MoMo's Upgrade from a 45g tall to 75g....scratch that it broke... ok 125g

[MoMoTheMonster]

New tank came in and we brought it home today!

We're also working with someone to customize some acrylic pieces for our 40 breeder sump design idea.

Everything is coming together piece by piece

 

[MoMoTheMonster]

The top of the stand cabinet is starting to turn out better than before. I sanded down the gel stain to show more of the natural wood and I like how it's turning out so far.

Also got a 5.5 gallon tank for the new ATO reservoir plus I got a coat Kliz primer on the small cabinet for the stand. Yesterday, I had to sand down the inside of the big cabinet because I didn't do a good job of sanding the interior the first time and start the process over. That sucked but better now than later.

We also made the final plans for the sump and the guy building the acrylic pieces is going to start working on it this week and send us pictures before shipping to make sure we're happy. We're having it made in red acrylic to match the plumbing pieces. Still alot to do but small steps of progress this weekend.

 

[MoMoTheMonster]

Ok latest progress is the sump acrylic designs should be delivered today. Any help with silicone/glue recommends are welcome for attaching the acrylic to glass.

Also got the final coat of gloss white enamel paint on the inside of stand cabinets. Looks pretty good.

Now to attach the leveler feet to the cabinets and bring them inside to connect them and start the level process. We also have to move my existing tank to another area of the room and reinforce the floor.

 

[MoMoTheMonster]

Still working on getting everything together for the tank.

Here is the stand before the leveling feet and cabinets were attached:

Here is after cabinets were attached and leveling feet added:

My husband added new outlets for me for the tank and its also now on its own dedicated breaker too. We also installed the support beam underneath the floor for added support.

 

[MoMoTheMonster]

Here is the 45 tall (with temp light) while I was breaking it down into a 40b. So we can work on the 125.

Here is the 40b right after we finished moving everything:

 

[MoMoTheMonster]

Filling the tank to leak test:

Working on the plumbing:

Testing plumbing and sump for the first time! SUCCESS!!!

DIY 40 breeder sump with Jax Racks kits:

I've been working on my aquascape for awhile now and need to finish securing the structure with more mortar and get 2 more bags of live sand, then we should be able to start filling the new tank with saltwater!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Filling the tank to leak test:

Working on the plumbing:

Testing plumbing and sump for the first time! SUCCESS!!!

DIY 40 breeder sump with Jax Racks kits:

I've been working on my aquascape for awhile now and need to finish securing the structure with more mortar and get 2 more bags of live sand, then we should be able to start filling the new tank with saltwater!

That sump is incredible looking!

 

[MoMoTheMonster]

Finished up the aquascape:

Bought 3 more bags of sand and started filling:

Finally got it filled:

Running the tank with saltwater for the first time.

Cycling the tank. I move my sand & rocks around to make sure any cloudy sand particles that are left can be filtered out. So dont mind the random flat rocks on my aquascape

I've also been thinking of adding more to my aquascape but I also have more rock from my other tank that can eventually go in too.

I'll be staining the front of the cabinet soon also. The doors will be put on after all the cabinet lights and wires find homes.

 

[MoMoTheMonster]

More tank, plumbing, sump pictures:

I put a couple snails from my other tank a few weeks ago and no issues. I might transfer over a couple fish this week from the 40b since the tank is cycled.

I'm not in a hurry to get the lights on since the rocks are new in the display. As I'm sure the uglies will visit soon after the lights are moved over. I ordered a few jars of AlgaeBarn EcoPods that should be coming in this week to help seed the new tank. I'm hoping the pods will help with the ugly stage. My first tank I battled with GHA for a long time after I got the tank up and running so I hope to avoid that this round as much as possible.

I've also added a Jebao cross-floss pump (ECP-150M). It moves the water VERY well in the 6ft tank. I don't think I will be able to keep it on the random setting when corals are moved over since I have a mixed reef. The SPS will love it but it will make the hammers & frogspawn angry so I will have to mess with it and find a happy medium to dial it down. Not sure why they won't allow you to limit the random setting but all the other settings you can

 

[kevgib67]

More tank, plumbing, sump pictures:

I put a couple snails from my other tank a few weeks ago and no issues. I might transfer over a couple fish this week from the 40b since the tank is cycled.

