Rtm2017's 90 Gallon Build (MASSIVE Update!!!!)

Well, I spent 2 hours at the LFS debating over buying my first saltwater tank. The wife convinced me to go with a 90 gallon tank with a center overflow with 2 bottom holes drilled for a sump. This is going to be a slow build since the tank is bigger than I planned for which makes everything more expensive.

This is going to be a reef tank with softies, SPS, and a few fish. I’m planning on a DIY LED kit from RapidLED for lighting. I’m also planning on a 30G breeder for the sump which I will be making myself. But other than that I have nothing really decided on yet and everything is still subject to change other than the tank itself

I will be taking and posting plenty of pictures as my tank progresses and plenty of other posts in other sections of this forum as needed. First pictures to come on Wednesday when the tank is delivered to the LFS!!!!

 

OOOh another 90g, welcome to the club! LOL The bigger the better in this hobby. If you have time, check out the 90 gallon thread, so you see what others have and whatnot.

And welcome to the 3reef as well!

 

Welcome to 3reef.

 

Hello and welcome to the 3reef fam. Follow the motto and everything will go along smoothly.

 

Here is a pic of the tank in my living room next to my 20 gallon freshwater tank. It looks awesome, I'm already in love with it.



Still empty for now, working with the wife for a budget so I don't go crazy on it. but i have a pretty good plan going. Picked up a 20 gallon long from Petco's $1 per gallon sale to use as my sump. On Monday I'm gonna call a glass shop and get some baffles cut. I'm planning on a Reef Octopus 6" 150 Protein Skimmer from BRS with a mag 7 return pump and a refugium section.

For lighting I'm planning a RapidLED DIY dimmable 48 LED kit with 24 cool white and 24 royal blue with 60 degree optics on 2x 8"x18" heat sinks from heatsinkusa.

More updates and pictures to come as I piece this monster together!

 

Nice!!!!

Gonna be really similar to my set up:
Same black Aqueon Stand
Rapid DIY kit
20g long sump

Definitely following!

 

Welcome to 3reef! Looks like you have done your research. Excellent choice on the rapid led build, its by far the best bang for the buck as far as led light goes. I'm going to be starting my rapid build probably this week so you will have to check my build thread out. As for your tank, you said it has a center overflow with 2 holes pre-drilled? I HIGHLY recommend going with a herbie style drain setup on that and figuring something else out for your return. You will appreciate the quiet operation and no bubbles in the sump.

 

well I pulled the trigger today!!!!!! Here's the list!!!!

2x koralia 1400 powerheads
reef octopus 6" 150NWB
Mag 7 return pump
75 gpd BRS RO/DI 5 stage unit with dual TDS meter
80 lbs Pukani Dry rock
80 lbs fine sand from marcorocks.com
Jager 250 watt heater
RHS-10ATC Salinity Refractometer
and other random plumbing/aquarium parts!!!


and now the mail guy waiting game begins!!!

Thanks for the herbie overflow suggestion. I spent at least a whole day researching it and i like the idea of it. but i dont like the idea of the return not being drilled in and me and the wife both enjoy the sound of running water in our current tank. so were sticking with the durso style drain and using locline for the return plumbing so it is black coming out of the overflow.

Only major thing left is the RapidLED kit and im gonna wait a week or 2 before ordering that.

Pics to come as the boxes arrive!

 

how are you planning on plumbing the drain? PVC or flex tubing?

 

Planing PVC for the drain. For the return im still undecided of I want to do PVC or braided nylon tubing. I'm leaning more towards the PVC right now.


more specifically for the drain im folowing this DIY guide


any suggestions for the return?