120g Craigslist tank restoration

Finally, I found a 120g for a used price $200.
She’s the ugliest most beautiful thing I have ever laid eyes on. I’m going to strip the two overflows, add a ghost overflow and oh so much more to get this one wet again. I decided to put my money towards reputable equipment, instead of the glass box. (Good timing considering frameless tanks are losing fashion, dang you Red Sea.)
My previous tank was a cadlight 60g and just a frameless beauty. That tank grew coral but limped by with basic equipment. (Lighting,Powerheads, manually dosing) Time to flourish and establish a low maintenance 120g for this reefer.


Today’s 120g specs!

Filtration
-6 stage RODI by Brs
-Skimmer Q3 DC by aquamaxx
-Avast marine spyglass reactor
-2 gallons of marine pure bio spheres
-bio pellets by ecobak
-Distilled Vinegar 30ml/day
-2 marine pure plates
-1 marine pure block
-1 xport Brick seeded with mb7 by brightwell
-1 liter of matrix by seachem
-aquascape made of pukani,staxx,fiji,caribsea
-Brs black media reactor
-Rox.8 Carbon daily
-Gfo by kolar labs

Supplements
- Alk,Ca,mag by ESV dosed hourly by KamoerRemote F4pro
-Fuel by seachem 20ml/daily

Equipment
-2 Hydra 32s by AI
-2 XF 350s by maxpect
-1 Return pump DCP15000 by Jebao

Plumbing
-1 modular marine overflow Bean animal with 1 1/4” drains
-2 returns 1 1/2 inches
-1 manifold powering 3 reactors and main return

Fish food
- Nori, LRS herbivoreLRS fish frenzy,krill,mysis,squid,brine shrimp,golden pearls,cyclops,calanus

Previous filtration methods no longer in use
-diy algae scrubber
-Gfo by rowaphos when needed
-co2 scrubber
-filter floss
-skimmer sn-143qp by skimZ
-High capacity GFO by BRS
-AF1 by aquamaxx
-nopox by Red Sea

Stocking list
-Hippo Tang
-Yellow Tang
-Tomini Tang
-Blunthead Wrasse
-Puddingwife Wrasse
-Canary Blenny
-Twinspot blenny
-Royal Gramma
-Mono
-Lyretail Anthias
-Blue Chromis
-Pair of Ocellaris Clowns
-Lamarck Angel
-Melanurus wrasse
margarita,trochus,Nass,Cerith
-Pencil & Pincushion Urchin

Here is how it looks now! 8/2022

Dual LowBoy Frag Build starts here pg. 34-

Build Thread - 120g Craigslist tank restoration

Finally, I found a 120g for a used price $200. She’s the ugliest most beautiful thing I have ever laid eyes on. I’m going to strip the two overflows, add a ghost overflow and oh so much more to get this one wet again. I decided to put my money towards reputable equipment, instead of the glass...

www.reef2reef.com

DIY stand- https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/tank-stand-first-timer.681397/

Previous build thread https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/setting-up-new-60g-cube.335836/

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

If you're in the market for routers, I just upgraded to a Dewalt 20v portable router - the thing is awesome!

Those are great trim routers for sure. On par with the colt. The 1/4" Chuck and inability to plunge is limiting though. I'm also a router nerd and keep a bunch set up with different bits. Power tools are Fun.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

I am too scared to drill tanks. Thinker the glass, longer it takes.

You see that piece of duct tape on the inside?

That's a clutch trick. Thinner glass, I will tape the inside and outside. Zero hand pressure and plenty of liquid cooling and seriously Anyone can drill glass.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

Excited to work with egg crate for the first time.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

Those are great trim routers for sure. On par with the colt. The 1/4" Chuck and inability to plunge is limiting though. I'm also a router nerd and keep a bunch set up with different bits. Power tools are Fun.

Nice! show me the workhorses some time so I can get a feel for the one I should buy

 

[Soren]

Sump is starting to shape up nicely!

Now imagine if that was tempered

Hey, I just tried this first-hand! I bought some 10-gallon tanks at Petco to drill for adding a refugium to my 30g Work tank and for tie-in to my 125-125 build plans. I asked the clerk ("30 years experience with fish" (freshwater)) to confirm they are not tempered. He was not sure, but said they are not.

After getting them home, without thinking to check, I tried to drill an old 10-gallon tank I had first. What a surprise when the glass shattered just as the bit came through the other side! Of course, I knew right away it must have been a tempered tank. Yep, I verified with polarized glasses that the other panels were indeed tempered. (Obviously, the shattered panel was tempered...)

Now, I've verified that the new tanks are indeed not tempered BEFORE I try to drill them! ...just need to get it done (possibly tomorrow).

I am too scared to drill tanks. Thinker the glass, longer it takes.

Yea the thicker the better tho, this thing stuff breaks so easy

Though I have not yet successfully drilled a thin tank, I had no troubles drilling my 75g and 90g for my original build plan that are now being used for my Top QT and liverock holding tank (respectively) in my basement. Thicker glass is easier to drill as long as the longer drill time does not cause you to lose patience and rush it!

You see that piece of duct tape on the inside?

That's a clutch trick. Thinner glass, I will tape the inside and outside. Zero hand pressure and plenty of liquid cooling and seriously Anyone can drill glass.

