Jaygalindo's 80 Gallon Reef Build...

I have been looking at some t5 HO setups on ebay. So far i have been lucky to get some great deals on the stuff I have. I figure any money I save I can use towards my lighting budget, which figures to be my biggest purchase that I will make. I am open to suggestions on lighting. I do plan on having coral.

 

80 gallon build update...

So over the last week and a half, I have picked up some equipment for my 80 gallon. I have acquired an Eshopps pf-800 overflow, 1 Koralia 4 power head, 1 350 watt titanium heater, and a Vertex IN 100 Protien Skimmer with sedra pump. I also have completed my 30 gallon sump. That leaves me with needing only a return pump, lighting, and plumbing to get up and running. Water should be in the tank around June 2nd. Can't wait!!!

 

flyin along here jay. cool snag from goodwill , cool stand, cool black paint work, cool sump. and when you get the rest , i will just keep sayin cool. keep it up. lol

 

thanks for the cools

 

So as of tonight I have got the plumbing complete for my first saltwater setup. I added a eshopps pf 800 overflow, Mag 7 return pump, Vertex IN 100 skimmer, 300 watt titanium skimmer. Tomorrow I am going to get water in the system to make sure everything is flowing and no leaks in plumbing. I tried to keep my plumbing straight forward and simple since this is my first set up. The only thing I am waiting on is my T-5 lighting. Can I start cycling my tank without lights? Ill have pics up tomorrow of the almost complete set up and a story of my trial run. Also wondering, its ok to use tap water for a trial run right? Let me know.

Jay

 

yep tap water is fine 2 test leaks.....i wish i painted my tank first :'( also u can start your cycle without your lights its just that anything that is photosynthetic wont grow til u get ur lights

 

I would definitely start the cycle without the lights. No need for them until you get some livestock in there.

 

Well i got the system up and running this morning. Being very very new at this, I am suprised I got the system flowing on the first shot. Like I said, I went very simple was far as my plubing to and from the sump. The only problem I see right now is that my drain pipe is one inch PVC about 12" long. I drill holes in it for flow. All the holes are submereged in the Fuge except for the last row. This makes things a little nosiey. Also what are some efficiant ways to drain and fill tanks. I know about the python system but does it work from say a garbage container of saltwater???? Let me know what you guys do.

 

Well i put a big sponge on my pipe in the fuge because it was slightly above water and you could hear the splash the sponge stops the splash therefore less noise DRAINING AND FILLING IS EASY WITH A SUMP BUT I REMOVE THE WATER FROM THE TOP WITH AND BIG HALF OF GALLON CUP AND EMPTY INTO A BUCKET AND I MIX MY WATER IN A 32G TRASH CAN THEN WITH THE USE OF a powerhead i fill the sump. but most do siphon so they can clean their sand bed and then fill the same way as me , but if u dont usually clean ur sand bed dont start

 

if you dont mind me asking how much average have you spent setting this up?

im looking to setup something bigger im look at anything between a 75 and a 125 probs guna go with 80 or 90 gal