AJP's 75 gallon build log, picture intense and many questions

AJP · 03/02/2009, 06:04 PM

Ok so I have decided to get back into the reef world. I purchased a 75 gallon oceanic stand canopy and tank with a custom sump mag 7 return dual 175w metal halides and a Euro-reef skimmer.

Pics of the tank as it is right now, very dirty and needs a ton of cleaning.

Custom made 2 piece sump

Canopy and lights

Euro-reef, I need help identifying what model number it is.

Now I wont be doing much with this until I get my garage cleaned and I have room to work. I'm going to clean and re-poly the stand and canopy, clean the sump tank and skimmer real good. I have 15lbs of super premium live rock, and another 40lbs of good base rock. Planing a 2-3 inch sand bed and some nice quality rock. Simple LPS and a few simple SPS.

Any advice, tips, or input would be great.

nanO352 · 03/02/2009, 07:11 PM

I think you'll need more live rock than what you've already got. What is the point of a 2 piece sump?

AJP · 03/02/2009, 11:04 PM

I know I will need more rock, that is just what I have on hand. The two piece sump was because it was added to a full tank and he couldn't fit a large sump in so he put in two small sumps.

xpirtdesign · 03/02/2009, 11:09 PM

you can use one sump as a refuge and the other to house the skimmer

AJP · 03/03/2009, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by xpirtdesign
you can use one sump as a refuge and the other to house the skimmer

That is the plan.

Jova · 03/03/2009, 12:44 AM

I'm leaving you the same reply that I left on the last guy's build thread

If the tank is a used tank, you should definately check it for scratches in the glass before setting it up. I set up a used 75 that didn't appear to have any problems at first, but a few weeks later I realized that the glass was so scratched up that it drives me nuts. If that's a new tank, disregard all of this

But if it's a used tank, make sure you look that baby over bigtime before it's too late. Good luck with the build!

THE ROOK · 03/03/2009, 06:30 AM

Along Jova's lines, If you use a garden hose to fill tank, You can ckeck for leaks, scratches & get the sump & plumbing installed & working.

Once everything is good, then just drain & fill with RODI water.

One thing, if the tank is not drilled, it's a good time to consider it.

AJP · 03/03/2009, 12:02 PM

I plan to drill and install an in take overflow box, and possibly 3 more holes for a closed loop. I ordered the bulkheads and drill bit just waiting on shipping. A leak test will of course be conducted after I clean everything.

But I have to clean the garage before I can do any of this. And honestly who likes to clean the garage.

Sugar Magnolia · 03/03/2009, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AJP

But I have to clean the garage before I can do any of this. And honestly who likes to clean the garage.

Check out my occupation Adam.

I guess it boils down to how soon do you want the tank set up. The faster you get that garage cleaned the sooner you get your tank running. Hop to it!!

AJP · 03/03/2009, 07:18 PM

On another note, the garage is mostly clean. I have a 55 gallon tank and stand that is for sale on a local board, craigslist, and ebay that is waiting to get taken out, then a few random items of the girlfriends that has to be sent back to her parents house. Other than that it is clean and I can start on the clean-up of the tank. I hope to get started this week but for sure will on the weekend.

Also still looking for good cheap base or live rock for the tank, and some sand. Keeping my eyes peeled.

AJP · 03/07/2009, 06:25 PM

Ok here are a few pictures of the canopy.

Before

After changing all the screws, coat of kilz, and 3 coats of poly

scaryperson27 · 03/07/2009, 06:41 PM

Are you planning on using the spider reflectors?

AJP · 03/07/2009, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by scaryperson27
Are you planning on using the spider reflectors?

Yes

scaryperson27 · 03/07/2009, 10:05 PM

I would grab a couple of the Lumen Bright reflectors

Here is an entire ReefCentral.com thread dedicated to them.

You won't get the true potential out of the 175 watt lights unless you use a good reflector.

AJP · 03/08/2009, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by scaryperson27
I would grab a couple of the Lumen Bright reflectors

Here is an entire ReefCentral.com thread dedicated to them.

You won't get the true potential out of the 175 watt lights unless you use a good reflector.

For right now I will just use what I have, I don't have another $220 for reflectors.

AJP · 03/10/2009, 11:13 PM

Well for those keeping track of this I didn't get anything done with the tank this weekend thanks to mother nature. It had been 60's and 70's the last few weeks and it suddenly dropped to 34 as a high and 12 as a low all weekend and most of this week. So I dont feel comfortable applying poly or drilling a hole in the tank in the cold.

I did pick up 2 koralia 4's and more base rock, and a 55 gallon plastic barrel for water mixing. I also moved all my base rock and live rock into a rubbermaid tub with a few powerheads and a heater and a 96w pc light till i get everything set up to attempt to start seeding my rock. Pictures in a few days of the rocks if you guys want to see it.

AJP · 03/12/2009, 07:28 PM

Ok small update, got a coat of Kilz applied to the inside of the stand, and the sump cleaned, also got my base and live rock brewing in a rubbermaid with some heat water movement and lights.

AJP · 03/14/2009, 03:46 PM

Busy day so far, I polyed the stand and it is just drying now. I cleaned my skimmer. Finally I turned my fish tank into swiss cheese. I drilled one hole for the overflow, and 2 more for closed loop intakes. I also made a custom overflow box and siliconed it in.

AJP · 03/31/2009, 07:14 PM

Time for a small update, I am planning to get the plumbing done and tested during the week this week and hopefully get it moved inside and full of salty water this weekend.

I purchased a used Aquacontroller Jr today that was to cheap to pass up. I also got the back of the tank painted black, and I got a bunch of sand this weekend. I am hoping to pickup about 20-30 more pounds of rock this weekend if all goes well.

