therealman1's 120 gal build

[therealman1]

So it all started on a trip out of the house to the local LFSs in the area "just to look" at fish and coral for my wife and I (We all know how well this normally works out). It just so happened on that fateful day that one of the LFSs was having their once a year super sale up to 60% off. Upon this realization I went to go look at coral, only to turn and see my wife gravitating towards their fish tank area. Now, we have debated getting a new tank for a few months, seeing as how limited a biocube 32 is in stocking choices for coral and fish. We had settled on a 75 as our next step. However, it was not a 75 gallon that she was looking at, no, it was the tank that is in the picture bellow. A 120 gallon reef ready. Seeing this as an opportunity that I had to seize I began talking about how some tangs can fit in a 120 and not a 75, specifically yellow tangs which I knew was on her wish list of fish. She took far less convincing than I expected and before I knew it an employee was taping up the SOLD sign onto it. I can see the tank in the foyer as I type this and I still can not believe it.

This will be a slow build getting parts bit by bit over a few months until it is wet. All that I have is the tank and stand, everything else is still being mulled over. The same would go for the stock in the tank. I know there is going to be 1 yellow tang, that much is for sure. As for coral I would like to do SPS dominate with a base of LPS such as scolyes and lords. I will do updates on my progress as gear comes in piece by piece.

 

[dansreef]

Congrats.... Planning a new tank is fun.... but can also painful on the pocket book. Will look forward to seeing it built and progress!

 

[therealman1]

I am looking right now at budgeting out my equipment, specifically the return. I read that acros need a flow of 40x turn over an hour so is there any pumps that people would recommend?
I am also curious about skimmers that could fit in a 13.5 by 11.5 foot print. I would like something rated for a tank a bit larger than my own to be on the safe side.

 

[therealman1]

One part down, many more to go.

 

[therealman1]

Got the sump and all of the rocks. After the plumbing and the floor supports I can start rockscaping.

 

[NY_Sea]

Exciting. Building a new reef from the ground up is always a good time . Nice choice on sump. For skimmer I’d recommend a bubble magus or vertex 180 I
Good luck

 

[therealman1]

I finally got the time to plumb the tank and add my skimmer, a red sea reefer 600.

 

[therealman1]

Finished the rockscape.