New (to me) 90g reef build

Calebd91

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Well as always the reef bug strikes, previously started with a 32 biocube (build thread here), then my fiancé wanted her own so we set up a aquatop 24g cube for her an have been running for both tanks for about 9 months and 6 months respectively….we are building a new house in the next year or so an plan on a 200+g setup but we wanted to expand some in the mean time so we picked up a nice used 90g aqueon reef ready and stand this past weekend.
We plan on refinishing the stand I’ll be building new cabinet doors an maybe few more things like equipment board, inside lighting, etc.

This will be a process of getting all my equipment but wanted to go ahead and document the journey.

So far I have:
90g aqueon reef ready tank
New tank side plumbing kit (undecided to keep Durso style or look into changing)
Stand
Reef octopus 150sss skimmer
Assorted Carib sea rock (50-60 pounds)
2 slw 20 wavemakers from the 32g
Refugium grow light
Ink bird from 32g

My planned equipment is:
Trigger systems sapphire 26 sump
Current USA eflux 6009 return pump
2 AI hydra 32s
2 200w heaters (unsure brand)
Carib sea special grade or Fiji pink sand
More Carib sea arch rocks
UV sterilizer (unsure brand)

My current livestock will be transferred over
2 clowns
Neon dottyback
Ruby red dragonet
Assorted cuc

Plan on adding to the livestock list but Havnt set on anything specific yet, would like a wrasse, possibly fox face an maybe a smaller tang. Open to suggestions here

Would love some feedback on any equipment suggestions. This will be my first time plumbing a sump setup so I’m sure I will be spending some time reading an researching.
Thanks!

E1149395-5B65-4919-8CC3-91C7F3F05068.jpeg
 
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Calebd91

Calebd91

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Pulled the trigger on few items (no pun intended)
Trigger sapphire 26 sump
Current USA eflux 6010 pump
And BRS 200w titanium heater with wifi inkbird combo and a second 200w element

Also started sanding the stand down, going to refinish in a white wash patina look to match our other farm house style furniture.
pics to come at end of the week!
 

Sumo Reef

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Yay! Good luck with the upgrade!

You may find yourself begging for more room/bigger doors underneath that 90g. It can never go overstated that having more elbow room for your sump is always better. Better to decide that now instead of later after it's up and running. :zany-face:
 
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Calebd91

Calebd91

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Yay! Good luck with the upgrade!

You may find yourself begging for more room/bigger doors underneath that 90g. It can never go overstated that having more elbow room for your sump is always better. Better to decide that now instead of later after it's up and running. :zany-face:
My plan is to cut the cabinet door openings wider on each side and build new doors for more access. Hopefully it turns out what I have visioned lol


Also, HOLY HELL THE BLOWER ON THAT TRUCK! :face-with-open-mouth:
It’s twin turbos, that’s my other passion…drag racing. I built every part of the truck, do all my own chassis work and tuning.
 

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Sumo Reef

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My plan is to cut the cabinet door openings wider on each side and build new doors for more access. Hopefully it turns out what I have visioned lol



It’s twin turbos, that’s my other passion…drag racing. I built every part of the truck, do all my own chassis work and tuning.
Ooooh, that is amazing work! Imagine trying to do that wire tuck with only 10"x20" of room :grinning-face-with-smiling-eyes:
 
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Calebd91

Calebd91

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Got a little update…worked on the stand while I had 2 days off for 4th of July. Got 90% of it sanded down an then ran out of paper, cut out the opening larger and ordered some cabinet doors (carpentry is not my forte).
Also picked up 2 AI hydra 32hd lights and mounts.

Sump, return pump, heaters and controller arrive Wednesday. Will be plumbing a manifold system best I can so I’ll need to plan that out an get parts ordered.
 

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Calebd91

Calebd91

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Finished sanding the stand and threw a white wash paint finish on it to match our other furniture as refinished.
Sump and other equipment should arrive today to
 

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Calebd91

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Christmas in July!
Sump, return pump, ink bird and one of the heaters arrived today.

Also making some changes on the stand, I cut a piece of sanded pine plywood to seal in the bottom of the stand since I didn’t want the sump sitting directly on my hardwood flooring. Need to coat it an caulk it in to make almost like a catch basin. Also going to add a sheet on the back wall of stand to give me more mounting area for controllers, piping/manifold, etc.

Now need to design and measure for some plumbing and make a order, thinking going with the blue piping from BRS.
 

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Calebd91

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Big update!
All of my equipment arrived and was waiting on the cabinet doors to be built to finalize the stand….wellll they got here today so I’ve been non stop plugging away at it.
I’ll let the pictures do the talking.

Mind you this is my first tank with a sump and first time plumbing. I had plans on running 3 valves on the manifold but space did not permit that. I’ll be picking up a UV sterilizer at some point and adding it in line.
Also don’t mind the power bars, I need to pick up some Velcro or command strips to mount them as they don’t have any screw slots on back or mounting tabs. I also will be cleaning up the cables better once I know for sure I’m keeping everything in that configuration.
Plan on moving over my rock scape from the bc32 to the right side of the tank and adding some more height to the left side with more arches/shelves.
Overall I’m pretty happy with the setup and tomorrow will start rinsing the 40lb of Fiji pink dry sand and I have 20lb of some ocean live sand that will go in once I get all my water made up. Have one brute can full as of now.
 

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1000rrstunna

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My plan is to cut the cabinet door openings wider on each side and build new doors for more access. Hopefully it turns out what I have visioned lol



It’s twin turbos, that’s my other passion…drag racing. I built every part of the truck, do all my own chassis work and tuning.
I’m building a 89 s10 turbot ls full back half right now
 
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Calebd91

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First 40lb of sand is rinsed and in, and first batch of salt water going in now

My plan is to get it full and running and move 1 piece of my rock from the bc32 over to seed the new rock, as well as add my ocean direct sand in after filling, hope to not create a cloudy mess but I think that’s unavoidable.
My dilemma is on what’s going to be the best transfer method….I’m thinking get tank full and running with the 1 piece of seed rock, add dr Tim’s and a new fish let it run for few days then transfer my rock from the cube over as well as my other live stock. Or should I move all my rock over now before adding livestock. Just didn’t want to take too much surface area away from the cube while getting the 90 going
 
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Calebd91

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Display is full, have to make up last bit of water for the sump after work. Will have to siphon some out later as add in the other rock I’m sure.
 

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Calebd91

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Thank y’all. Wasn’t getting much feedback on everything lol. Was discouraged.
but did put bottle of dr Tim’s in today an transferred the clowns an dottyback over. They are loving it an exploring all their new territory.
can’t wait for future stocking.
 
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