AriMiko's 65 Gallon build

[AriMiko43]

Hey everyone, I recently had a fish only 46 bowfront running for a while and decided I wanted to upgrade. I purchased myself a 65 gallon RR tank which is 36w x 18d x 24h. I transferred all the sand and live rock from the 46 gallon and added another 50 lbs of marco rocks. I made a diy 30 gallon acrylic sump with 3 sections. A drain/skimmer section, A refugium section in the middle and the return pump in the last section.


I had to modify the stand that I had built for the 46 BF to accommodate the larger dimensions of the 65. I have asked a bunch of questions on MR on ways to set up and I thank all for the responses and the members I have talked to on pages for info also. I have the tank running now for 2 weeks and it is starting to cycle now. I have traces of ammonia, nitrite and nitrates. Within the next week I predict it should be done but I am not going to add anything till the beginning of next month. Anyway here are some pics starting with the 46 bf and the progress along the way to the end of the build [for now].


I do not have a skimmer or lighting for the tank yet, but I am planning on doing a diy led kit. Equipment as of now is as follows. I have about 100lbs of rock, 80 lbs sand, a mag drive 9.5 for the return pump and 2 koralia 2 powerheads. If anyone has any input on what skimmer I should use for this size tank please feel free to let me know. I was thinking of maybe the Tunze 9005. Hope you all like the set up so far and I will add pics along the way as I add livestock and equipment. Enjoy

 

[DrHarryLopez]

nice aquascape!

 

[NYReefer]

Lookin good!! best of luck to you!! are you going to keep it fish only or create a reef?

 

[AriMiko43]

It's going to be a reef. I also have a sea max 130 set up with a reef and after seeing that progress I had to do a bigger reef for my room. =)

 

[AriMiko43]

Ordered my led lighting kit today. It consist of 24 XR-E cool white leds and 24 XR-E royal blue leds, 4 meanwells non dimmable, 2 16" x 8.5 heat sinks, 2 fans with power supply. I will update pics once I start the build.

 

[AriMiko43]

I got my LED light fixture up and on. I used 2 16" x 8 1/2" heat sinks with 24 white and 24 blue leds. There are 4 meanwell drivers to power them. It is wired in strings of 12. Here are some pics of the fixture. The wires to power the light are a bit messy and I need to clear them up, I was just anxious to power them up and did it sloppy. Last night I went by Steve's [Mo~Idol] house and picked up some nice frags off of him. I will post pics of the frags once they get used to the tank and really start to open up.

 

[BILBO913]

Nice tank man!!! super clean. nice choice with the black and white sand gives it a nice extra pop

 

[anen]

wow that light is amazing!

 

[NL146]

nice work

 

[anthony27]

the lights look amazing, now it is time to drop a vertech on the tank and call it a day

 

[DrHarryLopez]

I think the tunze streams are perfect! Vertex's are over rated.

 

[anthony27]

lol you are not as cool as us to have one lmao. If they do the job then go ahead/

 

[DrHarryLopez]

correction Vertex are nice too

 

[anthony27]

lol , good catch dr coral

 

[Staaan]

Awesome tank. Awesome lights... you are helping me build mine! haha

Thanks again for the aluminum broski!!

 

[BIG L A]

Nice tank, looks great, and are you guys talking about skimmers or power heads, vertex or vortechs LoL...

 

[Staaan]

Lol, pretty sure they're talkn about powerheads.

 

[DrHarryLopez]

Nice tank, looks great, and are you guys talking about skimmers or power heads, vertex or vortechs LoL...

Oh u trying to be funny Big LA!?

VORTECH! lol

 

[AriMiko43]

Time for a pic update....

 

[UnknownWaters]

It looks good so far kepp up the good work and keep the pictures comin Ari.