I want to use this thread to document the progress of what my tank has gone through to set up, and what it will take for me to get this system the way I want to function. I was inspired by other build threads here. I thought is was cool seeing the progress of other's tanks. Also, I wanted to have a history for my system. I'll post pics of what I have so far.
AZASB 120 build
- Thread starter Azasb
- Start date
Ok so I have not been doing a good a job at posting. Although the tank has been up since July, 4ish months. I'm still going to start with the build and how I acquired the equipment.
Tank-4x2x2, I think its a Visio tank since it had the black trim on bottom and top. I had a 50gal before this one and I was looking for a chiller cause the water bottles were not cutting it and the fans made the room to humid. I looked on CL, and there was a guy selling his whole setup. I just had to drive East of La Puente, like 2hrs to pick it up. So, I took my moms van (thank mom!) and scored on a whole 4x2x2 set up. I got:
1)4x2x2 tank, wood sand and canopy. I trashed the stand for a fire pit fuel and the canopy is still in the garage collecting dust.
2)1/3 chiller, not sure what brand
3) 2x kessil A350
4) Sump which I broke on the way home, return pump which I messed up by using it for my 1st water change
5) Other miscellaneous equipment like nets, test kits, chemicals. I never used any chems or test since they were supper expired.
6) I got a pair of clown fish, gave to I GOT CORALS since they were gonna fight my pair in the 50 gal. 1x flame angel but it died on the way home.
7) Like 100lbs of life rock that I never used, I have most of it to a reefer here on SCR. The rock was dry by the time I have it away.
I was only interested in the tank and chiller. The guy, I don't remember his name, had the tank running but said he would brake down before I picked up the stuff I wanted. When I got to the guys house I could tell this was not a DIY guy; I think he was not use to manual labor. He had the cutest little 3-4 year old kid running around. He was cool but the combination of kid and unfamiliarity with manual labor was daunting for this guy. I had to brake down the tank for him. Like I said he was a cool guy, and was so happy he gave me all the equipment for the price of the tank and chiller. In all, 4hrs of driving, 5-6hrs of labor, and $350 got me all all the equipment mentions above. This happened January,2016. It still took me 6 months to set everything else up.
Tank-4x2x2, I think its a Visio tank since it had the black trim on bottom and top. I had a 50gal before this one and I was looking for a chiller cause the water bottles were not cutting it and the fans made the room to humid. I looked on CL, and there was a guy selling his whole setup. I just had to drive East of La Puente, like 2hrs to pick it up. So, I took my moms van (thank mom!) and scored on a whole 4x2x2 set up. I got:
1)4x2x2 tank, wood sand and canopy. I trashed the stand for a fire pit fuel and the canopy is still in the garage collecting dust.
2)1/3 chiller, not sure what brand
3) 2x kessil A350
4) Sump which I broke on the way home, return pump which I messed up by using it for my 1st water change
5) Other miscellaneous equipment like nets, test kits, chemicals. I never used any chems or test since they were supper expired.
6) I got a pair of clown fish, gave to I GOT CORALS since they were gonna fight my pair in the 50 gal. 1x flame angel but it died on the way home.
7) Like 100lbs of life rock that I never used, I have most of it to a reefer here on SCR. The rock was dry by the time I have it away.
I was only interested in the tank and chiller. The guy, I don't remember his name, had the tank running but said he would brake down before I picked up the stuff I wanted. When I got to the guys house I could tell this was not a DIY guy; I think he was not use to manual labor. He had the cutest little 3-4 year old kid running around. He was cool but the combination of kid and unfamiliarity with manual labor was daunting for this guy. I had to brake down the tank for him. Like I said he was a cool guy, and was so happy he gave me all the equipment for the price of the tank and chiller. In all, 4hrs of driving, 5-6hrs of labor, and $350 got me all all the equipment mentions above. This happened January,2016. It still took me 6 months to set everything else up.
STAND-This is the design of the stand I had made. It is 1" box steel. Dims are 48x38x24, LxHxD. I latter changed the stand to add a frame for a drawer. There are a few thing I wish I would have done different. First, I would have added some gusset plates to the corners. The stand is fine holding vertical loads but if there is an earthquake the stand will sway. Second, I wish I would have powder coated the stand instead of just painting it. It looks better. Third, the drawer I added, the frame does not extend all the way to the back. I wish I wish it would extend to the back of the stand.
The stand was $300. It was made by a small welding company in Santa Ana. The guy gave me a great price because he does work for the company I work for. This was a side thing he did in 2-3 days. The compa [MENTION=7137]Cam[/MENTION]pg helped me take it home.
The stand was $300. It was made by a small welding company in Santa Ana. The guy gave me a great price because he does work for the company I work for. This was a side thing he did in 2-3 days. The compa [MENTION=7137]Cam[/MENTION]pg helped me take it home.
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SUMP-I bought an AA sump from Craigslist (48x24x18ish). When I picked up the sump I saw, Jose! The dude with the dreads. That was a cool surprise, I had seen him around the SCMAS meetings. Also, 2 years ago at the SCMAS x-mas dinner he moved so my wife and I could sit together, that was cool. I don't know if he remembered or recognize me. I was totally going to try and talk him down like $20 on the price of the sump but after I know who he was, I decided to keep my mouth shut.
