
Waterobert
Registered Member
 
Waterobert's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Laguna Niguel ,Ca
Posts: 437
Ryan your stand and canopy look great !!!


__________________
Robert

Current Tank Info: 91 gallon reef tank, 26 gallon custom sump, ATB 840, 2 250 MH,mostly LPS with few SPS
Waterobert is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 08/28/2018, 11:02 AM   #24
Daddyrawg
Registered Member
 
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 814
How tall is your canopy? great woodworking


Daddyrawg is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09/07/2018, 05:50 PM   #25
Ramracer32
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 29
thank you all! the canopy is 19" total. there is a 3" overhang that covers the water lvl so 16" off the top of the tank.

Quick update, I have been making some changes and additions. first i hooked up my Geo calcium reactor and this unit has been so easy to tune and very efficient at using co2. I turned the 8 gallon water top off chamber for the ice cap sump into a nice refugium. I drilled a overflow hole exiting the chamber to my return pump and plumed in some pvc with holes on the bottom of the chamber so there is a nice upflow through the chaeto and rock before going back to the tank. I thought i was done cycling everything read 0 so i broke down my nano cube and added those corals and fish to this tank and unfortunately the tank is going through another cycle........went too fast i guess. Fish are doing fine, but did lose some sps frags i had transferred. I have a green kenya tree coral that is loving life with the cycle and has grown crazy fast.

Im still moving around my wave makers to try and get the detritus to settle in one spot of the tank for easy clean up. The bubble magnus protein skimmer has been working amazing once broken in it has been solid with the skim and no overflows which was a problem on my old octo. Other than that just sitting back and letting things stabilize

https://ibb.co/eptCpp

https://ibb.co/fzBnN9


Ramracer32 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:17 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Powered by Searchlight © 2024 Axivo Inc.
Use of this web site is subject to the terms and conditions described in the user agreement.
Reef CentralTM Reef Central, LLC. Copyright ©1999-2022
User Alert System provided by Advanced User Tagging v3.3.0 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.