My 80 gallon build

[BanjoBandito]

Been collecting pieces and parts steady over 3 months. Tank is an SCA 80 gallon with 29 gallon sump. Plan on running factory skimmer (SCA 302), CW-50 scrubber and avast K1 kalk stirrer. Sitting here making water so figured I’d post photos for yinz.

decided to hard plumb it using a herbie overflow setup. I plan on getting live rock from the reef store in a couple days once I trust all my plumbing.

will transfer rock and livestock from the nano once it’s cycled.

 

[Gobyboy]

Following!

 

[BanjoBandito]

Basic equipment in, live rock in….

 

[BanjoBandito]

Had a plumbing issue, I plumbed the wrong drain - short pipe was on the emergency drain, so did some last minute switching and installed a gate valve.

still have minor leaks (drips) coming from two of the lines where the fitting goes into the bulkhead. Siliconed and flex taped it to heck. Still got 2 minor drips I’ll seal up today with my redneck engineering.

hope to have the scrubber plumbed today and running. Water is clearing up, working on getting it to temp. Should be cycling. Will check today.

 

[BanjoBandito]

Scrubber is in!

 

[BanjoBandito]

got the control modules for the return, gyre and inkbird mounted in place. Hoping to keep wire mess in the back out of sight. Lol.

 

[BanjoBandito]

Need to aquascape the rock, got epoputty hoping I can do it in tank. I have more rock in an existing tank that will be sent over at some point. Added ammonia last night along with cured rock, prob check levels tomorrow.

 

[BanjoBandito]

Lights and bracket are up and running.

 

[BanjoBandito]

did some rock arranging, scrubber is going got there gurgle noise solved, working on getting the kalkstirrer up and in. Waiting on a narrow jug so I can use it for dosing the stirrer with RODI water. Gotta hook up the ATO here…will just use a jug on the outside for it. Will try and “hide” it as best I can. Might add a stand on the side for stuff? Perks of owning furniture stores.

 

[BanjoBandito]

Working on getting the kalk stirrer and dosed setup today. Gotta install the ATO here….also, I’m out of plugs so I’ll be using another outlet for the ATO and any additional equipment. The wifi plugs I’m using in leu of a controller took up two slots each! Did not plan for that. May add a controller down the line.

 

[BanjoBandito]

Initial setup is complete.

 

[BanjoBandito]

I’m kicking around stocking for this tank, here’s what I’m thinking:

clowns + nem
Bagghii cardinals or wrasse harem
Flame hawk
Goby/pistol
Midas Blenny

I have a neon dottyback in a nano I'd like to move over, but he's.....kinda a jerk.

I've been romancing the idea of a scribbled boxfish. We'll see. It probably will eat corals.

 

[BanjoBandito]

Already got diatoms on the sand bed and tank is cycled, thank you established live rock! Also seeing growth on the scrubber already. Phosphates are still a little high (.36) but down from couple days ago at startup and dropping. Hoping for the best. Nitrates are at 7.4. When I got the tank up and running and got the rock in I dosed ammonia to 2 ppm in the system, so it's eaten that up in about 5-7 days. Seeing zero ammonia and nitrites on the test so those will go back on the shelf. Plan on moving some neglected coral over later today.

 

[BanjoBandito]

Got some stuff moved over today, nice dusting of diatoms.

 

[RedoubtReef]

I've always loved the cube tanks. Looking good.

 

[BanjoBandito]

I've always loved the cube tanks. Looking goo.

Thank you. Looks pretty different today, but I've always prioritized "depth" in comparison to "length" on aquariums. Cubes tend to fill out nice too.

 

[BanjoBandito]

Updated shot - be aware, this tank was partially cultured and started in a smaller tank. It was not a POOF I added corals and fish!!!

 

[BanjoBandito]

 

[youcallmenny1]

Off to a great start! Following along to see your journey.

 

[Lavey29]

Scape looks very nice