Joe G's 80 gal rimless tank build

[Joe G]

hello,
I am finally about to start a new tank build, and I am very excited to get my new tank set up. I would like to have the tank running in the next few weeks.
Its been a long process for me to save up and buy everthing I needed piece by piece.
It has taken me just about a year and a half to purchace everything i have up to this point, and I still have a couple more items before i can turn this tank and equiptment into my future reef tank.
One of my goal's with this tank was to pay for it all by selling frags out my current 55 gal tank, so $20 here and there untill I saved up enough money to buy everthing.


I have had my current mix reef tank tank set up for over 5 years now.

In that time I have learned many valluable lessons, and would like to take that experiance to really establish a note worthy sps tank.
I got bit by the sps bug about a year and a half ago, and since then have realy fell in love with hard coral.


The over all goal is to have a high end sps and polyp look down tank.
I want this tank to be bare bottom and have minimal rock work for a simple clean look.

Gear list so far.
. 80 gal deep blue frag tank
. 48" 6 bulb ATI fixture
. 2 reef brite led strips 1 XHO 1 regular
. brs phosban carbon reactor
. mag drive 7
. black starboard
. 2 brs 1.1 mil dossers for CAL/ALK
. 1 brs 50 mil dosser for ATO
. apex lite controller
. 1 ecotech mp40
. 2 ecotech mp10's
. 2 heaters

Had more pics but they wont upload for some reason.



being that I live in a condo on the 6th floor I could not go as large as I wanted to.
After looking into get a custom tank built I finally decided to go with a deep blue professional 80 gall frag tank.
I really wanted a reef savvy build, but after long concideration decided to put the extra money into live stock.

Things i need to do first
.Paint back glass black
. Attach the reef brites to the ATI fixture and mount the lights to celing.

I am currently having a custom refugium buit by a friend made completly of pvc.
I should be getting that at the end of next week, and at that point would like to get water put in the tank to start the cycyling processes.

I will post more pics, and keep everone updated as things move along.
please provide any advice, or input you guys might have in order to make this build successfull.

happy reefing.

Joe G

 

[TrialandError]

Awesome tank. Looking forward to the build.

 

[Joe G]

 

[Joe G]

thanks:rockon:

 

[Lilmatty5dimes]

Awesome tank. I love these and will probably be setting one up unless I get a 180g. Looks like your off to a great start.

 

[Joe G]

Just started cycling some new rock under the reef brites .
This was live rock that I let dry out for months in order to kill the aptasia's .
Finally got them back in water .
I pre drilled quarter inch holes in the rocks so I can slide my frag rocks in them.

 

[Joe G]

My old tank look like a bunch of lolipop frags .
Getting them all ready for the new set up .
This will allow me to keep the frags in place, while also allowing me to move as needed .

 

[gnarly_reefer]

Lets get this tank up and running already !!

 

[Beach Bum]

Looks good 1 question why do you need 2 heaters ?

 

[Joe G]

I don't really need any heaters my current tank temp runs on the high side .
Most likely will through one in the sump durning our harsh winters down here in South FL

 

[Joe G]

throw lol

 

[Joe G]

I had a chance to play around with my rocks today.
I'm trying to figure out how I'm gonna do my aquascape.
Not sure exactly how I'm gonna scape it yet, but I do know I want a minimalistic look.
A while back I got some pavers and carbon fiber rods.

At the time I was planning on having a sand bed which would cover the pavers.
Since then I decided to try a bare bottom set up to change things up a bit.
Now that the tank is bare bottom the pavers will be visible and the idea went out the window

I set this idea up, but not sold on it .
What do u guys think.

 

[Joe G]

Pics of the tank being painted.

Tomorrow I will attempt to hang up the lights

 

[danangelo]

Looking good Joe I like the scape..you can use black acrylic and acrylic rods to make your pillars instead of pavers it works just as well just an idea..

 

[Joe G]

Thanks danangelo.
The acrylic rods sound like a good idea .

 

[danangelo]

Thanks danangelo.
The acrylic rods sound like a good idea .

You're welcome they're sturdy I would use at least a 1/2 an inch rods..

 

[revhtree]

Looking good!!

 

[Joe G]

Thanks rev

 

[Joe G]

Today I attached the reef brite's to the ati fixture, and hung it all up.

 

[Aqua fire/medic]

Awesome !