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- Jun 10, 2019
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Well its time to start a build thread! I haven't been the best at taking pictures every step of the way, but I will do my best moving forward.
I got sucked into this hobby when I came up on a free 29g running tank, it was forgotten in the corner of a house and we had to bring it back to life. My brother in law helped me get it right and after being on here and doing research when I travel for work, it is getting better. I got that 29g in april, and in September my sons and I began to gather everything for a 75g build. my wife likes the tank too and is very supportive of it!
I have everything that I need for the start up of the tank and for now its just a matter of putting all the pieces together. There are some things that I bought used and some that I bought new. just recently I was driving and I started to tally up everything I have bought, and man stuff adds up even for a tank this small!
System:
75 Gallon Aqueon (used, but in great condition) - $100
20L sump with baffles (New $1 gallon at Petco) - $20
overall volume should be 87 gallons
Overflow:
Modular Marine 1600gph - $120
Return:
(2) Jebao DCT-9000 (1 for backup) - $60 (package deal on R2R)
Lighting:
(2) AI Prime HD (yes I know the new ones are out, and the day after I bought the second one, the 16HD came out) - $218
Aquaticlife T5/ LED Hybrid - $165 LFS Price match
Flow:
(1) MP40wes - $200 on R2R
(1)MP10wes - $125 on R2R
(2) Jebao PP8 as back ups - $60 for both on R2R
(1) Tunze 6040 as back up for back ups - $130 (had this from my 29g
ATO:
Autoaqua Micro ATO - $130
Heater:
(1) BRS 300W with an Inkbird controller - $75
(1) Finnex 300w as a backup also on Inkbird controller - $40
Dosing:
Jebao DP-4 (will only be dosing Alk, Calcium, Mag) - $30 on R2R (have since gave it to my brother in law)
Komer X1 (3 total - Alk, Calcium, Mag) - $180
Reactor:
BRS Dual reactor (GFO, Carbon) - $20 on R2R
Skimmer:
Reef Octopus 150INT - $180 open box from BRS
Aqua UltraViolet 25W - $225 on R2R
That's about it, I think..... well I'm sure I missed a few things..... I don't really want to put a controller on it right now, my wife and I would like to have the boys stay busy working and maintaining the tank. at this point the cost of the controller wouldn't be out of range, but I don't want them to lose interest in the hobby if the just let the system ride on the controller.
I don't have pictures of the stand build, but you can catch some views of it in the pictures and if there are any questions on anything, let me know and I'll do my best at answering them.
Here are some shots of the plumbing work, its nothing compared to what i have seen on here, but my boys did a good job with the vision they had of keeping everything clean....
We tried to keep as much of the plumbing tucked up high with unions in every place tha we could to make the break down easy if we ever needed to.
On the return it will be off a Jebao 9000 and there is a manifold that will feed the reactor and a spare ball valve for future use in case we need it. the boys were going for a clean look when looking at the display and sump, just 3 PVC lines dropping down from the stand and a braided hose going up. all cords will be tucked away and routed in raceways.
I will post some more soon, I just needed to get this thread started so it motivates us to keep trucking along!
Thanks everyone!
I got sucked into this hobby when I came up on a free 29g running tank, it was forgotten in the corner of a house and we had to bring it back to life. My brother in law helped me get it right and after being on here and doing research when I travel for work, it is getting better. I got that 29g in april, and in September my sons and I began to gather everything for a 75g build. my wife likes the tank too and is very supportive of it!
I have everything that I need for the start up of the tank and for now its just a matter of putting all the pieces together. There are some things that I bought used and some that I bought new. just recently I was driving and I started to tally up everything I have bought, and man stuff adds up even for a tank this small!
System:
75 Gallon Aqueon (used, but in great condition) - $100
20L sump with baffles (New $1 gallon at Petco) - $20
overall volume should be 87 gallons
Overflow:
Modular Marine 1600gph - $120
Return:
(2) Jebao DCT-9000 (1 for backup) - $60 (package deal on R2R)
Lighting:
(2) AI Prime HD (yes I know the new ones are out, and the day after I bought the second one, the 16HD came out) - $218
Aquaticlife T5/ LED Hybrid - $165 LFS Price match
Flow:
(1) MP40wes - $200 on R2R
(1)MP10wes - $125 on R2R
(2) Jebao PP8 as back ups - $60 for both on R2R
(1) Tunze 6040 as back up for back ups - $130 (had this from my 29g
ATO:
Autoaqua Micro ATO - $130
Heater:
(1) BRS 300W with an Inkbird controller - $75
(1) Finnex 300w as a backup also on Inkbird controller - $40
Dosing:
Jebao DP-4 (will only be dosing Alk, Calcium, Mag) - $30 on R2R (have since gave it to my brother in law)
Komer X1 (3 total - Alk, Calcium, Mag) - $180
Reactor:
BRS Dual reactor (GFO, Carbon) - $20 on R2R
Skimmer:
Reef Octopus 150INT - $180 open box from BRS
Aqua UltraViolet 25W - $225 on R2R
That's about it, I think..... well I'm sure I missed a few things..... I don't really want to put a controller on it right now, my wife and I would like to have the boys stay busy working and maintaining the tank. at this point the cost of the controller wouldn't be out of range, but I don't want them to lose interest in the hobby if the just let the system ride on the controller.
I don't have pictures of the stand build, but you can catch some views of it in the pictures and if there are any questions on anything, let me know and I'll do my best at answering them.
Here are some shots of the plumbing work, its nothing compared to what i have seen on here, but my boys did a good job with the vision they had of keeping everything clean....
We tried to keep as much of the plumbing tucked up high with unions in every place tha we could to make the break down easy if we ever needed to.
On the return it will be off a Jebao 9000 and there is a manifold that will feed the reactor and a spare ball valve for future use in case we need it. the boys were going for a clean look when looking at the display and sump, just 3 PVC lines dropping down from the stand and a braided hose going up. all cords will be tucked away and routed in raceways.
I will post some more soon, I just needed to get this thread started so it motivates us to keep trucking along!
Thanks everyone!
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