SidebySideNd's 90-Gallon Reef Build

[SidebySideND]

Starting a 90g Reef. Come along for the ride with me. I took delivery of the dry goods today. I plan on primarily stocking with LPS, but I just know eventually, the SPS bug will bite me.

I am a huge water quality guy. My philosophy is that I don't keep fish and coral; I keep water. If the water is golden, everything else danged near takes care of itself. The majority of my testing will be with Hanna. I have not determined what I want to use for non-Hanna tests. I have also not determined what salt mix I want to use. For my cycle, I will be using what the LFS uses: instant ocean.

Quick YouTube Video of the Dry Goods

Gear:
Tank - Aqueon 90g Drilled
Stand - Basic AF Pine
Sump - Eshopps AR-200 Aqua-Fuge Refugium Sump
Power Heads - 2x Vortech MP40D
Return - Octo Varios 4 DC Pump
Skimmer - Octo Regal 150-INT DC
Heater - 2x BRS Titanium 300W + Inkbird Controller
Tank Lighting- 2x AI Hydra 32HD + 2x AI HMS Mounts
Fuge Lighting - AI Prime Fuge
Automation - Neptune Apex Pro Bundle + MXM Module + 2 ALD Probes
RO/DI - 5 Stage BRS
Reactor(s) - BRS Dual Reactor (GFO + AC) - Will not be installed until/unless needed.
Top - Generic Glass Top

What is next:
Aquascaping with Dry Rock + Epoxy
Plumbing
Sand
Put it all together
Water
Cycle (LFS bringing some of their system's water to help start the cycle)

 

[officialreefbros]

Woooo awesome!!

 

[SidebySideND]

Woooo awesome!!

Thanks! I am pretty excited. I have to keep telling myself that patience is important in this hobby.

 

[officialreefbros]

Yeah slow and steady. Gotta be patient and wait out the uglies!

 

[SidebySideND]

Tier 1 of aquascape has the epoxy drying now (PVC only there to hold things in place as the epoxy dries)

Plumbing is getting started

 

[SidebySideND]

Still waiting on some plumbing components. Should have water in it this week!

Bonus content: My wife's 210g Freshwater has water now! 1st time running an Apex on freshwater.

 

[kevgib67]

Off to a good start, following.

 

[SidebySideND]

We have water. The lights are now off. Let the cycle begin! Have to cleanup the wiring this weekend. Waiting on a few more pieces of live rock to come in to complete the aquascaping. The PVC is also out now. It was only there to hold the scape in place while the epoxy dried.

 

[SidebySideND]

Here is one without the blues and with PVC removed. And a "bonus" of my reflection?

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Here is one without the blues and with PVC removed. And a "bonus" of my reflection?

Love the aquascape!

 

[SidebySideND]

Episode 2 of my youtube build series is up.

 

[SidebySideND]

My cycle is finally finished!