Reef Central Online Community

Go Back   Reef Central Online Community > General Interest Forums > Tank Journals & Builds
Blogs FAQ Calendar Mark Forums Read

Notices

User Tag List

Reply
Thread Tools
Unread 02/02/2018, 09:42 AM   #1
mch1984
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: West Texas
Posts: 0
My first 34 to my new 90

Hey everybody, this is my first post on Reef Central, glad to be here. I have been into fresh water aquariums for about 4 year and about 6 months ago I took the dive into saltwater. I quickly decided that saltwater is where I wanted to be. I have a 180 gallon freshwater predator tank and a 75 gallon planted. I still enjoy both but I'm sure I will be slowly going all saltwater.

Ok so on to the build. I entered saltwater with a used red sea 34 gallon. I basically bought an established 12 gallon jbj that somebody just wanted gone and used all the live rock from it to quickly establish the 34. Like most salt water newbies I went way to fast and have learned some lessons. I don't mind my little all in one but have decided I wanted bigger and wanted a sump. Please understand I have nothing against the all in ones and have seen some beautiful tanks done in them, I just don't think I will ever own one again.

So I found a 90 gallon planet aquarium tank, i guess technically it was used but it had never had a drop of water in it. The guy bought it and then never used it. I bought the tank about 1 month ago and am just slowly getting what I need for it. The only things I've done so far is tinted the back of the tank. I bought a barely used sump (6 weeks of use I believe) for an excelent price. Its a eshopps ADV 200, and I think it's going to be great. Below are some pictures of the tank and the sump. I'll post some more updates pretty quickly.

IMG_1183.jpg

IMG_1184.jpg

IMG_1219.jpg


mch1984 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/02/2018, 12:22 PM   #2
mch1984
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: West Texas
Posts: 0
So once I got the sump in I was messing around with the placement. I noticed that if I put it about 6" from the left of the stand its a straight drop from the main drain for the tank. I know it's not necessary but it makes plumbing easy. It messes with the placement of future equipment a little but I don't think it will be a problem. Here are some diagrams of what I'm thinking on plumbing. Let me know what yall think or if you have any questions. I'm always open to suggestions.

overflow layout.jpg

sump layout.jpg

front view plumbing.png


mch1984 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/03/2018, 09:14 AM   #3
mch1984
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: West Texas
Posts: 0
So after going round and round the subject, I ended up using window tint on the back of the tank. I know paint is probably the best way to go and last the longest, I just couldn't bring my self to paint this tank. So here is the finished product, I really like the look of it.

pic.jpg


mch1984 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/03/2018, 11:36 AM   #4
JUNBUG361
Registered Member
 
JUNBUG361's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Antioch,CALIFORNIA
Posts: 1,091
Nothing wrong using window tint. Tanks looks nice & your much planned out


JUNBUG361 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/03/2018, 01:29 PM   #5
mch1984
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: West Texas
Posts: 0
Quote:
Originally Posted by JUNBUG361 View Post
Nothing wrong using window tint. Tanks looks nice & your much planned out
That’s what happens when you have time while your buying supplies lol. Thank you!


mch1984 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/03/2018, 01:37 PM   #6
mch1984
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: West Texas
Posts: 0
So this will be my first time plumbing an overflow, other than a hang on the back. I’ll be doing a Herbie style on this. Does the height look good on these? I’ve heard so many opinions on how far below the main drain should be from the trickle.






Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


mch1984 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/03/2018, 08:28 PM   #7
JUNBUG361
Registered Member
 
JUNBUG361's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Antioch,CALIFORNIA
Posts: 1,091
On the 1st picture is your main drain(left)? Seems to be a little bit to low, I thought it would be near same height as the emergency drain to reduce noise. I might be wrong


JUNBUG361 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/03/2018, 09:34 PM   #8
mch1984
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: West Texas
Posts: 0
Yes the left is the main drain, I’ve heard anything from 1” to 6” below the trickle drain. I was worried it was too tall lol.


