Tracking the progress of my 120 gallon SPS heavy mixed reef aquarium.
Here is where it is at in June of 2023.
Starting at the beginning.
In March of 2017, a good friend of mine and I moved my 4 year old SPS dominated cube from a 3rd floor walk up in Brooklyn, to my families new home in the Hudson Valley. In November of 2017, I began the process of setting up the new 120 gallon system, to house the coral that had overgrown the little cube.
Our 120 gallon sps dominated mixed reef is now roughly 4 months old, with some colonies that have been with us in various tanks since 2011. Here is what the tank looks like today.
And this is the overgrown 40 cube, that everything was transferred from, in November of 2017
I had been looking for a good deal on a 120 - 180 gallon tank with dual corner overflow for months. I finally came across one on a local forum. Ironically, it was located only a few blocks from our old apartment in Brooklyn. I loaded it up into our station wagon, drove it back to the Hudson Valley and here it is sitting on our back patio, waiting for a stand.
One of the first things I did for the new build was reinforce the floor underneath. Our home is over 200 years old, so it is built very strong, as they were, but at 8.4 pounds per gallon you can't be too careful. You can see the old system sits directly below where the new tank will be built. This will become the future quarantine and aquaculture area.
In this hobby, plumbing is my least favorite thing. I figured, if I have to do it, I might as well make it look good with schedule 80 ball valves, unions and fittings and "coralline violet" pvc for the overflow.
I opted to make it upgradeable and serviceable, using a handful of unions. I also decided to use mostly 45 degree elbows to minimize back pressure on the return pump. I am very happy with how everything turned out.
Making the water for the upstairs aquarium and performing one last water change on the 40 cube.
I framed the stand in with 2x4's. A few shots of the nearly finished stand, with tank installed.
The Tonga branch is the dry variety from BRS. It had been cycling in a rubbermaid in the basement for 3 months. I enjoy minimalist aquascapes, creating lots of open flow, areas for the fish to swim and sps to grow.
Here are some shots of the painted stand with the doors and Eshopps R-200 Gen 3 installed. It is important to me that this tank is quiet since it is in our main living area. The R-200 has a really cool overflow design, that reduces the sound of water splashing, as it enters the sump. I'll post more in the future about equipment choice in regard to quiet operation.
I look forward to posting much more about this build, and future progress of the tank. Hope you enjoy this thread, as much as our Son enjoys his sea critters.
2017 above 2023 below
Here is where it is at in June of 2023.
Starting at the beginning.
In March of 2017, a good friend of mine and I moved my 4 year old SPS dominated cube from a 3rd floor walk up in Brooklyn, to my families new home in the Hudson Valley. In November of 2017, I began the process of setting up the new 120 gallon system, to house the coral that had overgrown the little cube.
Our 120 gallon sps dominated mixed reef is now roughly 4 months old, with some colonies that have been with us in various tanks since 2011. Here is what the tank looks like today.
And this is the overgrown 40 cube, that everything was transferred from, in November of 2017
I had been looking for a good deal on a 120 - 180 gallon tank with dual corner overflow for months. I finally came across one on a local forum. Ironically, it was located only a few blocks from our old apartment in Brooklyn. I loaded it up into our station wagon, drove it back to the Hudson Valley and here it is sitting on our back patio, waiting for a stand.
One of the first things I did for the new build was reinforce the floor underneath. Our home is over 200 years old, so it is built very strong, as they were, but at 8.4 pounds per gallon you can't be too careful. You can see the old system sits directly below where the new tank will be built. This will become the future quarantine and aquaculture area.
In this hobby, plumbing is my least favorite thing. I figured, if I have to do it, I might as well make it look good with schedule 80 ball valves, unions and fittings and "coralline violet" pvc for the overflow.
I opted to make it upgradeable and serviceable, using a handful of unions. I also decided to use mostly 45 degree elbows to minimize back pressure on the return pump. I am very happy with how everything turned out.
Making the water for the upstairs aquarium and performing one last water change on the 40 cube.
I framed the stand in with 2x4's. A few shots of the nearly finished stand, with tank installed.
The Tonga branch is the dry variety from BRS. It had been cycling in a rubbermaid in the basement for 3 months. I enjoy minimalist aquascapes, creating lots of open flow, areas for the fish to swim and sps to grow.
Here are some shots of the painted stand with the doors and Eshopps R-200 Gen 3 installed. It is important to me that this tank is quiet since it is in our main living area. The R-200 has a really cool overflow design, that reduces the sound of water splashing, as it enters the sump. I'll post more in the future about equipment choice in regard to quiet operation.
I look forward to posting much more about this build, and future progress of the tank. Hope you enjoy this thread, as much as our Son enjoys his sea critters.
2017 above 2023 below
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