The everything's wrong 75 build

kdx7214 · Nov 16, 2021

So I guess it's about time I got around to doing this. The build isn't done yet, but it's a good start.

This has taken a year so far, and seems like it will have a while to go yet. The very last picture was taken yesterday and was a test fill to check for leaks. Boy how were there leaks. I've finally gotten the bulkheads apart and, when replacements arrive, will try again.

The sump has issues. Lots of issues. The right hand side holds water just fine. The left side, despite seeming solid, lets water flow through like a sieve. I think a 1/2" thick layer of silicone sealer is in it's future

Still lots of equipment to get. At this point I have the pump (a Hygger DC pump), but no lights or anything. Eventually want to have 2-3" of sand (if I can find any these days) and some sort of lighting.

Adrift · Nov 16, 2021

Nice. Wish I had the courage to build my own stand probably would have 3/4 less money lol.

kdx7214 · Nov 16, 2021

Adrift said:
Nice. Wish I had the courage to build my own stand probably would have 3/4 less money lol.

It turned out to be more expensive than expected (mostly due to cost of lumber a year ago) but then again at the time, I couldn't find one to buy within several hours drive either lol

Adrift · Nov 16, 2021

Yea I really hope prices settle out soon. I would hate to think this is the new norm especially with raises so hard to get in my field.

kdx7214 · Nov 16, 2021

Adrift said:
Yea I really hope prices settle out soon. I would hate to think this is the new norm especially with raises so hard to get in my field.

I hear you there. I'm disabled, so on a fixed income. It's really tough to pay all the normal bills and build a tank too. Fortunately I caught the black Friday sale at PetCo last year for the tanks.

fishface NJ · Nov 16, 2021

You may want to paint the background instead of the fish store plastic sheet background. If the plastic is under the bulkhead, you can have leaks. So you have a 75g DT. What size is your sump? It looks big...which is always good!

I had a hard time finding a DT that wasn't tempered a year ago. Covid really made it difficult to find everything. I
wanted a 75g DT. Picked up two...1 from an LFS and 1 from Petco. Both had to be returned due to being tempered. I got home an did the laptop and sunglass test. I even called Aqueon to ask if their 75g were tempered or not. Their answer was they had been non-tempered before Covid. But after Covid happened they did not guarantee it since they were using any glass they could get their hands on to make tanks. I after waiting months for a 75g, I decided to just go with a 40B DT and 40B sump. I am out growing the 40B DT on coral space now.

Good luck and I'll be following your progress!

kdx7214 · Nov 16, 2021

fishface NJ said:
You may want to paint the background instead of the fish store plastic sheet background. If the plastic is under the bulkhead, you can have leaks. So you have a 75g DT. What size is your sump? It looks big...which is always good!

I had a hard time finding a DT that wasn't tempered a year ago. Covid really made it difficult to find everything. I
wanted a 75g DT. Picked up two...1 from an LFS and 1 from Petco. Both had to be returned due to being tempered. I got home an did the laptop and sunglass test. I even called Aqueon to ask if their 75g were tempered or not. Their answer was they had been non-tempered before Covid. But after Covid happened they did not guarantee it since they were using any glass they could get their hands on to make tanks. I after waiting months for a 75g, I decided to just go with a 40B DT and 40B sump. I am out growing the 40B DT on coral space now.

Good luck and I'll be following your progress!

Thanks! I've pulled the plastic off and plan to paint it (if I can figure out what kind of paint I can actually FIND right now lol). The tank is an Aqueon 75 gallon and only the bottom is tempered (did the sunglass test too). I have a 40B for a sump - although it's more like a dedicated refugium than anything else. Back when I ran a tank (15-16 years ago) I never ran a skimmer and didn't have problems so I figure I'll stick to what worked for me.

kdx7214 · Nov 22, 2021

And now the wait begins. I ran out of silicone, and of course the local shops are out of stock. So I've placed 3 orders with BRS now: sand one day, test kit the next, and now silicone. Patience is a pain

Idech · Nov 22, 2021

kdx7214 said:
Thanks! I've pulled the plastic off and plan to paint it (if I can figure out what kind of paint I can actually FIND right now lol).

You can find cheap black window film on Amazon for around 15$-20$. No glue, just spray water on it and place on the back of your tank. You can even move it and reuse it.

Better and easier than paint in my opinion.

kdx7214 · Nov 22, 2021

Idech said:
You can find cheap black window film on Amazon for around 15$-20$. No glue, just spray water on it and place on the back of your tank. You can even move it and reuse it.

Better and easier than paint in my opinion.

Well, I did find some paint that worked really well. It's Krylon ColorMaxx in black. Absolutely no odor. Like all paint on glass, it was a right pain to get to adhere at first, but after the third coat it looks good now. Just need that silicone to seal the bulkheads up and then I'll try another leak test

kdx7214 · Nov 30, 2021

So I've now learned that the Eshopps overflow boxes are crap. They use non-standard sizes of bulkheads and I can't buy replacements anywhere. Also, numerous attempts to contact them over the past 3 months have resulted in ZERO return email/calls.

My tank is already drilled for this bedamned thing, so I'm thinking about just running two 1.5" bulkheads and a pvc 90 to the desired waterline. If it makes noise so be it.

Mjl714 · Dec 1, 2021

kdx7214 said:
So I've now learned that the Eshopps overflow boxes are crap. They use non-standard sizes of bulkheads and I can't buy replacements anywhere. Also, numerous attempts to contact them over the past 3 months have resulted in ZERO return email/calls.

My tank is already drilled for this bedamned thing, so I'm thinking about just running two 1.5" bulkheads and a pvc 90 to the desired waterline. If it makes noise so be it.

What about something like this?

kdx7214 · Dec 1, 2021

Hmm, I like that! First I'm going to try something completely different. I'm scrapping the exterior box altogether and going to try cementing the 1.5" bulkheads to some pvc and run them to the sump. It'll be a bit noisier, but I don't have to go buy a ton of stuff to try it.

The title of this thread was supposed to be a joke. I have been working on this thing for a year now. I was going to do this take the "right" way. I think I've finally concluded that there is no right way, just a way that works. So back to my old school hack-it-until-it-works method of reefing

Mjl714 · Dec 1, 2021

Agreed, there is no one right way, there are many right ways.

GHOSTLY · Dec 1, 2021

Good start!

kdx7214 · Jan 5, 2022

So a quick update. Have been waiting for about a month now to get a plumber in to connect the RODI system. He got here today and they wanted $682 to connect about 5' of PEX. Now I get to learn about PEX lol.

Received a good looking 6-bulb T5 unit from @Thrashed, so once I get the water in the tank I'll be able to get light above it!

Getting closer

kdx7214 · Jan 7, 2022

And now for something completely different... an update!

The tank is now plumbed, at least as well as it's going to get, and against the wall in it's final home. The RO/DI unit is now connected, and was that ever a job. Multiple trips to home improvement stores, a new tool, and lots of pieces to play with later and it's all connected and no leaks!

I'm currently rinsing half of the first bag of sand for the tank (CaribSea Seaflor special). That's what is in the green bucket. I can't imagine anybody not rinsing. I was shocked by the amount of crud.

kdx7214 · Mar 2, 2022

Good news everyone! (Sorry, I'm a Futurama lover and it's renewal has me excited

)

So we received our tax refund and it was bigger than expected. I also got the wife's permission to go ahead and get more stuff for the tank! So, currently on order are T5 bulbs, a RoboTank controller setup, and we're driving 2 hours to get some dry and live rock tomorrow!

I'll post update pics when it's all setup and going

kdx7214 · Mar 9, 2022

So the wife and I went to a truly awesome shop in St. Louis the other day named Seascape Studios. I really liked this shop

Anyway, they had just gotten a large shipment of Marco rock in and we bought 30 pounds. It turns out the 30 pounds of this rock is a LOT of rock. I just put it in the tank to begin getting it colonized with bacteria and it filled 1/3 of the tank. Still planning to get another 10-15 pounds of actual live rock, so might have to put some in the sump. But hey, making progress!