It was a basic sump with 2 chambers so I bought some Acrylic from Paragon Plastics and customized the sump. I cut the plastic to size and made the chambers I needed. From, water in sump to water out of sump, skimmer, refugium, return are the chambers. The sump holds about 50gal of water, working volume. That was kind of my goal just cause my old tank was 50gal and I just wanted to say that my sump holds the same amount of water as my old tank. It makes me feel awesome saying that cause it gauges how much more water I have in my system. Not that I have the biggest tank in the world, just a measurement of old tank to new tank and the possibility of 3x more see life in my house is an awesome feeling.
It was a basic sump with 2 chambers so I bought some Acrylic from Paragon Plastics and customized the sump. I cut the plastic to size and made the chambers I needed. From, water in sump to water out of sump, skimmer, refugium, return are the chambers. The sump holds about 50gal of water, working volume. That was kind of my goal just cause my old tank was 50gal and I just wanted to say that my sump holds the same amount of water as my old tank. It makes me feel awesome saying that cause it gauges how much more water I have in my system. Not that I have the biggest tank in the world, just a measurement of old tank to new tank and the possibility of 3x more see life in my house is an awesome feeling.
Lights- I had, and was using an old 8 bulb 48" sun blaze fixture. I always liked the color of the T5 but I was missing the shimmer. So I made a hybrid. I gutted the center and installed some Hydras. There are the regular not the 52s. I got one of the lights from a trade and the rest from Colorado. I wanted to install the Reef Brights but it was over kill. Now I'm stuck with 2 RB strips that I will not use. Anyway, lights:
June, 2016 I put water in the tank. I let the cycle start with old water from my 50gal, rock, and a dead fish. In July, the nitrites and ammonia were still high. So I added Dr. Tim's One and Only, next day the cycle was done. I went back to Tongs to buy a clown fish, that sucker went right in.
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12/18/16- tank at the 6 month period.
Fish:
1)2xPin Tail Wrasse, one is turning male. I'm so happy about that.
2)Cleaner Wrasse
3)Whip Fin Wrasse
4)Yellow Coris Wrasse
5)Purple Tang
6)2x Clown Fish. I traded coral for a Black Bullet Hole clown. I think That's the name. The other is a Wyoming White I got at Macna.
7)Blue Green Chromie, this is one of the original fish I got when I started the hobby a few year back.
8)Leopard Wrasse, second oldest, had him for about 2ish years. I got this fish from the compa [MENTION=7137]Cam[/MENTION]pg
9)Flame Wrasses, I think I still have it. I haven't seen this fish in a few days.
I still wanna get a Blue Star Leopard Wrasse, Naoko Wrasse, and CCB.
Fish:
1)2xPin Tail Wrasse, one is turning male. I'm so happy about that.
2)Cleaner Wrasse
3)Whip Fin Wrasse
4)Yellow Coris Wrasse
5)Purple Tang
6)2x Clown Fish. I traded coral for a Black Bullet Hole clown. I think That's the name. The other is a Wyoming White I got at Macna.
7)Blue Green Chromie, this is one of the original fish I got when I started the hobby a few year back.
8)Leopard Wrasse, second oldest, had him for about 2ish years. I got this fish from the compa [MENTION=7137]Cam[/MENTION]pg
9)Flame Wrasses, I think I still have it. I haven't seen this fish in a few days.
I still wanna get a Blue Star Leopard Wrasse, Naoko Wrasse, and CCB.
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Flow:
Return Pump-Vectra M1, I have the pump at 70%. This thing is totally worth the cost. I have 3/4 returns and I plumbed in my chiller to the pump. I also added a manifold and if I need to use it I don't think it will be a problem for this beast. I bought my pump from [MENTION=3628]BeanMachine[/MENTION]. He won this pump in the SCMAS meeting along with 6 other things that night. That was the first time I hated Bean's raffle skills.
Circulation- Gyre 130, bouth from I GOT CORALS when he had his shop open in Fullerton. It first went on my 50. I also added a Gyre 150. I bought it used from someone on this forum but I cant remember who. Anyway, I know that one pump would be good enough to circulate water across the 4 foot tank but it would destroy my LPS, I think.
I still need a small pump so the water from the back-right side of the tank can circulate. I see a bunch of detritus buildup so I'm gonna get an MP10 put it on the back glass and see how that changes my flow.
Return Pump-Vectra M1, I have the pump at 70%. This thing is totally worth the cost. I have 3/4 returns and I plumbed in my chiller to the pump. I also added a manifold and if I need to use it I don't think it will be a problem for this beast. I bought my pump from [MENTION=3628]BeanMachine[/MENTION]. He won this pump in the SCMAS meeting along with 6 other things that night. That was the first time I hated Bean's raffle skills.
Circulation- Gyre 130, bouth from I GOT CORALS when he had his shop open in Fullerton. It first went on my 50. I also added a Gyre 150. I bought it used from someone on this forum but I cant remember who. Anyway, I know that one pump would be good enough to circulate water across the 4 foot tank but it would destroy my LPS, I think.
I still need a small pump so the water from the back-right side of the tank can circulate. I see a bunch of detritus buildup so I'm gonna get an MP10 put it on the back glass and see how that changes my flow.
