Ed's 90g build project

[Ed olson]

Having been out of the hobby for a while I decided to get back in, with the wife's support this time.
I originally bought a used Oceanic 46g bowfront that I filled with sand, rock, and water. It sat overnight and sometime while I was sleeping the center brace snapped. I drained it and stored the rock and sand while I searched for another tank.
Luckily I was able to snag a 90g tank and custom stand. I had some problems getting it level but eventually settled on leveling feet and got some sand and rock in it.
I was also able to get some LEDs and a skimmer. Still have to procure heater and return pump before I can finish set up.
I'll post some pictures this evening when I get home.
Glad to be getting my hands wet again!

 

[lapin]

Nice
ya pictures are a good thing

 

[Ed olson]

Okay here's some pics of the process so far...
Original 46g bow with sand, rocks, and water

Center brace that snapped

New tank that need some serious cleaning

Used Some citric acid to soak the overflow

This worked pretty well but I should have let it soak overnight....lesson learned.

Had some issues leveling the tank. It had these plastic feet, I removed them, still had issues. installed leveling feet. All is good now.

Here she is sitting level

And with sand and rock

Picked up this Diablo XS160 for cheap.

That is all for now.

Need to plumb it up, add the heater(s), and get it cycling. Working on adding a DIY sump to accomodate the skimmer as the old Eshopps100 isn't big enough for all the things I'm thinking of doing in the sump itself.

 

[Ed olson]

Update..aquascape done. Saltwater in. Cycling process started.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Hey,

Checking put the build. I can’t see the last pic on my ipad, but the rock in the post prior looks great. That is a great stand, built like a tank, and good move removing those nylon feet. The tank is probably a Marineland judging by the overflow.

How are you cycling?

 

[Ed olson]

It's coming along....sloooowly. I'm old school and going fishless for cycling so I added a raw shrimp in to kick start the cycling process. I went to remove it and can't find it anywhere and ammonia is through the roof. Was hoping to add a clown or two this week, but don't think it would be safe for them considering the amount of ammonia. Gonna do a hefty water change this weekend.
Still have to plumb it. Finally got the bulkheads and hoping to make it to Lowe's in the next day or so to gather PVC for the durso and related under tank plumbing.
Last pic, btw, is a video of the final aquascape.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

It's coming along....sloooowly. I'm old school and going fishless for cycling so I added a raw shrimp in to kick start the cycling process. I went to remove it and can't find it anywhere and ammonia is through the roof. Was hoping to add a clown or two this week, but don't think it would be safe for them considering the amount of ammonia. Gonna do a hefty water change this weekend.
Still have to plumb it. Finally got the bulkheads and hoping to make it to Lowe's in the next day or so to gather PVC for the durso and related under tank plumbing.
Last pic, btw, is a video of the final aquascape.

Cool, I like the ghost feeding cycle. No one really does it any more with all the bottled junk, but I think it is best next to the damsel method we don’t do anymore.
let the ammonia spike followed by a brief nitrite spike since you are already almost done.

 

[ApoIsland]

Update..aquascape done. Saltwater in. Cycling process started.

I love the rock work. Great job with that!! Personally I think it would look even better without that one piece on the far right that is leaning on the glass though. Just my .02 even though you never asked for it

 

[Ed olson]

I love the rock work. Great job with that!! Personally I think it would look even better without that one piece on the far right that is leaning on the glass though. Just my .02 even though you never asked for it

Thanks. The piece on the far right isn't leaning on the glass, I know better than that. That said, I really like the unsual shape of it and really want to try and keep it in the scape, if not as is then some other placement maybe.

 

[ApoIsland]

Thanks. The piece on the far right isn't leaning on the glass, I know better than that. That said, I really like the unsual shape of it and really want to try and keep it in the scape, if not as is then some other placement maybe.

If it's not leaving on the glass and you like it then no need to move it at all. I just thought it was going to be hard to keep the glass clean it was in fact leaning on it.

 

[Ed olson]

If it's not leaving on the glass and you like it then no need to move it at all. I just thought it was going to be hard to keep the glass clean it was in fact leaning on it.

I does look a little out of place, but I have a vision for it regarding a certain coral I'd like to attach to it, wherever it ends up in the tank.

 

[Ed olson]

Well, I finally got around to cutting the canopy to raise the lights. Unfortunately, I was only able to get it all together a couple minutes from lights out, but I definitely noticed the middle brace shadow was gone. I'm looking forward to seeing how they work out now ~11" from the water.
Also added 3 big turbos, 3 astreas, a few blue legs, and half a dozen ceriths. I really wish I had taken a before and after photo, but after just 48 hours they have done an amazing job. Snails poop a lot with this much intake. They have turned the rock bright white again in most areas. They did bulldoze my acan on a frag plug though, no injuries. Also added a cleaner shrimp, that little guy is a spaz when food hits the water column.
Now to let it comes into its own for a while. Hope to add a few more fish soon. Maybe a small pack of chromis and a few smaller bottom dwellers. I definitely want a tang at some point so been thinking about a yellow eyed kole or something. Would love to have another coral beauty in there as well.
The 2 misbars are still doing good and swim together most of the time and are getting more used the tank and exploring a bit more but still hang out in the front left and right corners most of the time with the occasional cross tank run.

 

[Ed olson]

Been well over a year now. R2R sent me a msg asking to update my build thread. It's built and gone through some things but this is how it currently sits and hopefully individual pics of 98% of the corals currently stocked (if I can get them uploaded).

 

[DanTheReefer]

Bravo

 

[Ed olson]

Bravo

Thank you!

 

[Ed olson]

Specs currently:
Standard 90g corner overflow

Dual 165w Viparspectras - 85% blue 5% white

2 x Icecap 2k gyres - 12hours 65% LPS Reef - 12 hours 5% - 65% square wave on 15sec duration

Diablo XS 160 skimmer

Seachem kalk - 75% saturation dosed by ATO

Pinpoint ph probe

Filter floss - replace every 3 days

Temp 79* - 81*

16g wc every 10-14 days

Pics were taken on a Samsung A10e in normal photo mode with an orange filter.