225 Display 75 Sump Store Tank

[ccejka]

I am fairly new to the saltwater/reef tanks and started with a custom drilled 20L that was fun for a while but I quickly wanted to go bigger. I spend most my time in my retail store and wanted to share this journey with my customers and the public.

I picked up a used 225 gallon tank 72" x 24" x 30" and had a local store reseal and drill it for me. For the sump a buddy went from his Petco 75 to a rimless 75. So he donated the 75 for the sump. While that was getting done we have a customer weld our stand and sump stand.

For the sump I bought a DIY kit of ebay and with a little fitting and silicon we had the sump ready for water. Once we cut a big ol' hole in our wall we were ready to plumb it up.

Here is a list of the equipment I am running

EcoTech MP40wQD x4
Synergy 16" Overflow
Aquatic Life 60" T5HO Hybrid
Radion XR15 G4 Pro x3
Reef Ocotpus 3000 Skimmer
LED Fuge Plant Grow bulbs x2
EcoTech Vectra L1 Return Pump
Finnex 800W Titanium Heater x2
Bayite Temperature Controller x2
BRS Deluxe Reactor x2
AquaMaxx BioPellet Reactor
3/4" Vivid RFG Nozzle x2
1/2" Vivid RFG Nozzle x2
AutoAqua Smart Auto Water Change System
Cheapo Amazon closed Loop external pump
Aqua UV 40 Watt 2" UV Sterilizer
Bubble magnus dose pump
Neptune Apex with WXM
Neptune DOS with DDR
Neptune Trident

I am sure there is something I am missing but you guys get the idea.

We added 180ish pounds of dry rock and 120 pounds of dry sand. Added Dr. Tim's and waited a few weeks before adding the first live stock.

Need to get more pictures taken of it recently but wanted to get this started so I can added photos as this tank grows!

 

[NY_Caveman]

Looks like a great start! Welcome to R2R!

 

[ccejka]

Quick few shots, it has had a few ups and downs but overall tank is doing good adding coral and fish every few months try to post again soon!

 

[ccejka]

Winter is starting to set in here in Northern Iowa so our house heaters are kicking on and I was noticed the tank temp was a bit elevated.

Added this little 6" fan to the sump hooked up to my temp controller and I have noticed the temperature is much more stable.

 

[ccejka]

Trying out a new filter on my better halfs DSLR camera.

Just working on keeping everything stable at where the tank has seemed to settle out and not chasing numbers to much.

 

[ccejka]

Forgot to add this little guy

 

[AquaScott]

I love the rock work. Your patience is to be admired. I always just end up piling the rocks. Your way is much more appealing.

 

[ccejka]

I love the rock work. Your patience is to be admired. I always just end up piling the rocks. Your way is much more appealing.

Thanks I actually had the tank scaped one time and just before adding water pulled it all and re did it to what it is now.

 

[AquaScott]

Thanks I actually had the tank scaped one time and just before adding water pulled it all and re did it to what it is now.

It really looks great! What did you use to get the rocks attached to each other?

 

[ccejka]

It really looks great! What did you use to get the rocks attached to each other?

I started with the aquascaping putty to keep the rocks in place. And added Marco 400 cement. I would place a few rocks then wait a few hours as it set up before I placed more.

 

[AquaScott]

I started with the aquascaping putty to keep the rocks in place. And added Marco 400 cement. I would place a few rocks then wait a few hours as it set up before I placed more.

Thank you for the reply. You may have just inspired me to re-do mine, hahaha!

 

[ccejka]

Thank you for the reply. You may have just inspired me to re-do mine, hahaha!

Not a problem best of luck post some pictures!

 

[MrWheelock]

Looking good! Following along

 

[ccejka]

Well got a smoking deal in a full Apex from my LFS with a DOS and DDR. Then found these like new XR15 G4 pros so Santa showed up early!

Going to have to start getting ready buy a Trident! Tank is really starting to get stable slacked on testing because of the holidays but I will be back on it after thr 1st.

 

[MERKEY]

Looking good!

 

[ccejka]

Took some photos tonight with the Icecap filter I got.

Also started to print some stuff to clean up the mess behind the tank.

 

[MERKEY]

LOOKING GOOD!!

 

[ccejka]

LOOKING GOOD!!

Thanks I There has been some ups and downs over the last 8 months

 

[ccejka]

Got it all hooked up these readings are not far off my Hanna going to wait a few days then I will calibrate and see what the change is.

Already on the hunt for some reagents already they seem to be harder to get than the unit itsself.

 

[ccejka]

Its been 2 years since I posted.... I ran in to major issues so sit back and let me tell you a story!

Shorty after covid started I had a serious issue with the 75 gallon tank I was using as my DIY sump... It failed!

I came in to the store and there was a massive amounts of water covering the floor. I worked on getting it cleaned up and started looking for a sump. Nothing locally that was sized big enough so I called around and end up order a Bashsea SS-48 and it took a while to get here.

During this time I had attempted to get some water moving but didn't hook up the dosing system to the tank and that was a huge mistake! I lost 99.9% of all the coral I had in the tank.

Losing the coral was a combo of me not having it hooked up and neglect on my part. I was extremely fortune through the pandemic and my business was extremely busy.... so busy I didn't have the time required to take care of the tank.

Between now an the sump breaking I had tons of issues with my apex system and Cor 20 pumps. The tank was taken over by Cyano bacteria and I didn't preform a single water change for 2 years... My skimmer stopped working... my refugium lights were not on a proper timer... This tank was in some need of love.

Well about 3 weeks ago I started to do 40 gallon twice a week water changes, treating the Cyano with chemiclean, soaked all the pumps and ditched the Apex System. Testing the water at the beginning of this revamp my nitrates were at 55 ppm and PO4 were 32 ppm. Testing yesterday and it was 22ppm for nitrates and .07ppm for PO4. Not were they need to be but they are moving in the right direction.

I let some speed bumps knock the wind out of my sails but I have the fight back in me and I want to make this tank the dream tank I would think about when I started surfing this forum.