My 120 reef build

Saltlife · Oct 9, 2012

I have been collecting parts and pieces for my build and this is what it looked like before I loaded it in the truck. Had to do ALOT of cleaning and throwing stuff away to get it back in shape. The tank measures 48x24x24 and its a 120g Ocea tank with stand and canopy. The tank is not drilled at the moment and still debating if I want to or not. I have 6 5g buckets of rock, sump, protein skimmer, and a couple of pumps. I am still getting stuff to finish the build and trying to figure out the best way to run everything. Going to do some sort of ro system for the water, put a new set of lights in the canopy, and build a little larger stand for it. Any comments or input would be appreciated.

Saltlife · Oct 9, 2012

Saltlife · Oct 9, 2012

tcreeftank · Oct 9, 2012

Can't wait to see this one get started. I personally prefer a drilled tank. Any ideas yet on what types of corals and fish you plan to stock?

Saltlife · Oct 9, 2012

tcreeftank said:
Can't wait to see this one get started. I personally prefer a drilled tank. Any ideas yet on what types of corals and fish you plan to stock?

Why do you prefer a drilled tank? I really want to run the hoses under the tank so I can put it against the wall but dont know yet if I can drill the bottom. I still have alot of sand to remove from the tank. If I have to drill the back I might just run a hob skimmer. I want to have it full so just whatever will grow will be fine with me. For corals I would really like alot of diff colors and textures all over the tank and for fish pretty much whatever will live with the corals.

revsgirl · Oct 9, 2012

Nice setup! Lookin' forward to seeing what you'll do with it!

Mike171 · Oct 9, 2012

nice set up! i just got a 120 myself and have been going through the process of setting it up. I say drill it and set it up right the first time. I was extremly happy when I figured out how easy it was to do that part of it. I'm working on all my plumbing right now. I'll be following along!

bknapp · Oct 9, 2012

I think most (if not all) tank bottoms are tempered, which means NO DRILLING, but I could be very wrong here, never drilled a tank. And it's a lot easier to work on the tank as far as electrical is concerned with a gap between the wall and the tank. That's a good looking tank, stand and, canopy combo, good pick up.

rarelyseriousb · Oct 9, 2012

Drill the back

skinz78 · Oct 10, 2012

For sure drill it, you won't be happy with the setup long term if you don't. Also I recommend keeping it about 3" off the wall, it makes things so much easier to hide. HOB skimmers are not very good at all, get a bigger one and put it in your sump.

Saltlife · Oct 10, 2012

revsgirl said:
Nice setup! Lookin' forward to seeing what you'll do with it!

Thanks, hope to have it going soon. Just waiting on my house to be finished. Thanks

Mike171 said:
nice set up! i just got a 120 myself and have been going through the process of setting it up. I say drill it and set it up right the first time. I was extremly happy when I figured out how easy it was to do that part of it. I'm working on all my plumbing right now. I'll be following along!

Cool, send me some pics of your setup I would like to see it. Thanks

bknapp said:
I think most (if not all) tank bottoms are tempered, which means NO DRILLING, but I could be very wrong here, never drilled a tank. And it's a lot easier to work on the tank as far as electrical is concerned with a gap between the wall and the tank. That's a good looking tank, stand and, canopy combo, good pick up.

I am not far from Nashville. I cleaned all of the sand out today and cant find anything saying its tempered anywhere on it at all. I got tired of flipping it over myself lol. I never thought about leaving it away from the wall, good idea. And I thought I did good, I traded a shotgun for it. Thanks

rarelyseriousb said:
Drill the back

Would you drill it closer to the top? Thanks

skinz78 said:
For sure drill it, you won't be happy with the setup long term if you don't. Also I recommend keeping it about 3" off the wall, it makes things so much easier to hide. HOB skimmers are not very good at all, get a bigger one and put it in your sump.

I have been watching lots of videos with HOB skimmers and really wondered how good they would be. Are you saying get a bigger HOB skimmer and put it in the sump I have? Thanks

skinz78 · Oct 10, 2012

Naw, I'd stay away from HOB skimmers completely, get an internal one. I have a Super Reef Octopus NW2000 INT on my 120 and love it.

bknapp · Oct 10, 2012

skinz78 said:
Naw, I'd stay away from HOB skimmers completely, get an internal one. I have a Super Reef Octopus NW2000 INT on my 120 and love it.

+1... Drilling the tank and having a sump would make for a cleaner look, and easier to work on.

rarelyseriousb · Oct 10, 2012

There are places that you can get kits online with drill bit, and overflow. It has a stencil on we're to drill the holes. I use the kits and like them a lot. Very small. They do not hoot the bottom so that is more Space in the tank

Mike171 · Oct 11, 2012

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/showthread.php?t=94287
Here's my thread of my on going build.

Saltlife · Oct 11, 2012

skinz78 said:
Naw, I'd stay away from HOB skimmers completely, get an internal one. I have a Super Reef Octopus NW2000 INT on my 120 and love it.

I searched the web for a Super Reef Octopus NW2000 INT and couldnt find anything. You have a pic of it?

bknapp said:
+1... Drilling the tank and having a sump would make for a cleaner look, and easier to work on.

I have a sump for it, can you see it in the pic? Thats the one I plan on using unless its not worth it and there is something better.

rarelyseriousb said:
There are places that you can get kits online with drill bit, and overflow. It has a stencil on we're to drill the holes. I use the kits and like them a lot. Very small. They do not hoot the bottom so that is more Space in the tank

I like those kits. Looks pretty simple, just didnt know what would be the best way to set up the tank. I want to do it right the first time.

Mike171 said:
Mike171 new (to me) 120G
Here's my thread of my on going build.

Thanks, I am subscribed. You are a little ahead of me at the moment lol.

Saltlife · Oct 13, 2012

bknapp said:
+1... Drilling the tank and having a sump would make for a cleaner look, and easier to work on.

I said I have a sump, what I meant was I have a trickle filter already and plan on using it as long as it works for what I want to do. It is in the pic that I posted. The skimmer I have is what came with the kit originally. All of the kit was an Aquarium Life Support Systems I think it was the UP1700 system. None of it was hook up when I got it and have been searching with how it all goes but not had very much luck. Looks like there is not much info on this system.

Has anyone had any runnins with this stuff? Should I go with a different type of equipment for my reef tank?

I cleaned the tank and cannot find anything that says if it is tempered or not.

Mike171 · Oct 13, 2012

If you have polarized sunglasses put them on and look at the glass. If it's tempered you should see black lines in the glass.

Saltlife · Oct 17, 2012

I went and bought some polarized sunglasses and used my notebook to test the glass. All 4 sides were solid black and the bottom was soild black. I looked through several pieces of tempered glass to see what the effects were just to make sure, some of the tempered glass looked like a rainbow and others looked like pokadots which reversed colors when you move the glasses.

I guess the next decision is to drill the back or the bottom. And which kit to use. Any suggestions? Also will the trickle filter I have work?

Saltlife · Oct 18, 2012

Going to buy some more stuff for this tank this weekend. Does anyone see anything I need to change now? Looking At the Glass holes kit for the back, any suggestions on a size and how much gph water would be best? Also going for a RO/DI system, so lines can be ran through walls (home just framed).