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Wayne's 90 Gallon Build
Welcome
EDIT: Never really introduced myself. My name is Wayne and I am only 20yrs old! I have always had a freshwater aquarium since I was very little (dad always had one) but didnt even realize that something so gorgeous and interesting as a reef aquarium even existed.. It wasnt until I needed some new lights for my 125G FW Malawi Cichlid tank w/ DIY styrofoam/ cement background that I wandered into Aquarium Illusions. After seeing their display tank and asking some questions I wondered wth I was doing in freshwater! So shortly after getting the 125 set up and stocked (and lots and lots of lurking on Canreef and other forums).. I decided to take the plunge into reefing! :mrgreen: Here is my concept sketch of what I want.. http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...nTankFINAL.jpg Bought the new 90G (48x18x24) RR tank and wanted to paint the back of it black. I went to Home Depot and picked up a can of Krylon Fusion flat black, sprayed it on and am quite happy with how it looks. (Sprayed it indoors... probably a bad idea but no one was home to help me lift it out of the basement and to the garage and I got impatient..) http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...-09at16172.jpg http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...1-09at1627.jpg http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...1-09at1638.jpg http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0436.jpg Equipment list as of February 11, 2012: In possesion -90G RR aquarium -DIY Stand -DIY 30G Sump/Refugium -Bubble Magus NAC7 skimmer -Eheim Compact 5000 return pump -Aquasafe 100GPD 7-Stage RO/DI -2x Eheim Jager Heaters (250W,300W) -Koralia Evolution 1050 -JBJ ATO system (in the mail) -25G Quarantine Tank w/ Fluval Sponge (cycling) -80lbs Marco Rocks from Eli @ CaCo3 Reef Rocks Future purchases -Neptune Apex Lite w/ VDM Module -2x Black AquaIlluminations Vega/Sol (depending on if Vega is out and its specs when ready to purchase light fixtures) -Ecotech Marine Vortech MP40es (1 for now, 2 down the road) -2x Phosban Reactors (Carbon/GFO) -Toms Aqualifter Pump (For ATO) |
Also, my Aquasafe 100 GPD 7-stage Aquarium II RO/DI System came in the mail. I decided to plumb it into the pump house. Sadly, during the setup I realized that the combination of having well water with extremely high TDS (900+ PPM) and having low line pressure (about 35 PSI) was not going to allow the system to work for me. I was getting a super slow drips from the outlet (not nearly 100 GPD) and the TDS still remained at ridiculously high levels (200+PPM). For this reason, I have ordered a 100 PSI Booster Pump from the same company and it should arrive shortly.
I picked up 2, 35G Brute food grade buckets for the RO water and hope to use this for saltwater mixing as well. http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0434.jpg http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0439.jpg http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0446.jpg http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0443.jpg |
And while all this is going on I am in the process of building a well fortified stand for the tank. The thing is built like a tank.. I think it could hold my car let alone a 90G...
I plan to run a 30G sump/refugium with Carbon and GFO reactors so I have to make it with enough room to house all the equipment.. http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0447.jpg http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0456.jpg http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0460.jpg More pictures will be added when I add the trim and paint or stain it.. Oh and I also picked up some eggcrate for the tank bottom.. http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0454.jpg Process is going slowly but that is okay.. I plan to wait on the AI Vegas to be released for my lighting anyhow! |
I got the booster pump this morning and just my luck.. the fitting on the suction side of the pump which holds the RO tubing in place was broken right out of the box..:headwally:
got it all mounted and such but now i have to wait for a reply from the company and see if they can just send me a fitting or if I have to send the whole pump back.. what a PITA!! luckily I am not in too much of a rush at the moment as I still have to stain/paint my stand. http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0465.jpg http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0468.jpg http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0466.jpg Also am getting a local glass shop to cut me 4 baffles for my 35 gallon DIY sump, so thatll be another project in the works |
i know i might be getting a bit ahead of myself but, i got my skimmer and return pump today! Ran the skimmer through freshwater and started to think the thing was broken because the bubbles looked nothing like they are supposed to but apparently they will be much finer and produce a foam once put into salt water. hopefully this is the case!