mch1984 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/04/2018, 05:37 PM   #9
mch1984
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: West Texas
Posts: 0
So I have to relocate my 34 since the 90 is going in the same spot. I’m going to take this opportunity to take all the rock out so I can kill it. I’m going to leave one large piece in. I wouldn’t but there is a Sea cucumber living in it so it stays. Found some scrap acrylic around and made a frag rack for the move. Hoping to get it done tonight.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


mch1984 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/04/2018, 05:38 PM   #10
mch1984
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: West Texas
Posts: 0
Forgot to put the picture of the frag rack.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


mch1984 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/05/2018, 09:29 AM   #11
mch1984
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: West Texas
Posts: 0
So I got my 34 gallon relocated and have it set back up stripped down. It has the frag rack and a few small pieces of rock. The only concern I have is my lawn mower blenny. At the moment he is the fatest fish in the tank and probably has a little reserve. Any suggestions on what to supplement his diet with? I have tired nori in the past and he never even looked at it. I've seen him snatch up a couple of mysis but very little.


mch1984 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/08/2018, 09:27 AM   #12
mch1984
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: West Texas
Posts: 0
Got to order the rock today, and can't wait for it to get here. I ordered about 100lbs total of marcos rock. I'm getting 40lbs of single cut prime pieces for bases, and the rest in the regular marco key largo. Also bought a bucket of his mortar and some EPO epoxy to help scape this thing. Wife wont like me taking over the kitchen table for about a week but it will be worth it when it's done.


mch1984 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/09/2018, 06:48 AM   #13
mch1984
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: West Texas
Posts: 0
Got my valves in for the plumbing, but I had to do a little customization first.

IMG_1239.jpg


mch1984 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/09/2018, 09:24 AM   #14
nereefpat
Registered Member
 
nereefpat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Central Nebraska
Posts: 3,190
Quote:
Originally Posted by JUNBUG361 View Post
On the 1st picture is your main drain(left)? Seems to be a little bit to low, I thought it would be near same height as the emergency drain to reduce noise. I might be wrong
Quote:
Originally Posted by mch1984 View Post
Yes the left is the main drain, I’ve heard anything from 1” to 6” below the trickle drain. I was worried it was too tall lol.
I'm guessing the main drain (syphon) will be a little too close to the surface, and may induce a vortex.

Just don't glue the pipes. Then you can adjust if necessary.

You may want to think about strainers too, if you are a snail guy, or if you will have fish that are jumpers.


__________________
Pat

Current Tank Info: 125 in-wall , 40b sump. 6 bulb T5. ASM G2 skimmer. LPS and leathers
nereefpat is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/09/2018, 09:32 AM   #15
mch1984
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: West Texas
Posts: 0
Quote:
Originally Posted by nereefpat View Post
I'm guessing the main drain (syphon) will be a little too close to the surface, and may induce a vortex.

Just don't glue the pipes. Then you can adjust if necessary.

You may want to think about strainers too, if you are a snail guy, or if you will have fish that are jumpers.
Thanks for the response, for sure not going to glue the pipes in there. Like I said I have heard all sorts of measurements for how far down so I just started there. I am a snail guy, so I have considered strainers. Do you run them and if so how often do you need to clean them. I was planning on covering the top of the over flow in some fashion. I haven't exactly decide how yet though.


mch1984 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/09/2018, 10:05 AM   #16
nereefpat
Registered Member
 
nereefpat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Central Nebraska
Posts: 3,190
I run two separate Herbies on my tank. The syphons are about 6" below the water line. The further down they are, the more flow they can have. The only downside to having them really low is that the overflow drains that far when the return pump shuts off. Just leave enough room in the sump to handle that water.

I don't have strainers, but I don't have snails. Maybe I'm playing with fire. Just something to think about. If you cover the top of the overflow with mesh or something, that might be sufficient too.


__________________
Pat

Current Tank Info: 125 in-wall , 40b sump. 6 bulb T5. ASM G2 skimmer. LPS and leathers
nereefpat is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/09/2018, 11:24 AM   #17
mch1984
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: West Texas
Posts: 0
Quote:
Originally Posted by nereefpat View Post
I run two separate Herbies on my tank. The syphons are about 6" below the water line. The further down they are, the more flow they can have. The only downside to having them really low is that the overflow drains that far when the return pump shuts off. Just leave enough room in the sump to handle that water.

