[Ganrin]

I've been accumulating parts for a 75g reef since July and finally have the tank assembled and aquascaped.

75g all glass tank, single 1.5in (inside diameter) drain hole drilled upper left corner of back.
50lbs Marco dry rocks
60lbs mostly Fiji live rock
40lbs Aragalive sand
30lbs Aragamax sand
Allglass pine stand Oak Finish
20g sump
ASM G1 skimmer (will be gatevalve modding)
Rio 2500 in sump return pump ~800gph
16in x 46in x .25in sheet of acrylic in tank on bottom to protect bottom glass from rock tumbles (insurance)
2 x 175w Metal Halide with Hamilton 10k bulbs
100w heater

I set the tank up bare bottom with my live rock and marco rocks in it and ran it for 4 weeks with no lights on, at that point ammonia and nitrites were 0 and nitrates less than 10. Lights were then run about 6 hrs per day for next 3 weeks or so while I continued accumulating equipment, also discovered at this time that the hang on overflow box I have couldnt handle the flow from the Rio, and decided to get the tank drilled.

Last night I moved the tank to the room it is going to be staying in (cured rock in the basement), plumbed the overflow and return, put the sand in the tank, aquascaped, and filled the tank with water. Today I set up the light fixture, did some minor adjustments to rock stack and drainage. Since the Aragalive sand is supposed to come with live bacteria, I will be expecting a small cycle over the next couple weeks, at which time I hope the tank will be ready for some live stock. I have 2 True Percula clowns in qt atm (1 week in) and a few assorted snails in main tank (brown diatom was going well before the tank move).


Future plans include building a canopy for the lights (currently in a diy fixture for a 36in tank), adding 2 Hydor Koralia 3 powerheads for circulation, making a spraybar for behind the rockwork that will be powered by return pump(with siphon break at surface level), and putting a cabinet beside the tank at one end that will have a refugium (probably a 10g tank).

I am probably one of the last people on earth with camera that uses film so photographs will be a few weeks behind the build progress, but will be incoming eventually.

Edit---> Part of the delay in getting tank into room it is staying in was getting an electrician out to run a dedicated GFCI circuit for the tank.

[plecosword]

Nice, so will we be able to see some photos? You sound pritty experienced.

[Ganrin]

Originally Posted by Ganrin

I am probably one of the last people on earth with camera that uses film so photographs will be a few weeks behind the build progress, but will be incoming eventually.

I finished off a roll of film tonight, should hopefully have some pics up in less than a week.

[plecosword]

OMG get a digital camara!! or a phone with cam so you could post pics fast

[jvharding]

Awesome build and good job planing! We are looking forward to seeing your pictures.

[Ganrin]

Originally Posted by plecosword

OMG get a digital camara!! or a phone with cam so you could post pics fast

Well I could have purchased several digital cameras for what Ive spent on the tank so far.

[Ganrin]

Well, here goes on the pics, Ive had major issues with getting them processed and Im a total Newbie to Photobucket and picture editing.

Sump


Rocks curing 100gal rubbermaid


Tank in position, 75gal, drilled back left corner


Tank again, showing behind it


Drain plumbing, dry setup,

[Ganrin]

More Pics:

Overflow


Drains



Sump, skimmer ASM G-1


Quaranteen Tank, 29gal with hob filter, plastic decorations

[Ganrin]

Rock Stack Pics

Full tanks shot, just after sand added so a little cloudy


Rock Pillar on left end, toward front, space behind it


Center of rock stack, has changed since this pic.


Right side of rock stack, with big cave.


Right end, big cave to left, small arch to right glass. Right end of tank has backing on it now, didnt then.


My Sisters dog Pepper

[david6789]

Originally Posted by Ganrin

Thats on hairy fish! Doesnt look reef safe to me!

[Ganrin]

Hes pretty reefsafe, borderline terrified of water, wouldnt ever get wet if he wasnt forced to.

[plecosword]

hey you got a camara !!! like your tank, GET A BACKGROUND
i like your overflow also.

[Ganrin]

Good day today

One of my semilocal (1.5hr drive each way) fish stores is running a super sale this weekend (today through sun) everything in the store 10-30% off. When I saw his ad posted I put together a list of the stuff I needed to finish off my build (nonlivestock).

I picked up today 2x175w hamilton 10k bulbs(been using some about 12mo old), 2 retrofit halide reflectors for my new canopy, 3x hydor koralia#2 (should have gone with 3s), mg test kit, cu test kit, formalin, 3led moonlights, 24 astrea snails, 12 scarlet reef hermits, and my first coral a 5 headed, bright green, captive propagated torch coral .

The only thing he didnt have that I wanted was 2x36in T-5 retrofit set up that is going to be supplemental light on new canopy. Going to give the cleanup guys a shot at the tank for a couple days, and let new bulbs burn in before taking new pics, but will post em soon after.

[Ganrin]

Well, a little over a week since the additional cleanup crew, powerheads and new bulbs were put on the tank. I had been fighting some pretty fierce green and red cyano, plus green algae on the glass.
Still getting enough green algae on the glass that I really need to wipe it down daily, but the rearranged flow and extra cuc just about has the cyano licked.
Ive been more careful on my feeding habits and Im seeing evidence just the last couple days that the cuc is actually working my sand hunting for food instead of just sitting on the rocks in the middle of a giant algae feast.

Im considering a bit of a redo on my rockwork. I like the pillar on the left end but I think it may look better with a smaller top rock. Id also like to open up the back wall a little more, it managed to get blocked off in a couple spaces. Redoing the stack will probably result in me pulling out a few med sized rocks though, because I want to make sure I keep the big cave intact on the right side.

[rlcline76]

I know what my hermits would do with that pillar look. In general, I like your rock formation...just make sure you don't have anything that can be jarred too easily!