Eric's 90 gallon reef build.

[Ericwm]

More building fun today... I added a section to the stand so now I have a 20 high tank under my DT for qt/hospital.

On the top of my new section will be a pico sexy shrimp/nem tank that I will plumb into my main system.

 

[Ericwm]

I started working on the exterior of my stand. I had planned on having water in before this step but my wife doesn't eat the tank out in the final location until it is painted. I am facing all of my 2x4s with pine to make it look as nice as possible. This is what I have so far...

 

[Gregcoyote]

That looks deluxe. It's fun and rewarding to build your own equipment.

I did mine in oak years ago. The top pumps up with hydraulics and opens like the top of a beer stein.

 

[SaltwaterNuB]

That looks deluxe. It's fun and rewarding to build your own equipment.

I did mine in oak years ago. The top pumps up with hydraulics and opens like the top of a beer stein.

Nice stand and canopy!

 

[Ericwm]

I have made more progress on the stand. I have finished facing the stand and have 2 coats of primer on it. All I need to do is build 3 doors and the top where my nano will be and get it all painted and installed then its water time. I hope to have water in within two weeks. Then I can start hypo on my fish in my new qt and get this tank going. I am beyond excited.

I am toying with the idea of putting a glass panel on the front in the small opening so I can see my qt. for now it is just going to have a removable black panel. I may keep it so I can switch them out so I don't have to look at an empty qt ever.

 

[Cichlid-dude]

Looks good man!

 

[Ericwm]

It's been a while since much has changed. I finally got the stand finished and moved the tank out into the main room, months after I had hoped. I have water covering my sand and will be filling the whole tank slowly for a week I think, 5 gallons at a time. I am excited for it all to come together. Here is a pic.

I still need to finish the top of the stand for my pico but I am in no hurry since I don't have it yet.

 

[teklabs]

Where did you purchase your 90 gal tank?

 

[Ericwm]

Where did you purchase your 90 gal tank?

I got it at the LFS near my house. It is an aqueon. I can't wait to get this up and running. I have so many plans for stocking.

 

[Ericwm]

If my RO filter truly runs at 75 GPD I will have my dt full by the end of the night. Then it's just filling the sump and QT tomorrow and I will be fully operational. I'm not quite sure what my cycle will be like, I have ~ 70 lbs of dry rock and will be adding ~10 more and will be moving ~ established live rock over as well. Should I move some of my chaeto from my other tank into my fuge during the cycle?

 

[Ericwm]

As I suspected, it is not truly 75 GPD. I will have the tank and sump full by tonight. I can't wait to see how everything works. I am a bit anxious since it is my first sump and I did all of the plumbing myself.

 

[carey]

Just test it first and see if everything holds tight. I bet you did just fine.

 

[Ericwm]

I am up and running!

Here she is.

I have a bit of tweaking to do where my water enters the sump to cut down on noise and bubbles but it runs great and is pretty quiet. I checked my ammonia and it is at .25. I am thinking I may just move a small amount of LR from my 29 because I really like the rock scape in both right now and don't want to mess with either. I am thinking of moving some chaeto to my sump, is this too soon. I am also going to move my filter media to the 90 to get the bacteria up in the tank. I think I will be able to get a pretty short cycle.

 

[Ericwm]

During the week my ammonia spiked to around .5 ppm. It has now dropped to ~0, I ran out to the LFS and bought the beginning of my CUC. I now have 8 hermits in my tank.

Some cute little guys...
I plan on letting them do their thing for a few weeks and keep them fed to be an ammonia source for my tank. I want to make sure everything stabilizes before I try adding anything.

 

[Ericwm]

All of my hermit crabs are doing great. My chaeto is showing some good growth. I have filled my QT with water and it has been running for a week. I am thinking it is time to get my first fish in QT, I am leaning towards a royal gramma. Are these pretty good for a reef tank first fish? After I add my first I will begin moving over my current fish then coral once I finish up all my lighting and let the tank mature a bit. I will either buy a fish this week or next depending on my QT levels. I was thinking of getting one of those ammonia level warning things in the link below, do they work pretty well?http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000255R5G

 

[Ericwm]

Tested my ammonia at 0 today. I also got one of my LED panels wired and hung and I am pleased with how it will look once I get both panels on. I currently only have control over whites and blues but once I get the other panel I will have control of white, blue, red and green. Here it is with the LEDs.

 

[carey]

Looks great.

 

[Ericwm]

Looks great.

Thanks. My QT is cycled, I think I may pick up a royal gramma soon. What are everyone's thoughts on qt vs. treat right away. I am torn between just observing for a month or treating with hypo starting right away.

 

[navaljonf]

Observe in a QT.

 

[carey]

I'd stick with observance for now. If you see anything wrong THEN treat. Silly to treat for something that might not even exist and stress the fish possibly.