Frankie's 120 gal. reef.

FFrankie · 01/02/2007, 07:37 PM

Hello everyone.
My water volume is 190 so i think i can start this thread here.
I have been reefing since 2004 and was fresh water since 1985.
I am known in other great sites and felt it time i joined this awesome one also.
My system is completly custom built by me. Its a 120 gal. tank that i tore down and rebuilt with a starphire front pane. The top brace is a stainless steel euro brace. I drilled this tank in the back and have a closed loop on it. The pump is an ampmaster 3000.
The over flow i made also. Its a coast to coast made from 1/4" black acrylic.
The sump is a 75 gal. tenacor that i modified into an elevated mud system of my own design. The refugium inside is about 50 gallons and the rest is for equipment. (skimmer, socks ect...)
I have a 1/3 hp chiller, 25 watt uv sterilizer, 4 stage ro/di unit on an auto top off, pinpoint ph, 2xt5's atinic, 2xfloresent atinic and 2x175 watt MH's.
Theres over 200 lbs live fiji rock, a bit of tonga and its a bare bottom system.
This is an SPS tank and i keep aggressive fish atm.
I just started to add corals and its kicking off real nice so far.
The stand i made useing brazilian cherry, (was pine but i hated it) and bamboo. The bamboo is on the door panels. I still need to change the crown molding out and build the side panels. The canopy doors are tambor bamboo, (like a roll top desk).
Well thats it for now i'll do my best to figure out how to upload some pictures for you all since thats what we all really like to see

FFrankie · 01/02/2007, 07:48 PM

this is my refugium

Chaotic Reefer4u · 01/02/2007, 07:59 PM

very nice frankie...

Csubseball · 01/08/2007, 03:56 PM

That tank is amazing! I plan on starting a 120 and I might be pm'ing your for suggestions.
I am very impressed with your stand, just stunning.

FFrankie · 01/08/2007, 08:03 PM

Thanks guys!

i finished the wood work on the face and am starting the sides this weekend. I'll post more pic's on sunday.

drummereef · 01/08/2007, 10:07 PM

Very nice. The cabinet looks great! Any closeup pics of the tank?

FFrankie · 01/09/2007, 09:44 PM

Sure! Heres a few inside pic's (my camera sux but i'll be getting a better one soon) and i finished the front wood work and crown. I'll be working on the side panes this weekend. Im just starting out adding corals to this system. Some of the corals were donated ones from the lfs that were rtn and are recovering nicely.

Mr..Tang · 01/11/2007, 07:52 PM

FFrankie

Hi tank looks great!!!
Your overfow is a coast to coast. Do you have two pipes leaving your tank into the sump? What is the flow coming out of your overflows? The reason I ask is that I'm planning a 120 buid and my sump room wi be 35' away with a slight 6' drop in elevation. I'm trying to plumb it were the sump is gravity fes from the tank. I'm really concerned with how much flow I get from my overflow. I was going to use the standard 1 built in overflow but am thinking I may need at least two drains to feed the return pump. I would like to flip the water over around 10x.
Any ideas???????????

MADtanks · 01/30/2007, 06:46 AM

very very nice bud, great woodwork, and nice fuge

FFrankie · 02/03/2007, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mikebharris
FFrankie

Hi tank looks great!!!
Your overfow is a coast to coast. Do you have two pipes leaving your tank into the sump? What is the flow coming out of your overflows? The reason I ask is that I'm planning a 120 buid and my sump room wi be 35' away with a slight 6' drop in elevation. I'm trying to plumb it were the sump is gravity fes from the tank. I'm really concerned with how much flow I get from my overflow. I was going to use the standard 1 built in overflow but am thinking I may need at least two drains to feed the return pump. I would like to flip the water over around 10x.
Any ideas???????????

Yes i have two drains that connect to one drain going to the sump. The flow rate as of now must be around 1600 gal. I know the overflow is not fully in use and could handle a lot more if i wanted it.
Thanks for the nice coments everyone.

I recently added sand to the bottom (shallow) and rescaped. I also dumped all my fish except for the PB and added a school of firefish along with akindynos clown pair and a coris wrasse. I'll get some pictures going this weekend for you all to see.

fancyfish · 02/03/2007, 10:42 AM

very nice.

FFrankie · 01/12/2008, 11:01 AM

I have neglected this thread for too long now. I am researching larger tanks now and will be going for a 300 acrylic this time. This tank has been an awesome way to learn. I will put it away for my daughter for when she grows up. Shess a freshing water kid still and has an awesome planted tank here in my home office. The saltwater nano was to much for her.
Here are some up dated pictures of my 120 system. It has been rewarding. The refugium
[IMG]

[/IMG]
Changed out the lighting system to 2x250 watt reeflux 12k and 4x54watt t5's

[IMG]

[/IMG]
Added a few clams
[IMG]

[/IMG]
[IMG]

[/IMG]
The monti grew into a beast
[IMG]

[/IMG]
[IMG]

[/IMG]

FFrankie · 01/12/2008, 11:05 AM

Few more shots
[IMG]

[/IMG] [IMG]

[/IMG]

FFrankie · 01/12/2008, 11:08 AM

A side shot of the wood work
[IMG]

[/IMG]
A little plumbing
[IMG]

[/IMG]
always a battle to keep it clean
[IMG]

[/IMG]

j4mypets · 01/12/2008, 05:34 PM

Tank is beautiful! Nice job

I love the picture with your dog- My Rotti lays like that - I call him frog dog when he does-

FFrankie · 01/12/2008, 08:53 PM

Thanks a lot j4mypets!
So you have a frog dog too huh?

I wish i had a better camera. The tank looks much better then that in person. Every time i save up though i end up buying coral or lately a clam~

boozeman · 01/13/2008, 07:21 AM

This is one top notch system....can't wait to see what you do when you get that larger tank you're planning on

FFrankie · 01/13/2008, 08:49 AM

Checking up on me huh Booze

I can't wait to see that awesome new Elos get going! That thing is going to be sweet. Thanks for posting buddy!

james37128 · 02/23/2008, 09:09 PM

Its been over a month now, I know you have some more to report on... New corals? change in aqua scape? new equipment?

FFrankie · 02/23/2008, 10:16 PM

Just some great growth and two new acros. I am not upgrading this tank anymore. I am planing on upgrading this year to a 300. So far i have been working on building the Barr Ultra Beckett Skimmer. After that i will build a second calcium reactor then a new custom sump. Then i plan on putting in the order for the tank.
I will get some updated pictures tomorrow night. The Monti Cap has exploded with growth along with a few other fast growers like the clams. The Gigas has grown over an inch already.
Thanks for inquiring James! It's good to know i haven't fallen off the map here

danskim · 02/23/2008, 11:53 PM

Nice cabinetry!
Who are you getting to build the 300 gallon?

jnarowe · 03/02/2008, 03:49 PM

whats the little net box you have for the Mangrove? Is that DIY or did you buy it?

mtome · 03/02/2008, 05:50 PM

Your setup looks nice.

Bax · 03/02/2008, 05:59 PM

That's one sweet 120!

FFrankie · 03/02/2008, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jnarowe
whats the little net box you have for the Mangrove? Is that DIY or did you buy it?

Hey Johnathan! I am glad to see you in my thread. I love your DIY skills and ideas.
It's just a cheap fish holder i bought when i first got my clowns. They were to small to put in my system with the flow and CL. I did the mangrove remote because my refugium is an up flow i designed. All the water rises up in the refugium area.
Thanks danskim, it is al Brazilian cherry flooring leftovers from jobs.

I plan on Envision to build the tank. James is pretty incredible with the systems he builds and his care in design is a big seller to me.
Thanks Bax and mtome!

