Mike's 120 reef ready build

[MikeC]

120 gal reef ready build


Hi everyone my name is Mike and I am a Reef virgin well other than for the last 6 months have been lurking and reading everything I can get my hands on lol.

Ill try to make my story quick. My first job was in a aquarium store and ever since I was 16 years old I have always dreamed about having a salt water tank.
Well 28 years later I am finally making that happen.

My next door neighbor owns a LFS and offered me a sweet deal on a used 65 gal setup that someone was upgrading to a 120 ,which I proposed to my wife with what I felt was the only possible location on a wall in our 1/2 finished basement.

Being the coolest wife there is(with an ulterior motive) Said go BIG or go home.
?You can have any size tank you want if you just refinish the other room in the basement
And put it in there?

Not sure if she under estimated my commitment or not but so it began.

Photos of the room being ripped out,electric ,framing,sheetrock,spackle,paint,custom tank stand sized for a 180gal.... you know just incase in the future I want to upgrade and my DIY 40 breeder sump/refugium
http://photobucket.com/120galreefbuild


My equipment so far:

120 reef ready double drain
ASM G3 Skimmer
1800 Mag drive
2 AI Sol LEDs Super Blue from Aquaillimination
75 GPD 5 stage RODI unit
1 MP40 Vortech
3 Hanna checkers Calcium,Alkalinity,Phosphate
Refractometer
40 gal DIY breeder Sump/Refugium
BRS deluxe reactors Carbon & GFO
APEX Controller
140 lbs live sand
Clear DIY screens for top
100lbs premium live rock
20lbs branch rock



~Cheers
Mike

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/Mikes%20120GAL%20Reef%20Build/20120218-DSCF0322.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/Mikes%20120GAL%20Reef%20Build/20120312-DSCF0375.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/Mikes%20120GAL%20Reef%20Build/3-25-2012LiveRockAdded-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

If I were you I would put 2 more ai's on the tank. With 2 you might get some shadows if you ad more rock.

 

[JARRETT SHARK]

Great start!

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Plus 2 more ai's would be sweet with the thunderstorms effects turned on

 

[greengny]

Tank looks great Mike. Good luck with that beauty. I'm on LI also, reach out if you need any help. John.

 

[samksy]

Very nice start!!! i like the rocks, what kind of live/dry rock is it? and where you got it from?

 

[MikeC]

Thanks Sam it is Live Premium Rock I think it is from Australia?

I got it all from Mike at www.tropicalislandaquarium.com
Both Mike and Eric are great to deal with over there.

 

[MikeC]

Plus 2 more ai's would be sweet with the thunderstorms effects turned on

Ya unfortunately my wife is pron to seizures so the thunderstorm effect is not a top priority yet............yet lol:p

 

[MikeC]

Tank looks great Mike. Good luck with that beauty. I'm on LI also, reach out if you need any help. John.

Thanks John
:thanks:

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Ya unfortunately my wife is pron to seizures so the thunderstorm effect is not a top priority yet............yet lol:p

Sorry. Forget I suggested that. Good list. Great start.

 

[Jaftica]

Looks awesome!

 

[qy7400]

Looks like your off to a great start....only concern is the water level in your sump. The ASM typically runs best in 8" of water and have you tested the back-fill should the power or pump fail? With the sump that full a pump fail may over fill it.

 

[MikeC]

Looks like your off to a great start....only concern is the water level in your sump. The ASM typically runs best in 8" of water and have you tested the back-fill should the power or pump fail? With the sump that full a pump fail may over fill it.

Yes Joe thank you the sump it tested and everything works great:thrash:

 

[Imbarrie]

Looks great. Sump looks like it will make quite a bit of noise.

What kind of bulb is that over the fuge? Does it get hot?
Where in Long Island are you? Im in Westbury area if you want some free ochtodes macro to get that going Im due for a pruning soon.

 

[MikeC]

Looks great. Sump looks like it will make quite a bit of noise.

What makes you say that? It is actually pretty quiet I incorporated the Herbie method and I used the four drains with 1? bulkheads into 1.5? pipe to the sump,two as the main drains that are under water ( no sound) in the sump and the other 2 as the Herbie emergency drains that are above the water and will only hear them if there is something wrong ( Ie snail blocking the main drain) and the the 1?returns over the back from the center compartment of the sump IMOP better flow up top.

What kind of bulb is that over the fuge? Does it get hot?

Plant grow bulb. I haven't had a problem with heat but it is a new set up.

Where in Long Island are you? Im in Westbury area if you want some free ochtodes macro to get that going Im due for a pruning soon.

Thanks for the offer I am in Deer Park I will pm you in the near future.

Thanks

 

[njreefer]

Wow... you sure this is your first saltwater tank? Looks great.

 

[sillysidewinder]

nice aquascaping for the first time around. it looks really good, and will look even better with corals!

 

[Tonyscoots84]

great job man. i like the aquascape alot.

 

[strgazr27]

Looks nice but did you seal the inside of the stand? If you didn't your going to REALLY regret it later on. The humidity levels under that stand are going to wreak havoc with the wood. Not criticizing just trying to help.

 

[Tonyscoots84]

Looks nice but did you seal the inside of the stand? If you didn't your going to REALLY regret it later on. The humidity levels under that stand are going to wreak havoc with the wood. Not criticizing just trying to help.

+1. but thats if he doesnt upgrade soon :lol2: