120 gallon build thread!

[Prairiereefer]

Hello everyone!

So I've been working on refurbishing an old Starfire glass tank I got for super cheap! Tore it down to the panels and started from scratch. I kept it with one drain and one return as it was originally drilled a few years ago (I know emergency drain is safer and better, I didn't want to drill the 3/4" glass).

I'm at the part of the build now where I'm doing the plumbing. The drain is 1.5" and the returns are 1" I'm looking into either durso or stockman sandpipe (whichever is quieter) however everywhere I look it says the stockman needs to be 1" drain. Would it be possible to build it with a 1.5"? If not then why? I just don't fully understand why it wouldn't work.

To clarify this is my first build from scratch and first sump. Been running a canister filter for the last 2 years and looking forward to the sump upgrade.

Attached are photos of the build so far! The stand will be getting wrapped with paneling still as well, we are moving in a few weeks and that's what the new build is for. Gonna wrap it after the move.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Oh crap!! This is a build I can get behind!!

 

[Prairiereefer]

Oh crap!! This is a build I can get behind!!

It's close to being finished. Oh so close. Ran into a plumbing fitting issue when trying to hard plumb my uv into the return. Have to wait for new fittings to come in cause no one in town had them. Otherwise the return piping would be done too.

 

[Prairiereefer]

More plumbing done. Hopefully the special order parts get here quick so I can finish the plumbing. Decided to go with a modified stockman. I had read that stockman had altered his design to have 1"x1" squares cut out for the drain holes with the cap on top with snail guard so that the holes didn't clog as easily as the original stockman standpipe design.

 

[((FORDTECH))]

I really like the stand and very impressed to see the tank down to panels and put back together. Great job gunna follow this

 

[((FORDTECH))]

I just replaced my 8 year old 120 with a new one I wish I kept it this would have gave me some inspiration to re seal it

 

[Prairiereefer]

I just replaced my 8 year old 120 with a new one I wish I kept it this would have gave me some inspiration to re seal it

Resealing I'd do again, did that on my current 120. Rebuilding from just the panels I'm not sure I would do again. New build from new panels maybe. It's a lot more work than I thought tearing it down and repairing and then rebuilding.

I have a 40 breeder rimless downstairs a local reefer was gonna toss so he gave it to me. Plan on resealing it and selling it, my partner is not the biggest fan of tanks and says this is the only one I get lol.

Attached is a pic of my current 120 build. Just under 2 years old (really 18 months after cycle and setup time), running on a canister filter.

 

[Prairiereefer]

I really like the stand and very impressed to see the tank down to panels and put back together. Great job gunna follow this

Thanks! Still not done yet. It's going to have full paneling on all sides that sit on French cleats and hide the bottom seam of the tank and part of the sand bed and go to the floor. Doors on soft close hinges on the tower sides. And then self supporting lifting panels on the hood that go down to hide the top rim of the tank.

 

[Prairiereefer]

More plumbing done. Hopefully the special order parts get here quick so I can finish the plumbing. Decided to go with a modified stockman. I had read that stockman had altered his design to have 1"x1" squares cut out for the drain holes with the cap on top with snail guard so that the holes didn't clog as easily as the original stockman standpipe design.

Plan on painting all the plumbing (with krylon fusion paint, which has good reviews on being reef safe if it's in the water) under the stand blue to match the skimmer I got. And the pipe in the overflow black possibly, undecided on that since it's being covered with black acrylic anyways. (Yes I know it doesn't hold well with silicone to glass, but I've done it before with success.)

 

[polyppal]

Rare to see someone tear a tank down to the panes. Very cool!

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

I keep looking back at this project and I'm continually impressed. You've obviously got some history and framing or woodworking right?

 

[Zach B]

Awesome build! Following

 

[Prairiereefer]

I keep looking back at this project and I'm continually impressed. You've obviously got some history and framing or woodworking right?

I have a bit from working oilfield tear down and start up. It's more a hobby than anything else at this point. My partner is also an architect so it's a mix of him helping with the design and me doing the build. It was a joint effort. Turning out way better than my original stand build that I did alone.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

I have a bit from working oilfield tear down and start up. It's more a hobby than anything else at this point. My partner is also an architect so it's a mix of him helping with the design and me doing the build. It was a joint effort. Turning out way better than my original stand build that I did alone.

I build custom furniture, built in bars, show pieces a few times a year to fund my woodworking shop/hobby so this is right up my alley.

Your doing great on the implementation and kudos to you partner for a great design. Engineers/Architects imho usually make things Too complicated. This looks great.

 

[Prairiereefer]

I build custom furniture, built in bars, show pieces a few times a year to fund my woodworking shop/hobby so this is right up my alley.

Your doing great on the implementation and kudos to you partner for a great design. Engineers/Architects imho usually make things Too complicated. This looks great.

Thanks! Yeah he does good work! We redesigned a couple times before actually starting the build. So far it's turning out well I think!

 

[Prairiereefer]

Question for everyone. In my 10 gallon refugium I have in the back underneath the stand I want to use a marine pure block. I've been debating adding it to my DT (since currently running a canister) to seed it until I move to the new tank in approx 3 weeks time. Should I add it to the DT or just wait and add bottled bacteria?

 

[Prairiereefer]

Fully rough plumbed in including UV!

Now to glue it all together and paint!

 

[Prairiereefer]

Well plumbing is painted and in place! Finally done the plumbing under the tank! Painters tape didn't work as well as I had hoped in some spots unfortunately, and cleaning it up is more difficult than I had thought. But overall for first time plumbing a new build and designing the plumbing myself I dont think it's too bad!

 

[ATB USA]

Great Build! Looks good

 

[Prairiereefer]

Great Build! Looks good

Thanks! Can't wait till it's in the new house and up and running and fully enclosed!