01/02/2007, 07:37 PM	#1
FFrankie Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Charleston,SC Posts: 766	Frankie's 120 gal. reef. Hello everyone. My water volume is 190 so i think i can start this thread here. I have been reefing since 2004 and was fresh water since 1985. I am known in other great sites and felt it time i joined this awesome one also. My system is completly custom built by me. Its a 120 gal. tank that i tore down and rebuilt with a starphire front pane. The top brace is a stainless steel euro brace. I drilled this tank in the back and have a closed loop on it. The pump is an ampmaster 3000. The over flow i made also. Its a coast to coast made from 1/4" black acrylic. The sump is a 75 gal. tenacor that i modified into an elevated mud system of my own design. The refugium inside is about 50 gallons and the rest is for equipment. (skimmer, socks ect...) I have a 1/3 hp chiller, 25 watt uv sterilizer, 4 stage ro/di unit on an auto top off, pinpoint ph, 2xt5's atinic, 2xfloresent atinic and 2x175 watt MH's. Theres over 200 lbs live fiji rock, a bit of tonga and its a bare bottom system. This is an SPS tank and i keep aggressive fish atm. I just started to add corals and its kicking off real nice so far. The stand i made useing brazilian cherry, (was pine but i hated it) and bamboo. The bamboo is on the door panels. I still need to change the crown molding out and build the side panels. The canopy doors are tambor bamboo, (like a roll top desk). Well thats it for now i'll do my best to figure out how to upload some pictures for you all since thats what we all really like to see

01/02/2007, 07:59 PM	#3
Chaotic Reefer4u ♥Acropora Aficionado♥ Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hollister,Ca. Posts: 5,163	very nice frankie... __________________ Live everyday as if it was your last, take time to smell the flowers, enjoy all things living, never take anything for granted, you just never know when your number might be up... Current Tank Info: * 90g. Reef Ready TruVu tank with 30g. Platinum Filtration Series Sump SpS Acro enthusiast *

01/08/2007, 03:56 PM	#4
Csubseball Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Loveland, CO Posts: 356	That tank is amazing! I plan on starting a 120 and I might be pm'ing your for suggestions. I am very impressed with your stand, just stunning. __________________ "The live rock and sand have been "curing" for 2 weeks....at what point do I add the salt?" Current Tank Info: Went from a 150g to a 29g BioCube. So far, so good.

01/08/2007, 10:07 PM	#6
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	Very nice. The cabinet looks great! Any closeup pics of the tank? __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

01/11/2007, 07:52 PM	#8
Mr..Tang Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 445	FFrankie Hi tank looks great!!! Your overfow is a coast to coast. Do you have two pipes leaving your tank into the sump? What is the flow coming out of your overflows? The reason I ask is that I'm planning a 120 buid and my sump room wi be 35' away with a slight 6' drop in elevation. I'm trying to plumb it were the sump is gravity fes from the tank. I'm really concerned with how much flow I get from my overflow. I was going to use the standard 1 built in overflow but am thinking I may need at least two drains to feed the return pump. I would like to flip the water over around 10x. Any ideas??????????? __________________ "Hey, my name is Mike and I'm a Reefoholic" Current Tank Info: Member of the shallow reef club

01/02/2007, 07:48 PM	#2
FFrankie Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Charleston,SC Posts: 766	this is my refugium

01/08/2007, 08:03 PM	#5
FFrankie Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Charleston,SC Posts: 766	Thanks guys! i finished the wood work on the face and am starting the sides this weekend. I'll post more pic's on sunday.

01/09/2007, 09:44 PM	#7
FFrankie Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Charleston,SC Posts: 766	Sure! Heres a few inside pic's (my camera sux but i'll be getting a better one soon) and i finished the front wood work and crown. I'll be working on the side panes this weekend. Im just starting out adding corals to this system. Some of the corals were donated ones from the lfs that were rtn and are recovering nicely.

01/30/2007, 06:46 AM	#9
MADtanks Stix Anyone? Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: East Coast Posts: 5,392	very very nice bud, great woodwork, and nice fuge __________________ M.A.D. 75G(36X24X20 E-Overflow) \| DIY - LED/T5 \| Tunze ATO \| Eheim 1260 \| Reef Keeper.... in progress Current Tank Info: 24X24X20 AIO SPS Dom

02/03/2007, 10:42 AM	#11
fancyfish Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,418	very nice. __________________ The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax. Albert Einstein I hate micro-bubbles!! Current Tank Info: 215 gallon oceanic Ultimate with starfire front, 3-250 watt metal halide, 4-36 inch 39 watt T-5 actinic and daylight bulbs, aquamedic turboflotor shorty with mesh mod 3-Tunze Turbelle® stream 6105 with controller, 40 gallon sump