I'm not in a hurry to get the lights on since the rocks are new in the display. As I'm sure the uglies will visit soon after the lights are moved over. I ordered a few jars of AlgaeBarn EcoPods that should be coming in this week to help seed the new tank. I'm hoping the pods will help with the ugly stage. My first tank I battled with GHA for a long time after I got the tank up and running so I hope to avoid that this round as much as possible.

I've also added a Jebao cross-floss pump (ECP-150M). It moves the water VERY well in the 6ft tank. I don't think I will be able to keep it on the random setting when corals are moved over since I have a mixed reef. The SPS will love it but it will make the hammers & frogspawn angry so I will have to mess with it and find a happy medium to dial it down. Not sure why they won't allow you to limit the random setting but all the other settings you can

Lookingreat, really coming along nicely. Don’t forget to get some phytoplankton to keep those pods fed.

 

[MoMoTheMonster]

Lookingreat, really coming along nicely. Don’t forget to get some phytoplankton to keep those pods fed.

Thanks!

Yeah, I forgot to order the OceanMagik with it. But I've got some Seachem phytoplankton that I keep refrigerated. Any thoughts on live vs dead phytoplankton to keep the pods thriving?

 

[kevgib67]

Thanks!

Yeah, I forgot to order the OceanMagik with it. But I've got some Seachem phytoplankton that I keep refrigerated. Any thoughts on live vs dead phytoplankton to keep the pods thriving?

I’ve only used live but I’ve read people have success with the freeze dried. We have a couple sponsors on here that sell the live. Best of luck.

 

[MoMoTheMonster]

I’ve only used live but I’ve read people have success with the freeze dried. We have a couple sponsors on here that sell the live. Best of luck.

Appreciate it thanks!

 

[kevgib67]

Hey I went to school in St. Louis, lived in Chesterfield. My wife and I took full advantage of the beautiful free zoo.

 

[MoMoTheMonster]

Hey I went to school in St. Louis, lived in Chesterfield. My wife and I took full advantage of the beautiful free zoo.

Chesterfield is very close to me I'm in Eureka The STL zoo is wonderful! They are currently working on an expansion in North STL county

 

[MoMoTheMonster]

Tank has some diatoms which isn't a surprise with the new sand and new rock. But otherwise doing good. I moved a few hammer & pink cadillac frags from my colonies and all are alive and happy so thats a great sign. I've also added some new friends:

Foxface lo
Firefish
Diamond goby
Halichoeres biocellatus wrasse
Paracheilinus mccoskeri wrasse
Paracheilinus octotaenia wrasse
Yellow Candy Hogfish
Midas blenny
New hermit crabs & snails

I also ordered:
Halichoeres leucoxanthus wrasse
Cirrhilabrus isosceles wrasse
From the Pecto online 50% off sale but due to delay in shipping both passed and they only refunded me instead of replacement which I was disappointed about.

Midas blenny isn't playing well which is a bummer so he might have to go back to the LFS but so far the hogfish is doing good. He's buddies with the foxface. He's also my husband's favorite so will be hard to remove if he decides to give the wrasses trouble.

 

[SaltyT]

Plumbing looks great! When I replace my tank I know who to call

 

[MoMoTheMonster]

Plumbing looks great! When I replace my tank I know who to call

 

[MoMoTheMonster]

Here's the tank so far. The 3rd light is still over the 40b with my last tanks original fish & corals waiting to transfer over. I'm hoping to transfer quite a bit this weekend. Due to the overload of bristleworms in the rockwork of the 40 I re-dip the corals to remove many of them before they go in the upgrade.

I'm also thinking my new grye is way too strong even on the lowest setting. So I might have to look into something else.

 

[SaltyT]

Update?