Marc's 120 Gallon Fantasy Factory

[TheJedi]

I hope so anyways... :elefant::elefant::elefant:

After a while of being without a tank ( a.k.a. leading a miserable and meaningless life ) I decided to get back into it. So I picked up a standard 120 gallon Visio for a decent price. I need to modify it a little bit, drill a second overflow for the emergency. As well as a small outlet for water changes (stole that from Andy :a01. Other than that it is ready to go.

For the stand I am going the steel route. I have had about 3 revisions so far on the design after reading 70+ pages on the subject over at RC. I plan on having no center bracing, waiting on confirmation from a guy over there that 2" will be sufficient for the span. Or if I need to go rectangular up top to eliminate any chance of sagging. I have been debating whether or not to extend the stand for a display refugium similar to J. Sprung's tank. It would increase the available area under the tank for storage as well... still up in the air. I am going to order the stand next week so I need to figure that out pretty quick, or wait on the stand. Thoughts?

I will be doing DIY rock work, in fact I got all of the supplies today to make all of the rock I need. I had planned to make some today but got my lounge on after hauling 350lbs of materials into the garage haha!

Lets see... proposed hardware:

Lights: 2 x RB it2060's
Skimmer: Reef Octopus XP2000
BioPellet Reactor: Reef Octopus BR-110 (Dr. Tim's)
Doser: 2 x BRS 2 Part Doser
Controller: RKE Net +
Carbon Reactor: BRS Single
Return Pump: ReeFlo Snapper (Figuring for the dual return, 4 out manifold for reactors/options, and chiller)
Internal Flow: Debating between the 6208 + MP40, 2 MP40, 6208 + 2 MP40 (chime in here)

I think that is most of the core stuff, no need to list the little things.

Planning for 98% SPS, I may throw in an LPS here and there. Let me know if anything is out of whack it has been a while since I had my 60 Cube!

 

[TheJedi]

Today I have been testing different rock formula's to get what I want. Using a pretty standard recipe, just tweaking a bit for my materials. Rigged up a quick dry setup for quick turnarounds to see what I am getting with small rocks before I commit to a formula and start the big boys.

 

[TheJedi]

Couple pics of the first test run. This was 1:1 with a handful of salt crystals and a few pellets. Still very wet.

 

[pgr11]

Very nice looking piece. Tank should be sweet

 

[newe70]

That is a nice Visio tank.

 

[TheJedi]

Thanks pgr11, newe70.

I may skip the it 2060's and get one of the new 48" fixtures they are coming out with. By may I mean I will...ha. I also did a $%*(&#@ of reading and I am going to go with the Apex instead of the RKE. Planning on making some of the larger rocks for the left side this week.

 

[saybng]

I also ordered a visio 120. And nice rock work. Can't wait to c it finished.

 

[TheJedi]

I also ordered a visio 120. And nice rock work. Can't wait to c it finished.

Awesome! Looking forward to yours as well. I did another test rock it came out ok. Also got my Apex system.

 

[johnwin84]

looking good. i have the same size tank and equipment.

 

[saybng]

Hi just curious why the reeflo snapper? Is it necessary to have that much gph returning to tank? What size sump r u using? BTW rocks r lookin good!

 

[TheJedi]

Hi just curious why the reeflo snapper? Is it necessary to have that much gph returning to tank? What size sump r u using? BTW rocks r lookin good!

Why am I still up? :lol (2):

Head height, Chiller, T's on the manifold, dual returns. There won't be much flow back into the tank, 300-400 gph. I have two sump designs, one that includes 30 gallons worth of refugium (around 60 gallons total I think?). The other is just a straight sump with 30 gallons of capacity. The latter would be if I do an external display refugium (30 gal, 2x2x1). That is what I am thinking right now anyways, the sump build will be the last thing I do before getting wet.

 

[saybng]

Got it..**** shouldn't have told me that. Now I rethinking my game plan,! Lol. Keep up the good build.

 

[reefes pieces]

Looks great! I think this is going to be a killer build!

 

[TheJedi]

Looks great! I think this is going to be a killer build!

Thanks! Here is a new rock I sorta went crazy with after work today. About 25 lbs.

 

[Usingthejohn]

Lovin the custom rock work!

 

[TheJedi]

Lovin the custom rock work!

Thanks. Here are a few I snapped before going in to work. In the garage I was thinking this rock is HUGE all I need on one side haha... or not. I thought it was going to be about halfway up in height which is where I want the rock to be at. I just need to add a but of a pillar on top of this guy. I want the tank to be really open, there wont be any rock in the center.

 

[TheJedi]

Made some more rock today, will update with some pics when they finish drying. I also removed the center overflow in preparation to setup a beananimal. I decided it is taking up too much real estate. Debating if I will just plug it or use it for a water change drain.

 

[TheJedi]

I was skeptical at first, even started to second guess myself. But I was not going to let this thing beat me, no way! I wanted to keep it all in tact for use later on if I were to choose, or maybe give it to someone. But the way it was constructed there was just no way. Could I have gotten a non-drilled tank and saved myself the headache? Absolutely... but this was a good experience.

So for the bean I will drill two additional holes on the left side, right will be the sump return.

 

[mark.a.smith405]

Awesome! Bean animal is a great system! Btw the drain valve I have has sucked up 2 fish! So if you decide to use one make sure you make a screen or something for the inside of the tank=]. I just drilled holes in a PVC cap. It's slower but my fish arnt going through the grinder haha

 

[TheJedi]

Awesome! Bean animal is a great system! Btw the drain valve I have has sucked up 2 fish! So if you decide to use one make sure you make a screen or something for the inside of the tank=]. I just drilled holes in a PVC cap. It's slower but my fish arnt going through the grinder haha

Haha! Yea I thought about that. Another concern is how I am going to hide it, I am wanting a pretty open sand bed.