wiggins 125g build thread

This is going to be my new build. The tank and stand are older, I used to house brackish fish in here. It was an incredible set up with all locally caught fish. This tank has seen some amazing specimens and delighted family, friends, and neighbors for a couple of years... The thing about fish though... They actually can and do outgrow tanks. The fish in this tank were all wild caught from the river, and given the limitations on what can be harvested legally, many of my prized specimens were 10" or more when they went in. They grew very fast on live shrimp, which I regularly cast netted out of the river, and therefore had to be released and replaced often. Super high brain melting style maintenance!! But enough reminiscing, Time to take this thing saltwater!!!!!!!!

I'm starting this thread early in order to document the build in it's entirety. I'm going to be moving slow, as I'm going to have to buy/build equipment on a budget, but I'm a shutterbug, so expect lots of pics.


My plan is to use all the resources availble to me locally. As much as possible I wamt to avoid buying stuff on-line or at the LFS. So far I have the tank and stand and some assorted equipment. It's all cleaned up and positioned in my fish tank room. I have purchased crushed limestone from a local landscape supply company to use as my base. I already use it in my 75 and my 29 so I know it's good stuff. plus it costs $53 per cubic yard, so it's super cheap.

For my rock I'm starting with 110lbs of lace rock bought locally for $1.25lb. When I'm ready to fill the tank, I'll add LR from other tanks.

I'm going to re-use a double barrel overflow that came off my 110g corner tank(RIP) Unfortuantly it developed several leaks over the years and the last one was the last straw. Also going to use my Octopus skimmer from same. I will be building a custom fuge, and still deciding on lights. For right now I've got a 72" PC fixture, but we'll see. I'm actually thinking about a sky light!!

Any way here's some pics and I'll update regularly with any progess!

 

looks like its going to be a very intresting build. keep us posted. Cool looking rock work 8)

 

More pics

Close up's of rock and gravel

 

As long as the rock and gravel your using is safe (no irons, silicates, etc.) to use I would go with it. Looks pretty good from the pics IMO

 

Old brackish pic

This is what it used to look like!

 

Reminiscent of Stonehenge...

 

I came very close to setting up a native brackish tank in the 125 for the small puffers, pin fish, grouper and snapper I regularly catch in the intercoastal river, but ended up going with a reef tank. The lace rock should be OK, I would run a phosphate reactor just to be on the safe side. check craigslist for people selling entire large setups and try to get them to part out their rock, I got mine for super cheap that way.

~Will.

 

Got a little bit done after work today!

I didn't have much time, but I did get a chance to work my rocks a bit. I should preface this post with a disclaimer. I have been using power tools my entire life, and do not take safety lightly. While I do think pre-drilling my rock is very usefull, I would suggest extreme caution drilling rocks as their irregular shapes and inconsistent density make them very dangerous. I drilled mine in my tank with a drill stop properly affixed, and took it VERY slow. Anyway, that being said...I love drilling my rocks. All the nice neat holes make attaching corals easy, and provide for some interesting and unexpected placements.

 

Looks good so far,but what is up with the zip ties? It seems that some may be necessary,but others seem to attach nothing. IMO, you may be happier using epoxy rather then the zip ties. It will look much IMO.

 

You need to be very careful using locally sourced rocks. A lot of times, it will have untold amounts of fertilizers and other industrial pollutants absorbed into the rock. There is reason base rock and even aquarium intended lace rock is more expensive, as it's harvested and stored in a way to prevent this, not just stacked up in the gardening section of a hardware store