Birth of the 90 Gallon Reef

[ctxmonitor]

I?m finally getting an upgrade. Unlike Kris who has upgraded so many times already. Hehehh.
I just got a AGA 90 RR Gallon tank yesterday. It was a long drive, but seeing that this tank is the older model, and doesn't have the center bracing and 1/2" thick glass, I took the bait..

My old 75 gallon is up for about 9 months, and I am wondering how the hell am I gonna switch over.. There is so many stuff to take out. I have to put the 90 gallon tank where my 75 gallon tank are.

The biggest problem is that I need to move the 75 gallon off the stand and put the 90 gallon on top. That mean I take to take out everything, move the tank and do the plumping on the 90 gallons, sump, and any mods I need to accommodate for the 90. There is no way that this is gonna take one day to finish. From my knowledge and skills, it probably gonna take at least a week to finish all the require setup for water testing the 90 tank...

I'm still thinking how should I do this.. Move everything over to a temporary holding tank and then start my 90 gallon tank. It is the only solution I see.

The most important thing is keeping this setup as efficient in electric cost as possible.
Things I needed to do before I can start the transfer.
-Decide on the layout of the sump. The size of the sump are most likely either a 20 gal or a 30 gal glass tank. I want to run the return pump external and skimmer hopefully. And since I don't have much space if I put the 36" 30 gallon tank, the 20 is looking more attractive.
-Decide on the skimmer but I like Steve's skimmer H&S External Skimmer- A150-F2001.. It uses only 38watt and it kick ass My second choice would be the 50w ASM G3 skimmer with mods.

 

[herman]

I got one word for you! Rubbermaid!
Just get a tub to temporarily house all of your goodies. Just keep is running in there with lights etc so you can take your time in doing a good job with the 90.

You can also house your livestock in the 75 as you are setting up the new tank and use the rubbermaid to cook your rocks. This is the perfect and only chance you will get for that.

Congrats on the upgrade man!! Good Luck!

 

[joe]

yep, and you can even stick your in sump skimmer (if you have it) in a section of the larggge rubermaid containner.
if you dont have room yoou could ask someone to borrow a HOB skimmer.

 

[ctxmonitor]

I got one word for you! Rubbermaid!
You can also house your livestock in the 75 as you are setting up the new tank and use the rubbermaid to cook your rocks. This is the perfect and only chance you will get for that.

Congrats on the upgrade man!! Good Luck!

Thanks.. I know it been ideal if I could build the 90 gal thing while I finish the 90, but I need to use the old stand and I need to put the 90 where the 75 gal is.

If you know of a way of moving the 75 galloon tank out of the place, let me know... maybe some sort of mobility machine?

 

[inkblue]

Tom, let me know if you need heLp... :wink1:

 

[spykes]

errr tom was the tank i saw at your place the 90 or 75? why not go for a 120??

 

[ctxmonitor]

Tom, let me know if you need heLp... :wink1:

Sure will.

Oh if anyone can think he could carry/move a 75 gallon with water over a distance of roughtly 10 feet, let me know ..ahha...

 

[ctxmonitor]

errr tom was the tank i saw at your place the 90 or 75? why not go for a 120??

that was the 75 gallon. I wish I could place a 120, but as you remeber its right next to the kicthen entrance, if I put a 120, I think its going to be blocking the entrance. I love the dimension of the 120 for sure. Maybe my next upgrade , when I get my own place .

 

[SlamaJama]

tom if u need some help lmk...im free so far this week

 

[bad coffee]

Tom, Congrats on the upgrade!

As someone said before. Rubbermaid tubbs are your best friend. I bought a bunch at HD to use as moving boxes. (In NYC the tubs are cheaper than cardboard boxes!) They were about $6 each for a 20 gallon.

Moving a tank while full is really bad for the tank. The glass can shift and break the silicone joints. THen you have 75 gallons of water, fish, sand rocks, snails, ect on the floor faster than you can say 'OH (*&^' So it's better to empty it out before you move it.

Here's a good place to compare pump specs:
http://reefs.org/library/pumps/

And I think a 29 will fit under your tank, it's 30" but it's a little taller. Just an idea.

Also, you can have most of the plumbing done before you start the change over.
Good luck, can't wait to see pics.

 

[herman]

Thanks.. I know it been ideal if I could build the 90 gal thing while I finish the 90, but I need to use the old stand and I need to put the 90 where the 75 gal is.

If you know of a way of moving the 75 galloon tank out of the place, let me know... maybe some sort of mobility machine?

Not that sophisticated, I am. Just move everything into the rubbermaid first. Then remove the 75 on the floor or something and transfer fish and corals into it. Meanwhile "cook" the rocks while you complete the 90g

If you even attempt to move the 75 with water in it you will be in a world of **** cause the seams can not take that kind of stress

 

[inkblue]

...seriousLy, Rubbermaid should make aquariums...

 

[nanoreefer22]

Tom, Put me down for help if you need it too. I right in your area so its not that bad.
-Kris

 

[ctxmonitor]

Ok, I want to know some of your input. Does anyone here have their tank drill in the bottom?

Here is a rough draft of what I want..

Going to use 3/4" locline, then couple with a Y-spilt 1/2". Should I add another one so there will be three output? One more on each side blowing town the glass.

 

[ctxmonitor]

Haven't had the time to setup this new tank until this last few weeks. Trying to get the tank up before Christmas at least.

Actually someone is coming over to stay in the basement and I need to get rid of the tank that taking up all the space..

So far I am finally adding water to the tank and testing if there were any leaking and water testing the system. I am unfortunately not able to finish the sump yet as I still need to baffle the 30 gallon tank I am going to use.

I'm also getting some loud noise from my Quietone 4000 using externally. It much more quiet and not buzz when used in the sump. Maybe I need to get
myself a different external pump. It is being utilize as an closed loop system to blow off the deterious off the barebottom tank.
Here is what I implemented to try to fight off the dirt, crap that my rock, fish and snail put out.

I thinking if I should raise my rock 1" off the bottom to not have any rock blocking the flow.

Here is a picture before I put my starboard in and water test it.

 

[DevIouS]

Cool...!

Can't wait to see your stuff in it!

 

[gforce6]

Tom, I am running out of patient now.

Chirstmas is only two more days.

 

[ctxmonitor]

Yea, I know. I have been working non-stop on this tank for the past week. I still need to find the some tubes to fit into my return pump. Does anyone know where I can get some tubes of all sizes? Beside homedepot and lowes (can't find the correct size I need).


But I'm not waiting for the sump to be up and running first. So I just did my aquascape tonight and the water column is full with particles.

 

[spykes]

savko.com

 

[gforce6]

I second that for Savko.com