In the process of starting a 80G mixed reef.. Need help

Zeal

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 15, 2018
Messages
2,812
Reaction score
1,736
Location
South Florida
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hi all, this will be my first custom setup. Right now I'm in the planning phase and currently in touch with a tank builder and a stand builder.

The tank is going to be 48L x 24W x 18H or 16H, depends now sure which yet. I'm going for a mixed reef....

As for the stand, what exactly do I need to tell the guy? He wants concepts and ideas from me but I don't have any ideas. The stand doesn't have to be fancy just nice enough for the living room.

Maybe someone can share a picture...

How big of a sump do I need for an 80G tank?

How many holes for the overflow?

Lights... 2 radios Xr15 G5 Pro enough... or do I need to get 2 30s...
 

Hasted

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 26, 2020
Messages
598
Reaction score
742
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Just finished putting a 48x24x16 80g frag tank together. More rough looking than what I would want for a living room.

I only had two holes drilled (factory) so I had to have the return line come up and over for a Herbie style overflow. A 3rd hole would be a cleaner look if using this style.

I followed the basic 2x4 plans to build a DIY stand. Plenty sturdy. If I were to wrap it in something nice, the stand would look pretty good. A custom job would be able to do a much better job. Side doors to access sump would be my first suggestion.

I first made it 30" tall and was far too short for gear in sump. I bumped it up to 33.5" and feel more comfortable. You could probably go higher since a display tank.

My sump is 30g if I remember correctly. Most people say to get the largest you can fit. Mine feels like a good size and can still fit an ATO reservoir and dosing containers under stand when I get around to it. Depends on your style, budget, etc.

I have no experience with XR15s, but I have read people suggesting only 2 due to their 24x24 spread. If you want. You can always get another down the line once you start adding your SPS.

Some build photos probably not in order:

IMG_20210215_091416_452.jpg


20210212_121125.jpg
20210209_150854.jpg
 

desagon

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 28, 2019
Messages
196
Reaction score
393
Location
Metro Detroit
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I had the same tank a while back. I went Overkill on the stand by making it 40” high. It was nice to work on since it’s up so high with plenty of room underneath, and nice to view from an office chair. But that’s it. 32-36 would be better for a living room. I had mine in the basement where I was the only person going down there, so I just did what made life easier for me.
I had 2x xr15 lights on it and it wasn’t nearly enough. I ended up getting the hybrid t5 fixture and running all of it together. I would actually recommend you go down that route rather than buying 2x xr30 fixtures.
 

New&no clue

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
May 11, 2019
Messages
3,541
Reaction score
12,173
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
A useful guide is a sump that holds 1/3 to 1/4 of the water in your display, so if you are looking at an 80-gallon tank, I'd go between 20-30. If you plan on having a lot of equipment, I would go bigger.

Typically for holes, you will need 3, a drain, an emergency drain, and a return.

For stands, there are so many designs, and I typically like cleaner lines, so I'm two cabinets are black with minimal paneling.

For lights I would go with a T5 LED combo.
1613399863234.png
FTS13 11.21.20.jpg
FTS 2.15.21.jpg
 
OP
OP
Zeal

Zeal

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 15, 2018
Messages
2,812
Reaction score
1,736
Location
South Florida
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Just finished putting a 48x24x16 80g frag tank together. More rough looking than what I would want for a living room.

I only had two holes drilled (factory) so I had to have the return line come up and over for a Herbie style overflow. A 3rd hole would be a cleaner look if using this style.

I followed the basic 2x4 plans to build a DIY stand. Plenty sturdy. If I were to wrap it in something nice, the stand would look pretty good. A custom job would be able to do a much better job. Side doors to access sump would be my first suggestion.

I first made it 30" tall and was far too short for gear in sump. I bumped it up to 33.5" and feel more comfortable. You could probably go higher since a display tank.

My sump is 30g if I remember correctly. Most people say to get the largest you can fit. Mine feels like a good size and can still fit an ATO reservoir and dosing containers under stand when I get around to it. Depends on your style, budget, etc.

I have no experience with XR15s, but I have read people suggesting only 2 due to their 24x24 spread. If you want. You can always get another down the line once you start adding your SPS.

Some build photos probably not in order:

IMG_20210215_091416_452.jpg


20210212_121125.jpg
20210209_150854.jpg
Very nice, the tank builder is going to run the overflow across the back inside corner so it looks like a peninsula tank.
I had the same tank a while back. I went Overkill on the stand by making it 40” high. It was nice to work on since it’s up so high with plenty of room underneath, and nice to view from an office chair. But that’s it. 32-36 would be better for a living room. I had mine in the basement where I was the only person going down there, so I just did what made life easier for me.
I had 2x xr15 lights on it and it wasn’t nearly enough. I ended up getting the hybrid t5 fixture and running all of it together. I would actually recommend you go down that route rather than buying 2x xr30 fixtures.
Sadly I cannot get a T5 Hybrid. My wife says our living room is not a fish store so that's out of the question lol. Im still debating on the proper height. I might get it the same height as my Red Sea 170 tank...
A useful guide is a sump that holds 1/3 to 1/4 of the water in your display, so if you are looking at an 80-gallon tank, I'd go between 20-30. If you plan on having a lot of equipment, I would go bigger.

Typically for holes, you will need 3, a drain, an emergency drain, and a return.

For stands, there are so many designs, and I typically like cleaner lines, so I'm two cabinets are black with minimal paneling.

For lights I would go with a T5 LED combo.
1613399863234.png
FTS13 11.21.20.jpg
FTS 2.15.21.jpg
Is there a specific type of paint I can get to have the same look as the red sea or water box tanks?
 

New&no clue

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
May 11, 2019
Messages
3,541
Reaction score
12,173
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
OP
OP
Zeal

Zeal

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 15, 2018
Messages
2,812
Reaction score
1,736
Location
South Florida
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
OP
OP
Zeal

Zeal

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 15, 2018
Messages
2,812
Reaction score
1,736
Location
South Florida
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Also, for the piping under the sump. How do you decide what you want or how to do it? I have seen many different styles... The Red Sea 170 is very simple compared to what I see other people have
 

Reeflux

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 29, 2021
Messages
83
Reaction score
137
Location
Traverse City
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I would get some 4x4s man... these are expensive 6x6s.....but its the cheapest and easiest way to go in my opinion. Then trim it out if you want it to look nice. You can essentially build it like your deck out back. Which leaves all that room for junk underneath the trim.
 

Attachments

  • 20210131_151747.jpg
    20210131_151747.jpg
    187.8 KB · Views: 22
  • 20210212_212827.jpg
    20210212_212827.jpg
    125.8 KB · Views: 30
OP
OP
Zeal

Zeal

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 15, 2018
Messages
2,812
Reaction score
1,736
Location
South Florida
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I would get some 4x4s man... these are expensive 6x6s.....but its the cheapest and easiest way to go in my opinion. Then trim it out if you want it to look nice. You can essentially build it like your deck out back. Which leaves all that room for junk underneath the trim.
I'm no handyman by any means. I don't trust myself to build it
 

Mastering the art of locking and unlocking water pathways: What type of valves do you have on your aquarium plumbing?

  • Ball valves.

    Votes: 68 52.3%
  • Gate valves.

    Votes: 67 51.5%
  • Check valves.

    Votes: 33 25.4%
  • None.

    Votes: 29 22.3%
  • Other.

    Votes: 9 6.9%
Back
Top