ReefNoob's Huge 90 gallon build Thread

[Reef noob_]

So its been a long, 10 year journey starting with a ten gallon, then adding a sump, then a 29 gallon and a 55 that lasted a week and now finally a 90 gallon insane build.
I recently had the luck to pick up a 90 gallon and a 65 gallon tank (separate occurrences) and decided to go all out and just give up my life to a tank. i went ahead and bought two wp-25s for flow as well as a jeabo dc-1200 return and quad t5 lighting setup plus some crushed coral substrate. I used the 65 gallon and the old aqueon sump that was on my 29 gallon to create a large sump setup that has a water volume almost equal to the display. A ten gallon tank that i spray painted black will serve as an ATO reservoir and a simple float valve installed in the tank will keep the water level constant.

Pics:











** i do realize that a 65 gallon skimmer wont work for 180 gallons so i'm open to all suggestions on a lower cost skimmer for about 200 gallons.


So that's what i have done, now on to what still needs completion:

I'm currently building UrauJoey's revised DIY overflow and am having some trouble fitting it all together. I also need to build a stand and get the cabinetry done around it. Once i get these two goals one it is time for water!

I somewhat have an idea of the stocking for my tank and have a few pictures included here:







Open to suggestions for algaes for i need to fill an entire 65 gallon with them.
Liveaquaria's refugium starter pack as well as some halimeda will be initially going in but i'm looking for some cool showpieces.

Thanks to all for looking and reading, any suggestions and links are welcome.

Reef noob_

[Reef noob_]

got the pvc overflow spray painted black today, needs another few coats to be to my liking but we are getting closer. planning to finish painting that tomorrow and then begin building the stand for the main tank, things are finally starting to come together after over a year of the tanks just sitting around

[Reef noob_]

okay so I haven't updated in over a month now and as is with new builds a lot has changed. With the help of a contractor friend I was able to build a stand that can hold a car and set the tank up with my liverock from the 29 gallon and a few holding tanks as well as my clarkii clown and flame angel. After a small cycle ( i scrubbed the rocks so there was probably some dead algae and stuff) the tank has evened out and is now in a full diatom bloom. I did buy a large clean up crew from reefcleaners.org and the little snails and crabs have been plugging away at all the algae. The starry blenny that i had been quarantining also went in and i will let the tank stabilize before more new fish. Here are some pics from throughout the process.

Building the stand:



Stand complete:



Filling the Tank one Bucket at a Time :/



Tank is Filled



Close-Up of right side rockwork



After Putting Rock and Fish in and letting it clear overnight:



Tank Currently (in diatom Bloom)



And A shot of the Starry Blenny [ needs a name ]



well there we are, likely not much will occur as the algae dies down but i'll keep everyone updated.

[Reef noob_]

bump, anyone?

[stingeragent]

I like it. I think you did a very nice job on the 2 separate rock islands. What else do you plan to put in it?

Edit: I'm not big on fuges so not much help there. I much more like vinegar dosing setup on a doser. So much easier.

[Reef noob_]

ty, i think i like the island on the left but the right island is a bit tight packed for my liking. I don't really know what you mean by what else i'm putting in there but that's all the rock. I also have a rough fish list above if you wanted to know about that.

I've had a fugue on all of my tanks that i've had and i decided that i would use the 65 gallon for something so i went ahead and used that.

[Reef noob_]

Well, i had the cabinet guys come in yesterday and they started work on finishing the stand. All the actual woodwork is done, but they are coming back today to do all the sanding and painting. I think it looks really good so far.

Of course i was everywhere taking pictures while they were here.

Laying out Tools:



Starting (Main Front panel on):





side Panels Mostly in:




And at the End of the Day:




comments welcome!

[splix]

nice build. nice placement.

[Reef noob_]

Thanks, my 29 gallon used to be there but it didn't really fill the space so I figured that a 4 foot tank would be the biggest i could easily get in there and it turned out great. I can't wait for the cabinets to be finished.

