G&D's Foray Into a 90G Tank (Take One)

gregzz4 · #1 05-04-2012, 05:55 AM

Good to hear you're gettin' somewhere
Rock is a personal preference, based on what you want your tank to look like.
1-2lbs/g is the normal recommendation
1lb/g is heavy if you want a light 'scape and have a light bio-load, and some say 2lbs/g is needed for a full-blown reef with lots and lots of SPS etc
You can mix live and base, but the more base you use, the more quarters of the year you will wait for it to fully seed

gregzz4 · #2 05-04-2012, 05:57 AM

Forgot to add ...
If you'd like to drink the RO water, plumb your system so you can fill your jug before the DI filter as drinking DI is a no-no ...

gridley · #3 05-04-2012, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregzz4

Forgot to add ...
If you'd like to drink the RO water, plumb your system so you can fill your jug before the DI filter as drinking DI is a no-no ...

Thanks - I appreciate knowing that. We were thinking about using the water for my wifes repitiles - this is good to know.

gridley · #4 05-05-2012, 01:53 AM

Another day of progress!

I was able to spend a fair bit of time today on the tank project. The stand will be completed by late tonight with three coats of paint. The frame has a 2x4 frame, 3/4" fir plywood for the top, bottow and sides, and baltic birch 5/8" ply for the doors. The middle panel on the front is help in place with magnets to allow full access to the sump.

We also went shopping and purchased a Vertex Puratek 100 Ro?DI. I hope to be able to get it installed tomorrow, but that will depend on whether my brother in law (plumber) can help with the install.

subman · #5 05-05-2012, 04:55 AM

Beautiful looking stand George!

Hooking up the ro/di is a peice of cake. Just a simple piercing saddle valve and some 1/4" hose. The only problem is if your house is new and no copper pipe to pierce, I had to put mine in the basement to t off the hot water tanks copper inlet.

gridley · #6 05-05-2012, 04:45 PM

Thanks for the compliment re: the stand. I went out this morning to inpsect the pain and can now declare it complete! (except for painting side B of the doors - that will be complete later today.

We are going to put the RO/DI in the laundry room at a place where there used to be an old sink. The line will be run off the old water supply - we are getting an adaptor and valve to go from the orignal line to the 1/4". The drain will go directly into the exsiting drain.

Today I am hoping to pick up a few items to begin replumbing the tank. The previous work on this used tank was really ugly.

The challenge that we are now facing is that Deborah is suggesting that we switch around the family room and living room - which means moving (again) the freshwater tank, moving a piano

and all the other furniture.

I'm voting for keeping things as they are!

gridley · #7 05-12-2012, 02:43 AM

Well, after about 3 or 4 weeks I have finally completed the stand have it in the house. The original stand was a manufactured stand that was made of MDF - I was a bit nervous, so took on task of building a new stand. The new stand is 10" taller and another 1 1/2" deeper to give more room for equipment. The middle panel is held in place with magnets and can be removed for full access.

This afternoon I was able to install a GFCI for the electrical. I am hoping that tomorrow I will be able to start the plumbing - but I'm not counting on making progress