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0483.jpg Eheim Compact 5000 http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0481.jpg Bubble Magus NAC-7 |
Managed to find a local water filtration supply store and picked up the proper John Guest fitting for the RO booster pump since Aquasafe never returned my email... It turns out that the TDS from the water in my well is so high that at the outlet of the RO membrane (no DI) i was still getting 30-50 PPM.. dear lord this is gonna be so much more work because of this.. i filled a 32 gallon Brute with this water, found a 1/6HP industrial grade submersible pump and attached a few couplings. Now i am repumping this water back through the unit with the DI stages this time.. getting 0 PPM on the outlet now but it is going to take forever to get enough high quality water.. what a chore.. :(
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Picked up a 45G hexagon for my Oscar so I can get him out of the 35G (my DIY sump). I cleaned up the 35 gallon tank with some vinegar and water and got it ready to go. I had baffles cut, but being the newbie I am I got them cut to the exact width of the tank and they were WAY too tight to put into the tank.
GET YOUR BAFFLES CUT 1/8" SMALLER THEN YOUR TANK DIMENSIONS!!! Luckily my glass guy said he would cut me some new ones so that should be done within the week and the baffles will be installed! http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0488.jpg |
Got a bit done this weekend! Finished up the stand and got it all set up in the house. The stand is quite tall and with the 24" high tank the whole thing is just over 5ft tall! Also installed the baffles into my sump (they're not pretty but do the job) and things are finally starting to take shape!
Also picked up a 25G Long that I will use as a QT tank, it is currently filled and cycling so I can pick up a few fish to observe and quarantine while I am working on the display tank. Next step should be getting the plumbing together so I can get some water in the tank! I am planning to plumb the overflows using the Herbie method as I have heard this is a silent and safe overflow. I am still unsure how to attach the return plumbing to the return pump. Do I hard plumb it like I am going to do with the over flows or can i do a combination of flex tube and pvc? And what size should the return piping be? Same as the main overflow? If anyone can help me out thatd be great! http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0504.jpg http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0505.jpg http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0507.jpg http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0514.jpg http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0519.jpg http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0521.jpg http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0525.jpg Hopefully I can trim off some of the extra silicone and make it look a little nicer. Another day. |
You got a very nice and detailed build:biggrin:
I think your rock work is going to look grand in there.And I think you should go to sleep:biggrin: |
Wao! Thats a nice build! Looking forward to see how things turn out for you! good luck!
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Thanks guys! Quote:
Eli, when I get the rock do I need to cure it to remove phosphates or no? |
Finally went out and got some pumbing and started to piece it together! Unfortunately all the LFS seemed to have an abundance of ball valves but no gate valves. I had to order the gate valves online so until they come there is not a whole lot I can do.. :(
Waiting on a few things to arrive: ~80lbs of MarcoRocks from Eli @ CaCo3Reef! 2 x 300W Eheim Jager heaters Refractometer RO/DI float valve 3 x 1" Gate Valves Also the QT tank is still cycling and I am starting to see the nitrite spike so it should be somewhat close to finishing.. Can't wait to be able to get some fish in there. Im hoping for a Sailfin Tang Desjardini and a pair of False Percula Clowns to start! http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...ardinitang.jpg http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...lsepercula.jpg |
Started to put some of the plumbing together but, all in all, cannot complete it fully until my gate valves get here!!
Standpipes for my Herbie Overflow.. http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0536.jpg This is the manifold I put together for my GFO/Carbon reactors. It is tied into the return line. http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0580.jpg |
My equipment wishlist as of now is:
- 2x AI Vega/Sol (depending on if the Vega is out when I am ready or not) - Neptune Apex Lite w/ VDM Module - Ecotech Vortech MP40es (1 for now, 2 in the long run) - 2x Phosban Reactors (Carbon/GFO) - Toms Aqualifter Pump (For ATO) Am I missing anything? |
Love the stand! Should be a nice setup for you once it's all up and running!
