PWeeZy’s 90 gallon budget build

[pweezy42]

Hello so I picked up a used 90 gallon with a 20 gallon long sump and some extras. Besides a good cleaning to the tanks I had to get some new hardware for the stand and replace the floor inside. I also came up with a idea to hang my leds (let me know what you think). I’m planning a mixed reef.

So far I have picked up:
2 vipraspectra leds
Two jebao mlw 30
Jebao dcp 6500 return pump
Two ehiem 300 watt heaters
Jax racks baffle kit
80 lbs ocean direct live sand
Still waiting on:
Rsk300
6 stage rodi
Box of coral pro salt

Plan on pick up 20 more pounds of dry and 20 lbs of live rock from my lfs as soon as I get my rodi in.
I’m planning on two brute cans in my basement one for salt mix and one as a ATO but this will be in the near future.
Here are a few pics of the process.

 

[muzikalmatt]

Great start! I really dig the look of that stand! What kind of fish are you thinking for this tank? Looking forward to watching the progression!

 

[Reeferjunkie]

Looks like you got a great start to your build and I like those arms you used for lighting. Looking forward to more updates

 

[pweezy42]

Great start! I really dig the look of that stand! What kind of fish are you thinking for this tank? Looking forward to watching the progression!

Thanks the stand was custom made by my cousins uncle. Right now I’m know I will either go one black and one regular clown or a pair of fancy clowns, mandarin, scooter blenny and the rest is in the air right now as I keep changing my mind lol

 

[pweezy42]

Looks like you got a great start to your build and I like those arms you used for lighting. Looking forward to more updates

Thanks I couldn’t figure out how to hang them and thought of this walking through the isle of lowes, hanging from the ceiling wasn’t an option for me as I have a drop ceiling and not the tile style.

 

[pweezy42]

Well I got the sump tested out today after the baffle install dried with water and no leaks. Unfortunately a section slid off my mark a little bit so it’s not perfect but it will do for now. I also got my rodi unit today but it was broke so I will send it back and order another so unfortunately I’m on hold now until I get that. Since I had to order another one i figured I would order some more rock so I got 40lbs of the purple figi rock coming. While bored I started to stack the rock I already had in the tank. Enjoy

 

[pweezy42]

So I did a test run and found a leak in the baffle kit so corrected that and let dry overnight. I also had a leak at the return bulk head but it just needed to be cleaned and tightened.
Test run was a success besides some loud gurgling sounds from return and a few bubbles in sump which I will have to iron out.
I also noticed that the jebao mlw30’s performed ok but I think i may add one more and put it low in the back to kick up the junk off the bottom..I’ll add a quick video below. Still waiting on my rodi, skimmer and rock

2 Jebao mlw 30’s in a 90 gallon

youtube.com

 

[pweezy42]

Well I got my Red Sea 300 skimmer which barely fits and is gonna be a pain in the butt to clean and the last order of rock before I get my rodi system, now I’m just anxious to get water in now. Here are a few pics and a possible aqua scape

 

[pweezy42]

Ok so after a few days of waiting on water the 90 is now full and operational! Some kinks I need to work out are 1 of the 2 jebao mlw 30 pumps is not working at full power so I am going to get that replaced and possibly buy another one to make it 3 as I still feel even with 2 working properly I am still going to need more movement in some areas, also the rsk 300 works but when I turned it on it pulled way too much water in and the cup overflowed like crazy (it was 2:30 in the morning so I just shut it off until later today).
I was going to use brightwell microbacteria7 (not sure on spelling) for a jump start of my cycle but the bottle came completely frozen from BRS, when I called them they told me throw it away and they would give me a one time credit for the bottle, so I went to my lfs and just picked up the instant ocean bio spira to jump start it.
Something that is puzzling me though is the sound from this return tube still sounds like it’s gurgling sometimes. I dialed the flow from the return pumps correctly and there is a port hole at the top of the return for air but still seems loud to me and I don’t remember it being as loud when I had my last tank that used a hob return to pump, so I need to read up on that issues more.
Im also thinking about cycling with two clowns not sure yet as I keep going back and forth but other than that it’s a waiting game now lol

 

[pweezy42]

Went a bought a test kit since Mine is lost in the mail somewhere so here is what I have.
I’m going to use the thread as my log sheet for myself.

Day 3

Ph - 7.8
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - .25
Nitrate - 0

 

[Eyemdread]

Hello so I picked up a used 90 gallon with a 20 gallon long sump and some extras. Besides a good cleaning to the tanks I had to get some new hardware for the stand and replace the floor inside. I also came up with a idea to hang my leds (let me know what you think). I’m planning a mixed reef.

So far I have picked up:
2 vipraspectra leds
Two jebao mlw 30
Jebao dcp 6500 return pump
Two ehiem 300 watt heaters
Jax racks baffle kit
80 lbs ocean direct live sand
Still waiting on:
Rsk300
6 stage rodi
Box of coral pro salt

Plan on pick up 20 more pounds of dry and 20 lbs of live rock from my lfs as soon as I get my rodi in.
I’m planning on two brute cans in my basement one for salt mix and one as a ATO but this will be in the near future.
Here are a few pics of the process.

How did you hang lights ?

 

[pweezy42]

How did you hang lights ?

Went to the local home improvement store and got steel shelving rails and drilled it into the back of the stand as seen in pictures. I wanted the lights at 18” but can’t get them that high with what I have but I’m not done yet.

 

[pweezy42]

So today also as I stated I would add fish I picked up two clowns to cycle with which my kids fought over I mean picked out lol. I also cycled my last tank this way and am hoping for the same early success.

2 new clowns to help with cycle.

youtube.com

 

[pweezy42]

Day 5:
Ph - 7.8
Ammonia- .25
Nitrite - .25
Nitrate - 0

 

[pweezy42]

Day 8:
Ph - 8 (honest i think it’s inbetween 7.8-8)
Ammonia - .25
Nitrate - 0
Nitrite - 0

 

[pweezy42]

Day10:
Found some white slime on the powerhead cords today and seeing higher nitrates for the first time.
going to change the two filter socks but still no water change.
ph - 8
Ammonia - .25
Nitrate - 10
Nitrite - 0

 

[pweezy42]

Day 12:
Ph - 7.8 - 8
Ammonia- .5
Nitrite- 0
Nitrate- 20

 

[pweezy42]

Day 14:
Ph: 7.8-8
Ammonia: .25
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 20

 

[pweezy42]

So I got my skimmer stand and it seems to be working but now if I turn the skimmer knob too low the pump doesn’t get enough water. I’m going to let it break in with the higher level and see what we get from there.

day 16:
Ph 8
Ammonia .25
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 5-10

so everything has been pretty much staying the same except for my nitrates which have been moving up and down a little.
i have finally started to see diatoms starting in the rock.
I also still have not done a water change and was thinking this weekend or next.

anyone have any opinions, tips, criticism, etc? Not sure anyone has even been seeing these lol.

 

[pweezy42]

Day 19:
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10

now my question is do I do a water change or not and if not when do I? Definitely need some inpit

also this dang rsk 300 is starting to irritate me lol. Been running all day for days and is still over flowing and tons of micro bubbles!

Pic of what I believe is distoms?