jandree22's 75g reef build

[jandree22]

After years of dreaming, I'm finally starting my reef transformation. As always, money is my primary restriction so I'm just buying as I go. At the moment we're waiting for carpet installation in our living room before I move my tank out of the basement. In the meantime I'll be primarily prepping the basement sump/fuge setup as well as preliminary plumbing.

I still haven't specifically narrowed down my desired coral list. My best guess is 25% SPS (esp. montipora), 50% LPS, 25% polyps/zoos.


My system currently includes...
- 75g display
- 30g fuge
- 20g sump
- ~80lbs LR (Fiji & Gulf)
- Current USA Outer Orbit Pendant System (150w x 2 HQI 10k; T5 x 4 Actinic; LED x 18 Moonlight)
- Iwaki 30RLT return pump
- CPR Bakpak Skimmer (...on it's way out)

Upcoming additions...
- Octopus NW150 Skimmer (next purchase)
- Closed Loop system (drilled and plugged until pump is purchased)
- Calcium Reactor

Current FOWLR Setup. Stand will stay, canopy will go bye-bye in lieu of MH Pendant hanging from ceiling

Closeup of FOWLR setup... lit by 4 NO fluorescents

All sorts of goodies, used 30 and 20L for fuge and sump respectively, Outer Orbit system, specimen containers for DIY drilled overflow boxes, some specialized plumbing parts (I need a basic Lowes run yet), and the Iwaki 30RLT return pump.

The Outer Orbit 1072 (150w x 2 HQI @ 10k; T5 x 4 actinic; LED x 18 Moonlight). I decided to go 150W as the few SPS I intend to keep doesn't justify the extra electric bill. :wink:

If not sooner, I'll update when I get my diamond drill bit from Ebay... it's on its way.

 

[jandree22]

Wow, life's been nuts the past few weeks. Finally had time to make progress the past two weeks, though.

Here she is in all her glory. Painted the stand, tank trim and back pane of glass black. Initially I was disappointed because it was Olympic "Black Magic", which is a deep graphite rather than jet black, but kinda adds some character so I like it now.

My son was a bit less than amused at the idea of the classic 'kid-in-tank' shot. :lol:

In this shot, the background shows the drains on the sides and the returns in the middle. Each drain line is independent the entire line, the return line is just tee'd off. In the foreground, I alternated two 90*'s to raise the output right up to the water surface. (and superglued a 'X' of eggcrate to keep snails out)

Backed up the tank to check alignment... thankfully everything was close enough

Bought a laundry room wall plate to finish off the wall. The lines go into the wall then down through the floor. (It's easier to patch a wall than to patch hardwood floors/new carpet.)

...a continuation of the pic above, it's both a blessing and a curse that I'm dealing with a load bearing wall. The pro's are obvious, the con is that this shot along with the previous one involves twelve 45*'s (trust me, they're in there :roll: ).

Top and bottom are drain lines, middle is return.

Drain lines both go into the 20g foreground sump. The top/right line has a tee w/ball valve to also drain some into the 30g refugium, which would then drain into the left of the sump. (The 30 is currently holding the fish).

...and finally the Iwaki 30RLT plumbing. What a PITA to track down all the connections to make this happen. (I do have hose clamps for the vinyl tubing).