150 Gallon Tank Build! Upgrading from 29 cube.

Eggpaul · Feb 15, 2018

Upgrading from a biocube 29 to a 150 gallon tank! Everything is in my home and I am slowly getting it all ready. Here is the list of items I have. Let me know what you think!

150 gallon Eurobraced glass tank- 60x24x24, center overflow with 3 holes.
Cabinet- Finally put it together!
41 inch long sump
Bubble Magus Curve 7 Skimmer
Vortech M1 return pump
Ecotech mp40 - 2 of them
Ecotech Battery backup- is 1 enough?
Kessil A360w with gooseneck- 3 of them
Kessil Spectral controller
ATO top off reservoir- 4.5 gallon
80 lbs of figi pink sand
All bulkheads, tubing, pvc for plumbing, check valve.
120 lbs of dry rock that I bleached and am still rinsing
30-40 lbs of live Fiji rock from my biocube that is cooking now.
Eheim 250 Watt heaters- 2 of them
Reefkeeper - already owned
Fan for sump- already owned
Refugium light- already owned
Hydor ato top off with pump- already owned
2 Brute trash cans- 32 gallons each
BRS carbon and GFO reactor- will be plumbed into the system

I am so excited everyone. My wife is great and supportive. My little 6 year old is very excited and rally wants a trigger fish (Niger might be a good choice). Plumbing made me a little nervous but I have a good plan that is coming together.

Eggpaul · Feb 15, 2018

Oh, I am also having a gfci outlet installed away from the tank. The tank will go on the right side of the pic against the wall, but I decided not to use that outlet. Wouldn't be able to reach it if anything happened. Found out from a structural engineer we need to sister 2x6s next to 3 current 2x6s, because this tank will sit parallel to them. Slow process, but enjoying every minute.

Eggpaul · Feb 20, 2018

Electrical board is coming together

Eggpaul · Mar 5, 2018

Foundation reinforced by sandwiching 4 existing 2x6s with 2 new 2x6s each. Contractor went passed where the tank is so it will be even stronger.

sebastiaan1985 · Mar 6, 2018

Looks like you are off to a good start! Good luck and enjoy your build!

Eggpaul · Mar 15, 2018

Placed the tank very carefully with 3 other guys. Looking Great! Here is a picture of the plumbing. I was a little worried at first, but it ended up being lots of fun! Warehouse I purchased my equipment from said I did a professional job. did a water test in the overflow box and no drips from the bulkheads! haha. The emergency pipe had some water coming down it because I didn't glue the pipe to the bulkhead, but I don't think that's a big deal. I'll have more pictures coming soon.

Eggpaul · Mar 17, 2018

Have more rock to place, but it's live rock so I need to add some water. I think it looks pretty good so far

Eggpaul · Mar 17, 2018

Bubble magus curve 7, brs gfo and carbon reactor on the left. Vectra M1 pump, ATO reservoir on the left (about 5 gallons).

Eggpaul · Mar 17, 2018

Putting in 80lbs of figi pink. I didn't want too much

Eggpaul · Mar 21, 2018

How does it look?

Eggpaul · Apr 6, 2018

Electrical board finished.

Eggpaul · Apr 6, 2018

Moved some rock around. Cycle is almost done.

Eggpaul · Apr 6, 2018

Kessil lights are great!

Eggpaul · Apr 16, 2018

I have been cycling the tank for a month. A few weeks with a shrimp. Then pure ammonia to accelerate things. After 2 days nitrites showed up. They both went to zero after 4-5 days. I added more ammonia, and it took 48 hours for nitrites to disappear. Adding more ammonia today. If they both disappear within 24 hours I believe the tank is cycled! I will do some water changes and then get a few fish on Friday.

Eggpaul · Apr 17, 2018

After 32 hours, I think it's ready!

Eggpaul · Apr 17, 2018

Eggpaul said:
After 32 hours, I think it's ready!

I've been reading that it should all disappear within 24 hours. It went away at hour 32. It's Tuesday today, so I'll wait until Friday just to be safe. I added lots of pellets this morning because I ran out of pure ammonia! Haha, that should be enough to grow the bacteria population.