[Reef noob_]

cabinet guys coming tomorrow to paint, almost there!

[Reef noob_]

Just finished painting the stand and touching up the walls around it, will have pics up soon.

Sidenote: anyone have an idea of what type of algae this is?? it's covering everything. I thought it was normal GHA but it seems much thinner and is more white in color, I'm confused... (sorry for the terrible phone pic BTW)


pic:


Likely will be adding the next fish within a week, likely the orchid dottyback


Also on the agenda is a first coral, i'm thinking a zoa or some GSP maybe ( i know they grow like crazy)

Now I just need to get rid of that algae and the tank can really start to come together.

[Reef noob_]

Any ideas on that algae? It's growing pretty quickly

[Reef noob_]

So i finally got my lazy *** in gear and took updated pics of the tank and stand and looks pretty good IMO

Also that weird algae is still hanging around, i think getting that refugium up would help?\

Pics Here:

[Reef noob_]

Update on filtration and sump setup:

So this algae is all over the empty fuge, probably about a quarter of an inch thick. The algae in there is different than in the display, odd....

Pic:

\

Also while in there I took a pick of the skimmer, it's pulling pretty good for something that's way underpowered. I'm not going to change anything with it lol

Pic:



And lastly this difficult to look at rat's nest of wires, I'm still trying to Manage all these and pin them to the wall.

Sorry for this:

[Reef noob_]

Going to My LFS later today, anyone have suggestions on a new fish and a first coral? I wanted to get some GSP just to see how the tank was doing in it's ability to support corals but i'm open to other suggestions.

[Mark9]

Love the location of that tank.
Looking sweet.

[Reef noob_]

Thanks!

[Reef noob_]

Currently on my way home with way more coral then I planned, wanted one or two frags but ended up with six.... Just have to keep telling myself that I'm not crazy

Also have a very healthy and low cost yellow eyed kole tang. I wanted a purple tang as the centerpiece but the kole tang was half the price and twice as large and was very good looking so I ended up with him.

Will update when I get them home and in the tank.

[Reef noob_]

Acclimating now, i chose to not do a drip as I usually do but instead will be floating then adding water for half an hour then putting them in. Hopefully it all works out okay.

[Reef noob_]

Update!!!

This morning all of the new corals are open and look healthy. The kole tang, whose name is still being disputed, hasn't come out of the rock long enough for me to snap a picture. I did take pics of all the corals though, just got a few easy ones to start the tank off.

Two GSP frags and some zoas:



Another zoa and a Mushroom



And my gorgeous pink and green mixed frogspawn (two heads got it for $30)



I just put them on the sandbed for now and will epoxy them to the rock later. More pics and hopefully one of that tang incoming.

[bobbravo2]

What skimmer is that? Looks a bit undersized for a 90

[Reef noob_]

Originally Posted by bobbravo2

What skimmer is that? Looks a bit undersized for a 90

Yeah, Currently a coralife super skimmer 125 is on there but i'm saving up to upgrade. Likely will get a reefoctopus cone.

[bobbravo2]

Originally Posted by Reef noob_

Yeah, Currently a coralife super skimmer 125 is on there but i'm saving up to upgrade. Likely will get a reefoctopus cone.

Nice! I can recommend the RLSS R6i http://www.saltysupply.com/rlss-r6-i...ne-dc4000.html
Still on sale, too! I've been running it about 10 months now. Very reliable DC skimmer.

[geekengineer]

Stopping by here.. there are so many build threads and so little time to keep up.. I Looks really nice and I like your way you made your stand really fit where it was in the house. I got a mess of wires to deal with too..

[Reef noob_]

Originally Posted by bobbravo2

Nice! I can recommend the RLSS R6i http://www.saltysupply.com/rlss-r6-i...ne-dc4000.html
Still on sale, too! I've been running it about 10 months now. Very reliable DC skimmer.

I'll look into it, thanks for the suggestion!