125 In-Wall Reef Build Thread

[jglorioso71]

Greetings fellow reefers!

My name is Jon and I have been reefing for about 5 years now. Current tank is 60 gallon - my very 1st.

Old photo of current tank:

Photo of DIY Sump/Refugium for my current 60 gallon:

With the exception of few new equipments and bigger coral growth, not much has changed. To date, I have fragged my sinularia flexibis 4x already. Frogspawn from 2 to about 10 branches now. Others like the montipora, pink birds nest, etc...I can no longer count how many times I trimmed these guys.

 

[jglorioso71]

Dream realized upgrade In-Wall Tank

For years I have been at awe with Ralf Prehn's (RalfP) Reef Aquarium. Ralf's tank was featured tank of the month - August of 2006 (Reef Keeping). I said to myself back then, if ever I upgrade my 60 gallon, that would be it. I hope the admin allows me to provide this link to it --> http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-08/totm/index.php

Due to the layout of my house and zoning restrictions here in Naugatuck, CT the only place for me have a REALLY big tank would be to convert my car garage into a fish room. That plus my 'other half' strong objections in converting the garage, I decided to let go. :knockedou

Things changed when I won last Oct 2009 off eBay a 125g long reef ready aquarium from a guy in MA. It is small enough to fit it right where my current 60g is but big enough to have a set-up just like Ralf Prehn's.

Project Area - 13' long x 8' high x 3 7/8' deep (front to back). Old location of my 60g.

 

[motortrendz]

really nice.. i like the sump...

 

[fcamargo6thave]

welcome to MR nice tank cant wait to see your build

 

[Awibrandy]

welcome to MR nice tank cant wait to see your build

DITTO:biggrin:​

 

[jglorioso71]

crash course on actual plumbing

For 5 long years I carried water (in reef crystal buckets) to my 60g reef tank for weekly maintenance. This 60g tank used to sit right where my upgrade tank now is. Saltwater is prepared in my garage. RO is in my kitchen. Looking back, I must have really liked what I was doing

. Or simply is just crazy

.....I mean getting RO in the kitchen. Puts a portion of it (weekly) at my ATO water reservoir, the rest to the 50 gallon bin in the garage where I prepare the saltwater.

For this upgrade 125g, getting water near my tank was the next thing I did. I run a line - tapping hot and cold water from the master's bathroom in the 2nd floor. This new tank/ project, gave me an opportunity to try new things...like carpentry and plumbing. Now I know why plumbers are expensive. It is not much on the science of plumbing but rather the physical effort involve. My neck and back hurt so bad I can barely move the next day. Anyways...I found this site really helpful for those wishing to install/ repair their own copper pipes in the house...http://www.doityourself.com/stry/h2handlecopper

With the 1st part done, I can now focus back on tank. When all is done, I'll get back to this and install a mini-sink after I tore up the ceiling to install a drainage system...and some recess lights that my wife wanted

.

Here are some photos...

 

[jglorioso71]

...cont

 

[motortrendz]

lookin good!!!

 

[jglorioso71]

 

[jglorioso71]

To power my new toy, I decided to go with a Blueline HD55 (or Pan World 150PS sold at Marine Depot) I got from AquaCave.Com. I wanted at least 20x water turn over rate.

Although rated at 1,100 gph at 0' with a max head @ 28', I computed head loss (taking into account all plumbing considerations like "T's", elbows, submerged and multiple outlet, including allowances for error, etc.) and come with the following data:

Total Flow Rate: 710.98 gph
Exit Velocity per Exit: 1.47 ft/sec
Head Pressure (PSI): 6.19

This couple with two of my MP40 wave maker, I'll turn water over around 22 times.

I was able to calculate above data using a head loss calculator which can be downloaded here --> http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2007/5/aafeature2

 

[jglorioso71]

It's done
<hr style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" size="1"> <!-- / icon and title --> <!-- message --> with the exception of sand, sink, frag and refugium tank lights...I think its done. New tank has cycled, although fish in my old 60 gallon has to wait for another 5 to 6 months.

Main Display (note: no sand yet)

I used only about 90lbs of both dead and LR for the main display tank. The remaining 120lbs will be placed on the refugium and on one of the bottom sump.

Video:

<embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allownetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/JGlory71/125%20Gallon%20Reef%20Tank/Iphone5-12-2010ReefVideo.flv" width="600" height="361">

 

[jrobbins]

looks great. i hope the bottle of purple up is just there for aesthetics

 

[jglorioso71]

looks great. i hope the bottle of purple up is just there for aesthetics

thanks for the comment. The purple up bottle...not even close...lol. It is filled with sand because that is how I put sand on a small portion of the back part of the tank (right side only). None of the rocks touches the glass (3" minimum space between them), except the bottom part ofcourse...lol, so this bottle is all I need to dump sand directly at the bottom. I took some sand from the old tank to seed the new sand which I have not purchased yet.

But I get what you mean. I used Purple Up in my first reef tank with negative results. Ionic balance deteriorated to a point that I had to replace 75% of my water and risk 'shocking' the inhabitants. But that was just me. I am not one to say that it will happen to everyone. I might or it might not.

 

[KuyaMark]

Very nice looking tank Jon come by my house one day so u can check out my tank

Mark

 

[JARRETT SHARK]

looks good!!

 

[jglorioso71]

Very nice looking tank Jon come by my house one day so u can check out my tank

Mark

Thanks Mark. Pasensya na I was away for quite sometime. PM sent.

 

[jglorioso71]

looks good!!

thanks sir. I saw your 600...man those are huge fish!