65gal upgrade to 125gal!

[sstanley223]

Hi everyone! I'm a lifelong aquarium hobbyist who started with marine aquariums in 2000. I had bought a 65gal tank and stand on an impulse. At the time I thought it would be plenty big enough. Had a few failures with fish only and a wet dry before starting to explore the mysterious live rock! Lol At that time I didn't appreciate how nice the Fiji premium rock was and pitched a bunch every time I reworked that tank. Wish I still had some.( Huge learning curve for me back then.) Fast forward through a few moves and a divorce that tank is still with me. I did what I thought was my last build in October of 2017 but again quickly realized the size limitations for the fish I wanted. So here I am starting my first build thread for a 125gal that will be an upgrade for the current inhabitants of my 65. Thanks for reading, and thanks for all the great information here! This is a current shot of the 65. It was started with about 45lbs of Florida rock and 20 lbs of a base.

 

[sstanley223]

First thing is a modest budget. I don't mind spending good money where necessary but I've also learned the value of diy and second hand. I found the tank brand new with the sticker still on at a grange sale for 150$. That's what got me going. I don't care for bending down or sitting on a bucket to see the aquarium so I'm in the process of fabricating a 37" tall square steel tubing stand. The rest of the equipment will be as follows;
Trigger ruby 36 used
Reef octopus 150 classic used
Modular marine overflow
Jaebo dcq8000 return pump
diy return manifold
3 Kessil 360's
Apex jr w/dos
Not sure about flow yet

Some photos of where I'm at!

 

[sstanley223]

Enough with the stand, the Modular Marine overflow arrived today!

 

[sstanley223]

Tank is drilled and I started the plumbing today. Not sure if im going to water test before or after i have the stand powder coated.

 

[sstanley223]

Assembling the return manifold...

 

[RichtheReefer21]

I just upgraded from a 55 to a 125 similar to urs.... Ill be following along.

nice job on the stand! I wish I could have drilled mine, all tempered on the old perfecto 125's. :( Gonna be a HOTB overflow for me

 

[sstanley223]

I just upgraded from a 55 to a 125 similar to urs.... Ill be following along.

nice job on the stand! I wish I could have drilled mine, all tempered on the old perfecto 125's. :( Gonna be a HOTB overflow for me

Thank you! My local fish store builds steel stands for some very large aquariums so that was my inspiration. As well as wanting a standing view height! The top of this is 60". Im anxious to see your build too!

 

[sstanley223]

Return manifold

 

[RichtheReefer21]

U can view the whole story in the link in my signature.. U can do the same for yours as well.

The 125 is currently running fallow with my inverts and coral... and all my fish are on the old 55g.

Running a canister filter for now until the 55 finishes its job and I empty it and clean it out, because it is going to become my DIY sump once it's ready :)

 

[sstanley223]

U can view the whole story in the link in my signature.. U can do the same for yours as well.

The 125 is currently running fallow with my inverts and coral... and all my fish are on the old 55g.

Running a canister filter for now until the 55 finishes its job and I empty it and clean it out, because it is going to become my DIY sump once it's ready :)

I like the size of a 55 for a sump/refugium! I gave up a lot of size for my fuge, but I got a nice deal on the used trigger sump.

 

[sstanley223]

One more piece of the puzzle! Couldn't justify the price of new LED's right now but this buys me some time to see what cool new developments are in store from the manufacturers! B

 

[sstanley223]

Finally an update. Nothing exciting. Painting the back. I have 90% of the equipment but 0% money left! Lol

 

[sstanley223]

I like the blue! Really makes the reef look lively IMO

 

[sstanley223]

My 65gallon that this is replacing is coming up on the first year and after a few setbacks is finally growing nice. I think im going to hold off on the transfer until spring.

 

[sstanley223]

Long time between updates but the stand is back from power coating! Excited to get that finished and everything assembled for water test!

 

[sstanley223]

Wrap the back next!

 

[sstanley223]

Finishing up the stand and plumbing. Hopefully mounting some electronics soon!

 

[Crabby48]

Very impressive! I’ll be following alone

 

[sstanley223]

Very impressive! I’ll be following alone

Well thanks! Its kept me busy all summer! I got an early Christmas present from Mom!

 

[Crabby48]

What a great early Christmas present!!