90 gallon budget build.

George Lopez · Aug 10, 2017

Hello everyone I have had fresh water all my life and habe had 2 salt within the last 2 years. I started with a 13 gallon to try it out

then after about a year we converted or 44 corner cichlid tank to salt.

Had to make my own sump because of limited space.

after everything stabilized everyone was transferred out of the 13 and into the 44.

So is been about a year now

and as you can see we drastically need any upgrade in lighting but once again limited by the tanks stock hood. So i was going to make a new base and canopy for the 44.
but plans all changed when we were given a 90 gallon

It has a wet dry and was a fish only set up but that's not what we want it as so i come to all of you for your help and opinions. I shall be making my own sump again but out of a 30 gallon instead off a 10 and was able to get 2 MR-120's for cheap and am also thinking about changing the overflow return set up.

Like the title states i am on a severe budget and will hopefully have this up be December to start cycling. So far i was thinking of this as my new sump set up.

And i was thinking of possibly getting a new Jabao DCP-1500 to run the return and skimmer (if i can find one that i can hook up) and still have room for expansion of i ever want to install a reactor or something. Of course the pump would only be running around 40% to 50% right now.

Im open to any ideas tips and tricks you can all offer and i hope to get started soon.

GoVols · Aug 10, 2017

George Lopez said:
(if i can find one that i can hook up) and still have room for expansion of i ever want to install a reactor or something. Of course the pump would only be running around 40% to 50% right now.

Im open to any ideas tips and tricks you can all offer and i hope to get started soon.

George,
Do you have room for outside or hang on reactors?

Freddie

Joshua Agostoni · Aug 10, 2017

George Lopez said:
Hello everyone I have had fresh water all my life and habe had 2 salt within the last 2 years. I started with a 13 gallon to try it out

then after about a year we converted or 44 corner cichlid tank to salt.

Had to make my own sump because of limited space.

after everything stabilized everyone was transferred out of the 13 and into the 44.

So is been about a year now

and as you can see we drastically need any upgrade in lighting but once again limited by the tanks stock hood. So i was going to make a new base and canopy for the 44.
but plans all changed when we were given a 90 gallon

It has a wet dry and was a fish only set up but that's not what we want it as so i come to all of you for your help and opinions. I shall be making my own sump again but out of a 30 gallon instead off a 10 and was able to get 2 MR-120's for cheap and am also thinking about changing the overflow return set up.

Like the title states i am on a severe budget and will hopefully have this up be December to start cycling. So far i was thinking of this as my new sump set up.

And i was thinking of possibly getting a new Jabao DCP-1500 to run the return and skimmer (if i can find one that i can hook up) and still have room for expansion of i ever want to install a reactor or something. Of course the pump would only be running around 40% to 50% right now.

Im open to any ideas tips and tricks you can all offer and i hope to get started soon.

only thing i would do differently is i wouldnt put your pump on a substrate if you put it in same area make sure to make it a stand to keep it atleast 3 to 4 inches above the substrate so it doesn't pump anything up.

George Lopez · Aug 10, 2017

Joshua Agostoni said:
only thing i would do differently is i wouldnt put your pump on a substrate if you put it in same area make sure to make it a stand to keep it atleast 3 to 4 inches above the substrate so it doesn't pump anything up.

thank you
I was just planning on rock no sand

George Lopez · Aug 10, 2017

Joshua Agostoni said:
only thing i would do differently is i wouldnt put your pump on a substrate if you put it in same area make sure to make it a stand to keep it atleast 3 to 4 inches above the substrate so it doesn't pump anything up.

Should i use sand in the fuge?

George Lopez · Aug 10, 2017

GoVols said:
George,
Do you have room for outside or hang on reactors?

Freddie

No i don't have a room but the stand is 47 x 17 x 35 inches tall inside and the 30 gallon is only 36 x 12.5 x 16.6 everything would have to remain inside

GoVols · Aug 10, 2017

George Lopez said:
No i don't have a room but the stand is 47 x 17 x 35 inches tall inside and the 30 gallon is only 36 x 12.5 x 16.6 everything would have to remain inside

This is my setup. Maybe it could help.

GFO and Purigen

Here's a good in sump reactor.
The water overflows back into the sump after it leaves the reactors top.
To see the demo
For a video demonstration of how it works, CLICK HERE.
http://uniquecorals.com/dry-goods/ultra-reef/ultra-reef-uff003-media-reactor.html

But... Don't run carbon lose like that. Pack it tight between the two sponges but you'd want to run GFO, like that.

George Lopez · Aug 10, 2017

GoVols said:
This is my setup. Maybe it could help.

GFO and Purigen

Here's a good in sump reactor.
The water overflows back into the sump after it leaves the reactors top.
To see the demo
For a video demonstration of how it works, CLICK HERE.
http://uniquecorals.com/dry-goods/ultra-reef/ultra-reef-uff003-media-reactor.html

But... Don't run carbon lose like that. Pack it tight between the two sponges but you'd want to run GFO, like that.

