Upgrade to 75 gallon Build thread!!!

[mcdrichj]

So I have started my upgrade from my 15 gallon to my 75 gallon. It started with my custom glass overflow. Fortunately my work just bought a brand new waterjet and I was able to use it for my project. Here are the cut parts before I assembled them.

Then Came the water test after I assembled the inner and outer box.

 

[Dan_P]

So I have started my upgrade from my 15 gallon to my 75 gallon. It started with my custom glass overflow. Fortunately my work just bought a brand new waterjet and I was able to use it for my project. Here are the cut parts before I assembled them.

Then Came the water test after I assembled the inner and outer box.

That was a neat assembly!

 

[mcdrichj]

To continue with my adventure to get everyone caught up. I got the back painted black and used black acrylic to cover the part of the outside overflow so it couldnt be seen from inside the tank. and setup the overflow.

Then it was onto the rockwork. It took about a week and a half to break and re assemble the rocks to my likening.

My little buddy was watching me most of the time that I worked.

Then Finally it was time to assemble the aquascape in the tank.

I got everything assembled then filed the tank up and added the sand and used an old canister filter to polish the water.

At this time I finished and plumbed the sump which you can kinda see in the previous picture.

At this point I put some bottled bacteria and live sand in the tank to start the cycle and dosed to 1 ppm with ammonia. The cycle was started on 7/30/22. I also added 2 bottles of coraline from algaebarn that also contain bacteria. The ammonia in my tank disappeared and i never saw nitrites. I dosed one more time with ammonia to confirm that is was being processed and it was consumed quite rapidly.

 

[mcdrichj]

I moved my two clown fish over from my old tank on 8/6 after a 50% waterchange.

I also received 1 radion XR15 G6 that I had ordered.

At this point I started to soak my 2 MP10s from my old tank to get them installed on the new tank. I also started to move the Apex to the new tank.

 

[mcdrichj]

I added galaxy pods on 8/11. I also added my watchman and my cleaner shrimp from the old tank on 8/17 after not seeing any kind of ammonia or nitrites from adding the clowns. I put all remaining equipment on the new tank on 8/17. I I had to let it soak in citric acid for a few days as I didnt want to contaminate the new tank with the vermetid snails that overran my old tank. I installed a separate 20A circuit for the tank with a GFI outlet.

 

[mcdrichj]

I recieved my other radion XR15 but there was a bad led in the moon light so Echotech is sending me out a replacement.

 

[mcdrichj]

Current equipment .

2 MP10QD
1 Current EFlux 6009 (waiting for a Vectra S2 to replace this then the EFlux with be a backup)
2 Radion XR15 G6
1 AI Prime ( for refugium not yet running)
1 eheim 150W heater (seems to be enough to heat the tank will be adding a backup)
1 V2 Apex with 2 energy bars FMM and Vortech control module
Will be ordering Nyos Quantum 120 Skimmer with my amazon points on the 9/1
I also have a 5 stage RO/DI system to provide water.
Once the tank becomes more stable and I start adding corals I will be adding some dosing pumps.

I have on order from @Dr. Reef just waiting for fish to be QT'd. I would like to thank Dr. Reef for the service he provides it helps not having to setup a QT tank while all this is going on.
1 Tomini Tang
1 Lineatus Fairy Wrasse

The 4 - 6 week QT time will help my tank adjust to the current stocking before adding these two fish.

 

[hockeyhead019]

Love your aquascape! Tons of space to put corals or for fish to hang out, well done.

 

[mcdrichj]

Update.

Echotech swapped out my light that wasn't working properly after a few emails. It was quick and easy.

I decided not to get the nyos skimmer and I ended up getting RO elite 150int.

I added an acan frag to the display along with a few hermits and some bumble snails.

Just got over diatom bloom that lasted about a week. Currently seems like I have a bacteria bloom because the water is cloudy. There are a couple of small spots of hair algae.

The skimmer has been running for about 2 weeks so hopefully the microbubbles are about done.

I also got a CB coral beauty that is currently in qt.

While I was taking the picture I noticed that I'm having a pod explosion in the tank. I added a jar of galaxy pods about 3 weeks ago.

 

[mcdrichj]

Update!

I added a small UV to help with the cloudy water. i also wanted to show a picture of my sump. Its almost completed need to do a bit more cable management. The left side of the sump will be a fuge.

 

[hockeyhead019]

What size is your sump? 20g long tank?

 

[mcdrichj]

What size is your sump? 20g long tank?

Its just a standard Aqueon 20 long. Inside dims are about 12*12*30

 

[mcdrichj]

Update

Ran the UV for about 2 days tank is running nice and clean now. I have shut the UV off and will turn it on if its required.

I only plan on running filter socks, UV, or carbon only when necessary.

Tank has had diatoms a bit if hair algae then a bacteria bloom now back to pretty clean.

I have been hammering the tank with excess food in an atempt to prep my bio filter for the incoming fish. Even with the excess of food my parameters still look good however Ph could be a bit higher.

Current Parameters:
Temp: 78 F
Salinity: 1.026
PH: 8.02
Alk: 8.1 dkh
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 2.5ppm
Phosphate: (not tested)
Calcium: 400ppm
Mag: (not tested)

 

[Sink_or_Swim]

I moved my two clown fish over from my old tank on 8/6 after a 50% waterchange.

I also received 1 radion XR15 G6 that I had ordered.

At this point I started to soak my 2 MP10s from my old tank to get them installed on the new tank. I also started to move the Apex to the new tank.

Absolutely love this scape!

 

[mcdrichj]

Absolutely love this scape!

Thank you so much it took lots of hanmering rocks and glue to put everything back together. Then epoxy to make sure it doesnt fall apart.

 

[Sink_or_Swim]

Thank you so much it took lots of hanmering rocks and glue to put everything back together. Then epoxy to make sure it doesnt fall apart.

I'm sure it was a lot of work - but the outcome is worth it. :) Going to look even better when you start adding coral. The tomini will claim one of the caves/arches in no time, lol (mine did anyway - also got from Dr. Reef).

 

[kevgib67]

Following.

 

[mcdrichj]

Update!

Tank is running nice and clean. Plenty of pods on the glass. I might start dosing soda ash depending how much the alk and PH drop

Phosphate: 0.03 PPM
Alk: 7.9 dkh

 

[hockeyhead019]

Can't wait to see what you stock in this coral wise, so many cool grow-out spots!

 

[mcdrichj]

Can't wait to see what you stock in this coral wise, so many cool grow-out spots!

I am still planning out what I want to stock. There are so many decisions!. I know I want some acros and montis up top but I need more stability before I add those. I have a small acan down low right now. There are 4 independent rock structures that make up the scape. I'm thinking about an encrusting coral on the smallest independent rock. The rock structure behind that I plan on doing maybe a zoa/paly garden. The two largest (left and right) I'm not completely sure yet.