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Looks nice so far I love the detailed reports reminds me of a time when I wasn't so lazy :lol:
Perhaps running a pair of membranes in series would save you a step? Also, It's generally recommended to mount the aquasafe di canisters vertically to help avoid the water running through channels in the media... contacting more of it. |
Nice looking build!
Those aquasafes have an adjustable valve on the waist line, typically you're just told to set it to about 4:1 ratio but you can play around with it to get better results, ie more waste should give you a little lower tds from the membrane. I also mention it because some people don't set it right to begin with and end up with higher TDS. You also sometimes need to run new units for a while before your TDS drops right down. |
Thanks for the comments and support guys!
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This is actually how it is shown on the unit instructions from aquasafe but it was something I had no idea about! I will keep that in mind, thank you! Quote:
I have to use that valve lots when I am adjusting the pressure from the booster pump into the membrane. I try and keep it between 55-65 PSI. |
I got my MarcoRocks today (thanks to Eli at CaCo3 Reef Rocks!) and decided to whip up a quick aquascape before I put them in containers to be RO/DI soaked! (just precautionary as I want no phosphates leaching!)
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0606.jpg Camera with flash (harder to see depth and caverns in the rocks) http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0607.jpg Photo taken off iphone (looks much more like it looks in real life) http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMG_0803.jpg http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMG_0814.jpg |
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the sailfin will be too large for a 90g they grow very fast, beautiful fish though:) why three gate valves???? |
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Probably only really needed two but they are already ordered.. |
Canreef.. if you think your water is bad, you havent seen mine..
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMG_0815.jpg Before on the Left, After ~250G on the right... This is my first stage pre-filter... the second stage carbon block and third stage 1micron filter werent much better... unbelievable. safe to say I will not be drinking any of my tap water any time soon. :uhoh2: |
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Good looking build, but just out of curiosity, if you are doing a herbie should you use gate valves instead of regular on and off valves? I didn't see in the picture. It would be a lot harder to control water flow with a regular union valve. |
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True and that is why my plumbing is at a standstill at the moment. Im waiting for my gate valves to come from concept in calgary before I can finish plumbing the system. I threw in a few heaters in order to get free shipping and sure enough they were on backorder so I could be waiting a while before they arrive :cry: The ball valves in the picture are actually 3/4" and are being used in the manifold for my reactors.. |
Gate valves and Jager 300W,250W heaters came today! I am actually super surprised they came so fast because they were on backorder at Concept! I'm working nights for the next bit but hopefully I can find some time to finish up the plumbing! Check back for updates :biggrin:
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I got bored on nightshift at work so I did a little editing to the thread. Introduced myself a little better on the first post and made it look nice.. Clearly work was busy tonight... :rolleyes:
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Well as I said I got my gate valves so I finally stuck it out all day and got the plumbing done..well pretty much. A few odds and ends still need to be done because I ran out of 1" PVC so my teed line from the return to the fuge has no been done yet. But everything else is plumbed in and ready to go! :mrgreen:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0616.jpg http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0620.jpg http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0624.jpg http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0626.jpg http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0629.jpg http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0623.jpg Also decided to take a look and do a PO4 test on the water that my MarcoRocks have been soaking in for 10 days now.. Well needless to say the amount of leaching was minuscule and the water ready only 0.03. http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0635.jpg Decided to start scaping my tank!! YAY! Things are finally starting to take some shape! I dont want to drill the rocks and dont have any epoxy as of now so I took my time stacking the rocks and it actually is quite solid. Ill probably end up getting some epoxy just for some added support. Here is what I came up with: http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0643.jpg http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0646.jpg The pictures below are just with an old 36" Coralife 2 bulb T5 fixture I had lying around. |
Like the aquascaping but it sorta looks like some elongated rock poodle monster or two poodles getting "acquainted". Sorry, its late & my mind may not be all there.