Id have space for something like that

thanks

George Lopez · Aug 10, 2017

My current fuge has sand rock and macro but its only about a gallon which makes it a pain to clean which is why i was thinking no sand but this one will be about 4 gallons and easily accessible

George Lopez · Aug 11, 2017

I was wondering currently the tank had a single 1-1/4"overflow tube and a 3/4" return pipe i was thinking of maybe replumbing the return outside of the tank and using the second bulkhead (which is the same size of the overflow) as a backup drain since the tank will be getting a lot more flow than when it was as a fish only tank. Any opinions on this?

George Lopez · Sep 20, 2017

So i did a leak test and it holds perfectly... but i have a crack on my upper support :/

Going to try and remove the upper brace and order a new one from glasscages (about $35 with shipping) if it comes off without any damage to the tank.

Reef_Pilot · Sep 21, 2017

George Lopez said:
No i don't have a room but the stand is 47 x 17 x 35 inches tall inside and the 30 gallon is only 36 x 12.5 x 16.6 everything would have to remain inside

I am about the same stage as you setting up my 90g. I am now curing the dry Pukani rock that I bought, and just started making my own sump so I can get a bit more volume and have room for the future. I am planning on 36" x 16 x 18" tall. The extra depth will let me put the socks behind the skimmer and have a much larger fuge, then room for reactors or a Marine Pure or Brightwell bio brick in the return section... or at least that's my plan. Also planing on a separate ATO above my return section. As far as the plumbing goes, I was planning on a durso style dual overflow and running the return over the back since I only have 2 drilled holes (same as you I'm guessing). Good luck with your build, I will plan on watching this thread to follow your progress.

George Lopez · Sep 21, 2017

Yup same as me but my wife won't let me do my return over the back :/ i wanted to do a valved return and emergency but happy wife happy life

My final sip design removes the ato and ill just do a jug out of the sump but I'm the base

Final design and cut sheet out of a 24" x 48" sheet of 0.22" acrylic including the lid for the sump.

George Lopez · Sep 24, 2017

So update. I wad able to remove the plastic support from the top that was broken and shall be ordering a new one from glasscages.com so i won't have to worry about it giving out any further in the future.

Only one little knick but not bad and under the plastic

George Lopez · Oct 9, 2017

Ok so final sump design ( skimmer needed more space :/)

Orm Embar · Oct 9, 2017

Cost saving ideas:
1) Plan everything out ahead of buying anything, which you are doing
2) If you're going to run a skimmer, realize that most appropriately sized skimmers are equally effective (http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/1/aafeature) and remove 20-35% of dissolved organics. I don't run one, but most people do.
3) Rinsing filter socks twice weekly leads to a 30% drop in nitrate/phosphate, so that's a cheap filtration technique (https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/video/view/brstv-investigates-what-do-filter-socks-do-for-you/). Get mesh, not unrinseable fuzzy ones
4) Buy used but of good quality for some things (I wouldn't buy a used heater, but a used skimmer would be a potentially good idea)
5) Minimize equipment (only buy what you really need)
6) I'm not convinced that adding ceramic biomedia will really add much assuming you have adequate live rock +/- a little sand and a refugium
7) Cheap LED refugium bulb options (I run the first)
-https://www.amazon.com/MarsHydro-Light-Organic-Style-plants/dp/B01ARI3HIG
-https://www.amazon.com/TaoTronics-Lights-Hydroponics-Organic-Applicable/dp/B01HPIPM70
8) Read, read, and read some more (Randy's articles are great)

I run a built-in ATO with float valve, a macroalgae filled refugium, and a DIY kalkwasser dripper. Activated charcoal is with small bags suspended near the sump in flow. That's pretty much it. You can always buy more apparatus, but that doesn't automatically translate into less work or a better tank - be mindful about what you expect everything to do and why. I will say not to skimp on a good alkalinity test (Salifert/Elos), definitely have a controller for your heater (InkBird or Ranco), and definitely have a grounding probe and a GCFI for your outlets. Never skimp on safety.

George Lopez · Oct 9, 2017

Thank you I'm trying to plan it out properly and trying to foresee any issues for the future hence doing like 1000 renditions of the sump lol. And i have been trying to do as much reading as possible to do just that.

I wanted to run the skimmer from the return but it looks like i may not be able to so i made the action larger

George Lopez · Dec 26, 2017

Ok so its been a while because of work and school but i finally got this week off from both ado time to work... today i started my new stand since the one that came with the tank had some water damage and my wife doesn't want it in the house so... here is my over kill frame. The stand was made wide enough to fit the dj strip but then was too deep for the tank. But i convinced my wife on dual overflows so the notch in the back is to pass my return. More to come tomorrow with skinning hopefully.

GoVols · Dec 26, 2017

George Lopez said:
Ok so its been a while because of work and school but i finally got this week off from both ado time to work... today i started my new stand since the one that came with the tank had some water damage and my wife doesn't want it in the house so... here is my over kill frame. The stand was made wide enough to fit the dj strip but then was too deep for the tank. But i convinced my wife on dual overflows so the notch in the back is to pass my return. More to come tomorrow with skinning hopefully.

George,
Your frame looks great and can tell you know how to work with wood.

Thanks for sharing and looking forward in tagging along with your build as you go along.

Freddie