Zach's 75G Build

So, after lots of thought and looking for tanks, I decided to finally settle on a 75 gallon.

I ordered a 75G with a corner internal overflow, with flow accelerator for sump return. The tank is going to have a deep blue acrylic background that is attached to the back. It will be drilled for a 4-way closed loop (bulkheads will drill through acrylic), returns in each corner with flow diffusers, and intake in the bottom middle so it can be hidden by my rock work.

Each closed loop return will be controlled by a ball valve. All 4 returns will connect to a splitter which will be controlled by a master ball valve so I can adjust each one individually, or cut / control all 4 at once. The closed loop pump I have decided on is the Reeflo Dart (3600GPH). The intake will have a ball valve and union, and a union will also be between the return and ball valve so I can shut everything down and disconnect the pump for maintenance or to replace if necessary.

I will be using 2X250 14k Metal Halide with 4X54 T5HO Actinics for lighting, and will continue to use my 20 long for my sump / refuguim in middle compartment. 2X24W (10k) T5 for refugium lighting. Sump return pump will be a ViaAqua 3600. I will continue to use my current ViaAqua Poly Reactor with carbon and GFO for phosphate removal. Skimmer will be upgraded in the next few months to an AquaC EV-180 or PM Bullet 1.

Tank will be in next Tuesday, LFS will be drilling, will probably pick up late next week or week after, as I'll be travelling a bit. Will post some pics when I get it. It'll be at the end of the month when it gets set up and filled - I move in to my new house in Tennessee at the end of this month. I'll post pics as everything progresses.

 

SWEET!!! Subscribed. I've got to ask the obvious question (obvious in my case), what part of Tennessee are you moving to??

 

Looking forward to see the progress and GRATS!



-Fritts

 

Boo ya! Love tank threads!

 

Thanks Moving to Nashville (Spring Hill, actually). Less than thrilled, as I absolutely love Tampa. But, such is life.

 

Yeah...I feel ya. I'm not familiar with that area of Nashville, but TN is a really pretty place. Especially in my neck of the woods, where we got the mountains everywhere.

 

Tank came in today, along with the blue acrylic backing, and all bulkheads, valves, and plumbing supplies. The tank is being drilled and fitted with flow diffusers tomorrow.

I'll be building the manifold for the pump to feed the closed loop (1.5" to 4x1"), and going by the lumber yard later this week to pick up the lumber and moulding to build the stand. I'll be in Chicago for 4 days so that will somewhat delay the stand build but should have some good progress pics on the tank later this week.

 

oh man, can't wait to see the end product!! Good luck!!

 

Got my lights in today. Picked up the Odyssea 2x250W MH / 4x65w PC fixture off eBay.

Everything came out of the box 100% intact and I must say I'm rather impressed with the light received for the price. Everything fired up with no problems and the bulbs put out a nice whitish blue color (15K HQI), are extremely bright, even with the PC's off. PC's give it a bit more of a blue hue - I like the fixture so far. With the color and intensity of the light the stock ballasts seem OK initially but time will tell, I'll probably still be replacing them with Icecaps in the next few months.

I'll be picking up my tank tomorrow, drilling is complete, bulkheads attached, acrylic background attached, just getting cleaned up now. I'll post pics tomorrow or Friday.

 

We will be waiting for pics...