My 110gal tall tank

[arturoo1977]

Hi all, Im opening this thread to log all the journey with this new project.
After 10 years out of hobbie I decided that it was time to get my hands wet again. I started to llok locally for a used tank in order to start easy on the wallet. I found with an old friend a new custom made aquarium. A customer of him ordered and cancel the order once built, s he was trying to get back his investment and offer me a good deal. Here it is place in the right middle of home:

Tank is 60" long, 28" deep (From top to bottom) and 16" wide (fron to back). Yes, I would prefer to be 24" wide but... thats what it is.
No sump for this one. On right side you could see a black box. Thats an intank overflow filter box. Some filter flos, carbon and return pump will make the trick. I have algo enough space for heater (If ever needed) and some HOB things like an skimmer or fuge, not sure yet.

5 bags of caribsea fiji pink, 40lb of live rock, 40 lb of dry rock, and lots of good vibes for the initial setup.

As this is a budget setup, return pump will be a Rio 8HF, in near future Im planning to upgrade it with a DC pump and keep that Rio to help during water changes, or for a future chiller.

Lighting will be a complex theme.
I want a reef tank, but dont have money to fancy lighting so, my plan is to buy something modular like Kessil or Ai. After cycling I can afford one module just to have some light and start adding fish to display. And after some time would be adding more modules to complete lighting.
For example with Ai maybe a Prime HD at center to start and in future add another prime module and finally a hydra module. HYdra would me placed at center, where I plan to locate more demanding corals, and primes at sides, with less demanding corals.

Some dry rock shots before brake them into smaller pieces:

Will keep posting soon.... this weekend Im planning to complete all setup and beguin cycling. Raw shrimp.

 

[reef lover]

;Nailbiting;Nailbitingfollowing.

 

[arturoo1977]

Well it has been a long weekend, fortunately!
If you want to know about my aptasia fight please see this:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/water-infested.664034/

So, after cleaning all and kill my live rock I started to take some shots on possible aquascapes

and finally goes like this:

 

[arturoo1977]

After filling all water in and run the filter for first time I noticed a very low flow.
Pump is a Rio 8hf for aprox 550gpm. I was pumping water from containers up to display tank with no problems, but running it in the filter was very poor in flow.

I added a piece of piping to run into opposite side the return flow, to create a flow from side to side, return to filter overflow. BUT I used a 1/2” piping and that was a huge restriction to flow!! Pump outlet is 3/4”
So... setting up adventure has not finished. I will have to re do piping now in 3/4”.
Mean while a 3/4” hose will help to start filtering and test everything else.
Water is still too cloudy....

and rock too low. I need to look for taller structures.
What do you think?

 

[reef lover]

A couple larger chunks to get you higher wouldnt hurt.

 

[arturoo1977]

Holiday here in Mexico, so obviously reef time!!
Water is now much clear, I would say at 90% clear.
I was working on some rock glueing to change a little the view. Here are some nice structures.

I know they are not big deal, but my first time besides just putting rock over rock.
Here final view... what do you think?

 

[reef lover]

Nice that helps alot! A couple softies or sps up there and it will fill in in no time.

 

[arturoo1977]

Im not planning to star cycling until rockscape is at 100%.
From the tank Im helping my friend to set up, Im sure he ordered too much rock so maybe some will end in my tank

Until then, I will get water flow fixed and water level fine tuned.
As this tank is new and filter is DIY a lot of things came up.
For example, There was a lot of water noise from a cascade at pump compartment and a lot of bubbles also. I adjusted water level and noise is almost gone and air bubbles disapear.

 

[Dkim]

I have 110 gallon tall tank too. I have to dive into the tank to get something. Wish i was taller. Haha

 

[arturoo1977]

Nice that helps alot! A couple softies or sps up there and it will fill in in no time.

Thanks! That was just the idea behind those towers.

 

[arturoo1977]

I have 110 gallon tall tank too. I have to dive into the tank to get something. Wish i was taller

That has been a hole new challenge! Its very difficult to work at that height. I need a ladder to work in it.
Today I drop a small rock and it went to the bottom and its still there, I cant reach it yet. LOL

 

[arturoo1977]

I have 110 gallon tall tank too. I have to dive into the tank to get something. Wish i was taller. Haha

What lighting you have in there? At 28” deep its not easy/cheap to have good light.

 

[Dkim]

What lighting you have in there? At 28” deep its not easy/cheap to have good light.

I have 2 ai prime( old version). I think it works. So far so good. Hehe

 

[CasaReefer]

Beautiful Tank and Stand... Great Pics... Thanks for the Ride along.

 

[arturoo1977]

I invited a friend to dinner... but he is dinner!!

Just to be sure of point cero, I made an initial water parameters measurement and all went to 0, except for PH of course

 

[arturoo1977]

And cycle is on going!
I have just ordered some dry live rock from Caribsea and planning to add it in mean time cycle is completed, even if it takes a little longer.
Heater is also on the way and water is a bit cold but bacteria doesnt even care!

 

[boehm742]

Looking forward to watching your build! Keep up the good work!

 

[arturoo1977]

Amazon arrived today.... this thing is huge.

 

[arturoo1977]

Just a little update with christmas decoration

Everything looks good and according to plans.
I should receive next week a box with Caribsea live rock and will try to cover the filter box with a tall structure there.
During December Im planning to setup a QT tank in order to get my first two fishes in January.
I guess two clowns will be first inhabitants.

 

[arturoo1977]

It looks like heater helped to grow some more bacteria and cycle is almost done. Yesterday I made a test and things are at this point:

Amonia 0
Nitrites 1ppm
Nitrates 20ppm

Water is crystal clear and cycling shrimp is still there.

This is the time when I want to see something floating, swimming or some life but there is nothing... just water, rocks and sand.
Fortunately all aptasia was erased from live rock I used, as well as all living form. More rock is coming this week so I plan to complete aquascape soon.
Lighting is also on the way. I bought a Chinese black box on discount these days. I think it will be enough for first months with only fish and will see in future if just complement it or change with something better and use that black box for any future project.

I've been watching that filter box and there are some mods that I want to do. Return pipe is now a hose (you can see it in pics), that needs to be changed for something permanent and more easy to handle. And also don't like overflow as is. I mean, filter works fine and has plenty of room for many things (even a fuge for chaeto), but needs some improvements.

ATO is a must! I've been adding manually almost 1/2 gal of RO water daily. I have a JBJ Ato unit from my former tank, will be looking to set it up soon.