This is definitely my plan when I go to drill my new 10g tanks now that I have indeed confirmed they are not tempered!

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Nice! show me the workhorses some time so I can get a feel for the one I should buy

The Porter-Cable model 1001 is my workhorse. I've got a few setup on plunge bases. 1 3/4 hp is plenty unless making deep cuts in hardwood ( Which should be done in multiple passes anyways)

This router used to be the pc 5018 I believe and the adjuster was "borrowed" from sears Back when they made some pretty decent tools.

I've found these routers for $10 at garage sales. A replacement bearing and brush kit costs about 10 bucks, and can be installed in under 30 minutes with no mechanical understanding at all. This turns it into essentially a brand new unit so long as the switch is good. I've never had the switch fail.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Excited to work with egg crate for the first time.

Best be careful homie, That's about looking like a legit frag tank!

 

[NowGlazeIT]

B

Sump is starting to shape up nicely!


Hey, I just tried this first-hand! I bought some 10-gallon tanks at Petco to drill for adding a refugium to my 30g Work tank and for tie-in to my 125-125 build plans. I asked the clerk ("30 years experience with fish" (freshwater)) to confirm they are not tempered. He was not sure, but said they are not.

After getting them home, without thinking to check, I tried to drill an old 10-gallon tank I had first. What a surprise when the glass shattered just as the bit came through the other side! Of course, I knew right away it must have been a tempered tank. Yep, I verified with polarized glasses that the other panels were indeed tempered. (Obviously, the shattered panel was tempered...)

Now, I've verified that the new tanks are indeed not tempered BEFORE I try to drill them! ...just need to get it done (possibly tomorrow).



Though I have not yet successfully drilled a thin tank, I had no troubles drilling my 75g and 90g for my original build plan that are now being used for my Top QT and liverock holding tank (respectively) in my basement. Thicker glass is easier to drill as long as the longer drill time does not cause you to lose patience and rush it!


This is definitely my plan when I go to drill my new 10g tanks now that I have indeed confirmed they are not tempered!

I’m surprised they tempered a ten gallon, but maybe they figured the cost of tempered was cheaper then the amount of ten gallons breaking during transit.
Polarized glasses is a nice trick. I used that tip before drilling my 120. A lot more to lose there so I didn’t skip a step hah. Good luck on your next one!

 

[Goaway]

Best be careful homie, That's about looking like a legit frag tank!

100% agree. Jealousy is brewing.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

The Porter-Cable model 1001 is my workhorse. I've got a few setup on plunge bases. 1 3/4 hp is plenty unless making deep cuts in hardwood ( Which should be done in multiple passes anyways)

This router used to be the pc 5018 I believe and the adjuster was "borrowed" from sears Back when they made some pretty decent tools.

I've found these routers for $10 at garage sales. A replacement bearing and brush kit costs about 10 bucks, and can be installed in under 30 minutes with no mechanical understanding at all. This turns it into essentially a brand new unit so long as the switch is good. I've never had the switch fail.

You got me interested! I’ll be looking for these little gems while cruising through the classifieds

 

[NowGlazeIT]

Best be careful homie, That's about looking like a legit frag tank!

Cheers buddy!

 

[Goaway]

Though I have not yet successfully drilled a thin tank, I had no troubles drilling my 75g and 90g for my original build plan that are now being used for my Top QT and liverock holding tank (respectively) in my basement. Thicker glass is easier to drill as long as the longer drill time does not cause you to lose patience and rush it!

I can see this conversation happening with my husband "so I want to drill my tank." His words will be "buy one drilled!" Already happened with my current tank...

 

[Projects with Sam]

Spray bar added!

any excuse to break out the power tools these days haah

I may need to copy this for my frag QT. I'm sick of killing frags because I cant manage in a 10 gallon...

 

[NowGlazeIT]

If you're in the market for routers, I just upgraded to a Dewalt 20v portable router - the thing is awesome!

Woah that’s a neat attachment! Looks like something I would see on a multi tool. Dewalt makes some really solid tools. I’m a big fan of their slide miter saws

 

[NowGlazeIT]

I may need to copy this for my frag QT. I'm sick of killing frags because I cant manage in a 10 gallon...

I think I added too many holes here but it’s a rough draft

 

[Goaway]

I think I added too many holes here but it’s a rough draft

Bulk head with end cap. Easy fix until you want to use it. You know that though.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

Bulk head with end cap. Easy fix until you want to use it. You know that though.

It’s fun to wing it till things get wet tho huh hah

 

[Projects with Sam]

If I can get my stuff together, I'll do it on my DIY cnc. I accidentally overwrote the programming when I was trying to make an auto cat feeder...

 

[NowGlazeIT]

If I can get my stuff together, I'll do it on my DIY cnc. I accidentally overwrote the programming when I was trying to make an auto cat feeder...

Auto cat feeder you say…?

 

[Projects with Sam]

Auto cat feeder you say…?

hehe yep. there are a bunch on thingiverse so I stopped messing with it. Just pay my babysitter...
i overwrote the cnc arduino code with cat feeder arduino code. then I got my new fish tank and havent messed with too much stuff... except a 3D printed Jet boat for my kids so I can go fishing.
I have too much backlogged footage... need to put out videos but this saltwater hobby is pretty consuming...