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[quote=SeaHorse_Fanatic;682632]Like the aquascaping but it sorta looks like some elongated rock poodle monster or two poodles getting "acquainted". Sorry, its late & my mind may not be all there.[/
Lmfao!!! Anthony your imagination have never seize to amaze me, specially 3am in the morning. :mrgreen: |
Hahahaha I can actually see where you are coming from. I assure you that it is not quite as "poodleish" in person!
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Tank got wet today! Did a freshwater fill and leak test today. I had a small leak on the overflow bulkhead but once I got that tightened up I had no other issues or surprises :mrgreen:
With a little tuning, the Herbie overflow is exactly as promised..completely SILENT! All you can hear is the hum of the Eheim return pump! Water is still very cloudy but here are a few shots(excuse the lights in the reflection).. http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0648.jpg http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0656.jpg http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0654.jpg http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0655.jpg Still to do list: -Drill holes in the return loc-line as a syphon break during a power outage -Purchase and set up Neptune Apex Lite -Receive JBJ Auto Top-Off system in the mail and set up -Purchase and install some fans into the side of the stand -Purchase Ecotech Vortech MP40es -Purchase and set up Phosban 150s for GFO&Carbon -Purchase lights (Vega or Sol...) (LOTS OF PURCHASES!!) :drinking: |
I really like your sump! I have never seen this type of set up before, Im curious to see how it works for you, looks like its gonna be great, good depth.
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Alright so things are moving super slowly because of my limitations with my high TDS water that I explained earlier. It is taking me forever to make enough RO/DI water to fill the tank :(
A few things I have done in the past little while: - I received the JBJ Auto Top-Off system in the mail http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0664.jpg http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0666.jpg - Made a mesh screen top for the tank to keep fish from going carpet surfing http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0659.jpg - Received 2 AC fans for the stand but I screwed up and they didn't come with any cords!! :frusty: Going to have to pick some cords and plugs from The Source or somewhere.. anyone know where I can plugs/cords for these fans? http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0670.jpg |
Very nice build thread! Love your stand and the aquascape is awesome! Looking forward to seeing more. I agree with reefwars though.....a sailfin is a beautiful tang but it'll very quickly outgrow your tank.
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Princess auto should have cords...they sell the a/c fans too
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Yeah, I have decided against the sailfin maybe a whitecheek tang? Or a tomini if too small for a whitecheek. Ive been waiting forever for my QT tank to cycle so I can get some fish in there! Nitrates are through the roof! Quote:
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Nice tank setup! Keep the updates coming.
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Update
Okay, well things are moving along slowly but I have made some progress and spent more money..
I now have the tank full of RO/DI water and added about 25lbs of liverock & 20lbs of livesand to the system. (Most of it into the sump/refugium) It is kind of hard to see in the photo, but there is good growth of coraline algae on the rocks so I am hoping this spreads to the MarcoRocks. http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0673.jpg My NAC7 protein skimmer is still breaking in and I think it needs to be raised even further than the recommended minimum of 9.5" water depth because the bubbles continuously overflow into the collection cup. Right now I have the collection cup draining back to the sump until I can get some pvc cut for the makeshift skimmer stand. I have read threads from others who have found their NAC7s to have a sweet spot of around 7" depth so I think I will give this a try. http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0685.jpg http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0684.jpg Also picked up a clamp-on utility lamp with a reflector for a refugium fixture. The bulb is a Philips 23W CFL Daylight Bulb around 6500K, so I am hoping to grow some good cheato with it. http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0678.jpg As of now, it is a waiting game. The tank is cycling,I am dosing the tank with MB7 & Seachem Stability, and I am still waiting for my Phosban reactors to show up so I can get Carbon and GFO running. Hopefully soon! Here are some shots of the tank as of now just with a 36" Dual T5 fixture.. http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0697.jpg http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0696.jpg http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0695.jpg http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0693.jpg http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...s/SAM_0692.jpg |
Nice work there Wayne. Looks like you've done a really good job. With the light over the sump what you will find over time is that the right side of your skimmer will get encrusted with coralline algae. If you put up some sort of light barrier between the two sides it will save you a lot of work soaking and scrubbing the skimmer in the future.
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