75 gal rimless Planet Aquarium build

Jimbo662 · Dec 14, 2013

Well, now that Iâ€™m actually starting the â€œbuildâ€ process I guess I need to start documenting my progress. I'm in the middle of trying to sell my house so I'm planning to get all the set up work done while Iâ€™m still in the house so that all I have to do when I move is set it up.

Equipment:

75g Planet Aquarium Rimless w/external overflow

Vertex Omega 130 skimmer

2 - Kessil A360W-E lights

2 â€“ Vortech MP40w ES

Eshopp R200 Sump

Danner Mag 18 return pump

Tunze Osmolator top off

Will hopefully get an Apex before tank is ready tenants

Iâ€™ll be working on the plumbing next week while the temps
are warmer!

TheGrimmReefer · Dec 14, 2013

You'll love the external overflow. I have the same tank but a 120g. Nice set up

Jimbo662 · Dec 17, 2013

Made a little progress today while we've got some great weather!

Made some rubble racks to sit in the drain / return section of the sump. When it's time to clean it should be much easier.

I got started on the plumbing. My original thought was to use flexible PVC for the drains and braided tubing for the return. I hadn't realized how short the distance would be from bottom of the tank to the sump and discovered neither one will be flexible enough with the short sections I would have to use. I decided to hard plumb it instead. Gotta make another run to Lowe's tomorrow to pick up some more stuff.

The rock and sand came in. This time I ordered the Fiji dry rock and special grade Agri - live sand. The rock has dead stuff on it. What do I need to do with it? Just rinse it off really good?

Next big purchase is going to be an Apex once I get moved.

powers2001 · Dec 17, 2013

Do you have any kind of stocking plans?

Jimbo662 · Dec 17, 2013

I'm not even close to that point yet. I'm selling my house (hoping to close by Jan 31st) so I won't be setting it up until after the move.

Jimbo662 · Dec 20, 2013

Well, wasn't able to get any work done the last two days due to the flu!!! I got the brackets in for the lights and a finnex titanium heater.

Jimbo662 · Jan 1, 2014

Plumbing is done! Did the dry fit and everything looked great. Cemented the two drain lines and they fit almost perfectly. Got half way done with the return and realized I put one of the 45 on backwards...thank goodness Lowe's is only 5 min away! Water test starts on Saturday!!!

Jimbo662 · Jan 4, 2014

WOOHOO!!!! No leaks! Filled the tank / sump and turned on the pump. It took about an hour to get the gate valve tuned in just right. All three connections are leak free! On my last tank I redid the plumbing 4 times!!!! This thing is soooo quiet...I plumbed the drains with the herbie method. All I hear is the trickle of water going into the overflow. Right now the pump is a little loud because I've got it connected with the braided poly and it's vibrating up the return line. As soon as I get the silicon tubing that'll get changed out.

M&M · Jan 4, 2014

Looks like beginning of a great build, definitely subscribed

EW_Fish · Jan 4, 2014

Man that is the smartest idea with the egg crate and rock. I will be using this in my setup. looks good so far. Will tag along

Jimbo662 · Jan 11, 2014

I had to make one small adjustment. The return line ended up slightly short and was causing the pump to be too close to the back wall. I had a piece of PVC stuck between it and the wall so that it wouldn't suck up to the wall. I lengthened it about an inch and got the pump in the perfect spot. Also added the silicon tubing. The overflow box is not very deep so the bubbles that were being created by the water overflowing into it were getting sucked down the main drain causing bubbling noise in the pipes. I took everything off the main drain so that now it's just the bulkhead at the bottom and I raised the water level in the overflow box. Now all you hear is the trickle of the water and a low hum of the pump.

Jimbo662 · Jan 19, 2014

Got the Apex all set, finally figured out how to program late last night. This morning I attached the lights to the top of the board to test and see if my programming skills are any good. This is a temporary set up until I get a cabinet to mount everything in.

Jimbo662 · Jan 19, 2014

WOOHOO!!!! The lights came on right on time! Now to work on pump / skimmer / vortechs!

Jimbo662 · Jan 21, 2014

I picked up a bathroom cabinet at Ikea to house all the electronics.

Funlad3 · Jan 21, 2014

Loving the cabinetry, and loving the build as a whole. Can't wait to see it progress! What're you planning to stock it with?

Jimbo662 · Jan 21, 2014

Planning to do a mix of sps, lps and softies. Fish will be on the smaller side and hopefully non-jumpers!

Funlad3 · Jan 21, 2014

I love mixed reefs. So much color, and then the contrast between softies and SPS is just fantastic. Good luck, and I can't wait to see how everything comes along!

Jimbo662 · Mar 2, 2014

Finally got moved and settled in the new place this week and started working on the tank. I need to get two kessil extension cables so I can finish the wires on the lights.

Got everything installed either in or on the equipment box and already realize I need a larger box. Anyone know of something I can buy off the shelf? I'm using a bathroom cabinet that I found at Ikea.

Everything is in the sump except the ATO reservoir.

I added a breakout box along with window / door magnets to turn on the lights inside the cabinet. I had some Ecoxotic LED strips leftover from my planted tank and attached them to the roof inside the cabinet.