My 87 Gallon tank build

[ngvu1]

Well, my plan was to do a tank upgrade in 2017. Did I say "was"? yes I did. I was OK with my current tank last year accepting the fact that it has a few draw-back that I could improve. I made a mistake looking on RC web site. 1 of the members there posting a tank sale post. It is/was a Leemar, and the configuration of the tank is just what I wanted (38x26x20 - width x depth x height). It has 4 sides star fire glass and a beautiful custom build stand. I ignored it a few times but then I pulled the trigger. Took me a few months to pick it up. I stayed in my garage from last Thanks Giving until 9/11/2015 (What a day!).

Tank: 38x26x20 (width x depth x height)
Sump: 30x20x16 (width x depth x height)
Return pump: Tunze 107.50
Power Head: 2-3 tunze pumps 6095
Light: 6 39W ATI dimmable sun power with 2 reefBrites bars (1 is blue only, the other is blue and white); I also have a few other options like 2 Maxspect Mazarra P series fixtures
Cooling system: JBJ chiller 1/5 HP (debating to buy or not) and Fans
ATO: Tunze 3155
Controller: Apex gold
Dosing: BM T101 and 1 BRS dosing pump for KalkWasser
Skimmer: I have 2 skimmer now, 1 is the BM BAC6 and a reefOctopus classic 110 space saver PS. I am also planning to go skimmer-less and just do macro algae with low bioLoad. That works for me now with the current tank. 1 fewer thing to clean


Here are a few pics

Into the house (Yay)

Next thing would be mounting the light

 

[Reef_Junkies]

Did you stain the cabinet a darker color or is it just the lighting?

 

[ngvu1]

The lighting

 

[crbise65]

Alright i love tank builds!

 

[shovelhead]

Nice tank!

 

[reef_junkie]

Love that cabinet.

 

[ngvu1]

Thanks. The stand pushed me over the edge of buying the tank 2 year earlier :)

Love that cabinet.

:-)

Alright i love tank builds!

Nice tank!

 

[ngvu1]

I surely progress slowly....So for the last 2 weeks I got the old shelf down, put new support for the light rack and last night finished the light hanging kit... Plumbing is next. I had some trouble with the bulkhead for the return pump. The hole is 1.25 in so the schedule 40 1/2 bulkhead is a bit smaller than I like while schedule 80 1/2 bulkhead, from MarineDepot, is a tiny bit too big. I ordered another schedule 80 bulkhead from BRS as they claim the hole for their bulkhead is only 1.25; I doubt it but enlarging the hole is kind of discouraging for me as I don't want to flip the tank up side down not mentioning testing if the bottom is tempered glass!

 

[steelheader.262]

Looks great

 

[Jizu Puentes]

Looks awesome! BTW that toadstool in your profile picture looks SUPER awesome!

 

[ngvu1]

It's a Yellow Fiji :); OH well yeah, it is in the same leather family anyway :)

Looks awesome! BTW that toadstool in your profile picture looks SUPER awesome!

 

[Jizu Puentes]

I'd love to find one like that

 

[ngvu1]

They don't keep color well in home aquaria. I think you need metal Halide...And they don't frag that easily like the toad stools :-)

I'd love to find one like that

 

[Jizu Puentes]

They don't keep color well in home aquaria. I think you need metal Halide...And they don't frag that easily like the toad stools :)

That stinks. Does yours still have the color shown in your picture?

 

[ngvu1]

Update. I filled up the tank half way. Rocks was cycled in a bin for the last 2-3 months.

 

[Jizu Puentes]

Cycled as in saltwater and they are now live rocks?

 

[ngvu1]

I use my current tank water to cycle the rock. I have seen the water to all the phases...

 

[ngvu1]

I am going to keep it the way it is as now I found a use for it. It was a mistake but it is perfect for this tank...Just need to cut the acrylic :)

 

[ngvu1]

So after a long delay with all the excuses, I finally transfer all the stuff from my old tank to the new tank and shut down the old tank. I still need to fix the durso stand pipe as it is huge and looks ridiculous. It is very quiet unlike my previous durso. I was not sure I would go with this or switch to the Maggie.....

 

[p.pep85]

looks great