SiNiStEr'S Reef> extremely slow 75g reef build ---->

[SiNiStEr NaTiOn]

Well like the topic says this build is gonna be a extremely slow build. How slow I have no idea. At this time I'm in the planning stage. I'm going to try and do DIY's to help me financially.

I do know (providing if I don't decide to go bigger during this phase) my dt will be 75g. I'm planning on having a 55g for the sump/reef. I have a friend that works at the lfs and he drills the holes in aquariums. So I probably check with him about drilling couple of holes for me in the 75g when I'm able to get it.

The stand, I'm planning on building it, or should I say my dad (of course I'll help and make sure the measurements are right). I have to buy the material's. I do have a thread here in the DIY forum. my diy plans stand

I'm trying to figure out how to break the compartments down in the sump/fuge into the following sump - return - fuge. I thought about having the fuge after the skimmer compartment but I don't know if that would be effective or not.

any idea's I have during the planning stage of this build I'll post in this thread instead of having a post here and there, the only exception would be the DIY builds, I will link to that DIY project in this thread.

[SiNiStEr NaTiOn]

well it's no longer gonna be a 75g instead it will be a 90g. I'm glad that I don't have to redesign my stand since both tanks share the same footprint. the only difference is the height, which is taller than the 75g only by 4 inches.

[Ripler]

As I say very often I love the taller tanks. There is more viewing area at the front and they stand out that much more in a room. Good choice

[SiNiStEr NaTiOn]

thanxs ripler.

I been doing some figuring and to have this 90g completely operational, it won't happen until 2011. But of course I want to shoot more to the end of 2010. Starting in march 2010 I would have about $125 - $175 freed up after couple of things is completely paid for in february 2010, including my computer payment of about $100 a month. I'm planning on putting the 90g in layway with the LFS in march 2010, also a 55g at the same time unless I come across one before then to use as the sump/fuge. Since I should have the stand built by november or december 09

[SiNiStEr NaTiOn]

well I have the first piece of this project, a 55 that I bought for $20. Going thru and removing the silicon and replacing it. hopefully this week I can start water testing this tank for about a week to insure there is no water leaks. Then I'll layout the 3 sections skimmer, return, fuge in that order or would it be better to have the fuge in the 2nd chambert and the return in the 3rd chamber, or does it really matter.

my next question is skimmer's, for a 90 DT w/ 55 sump/fuge, I know it's double the volume but would that be the DT volume, if so then we are talking about a skimmer that can do at least 180 gallon? Am i right or wrong in myt thinking on this?

[SiNiStEr NaTiOn]

Well they way it might look it looks like I'll be down grading from 90 to 75 next month (november), Suppose to be getting a 75 tank for about $40.00 if this actually happens next month then I will have the DT and the sump, the only thing is work on getting the equipment I need to get the dt up and running.

[SiNiStEr NaTiOn]

ok either way this tank goes as either a 75 or 90, I do have i very big question. planning on using nova extreme 8x54w T5's, at which my lfs says it's to much light for either of these tanks, and say that a 6X54w would be big enough. But I would like to keep a nice variety of corals and I know there are sps I can't because of the lighting requirement they need (MH), thats why I'm going with 8x54w T5's.

I know I would be able keep leather, softies, and lps. But what about the other corals, like sps, if so which type, zoa's, or any other type of coral that I haven't mention in this reply. I want to start making my coral stock list, then I'll work on the CUC list, then the LS list.

[dlcorliss]

Are you going to de a retro fit T5 system? I just installed 4 T5 retro fit lights under my canopy and I could only fit 4. How are you going to fit 8?

[nightfire76]

Originally Posted by dlcorliss

Are you going to de a retro fit T5 system? I just installed 4 T5 retro fit lights under my canopy and I could only fit 4. How are you going to fit 8?

theres an 8 bulb system but its not a retro fit......me id go with the 8 if ya can fit it,you can always use lesser bulbs in them or just not put any bulb in there at all...personally i think itll give you 432 watts....which seems fine to me,though im not a guru on light

[SiNiStEr NaTiOn]

the light fixture is nova extreme. 8 bulb will fit with np, even if I could find a 48" 10x54w T5 fixture, it would more likly would fit, with no wiggle room probably. but I can't find any, the most bulbs I can find was the nova extreme 8x54w fixture.

with the nova's could i modify the fixture by using IDR's instead of the german parabolic reflector that comes with this particuliar fixture? once this tank is up and running then a few years I'll probably make a canopy, and use a retro for it, but at this time, it's not possible.

So thats why I asked about corals I could keep under a 8x54w T5 light fixture.

[nightfire76]

i havent seen the actual unit but i dont see why not,not sure ya can tell until you try it though again im not a light guru

[SiNiStEr NaTiOn]

same here I'm not a light guru neither, so I'll wait whenever I can get the lights and then check on the dimensions of the idr's and go from there, and if it can work it might be a fun diy to modify a existing fixture.

[SiNiStEr NaTiOn]

well hopefully one day next week between november 1 - 7 I should know if the person still wants to sell me that 75 for $40.00. went over to my neighbor and ask him to give him a call because if he still have the tank and still sell it to me, that I will buy it on either the 4th or 5th. so keeping fingers crossed on this deal.

The only thing I hope is that the silicone is good in this tank, if not it's no big deal to me, because i can strip it and place fresh silicone in the tank like I did for my 55 (sump/fuge You can follow me on that process from the link in my signature to it here on RS)

[SiNiStEr NaTiOn]

well the 55g sump/fuge is finish. Now I need to finish the stand and hopefully next week I will know what size my DT will be. So stay tuned in at the same bat time, the same bat channel (just a little humor if your familiar with the old batman tv show. ) to find out what the decision is.

[SiNiStEr NaTiOn]

Well it's actually official. my DT will be a 75g tank with a corner overflow and be predrilled in the upper left corner that will be the corner overflow. it will haver 2 holes drill in the bottom glass and it will come with 1 durso stand pipe, so I'll have to make the second on out of pvc. As far as the return line goes I will have it come up and over the upper right corner.

Ok I know there's DIY's on the durso stand pipe's. but my question is how do I start water flowing thru the stand pipe from the corner overflow do to the sump?

Also will that suction still be there if the sump gets shutdown be it manual shutdown or lost of electricity? Or would I need to restart that flow again?