Brad aka rattyE36's 90 Gallon Reef Build!

rattyE36

rattyE36

New member
Been putting off the build thread for my new tank for a while!
I finally gave in and decided to upgrade from the nano cube!

I got a killer deal from a buddy at MCF on a 90 gallon reef ready tank with a cherry stand and canopy and thats kinda what started it all!

Equipment List:
Tank- 90 gallon RR with single overflow, and cherry stand and canopy.
Lights- 48" 6x54W TEK T5 fixture (going to wipe down all the reflectors and start with brand new bulbs right before I add livestock).
Sump- Aqueon Modular ProFlex Sump with fuge(rated to 200 gallons)
Skimmer- ASM G2 with gate valve mod. (rated to 200 gallons)
Return Pump- Rio 3100
Flow- 2 Korallia Evolution 1400's (eventually upgrading to vortech pumps eventually)
Heater- Aqueon Pro Heater 250W.
ATO- JBJ ATO with Aqua Lifter Pump from a 5 gallon reservoir.
RODI- Water General 100GPD 6 Stage unit.
Fuge Lights- Stock nano cube DX 48W PC's.
**On the fence about ordering a BRS Dual Reactor for my GFO and Carbon.**

The tank has ~100LBS of Florida LR in it and ~50LBS of Fiji LR along with ~70LBS of mixed sand from sugar to to rather large grain.
The fuge has a decent DSB as well as ~5LBS of LR rubble in it.

The tank is going to be more of a mixed reef possibly leaning towards SPS dominate. I'm going to transfer 90% out of the livestock out of the nano cube and then sort of start over and convert it into a frogfish tank!

Livestock wish list:
Blonde Naso Tang
Blue Spot Jawfish
Green Mandarin (eventually)
Kole Yellow Eye Tang
Aslo planning to add another tang (or two), some reef safe wrasses, and maybe some bright Anthias!

Now onto the pics and progress so far! (Just wrapping up my cycle now!)

The tank first in my apartment! (where the nano cube used to be prior to it getting moved into my bedroom)
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My TEK Light!
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My first batch of LR at MCF!
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Getting ready to get started!
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First aquascape attempt and starting to fill!
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Sump and Fuge
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Edward checking on the RO water
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Tank up and running!
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Got my diatom bloom!
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Test Subject!
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The display as it sits right now!
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Can't wait to get some corals growing off of this sweet ledge!
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UPS man dropped this off today! Installing it as soon as I get home from school!
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I'll try to keep up with the updates and pics! Going to probably be adding my cleaner crew a week from today and then I'll start moving everything over from the Nano Cube shortly after that.

That's all I've got for now! Enjoy and please comment if you want to! :becky:

Thanks for looking guys!

-Brad
 
Looks like a neat build,i'm not diggin the rockscape,needs more caves/design.I'm sure you'll get there.Purdy stand/canopy.
 
Off to a good start! You have a ton of different shapes/sizes of rock so I'm sure the aqua scape will pan out as you play with it. Might need to work on that Livestock list a bit though.

Don't you just love that first photo you get to take after the sand dust clears up though?
 
Great Looking Tank & Awesome start! How do you like the Aqueon Sump? I am slowly setting up a 90 Corner Bow and that is on my list...

Also...just a word of caution... I used the same Rubber Maid Trashbin for my RO/DI and Saltwater Mix station. They do not hold up to the weight of the water. I had a bin begin to collapse...fortunately I saw it begin to deform before it crashed. 40 plus gallons of water...is no fun to have to clean up. The bin began to deform neat the wheels which caused it to list badly...and you can guess what the outcome would have been. I have since switched to a more traditional round plastic trash can for both my RO/DI and my salt mix. I keep plenty on hand for my use and my neighbor's use. Just something to be aware of.

I will look forward to seeing this progress....
 
My only thought while reading was, "That's a great scape."

How do you like those Aqueon pumps? I want to try Maxi-Jets, but I've heard they're loud at start up, so a no-no on a wave-maker...
 
Funlad3 said:
My only thought while reading was, "That's a great scape."

How do you like those Aqueon pumps? I want to try Maxi-Jets, but I've heard they're loud at start up, so a no-no on a wave-maker...
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Do you mean the Korallias? I like em so far! Thinking about buying the wave maker module for them!
 
Here are some pictures that I snapped while "helping" him set this bad boy up.

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The man and the machine
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DanSreef said:
Great Looking Tank & Awesome start! How do you like the Aqueon Sump? I am slowly setting up a 90 Corner Bow and that is on my list...

Also...just a word of caution... I used the same Rubber Maid Trashbin for my RO/DI and Saltwater Mix station. They do not hold up to the weight of the water. I had a bin begin to collapse...fortunately I saw it begin to deform before it crashed. 40 plus gallons of water...is no fun to have to clean up. The bin began to deform neat the wheels which caused it to list badly...and you can guess what the outcome would have been. I have since switched to a more traditional round plastic trash can for both my RO/DI and my salt mix. I keep plenty on hand for my use and my neighbor's use. Just something to be aware of.

I will look forward to seeing this progress....
Click to expand...
I like the sump a lot!
I've already started to notice this a little with the trash can...not planning on filling it past half way until I eventually replace it. Thanks for lookin out!

ColaAddict said:
You got some really nice lookin rocks in there
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Thanks!

Tank2379 said:
I actually like the aquascape- but may need a small tweek
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Agreed...it will change and improve as I start to add my big corals out of my other tank.

Lil BamBam said:
Looking good!!! Very interesting sump you have..
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I like it a lot! I wish it was a tiny bit bigger but other than that it rocks!

Here's a link to it: http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store...s/aqueon-modular-proflex-sump-filtration.html
 
rattyE36 said:
Do you mean the Korallias? I like em so far! Thinking about buying the wave maker module for them!
Click to expand...

I love new tank threads and can't wait to see yours grow!!

P.S. You might want to re-think putting the koralia's on a wave-maker. Even the "new & improved" ones still have issues. I went through 6 of them in under a year because they kept running backwards after a month or 2...
 
EricTheRed said:
I love new tank threads and can't wait to see yours grow!!

P.S. You might want to re-think putting the koralia's on a wave-maker. Even the "new & improved" ones still have issues. I went through 6 of them in under a year because they kept running backwards after a month or 2...
Click to expand...

Guess I'll just have to put up with constant flow until free Vortech day at MCF! :D
 
Got my ATO up and running and I'm very happy with it's performance in the last 24hrs...I might move the main sensor because it seems to be collecting micro bubbles and that will start to mess with it eventually. I have the buzzer on right now to know when it kicks the pump on but eventually I'll probably turn it off after I dial it all in 100%

Not a bad set-up for ~$100 all said and done!

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Don't mind the lack of a clamp on my return line going to the display(I need to find plastic ones)...also don't mind the Old Town Aquarium jug! It's from back before I even knew MCF existed!
 
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