That is all for now, things should start to happen a little quicker now that I have all the needed parts.

03/02/2009, 06:04 PM	#1
AJP Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kansas Posts: 2,652	AJP's 75 gallon build log, picture intense and many questions Ok so I have decided to get back into the reef world. I purchased a 75 gallon oceanic stand canopy and tank with a custom sump mag 7 return dual 175w metal halides and a Euro-reef skimmer. Pics of the tank as it is right now, very dirty and needs a ton of cleaning. Custom made 2 piece sump Canopy and lights Euro-reef, I need help identifying what model number it is. Now I wont be doing much with this until I get my garage cleaned and I have room to work. I'm going to clean and re-poly the stand and canopy, clean the sump tank and skimmer real good. I have 15lbs of super premium live rock, and another 40lbs of good base rock. Planing a 2-3 inch sand bed and some nice quality rock. Simple LPS and a few simple SPS. Any advice, tips, or input would be great.

03/02/2009, 07:11 PM	#2
nanO352 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Orlando Posts: 564	I think you'll need more live rock than what you've already got. What is the point of a 2 piece sump?

03/02/2009, 11:04 PM	#3
AJP Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kansas Posts: 2,652	I know I will need more rock, that is just what I have on hand. The two piece sump was because it was added to a full tank and he couldn't fit a large sump in so he put in two small sumps.

03/02/2009, 11:09 PM	#4
xpirtdesign Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: SOCAL Posts: 145	you can use one sump as a refuge and the other to house the skimmer

03/03/2009, 12:44 AM	#6
Jova Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Indiana Posts: 201	I'm leaving you the same reply that I left on the last guy's build thread If the tank is a used tank, you should definately check it for scratches in the glass before setting it up. I set up a used 75 that didn't appear to have any problems at first, but a few weeks later I realized that the glass was so scratched up that it drives me nuts. If that's a new tank, disregard all of this But if it's a used tank, make sure you look that baby over bigtime before it's too late. Good luck with the build!

03/03/2009, 06:30 AM	#7
THE ROOK Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Springfield, MA Posts: 2,100	Along Jova's lines, If you use a garden hose to fill tank, You can ckeck for leaks, scratches & get the sump & plumbing installed & working. Once everything is good, then just drain & fill with RODI water. One thing, if the tank is not drilled, it's a good time to consider it.

03/03/2009, 12:02 PM	#8
AJP Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kansas Posts: 2,652	I plan to drill and install an in take overflow box, and possibly 3 more holes for a closed loop. I ordered the bulkheads and drill bit just waiting on shipping. A leak test will of course be conducted after I clean everything. But I have to clean the garage before I can do any of this. And honestly who likes to clean the garage.

03/03/2009, 07:18 PM	#10
AJP Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kansas Posts: 2,652	On another note, the garage is mostly clean. I have a 55 gallon tank and stand that is for sale on a local board, craigslist, and ebay that is waiting to get taken out, then a few random items of the girlfriends that has to be sent back to her parents house. Other than that it is clean and I can start on the clean-up of the tank. I hope to get started this week but for sure will on the weekend. Also still looking for good cheap base or live rock for the tank, and some sand. Keeping my eyes peeled.

03/07/2009, 06:25 PM	#11
AJP Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kansas Posts: 2,652	Ok here are a few pictures of the canopy. Before After changing all the screws, coat of kilz, and 3 coats of poly

03/07/2009, 06:41 PM	#12
scaryperson27 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Cape Coral, F.L. Posts: 2,106	Are you planning on using the spider reflectors?

03/07/2009, 10:05 PM	#14
scaryperson27 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Cape Coral, F.L. Posts: 2,106	I would grab a couple of the Lumen Bright reflectors Here is an entire ReefCentral.com thread dedicated to them. You won't get the true potential out of the 175 watt lights unless you use a good reflector.

03/10/2009, 11:13 PM	#16
AJP Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kansas Posts: 2,652	Well for those keeping track of this I didn't get anything done with the tank this weekend thanks to mother nature. It had been 60's and 70's the last few weeks and it suddenly dropped to 34 as a high and 12 as a low all weekend and most of this week. So I dont feel comfortable applying poly or drilling a hole in the tank in the cold. I did pick up 2 koralia 4's and more base rock, and a 55 gallon plastic barrel for water mixing. I also moved all my base rock and live rock into a rubbermaid tub with a few powerheads and a heater and a 96w pc light till i get everything set up to attempt to start seeding my rock. Pictures in a few days of the rocks if you guys want to see it.

03/12/2009, 07:28 PM	#17
AJP Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kansas Posts: 2,652	Ok small update, got a coat of Kilz applied to the inside of the stand, and the sump cleaned, also got my base and live rock brewing in a rubbermaid with some heat water movement and lights.

03/14/2009, 03:46 PM	#18
AJP Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kansas Posts: 2,652	Busy day so far, I polyed the stand and it is just drying now. I cleaned my skimmer. Finally I turned my fish tank into swiss cheese. I drilled one hole for the overflow, and 2 more for closed loop intakes. I also made a custom overflow box and siliconed it in.

03/31/2009, 07:14 PM	#19
AJP Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kansas Posts: 2,652	Time for a small update, I am planning to get the plumbing done and tested during the week this week and hopefully get it moved inside and full of salty water this weekend. I purchased a used Aquacontroller Jr today that was to cheap to pass up. I also got the back of the tank painted black, and I got a bunch of sand this weekend. I am hoping to pickup about 20-30 more pounds of rock this weekend if all goes well. That is all for now, things should start to happen a little quicker now that I have all the needed parts.