90 Gallon Build Thread - The Official Play by Play

[chrisfont23]

It's here. Pics and all that fun stuff to follow.

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

And so it begins... Can't wait Chris! It's going to be a fun one to follow.

[okiestranger]

Good luck can't wait to see it.

Sent from my EVO 3D using tapatalk

[chrisfont23]

The tale of the tape for the next week or two:

• Stand is coming Thrs. Tank is coming Friday. I have decided to use MarcoRocks Aquarium Products for my sand. I will be using 80 lbs of Bahama Aragonite in my DT and then "craft" a 5-6 inch DSB in the fuge from what is in my 29g currently. Hope not to disturb it too much. Sump will take some time.
• Next up... rock. I will be adding the 50 lbs in my 29 now to the new tank. So I am looking to add about 50 base and then another 25 lbs, most likely split between DT and fuge. That will total 125 lbs between the DT and fuge.
• Third on the list is electricity. I will be putting in a dedicated circuit for the tank on it's own breaker. In time, I will outfit this breaker and my boiler room breaker to a plug that can be run on my generator.
• Finally - water.I have a 37 gallon Brute Garbage Can with a power head running. I am using 1/4 waste from my water changes and 3/4 new.

Unfortunately, the tank will cycle with a standard light until I can swing LEDs.

[chrisfont23]

What do you guys think of Eheim pumps? I am considering the 1260 (635 gph) or 1262 (900 gph) for my 90 gallon? I have to pump up about 5 feet. Since my current setup is 29g, I don't have a pump and this is kind new to me (I pump to a waterfall box outside my house for koi pond 'a' and pump to a fountain for koi pond 'b').

Thanks guys!

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

When I was dhopping for a return pump, I saw that the Eheim pumps got great reviews. I only got a Quiet One pump because it was available locally (and on sale). I would go for the bigger pump because its better to have more flow and throttle it back with a gate or ball valve, than to rely on a pump to run at 100% efficiency all the time. I have about the same distance to pump and can run my pump (Quiet One 4000, 1017 gph) at almost wide open. The Eheim 1262 should be close to 600gph @ 5'. The 1260 would be under 500 gph. HTH.

[chrisfont23]

This took forever to get off the ground due to having some limited funds and a deck project I still haven't finished. There are some great deals out there though - online, craigslist, ebay and even garage sales - I hunted and pecked at every website and at every LFS until I found the best deal for me. I guess patience really is key in this hobby!

Now it's time to put everything together!

90 gallon tank and stand post vinegar cleansing:



War paint:



Weapons of choice:



One coat down:



End of day one:

[twisted]

Looks good! Sorry it took so long to respond to ur pm. Been real busy


Twisteds 180 Reef

[chrisfont23]

Sump, well, in it's basic form:

[NoobSalt]

Looking good, I am jealous. I decided to hold off on my tank upgrade as I might be moving cross country come this summer and I have been working long hours and applying to schools, so I didnt want to just throw a tank together. Im just going to stick with my little 12gal cube for now. Still, I cant wait to see more pics of this build!

[chrisfont23]

I got the plumbing done today. Not too bad. I went the cautious route and added some silicone to the glass side of the gaskets for a little extra protection. Giving it 48 hours to cure and then I will test it out. I supose its no major deal as the sump will be directly below it. I am also considering only adding one more fish - a flame angel to the mix to give me a total of 7 fish: 2 clowns, 2 damsels, blue hippo tang and of course my royal gramma. I know that's probably on the light end of the spectrum but I really want to take it easy.

[chrisfont23]

Basic sump...almost done:

10 inch intake (possibly building separate corner intake box but will probably just add live rock b/c it's easier and the silicone fumes are making me high) | 13 1/2 inch fuge | 6 1/2 inch return



Baffles are 10 inches high (first) and 9 1/2 inches high (second) to allow for some flow through the fuge.



Return section ** may ** incorporate another baffle 1 inch to the left of the end fuge baffle for bubble trap.

That's it.

[chrisfont23]

Going with a canopy. Obviously the tank/stand I purchased didn't have one. So off to find one. More money means "stall."

[chrisfont23]

80 lbs of Bahamas aragonite sand ordered from marcorocks.com. Total was $59.99 with shipping included. Can't beat that.

[chrisfont23]

Sump. Done. Added the second baffle in the return chamber as a bubble trap. So much for a baffle-less sump. I guess the research you put in is worth it in the end.



View from above. Editors note: wood floors + 2 kids, both three and under = bad choice.



I got some more of the plumbing under the tank done. Lowes sells some fine tubing for like $10 and I picked up two elbows for 89 cents. Not bad for under $20. In the end, the cost of this sump was about $70, including the mounds of acrylic I used to put the thing together. Before I decided to DIY this sucker, I couldn't find one on the web for less than $250 that I liked. Nothing like saving yourself some cash.

The Eheim 1262 is my next big purchase. Aiming to have water in this thing by 12/1, assuming my electricity is done. Then onto powerheads. For you guys and gals with this size tank, what do you think about 2 MP10s (I have one) and a MaxiJet 1200 for surface agitation in the middle/back. I am not shelling out the dough for an MP40, so suggestions are welcomed.

A late winter cutover is still in the cards, beating my long term estimate of early spring. Never thought I would find a tank and stand for this cheap.

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

Looks like you're gettin some good progress there Chris! Im not sure about the MP10's being enough. I looked into them when I swapped out my tank. But most people were running at least 1 mp10 and 1 mp40. Some were even using just 1 mp40.

[chrisfont23]

Looks like you're gettin some good progress there Chris! Im not sure about the MP10's being enough. I looked into them when I swapped out my tank. But most people were running at least 1 mp10 and 1 mp40. Some were even using just 1 mp40.

The MP40 is out of the question. Too expensive. I was also considering a Tunze 6055 to compliment the MP10. Suggestions?

[chrisfont23]

And also...there will be few SPS. Tommy no likey.

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

Wouldn't you have to buy the controller for the tunze to be controllable like the mp10? Or do you plan on a set it and forget it application?

[chrisfont23]

Wouldn't you have to buy the controller for the tunze to be controllable like the mp10? Or do you plan on a set it and forget it application?

I am going to go w/ 2 MP10s. Most of my LPS require low flow anyway. So at worst, I use 2 MJ1200s in the back aimed at the corner and slightly down. At max power, those MP10s and the one MJ1200 gives me over 35 times flow (figure 1500 x 2 plus the MJ at roughly 300 GPH).

Project is an instant stall. $$$$