Phox's Aqueon 75G Reef Tank
 

I started this new tank a few months ago and finally got around to making a journal for it! I'll start with what I'm upgrading from. After many years of freshwater, 3 years ago I on started a small sump-less 26G bow front saltwater tank. It had its ups and downs the first year but solid for 2 years after. Here is a picture before I made it my quarantine tank. I kinda gave up on cleaning it the last 3 weeks because it was on it's last days anyways!

https://www.phoxone.com/imagehost/tj/000.jpg

So first I needed a stand. So here's some photo vomit.

Some precut wood.
https://www.phoxone.com/imagehost/tj/001.jpg

Painted it.
https://www.phoxone.com/imagehost/tj/002.jpg

Put it together.
https://www.phoxone.com/imagehost/tj/003.jpg

Added some more painted pieces.
https://www.phoxone.com/imagehost/tj/004.jpg

Interior wall, trim and shelf added.
https://www.phoxone.com/imagehost/tj/005.jpg

And finally the doors and plywood top!
https://www.phoxone.com/imagehost/tj/006.jpg

Picked up a 30g breeder, made some baffles using glass from an old tank. Now that its running, probably would have done some things differently but it works so I'm happy.
https://www.phoxone.com/imagehost/tj/007.jpg

Placed the tank and shimmed the plywood top. The tank I got probably 1.5 years ago from a member on here. Thats how long I've been waiting for this thing to get going! Plumbed the return. Mounted a couple 3rd Gen Hydro Koralia 1350s.
https://www.phoxone.com/imagehost/tj/008.jpg

Plumbed the overflow went for a herbie setup. The return pump is a Quiet One Pro 4000. I've learnt that it is not so quiet. Not horribly loud and its a little better since it's first started. But if it dies, I wouldn't get another. Skimmer is a Bubble Magus Curve 5. The reactor is an Aquamaxx BioMaxx BioPellet reactor that will be converted to basic reactor. It will run off a Cobalt MJ 900.
https://www.phoxone.com/imagehost/tj/009.jpg

Filled the tank with sand and water almost to the rim. Used a small HOB filter to clear up the water.
https://www.phoxone.com/imagehost/tj/010.jpg

Had a guy weld me up an aluminum light stand.
https://www.phoxone.com/imagehost/tj/011.jpg

Painted it a nice gloss black.
https://www.phoxone.com/imagehost/tj/012.jpg

Main Crossbar for lights is a U-channel so I could slide the hooks to mount various lights if I please.
https://www.phoxone.com/imagehost/tj/013.jpg

Mounted thru a slot I made in the stand. Lights off.
https://www.phoxone.com/imagehost/tj/014.jpg

Lights on. Happy days!
https://www.phoxone.com/imagehost/tj/015.jpg

While my sand cycled...got some rock off a fellow reefer.
https://www.phoxone.com/imagehost/tj/016.jpg

Oh so many choices!
https://www.phoxone.com/imagehost/tj/017.jpg

Semi-final idea..
https://www.phoxone.com/imagehost/tj/018.jpg

Scrubbed, bleach and cooking...
https://www.phoxone.com/imagehost/tj/019.jpg

After a bit the rocks finally went in! Oh and I forgot to mention the brand of lights are Viparspectra. Basically a chinese LED box with a build in timer to control the blue and white channels.
https://www.phoxone.com/imagehost/tj/020.jpg

Twas time to setup my doser. It is an All Blue Titration Pump. I it got off ebay 2 years ago and other than the time shifting a bit its been great! As you can see in the back I also have an Apex Jr which will control and monitor temperature as well as manage the refugium lights. Wont use it for much else atm.
https://www.phoxone.com/imagehost/tj/021.jpg

Needed some new dosing containers since my previous ones cracked. Got these from Walmart.
https://www.phoxone.com/imagehost/tj/022.jpg

Drilled a hole for rigid tubing....see!!
https://www.phoxone.com/imagehost/tj/023.jpg

Mixed it up and put it in front of my sump. Fit perfect! Also ended up making a small stand for my skimmer which you can see in the back.
https://www.phoxone.com/imagehost/tj/024.jpg

Picked up this PAR38 grow bulb. Spectrum looks about right for algae growth. 75W equivalent so not the strongest but it will be paired with a CAT CT3530 LED work light with an output equivalent of 150W.
https://www.phoxone.com/imagehost/tj/025.jpg

Using and old light fixture....
https://www.phoxone.com/imagehost/tj/026.jpg

Came up with this genius!
https://www.phoxone.com/imagehost/tj/027.jpg

Placed the CAT work light in front of the sump to get light at different angles and threw in come chaetomorpha.
https://www.phoxone.com/imagehost/tj/028.jpg