01/12/2008, 11:01 AM	#12
FFrankie Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Charleston,SC Posts: 766	I have neglected this thread for too long now. I am researching larger tanks now and will be going for a 300 acrylic this time. This tank has been an awesome way to learn. I will put it away for my daughter for when she grows up. Shess a freshing water kid still and has an awesome planted tank here in my home office. The saltwater nano was to much for her. Here are some up dated pictures of my 120 system. It has been rewarding. The refugium [IMG][/IMG] Changed out the lighting system to 2x250 watt reeflux 12k and 4x54watt t5's [IMG][/IMG] Added a few clams [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] The monti grew into a beast [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG]

01/12/2008, 11:05 AM	#13
FFrankie Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Charleston,SC Posts: 766	Few more shots [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG]

01/12/2008, 11:08 AM	#14
FFrankie Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Charleston,SC Posts: 766	A side shot of the wood work [IMG][/IMG] A little plumbing [IMG][/IMG] always a battle to keep it clean [IMG][/IMG]

01/12/2008, 05:34 PM	#15
j4mypets Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Maine Posts: 452	Tank is beautiful! Nice job I love the picture with your dog- My Rotti lays like that - I call him frog dog when he does- __________________ Current tank 29g nano 80g frag tank. Previous tank 180g- lost to ice storm a couple years ago. Starting set up for a 450g that we bought our house for!!!! And here we go again... please stay tuned

01/12/2008, 08:53 PM	#16
FFrankie Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Charleston,SC Posts: 766	Thanks a lot j4mypets! So you have a frog dog too huh? I wish i had a better camera. The tank looks much better then that in person. Every time i save up though i end up buying coral or lately a clam~

01/13/2008, 07:21 AM	#17
boozeman Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: new york Posts: 339	This is one top notch system....can't wait to see what you do when you get that larger tank you're planning on __________________ WWBD ?

01/13/2008, 08:49 AM	#18
FFrankie Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Charleston,SC Posts: 766	Checking up on me huh Booze I can't wait to see that awesome new Elos get going! That thing is going to be sweet. Thanks for posting buddy!

02/23/2008, 09:09 PM	#19
james37128 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Yokota AB Posts: 281	Its been over a month now, I know you have some more to report on... New corals? change in aqua scape? new equipment? __________________ "I cannot tell you the formula for success, but I can tell you that of failure; which is, try to please everyone" Current Tank Info: Downgraded to 30 gallon with t5's and minimum equipment, stocking only fish and rics.

02/23/2008, 10:16 PM	#20
FFrankie Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Charleston,SC Posts: 766	Just some great growth and two new acros. I am not upgrading this tank anymore. I am planing on upgrading this year to a 300. So far i have been working on building the Barr Ultra Beckett Skimmer. After that i will build a second calcium reactor then a new custom sump. Then i plan on putting in the order for the tank. I will get some updated pictures tomorrow night. The Monti Cap has exploded with growth along with a few other fast growers like the clams. The Gigas has grown over an inch already. Thanks for inquiring James! It's good to know i haven't fallen off the map here

02/23/2008, 11:53 PM	#21
danskim Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ellicott City, MD Posts: 1,639	Nice cabinetry! Who are you getting to build the 300 gallon? __________________ Dan The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever. -Jacques Cousteau

03/02/2008, 03:49 PM	#22
jnarowe Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 14,710	whats the little net box you have for the Mangrove? Is that DIY or did you buy it? __________________ Jonathan--Recovering Tankaholic. Current Tank Info: 70g fresh planted

03/02/2008, 05:50 PM	#23
mtome Moved On Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 115	Your setup looks nice.

03/02/2008, 05:59 PM	#24
Bax Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,619	That's one sweet 120! __________________ 150 gallon Perfecto with 1500 gph GH overflow / DIY stand-wine bar / Dart Return / SRO XP3000 Ext skimmer / 75 g frag / 40 g fuge / 40 g DIY sump / Orphek P156 & Kessil 150A Current Tank Info: 150 DT/ 40B fuge/ 75g frag/ 40 g sump/ SRO XP 3000 Ext/ TUNZEs & VorTechs circulation/Dart return/ MTC Pro Cal/ UV & Oz