Look what I scored! My 125g build

Its been about a week since my new purchase and I thought I would go ahead and start a build thread. I was interested in beginning to look for an upgrade from my 46 gallon bowfront tank. My plan was to slowly look around and when the right deal came up, go ahead and make the purchase. So I hopped on craigslist and right away I found a deal I just could not pass up. After running it by the wife, I called the guy right away, put a deposit down and came back 2 days later with a friend to pick up my new tank. After a full days worth of dismantling, moving, and then setting up the new tank, I finally had my new 125 gallon tank set up.

The move went as well as I could have ever hoped. All fish and all but one coral (small xenia frag) that were included made the trip. My set up took about 4 days total to finally get everything tweaked and running correctly. I am still not sure if I am completely satisfied yet, but I probably never will be!

So on to the good stuff, what my new build includes:

-125 gallon tank and stand (unfinished but I don't mind a little project!)
-72" light fixture with 3 x 250w metal halides and 4x80w T5s
- Custom sump with dual overflows and refugium
- In sump SWC Xtreme 150 BMK Protein Skimmer
- Iwaki return pump
- 6 Hydor Koralia powerheads
- Korallin Calcium Reactor (with CO2 tank)
- 200 pounds live rock
- 120 pounds live sand

Current livestock:

- Blue Hippo Tang
- Scopas Tang
- Tomini Tang
- Clownfish (two of mine, two of his - they are getting along right now)
- Yellow Blotch Rabbitfish
- Picaso Trigger (tiny guy, maybe 2" long)

The tank also came with more coral than I can identify including some frogspawn, trumpet coral, birdsnest, gorgonia, carpet anemone, large pineapple brain coral, lots of various zoas and others.

What do you guys think about the livestock that came with it? Do you see any problems with what I have?

Also, this is the first time I have set up a sump. Initially, my return section in the sump seemed to be lowering in water level. Now, I believe I have it fixed for the most part, but it still seems to very slowly decrease in level. Is this just due to evaporation in the tank? When I add water to the display, the level rises again in the return pump section of the sump. Or could this be that the pump is just slightly out pumping what the overflows can return? I am able to dial down the return pump via the ball valve on the return line, but would prefer not to if possible. The overflow is rated at a higher flow rate than the return pump, so I do not believe that should be a problem.

I've got lots of work still to do and I am sure I will move stuff around more often than is humanly normal but I am very excited to have the opportunity to have this new tank! ;D

Pictures to come after they finish uploading.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

 

Congrats!! Sounds like a great setup... we do need some pics to confirm though

As for the water level in the sump, Yes, that is where the evaporation shows up. It will constantly fluctuate due to this. If you decide to add an ATO later, the return section is where you add it.

 

Great pics.

Everything looks good at first glance except the Scopas. Lookup HLLE disease. Does not look life threatening yet, but needs to be taken care of. It is possible that it is just stress from the moving, but better safe than sorry.

 

I was thinking the same thing. He has been eating really well and seems to be doing pretty well overall. I will definitely keep an eye on him. And thank you for the heads up on the sump. I thought that was the case but wanted to make sure.

Does anyone have any tips on cooling my halides? First time running halides and they sure do run hot. I currently have two small fans that blow across the water under the halides that help a little, but any other advice would be appreciated.

 

Run a fan across the tank and sump's surface and the will help alot with heat.

As for HLLE, soak all you foor in Selcon for a few weeks and it should turn around. Thats what I do with my Lavender tang when he shows spots.

 

Thanks guys. I'll pick up some selcon hopefully get the scopas taken care of.

 

Update.. I'm ordering my spectrapure 90gpd RO/DI tomorrow. The days of going to the LFS and buying 5 gallon jugs to top off are over. I go through a lot more water now than I ever did with my 46G!

 

Great score and pickup.