SCA 125G

[Charlie the Reefer]

"Current" FTS 4-13-24

FTS 1-27-24

FTS 11-2-23

FTS 7-25-23

FTS 6-21-23

FTS 4-19-23

FTS 3-5-23

FTS 1-25-23

FTS 11/27/22:

FTS 11/9/22:

FTS 11/3/22:

FTS 9/1/22:

Ditching my 30G setup.

Tank: Used SCA 125G 60" x 24" x 20.5"
Lights: 3x G6 Radion XR15's
Flow: 2x Vortech MP40s
Returns: 2x Orlushy DC 3100GPH
Sump: Trigger 44
RodI: 200 GPD 7 stage
Salt: Coral Pro Salt Mix 55 Gallon - RedSea
Heater: 2x BRS Titanium 200W on a controller
Refugium Light: Pico Reefbreeders LED
Refugium Stock: Chaeto w/ some live rock
Skimmer: Used Omega 150

Still to be purchased:
-Light mounting fixture
-Control system
-Automated alk tester
-Dosing solutions (kalk, 2 part, pumps, etc)
-Sand
-QT Tanks (for fish + coral)
-Water change station and auto water change

Build start: 6/16/22


Plan is to mainly stock Euphyllia/other LPS for corals, still learning about which fish to get. Any recommendations/advice are welcome.

Pictures/updates to follow.

 

[Charlie the Reefer]

6/16/22 - Began ripping up hardwood floors to re-do the room for the tank. Crazily enough, found newspapers from WW2 in the floor (house is super old)... Talk about quick payoff.

 

[Charlie the Reefer]

7/4/22
After ripping up the hardwood, I decided to completely rip up and replace the subfloor as well. Subfloor had to go because it was rotting/unstable in areas. Also added supporting joists/studs for the tank, as well as in various parts of the room.

 

[Charlie the Reefer]

7/10/22 all the plywood was finished and the room was ready to get the tile underlayment.

 

[Charlie the Reefer]

7/23/22 the layer of ditra was finished, and tiling began.

 

[Charlie the Reefer]

8/4/22 - nearly all tile was done

8/14/22 - Baseboard ledger stone was laid, caulking/cleaning grout sheen still a work in progress

8/14/22 - Epoxied the bare concrete utility room below the tank. This will be the "fish room" with QT, water change station, etc. Before picture is included. More pics to come of this room.

 

[Charlie the Reefer]

Next steps (kind of in order, may be missing things):

-Finish the utility room
-Add sump/sump stand to utility room
-Finish painting the fish room
-Paint the stand I have (it's a used beat up wooden stand)
-Deep clean all used equipment I have
-Plumb everything/leak test
-Make the light mount (planning on using 1515 T slot aluminum)
-Run dedicated electric line
-Install control system
-Install dosing solutions (kalk/calcium reactor, etc)
-Install humidity control - exhaust fan + dehumidifier potentially
-Add quarantine tanks
-Add water change station/tanks/mount RODI
-Add frag tank?

 

[Charlie the Reefer]

8/17/22 Morning Update:

Began re-painting stand. Deep cleaned/vinegar bathed all equipment and the sump. Starting plumbing today.

 

[JumboShrimp]

Ah, what we won’t do for our tanks!?! Keep up the good work, and best wishes.

 

[Charlie the Reefer]

8/18/22 Morning Update
Slower progress than I wanted this week... Still planning out plumbing. Cleaned a bit more equipment. Figuring out what I need to replace/order.

Spackled/began re painting the stand (here's a before picture, after to follow later).

 

[Charlie the Reefer]

8/19-8/21 weekend update
-More plumbing
-Moved tank/stand
-Painted stand (still needs touch-ups)
-Went to the air show in chicago
-added floor length curtains to the room
-built the sump stand
-put sump/stand in "fish room" (room below the tank, plumbing destination)
-began leak test

First FTS (more, better ones to come obviously):

 

[Charlie the Reefer]

8/24/22 update:

-Rock structures placed (not final spots), plumbing nearly complete

 

[Oldsman]

Looks good so far

 

[Charlie the Reefer]

8/25/22 Morning update:

-Leak tested the plumbing. Small leaks at the overflow. Replacement gaskets arriving tomorrow... I suspect that will fix the issue.
-Added lighting and powerheads to the tank.

More pics coming soon!

 

[JumboShrimp]

Leak testing a new system is always a 'nail-bite' experience!

 

[Charlie the Reefer]

Leak testing a new system is always a 'nail-bite' experience!

Indeed..

 

[Charlie the Reefer]

8/26/22 Morning update...
Fixed the bulkhead leaks at the overflow... Silly me put the gaskets in the wrong spot... IDK what I was thinking.
-Also rinsed sand, sand gets added today

 

[Charlie the Reefer]

8/29/22 Morning Update
On 8/26/22 (after I fixed the bulkhead leaks) I relented and fixed a leveling issue I had. On one side of the tank, the water was .5" higher. I wasn't comfortable chugging on like that so...

Over the weekend I....
-Removed all the rocks and put them into buckets
-Drained the tank
-Disconnected all plumbing/electronics
-Moved tank off stand
-Created multiple varying thickness plywood shims + composite shims to level the tank
-Leveled the tank
-Re-filled tank
-Re-added rock

Relevant thread: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/unlevel-fish-tank-water-level-uneven.932386/

Really glad I did this, although it was annoying going backwards for a bit.... Tank is perfectly level now.

In addition I:

-Rinsed/Added the sand
-Mounted some electronics

Here's some (bad) pictures (electronics aren't done):

 

[JumboShrimp]

Sounds like a pain, but you will sleep better and enjoy the tank more going forward.

 

[Charlie the Reefer]

Tank is ready for livestock... Just adding bells and whistles now. Some electronics mounting, etc. Still need to do the following:

Insulate Pipes
Set up QT
Set up WC station
set up ATO
mount RODI
set up protein skimmer
set up GFO / GAC reactor

FTS from last night: