GoTakeANap's Dream Build Planet Aquarium 60X24X25 150 Gallon Build

[GoTakeANap]

Hello everyone. Upgrading from a WB 100.3 REEF to a New to me Planet Aquarium. Wanted to get the build thread started. Below is a build list of all the equipment I will be using.

Display: Planet Aquariums Mega Matrix 150 60x24x25
Sand: Caribsea Special Grade Reef Sand 140 LBS
Rock: Custom Made Using Marco Rocks
Sump: Tideline Sump 36x18x15
Refuge: Kessil H160 Tuna Flora
ATO Tank: Custom Made (Bought Off Ebay)
ATO Control: Tunze Osmolator 3155
Return Pump: Undecided
Reactor: Avast K1 Kalk Stirrer
Wave Pump: 2x EcoTech MP40
Skimmer: Red Sed Reefer RSK-300
Heater: BRS Titanium Heater 600W
Lighting: 3X AI Hydra 32's
Light Mount: AI HMS 60" Rail Modify and Mounted In Canopy
Monitoring: Apex EL, DOS And Trident
Plumbing Pipe: 1" drain, 3/4" return
Plumbing Fittings: Various Fittings & Valves From BRS

This is everything I can think of at the moment. If I think of anything else I'll add it to the thread. Hope you guys follow my dream build! Will get the pictures of the aquascape posted up this weekend when I finish it.

 

[revhtree]

Sweet tank!

 

[GoTakeANap]

Sweet tank!

Thank you

 

[GoTakeANap]

Update with everything I worked on this weekend. 1st off the 140 lbs of reed sand I ordered came in. I came up with my rockscape (started playing last week) I am gonna go with. 1st photo of the rockscape was what I was gonna go with until I started playing around with it even more and final photo is what I am going with. All of it is glued together with BRS Glue and accelerator. I'll cement it together tonight using E-Marco 400 and post a update once its finished.

 

[GoTakeANap]

I got the rock put together with E-Marco 400 now. 4 pieces will be connected together when I get the tank moved into the house. I wanted to try and hide the gray of the cement on the white rock. What I decided to do was take all the small pieces I had left, break them up with a hammer into a powder/dust form. When I applied the E-Marco to the joints, then I sprayed them with a water and throw the powder on the wet cement and somewhat tried to work it in. I let it sit this way for over 24 hours then rinsed it off with the water hose. 1st photo is the cement covered with the powder and the last few photos pictured is how it turned out. It did lighten it up a bunch and hide the grey pretty well. Now onto the plumbing this weekend.

 

[GoTakeANap]

Update time. I moved the tank into the house this past weekend and got the plumbing installed. Decided to go with the Herbie method in my overflow. Will be doing a leak test over the weekend to make sure I don't have any leaks in my plumbing before I fill it up and start the cycle. Here are a few photos of the plumbing and the tank sitting in its new place.

 

[fowler279]

Following along. Just got the same tank in earlier this week.

 

[GoTakeANap]

Following along. Just got the same tank in earlier this week.

Awesome. I decided to start the sump under the center instead to the far left for my setup. It will be easier for me to access the right side of the cabinet for sump maintenance. Hope something in here helps you with your build buddy.

 

[fowler279]

Awesome. I decided to start the sump under the center instead to the far left for my setup. It will be easier for me to access the right side of the cabinet for sump maintenance. Hope something in here helps you with your build buddy.

At first I was thinking about doing it on the left side but after seeing yours (granted I have a different sump) it might work better for me on the right as well. Left side of the tank is closer to the wall and may not have as much room. But def made me think about placement a bit more.

 

[GoTakeANap]

Update time. I finally got the rockwork moved inside the tank. Put it back together. Got all the joints glued then used White Aquascape Bonder 400 from Additive Reef Keeping. FYI it perfectly matches the Marco Rock color to a tee. I highly recommend it and his customer service was amazing. I will post a link to the bonder I bought from them. Sand was added next along with the freshly mixed saltwater. Once everything was up and running I then dosed Dr. Tim's Ammonia Chloride to 2 mg. Next I added 8 oz's of Fritz Turbo Start to the tank. I will be testing ammonia tonight to see if it went down below 2 mg after 24 hours. I'll post a updated photo of the tank cleared up along with what the ammonia read.

White Aquascape Bonder-400 Reef Rock Mortar/Cement Kit by Addictive Reef Keeping

addictivereefkeeping.com

Also anyone that has this tank, could you direct me in the right direction on a lid?

 

[MikeIkerson]

That is some sweet negative space aquascape. Make sure to update when the sand cloud has cleared and we can see the whole display.

 

[rainsong]

Nice scape! Following because I am a saltwater newbie in the process of putting together my tank of similar dimensions. What size ATO tank?

 

[GoTakeANap]

That is some sweet negative space aquascape. Make sure to update when the sand cloud has cleared and we can see the whole display.

Thank you sir. Cleared up aquascape post coming right up.

Nice scape! Following because I am a saltwater newbie in the process of putting together my tank of similar dimensions. What size ATO tank?

Thank you sir. My ATO is a 10 gallon reservoir.

 

[GoTakeANap]

Here is a photo of the tank after the sand cloud finally cleared up. The tank is so clean it doesn't even look like water is in the tank. Also the cycle has began. Tested it right after I dosed the 2 mg of ammonia and read 2. Now we are in-between 2-1.2 on my test results. Also went by Lowe's yesterday and bought all the SS hardware I needed to mount the rail in my canopy along with other miscellaneous stuff in the stand. Hope to get the control board figured out this weekend so I can start mounting equipment.

 

[GoTakeANap]

A little update here. Not to much has been going on. Kinda been put on the back burner with work and my business. Got my dad to make me a equipment cabinet instead of buying one. Decided to space out the boards (for cords) instead of cutting holes under each device incase I decide to change something out in the future. The 2 shelves you see on the backside of the cabinet are to sit power supplies on. Also bought a ADJ Products AC Power Strip (PC-100A) off amazon for my equipment I don't need to control with my apex. Next I will be mounting and adding all equipment to the cabinet. I'll post some pictures of it in the next day or 2. Going to start on it tonight. Hope everyone is enjoying the build so far.

 

[mandarin417]

I was looking at a custom build from Planet but the Megamatrix might be less expensive. How do you like the build quality? Is this also a Planet stand? How did you get your sump under the stand - I have heard one of the braces is removable. Thanks, Bob

 

[aquatic_dad]

Hi, do you have any updates? I am also looking to start a build with the same exact aquarium. Would love to get some inspiration from you and see how things are going and things you love/hate about mega matrix.