I don't have strainers, but I don't have snails. Maybe I'm playing with fire. Just something to think about. If you cover the top of the overflow with mesh or something, that might be sufficient too.
I think the argument to playing with fire is that that's the purpose of the emergency drain. But then again you don't want to have to actually use it. As far as the depth I guess I'll keep it there and drop by an inch untill I find the sweet spot. The first article I ever read about herbie over flows suggested 6". So I'm sure that's where I'll end up. This thing is in the bedroom so we certainly want quiet.


mch1984 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/09/2018, 12:16 PM   #18
mch1984
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: West Texas
Posts: 0
So I know I am a ways out from this but wanted to get some input while I'm waiting on the rock to get here and start that process. I want to discuss the cycle. I understand what it is and how it processes and all that, but I've read a lot of different methods and wanted to see what you guys thought about my plan. I watched the BRS ULM tank series and really liked the process they had decided to go through with a few modifications. I'm not going for an ULM tank but still like their cycle ideas, so here is my plan.

1st month - Black out the tank, no lights on. Add cheato, refugium lighting, and pods from day one. I plan on using the red sea cycle kit and will start it at this point.

2nd month - take the black out off but continue to run with no lights. Probably add a small clean up crew at this point and try to introduce coraline. Add more pods and increase refugium lighting times.

3rd month - slowly start running light and probably add some more clean up crew and my first fish at this point.

Any edits or suggestions on this would be greatly appreciated it's just my initial though on it.


mch1984 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/10/2018, 05:29 PM   #19
mch1984
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: West Texas
Posts: 0
Started to dry fit my plumbing but have to go back to Lowe’s to finish it. Not a bad start though.






Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


mch1984 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/12/2018, 05:26 AM   #20
jumpwire
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 0
colorful valves

I like the colorful valves. Where did you get them?


jumpwire is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/12/2018, 06:08 AM   #21
mch1984
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: West Texas
Posts: 0
They are from bulk reef supply, I have to spray paint the handles. They came in orange and red


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


mch1984 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/12/2018, 07:55 AM   #22
Deefish714
Registered Member
 
Deefish714's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 215
Build look a pretty freaking sweet so far buddy good job. I also like the color on the valves.

Sent from my SM-J727T1 using Tapatalk


__________________
Deefish714
Deefish714 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/12/2018, 07:58 AM   #23
mch1984
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: West Texas
Posts: 0
Quote:
Originally Posted by Deefish714 View Post
Build look a pretty freaking sweet so far buddy good job. I also like the color on the valves.

Sent from my SM-J727T1 using Tapatalk
Thank you very much! Its slow but sure, but that's ok. A hobbiest told me one time, I don't have a sports car in the garage this is my sports car. I kind of feel that way about this one.


mch1984 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/12/2018, 08:01 AM   #24
mch1984
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: West Texas
Posts: 0
I went back to lowes and got the rest of my supplies and finished dry fitting the plumbing, even did some loc line work. It will be a little bit before I do the final gluing. We are going to redo the floors in this room and do a general make over of it. After that is done I will get this thing in place and hopefully really get going. We hope to do the floors next weekend. IMG_1246.jpg

IMG_1247.jpg

IMG_1250.jpg


mch1984 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/16/2018, 07:42 AM   #25
mch1984
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: West Texas
Posts: 0
Got all my rock in, this isn't all of it but it's all that would fit onto the table at the moment. I went through Marco and got 40lbs of prime cuts and about 60lbs of regular. Talking to a friend of mine and he suggested using some of the prime cuts to go up the back wall and build out from there to take advantage of the small footprint of the 90. Messed around with it some last night and I like it. I think this is the start of my larger of the two island.




IMG_1253.jpg

IMG_1254.jpg

IMG_1255.jpg


mch1984 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:16 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Powered by Searchlight © 2024 Axivo Inc.
Use of this web site is subject to the terms and conditions described in the user agreement.
Reef CentralTM Reef Central, LLC. Copyright ©1999-2022
User Alert System provided by Advanced User Tagging v3.3.0 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.