Sacul1573's 90g - RIP

Time to take the plunge! This will be my first SW tank, with the current plan to start with fish/soft corals, and gradually move into reef building as my experience broadens.

They say to start with as big a tank as you can afford, so I decided to utilize Craigslist for my first tank, and after a month found this beauty for very cheap compared to the equipment included. The owner is not trying to recover equipment costs, rather, just wants enough to properly start up a 28 gal nano. Everything has been very well taken care of, a great find!

90 gal glass with center overflow
JBJ PC 2 bulb
MH 2x150 (I believe)
JBJ 1/3 hp chiller
55 gal sump w/skimmer
large UV sterilizer (probably wont be using)
130 pounds live rock, few scattered corals
Assorted fish, very lightly stocked




The fun part right now is moving the tank. This will require 2 round trips to move tank/stand/livestock/rock/water, and those trips include a lengthy drive on the 405 in LA. I will be dumping the substrate, and adding new sand (not live). I hope to save about 60-75% of the water, and avoid a cycle. If the tank does cycle, I'm not too worried, I will have the fish in a QT tank during the move anyway.

I've asked the owner to put off the move until early Jan, as I dont want to setup the tank and then leave for the holidays.

Talking with my wife (the one who checks my spending;D), our plan is to sell-off the lighting system in place, and I'll shortly be purchasing the AquaticLife T5 HO 6x54 fixture. If anyone is interested in the chiller or lights, PM me. Otherwise they'll be in the Sale forum in a month or so.

We will also be exchanging all the fish (except the clown) with the LFS. Current plan is 2xclown, 1xblue tang, 1xyellow tang, 5-6 blue chromis, 1 cleaner shrimp, 1 red mandarin once the tank is established. These will all be added over several months time.

As for coral, I intend on getting my wife more invovled in the planning process, and so I dont know exactly what we will include yet. I'm just making sure I have the light for most corals, and compatable fish.

For now, I'm running around aquiring the support equipment for the tank. QT/buckets/salt/sand/tests/misc equip/etc...

I've always loved visiting aquariums, never thought that someday I'd be able to make my own. My wife and I are quite excited for the pleasure this hobby brings, as well as the challenges. I'm sure you'll be seeing some panic posts from me in the future! ;D

 

Sounds like a well thought out plan. Great deal on the tank. The live rock should prevent a cycle or keep it to a minimum if you move the rock correctly there is very little bacteria in the water column. Keep the rock covered with water at all times. Use the heater to keep the water warm that will have the fish and corals.

Good luck and best wishes on the move.

Welcome to 3reef.

 

Looks like a very nice tank and system. Looks like you got a good deal, that is a lot of live rock. Ninety gallon tank is a good one to start with, the more volumn the more stable the system.

Good luck with the transfere.

 

atleast youve done your home work and know what you need and where you wanna go with it. congrats and welcome to the reef

 

I got two big boxes in the mail last night! Spectra Pure RODI, a bunch of chem tests, pump for water changes and mixing SW, and a 50 watt heater for my QT. I also picked up a 10 gal QT w/hang on filter and light from PetSmart the other day for $20. My T5s shipped and will be here next week!

Slowly but surely getting everything ready.

Oh, and I did some measurements. Inital plan was to take 2 cars to pick up the tank/stand/livestock. Well, the tank or stand wont fit in my car, so it's looking like 2 round trips, each 3 hours w/no traffic hopefully (405 in LA ). I'll have to have the live rock in bins with a heater and pump to cycle water, and I figure the 8 (small) fish can cram into the QT tank with some live rock for a few hours. Any potential problems with that?

Quick question to anyone who might know... can I use PVC cement to fit flexible tubing into a slip fitting, or do I have to use inserts? I didnt want to reduce the inside diameter...

 

WHEW, I hope I dont have to do that too many more times in my life. Ended up moving the tank a day before scheduled to avoid of all this snow Los Angeles has been getting. By Monday morning, I had 8" of the stuff on my lawn. Made for a good snowman! ;D I digress...

Anyway, left on Saturday morning at 9:15am, and by 10:15pm I had the fish in a holding tank, the aquarium mostly setup, the liverock and some sand in the tank with a pump and heater to keep the water moving. Unfortuantely, even with all the water we salvaged, plus having 30 gallons on hand, I was still about 7 1/2 gallons short, and so I had to wait until morning when the LFS opened to grab a bit more. As I started to reconnect all the plumbing, my probing fingers started pulling globs of gunky buildup inside the black tubing. I decided to head to Lowes to pick up some fresh tubing and do things right the first time. Went to bed with a milky tank.

Sunday morning the boss and I set up the rock into an aquascape that I'd had in mind. I then ran to the LFS to trade in a few of the fish I didnt want to keep and pick up some water. Plugged in the tank, and whoa!, that's loud! I'm talking turn up the TV volume and elevate your voice loud! Took off the rest of the day to watch the Packers squeeze into the playoffs , and we headed to bed. The boss was doubting the decision to get a tank because of the noise, and I was starting to agree with her.

I couldn't sleep. The tank was so loud, I could hear it quite well from my bedroom. So here I am at 12:30 in the morning, cutting filter media to fit in the overflow to reduce the waterfall noise, and yanking one of the Rio HFs out (it was ALOT noisier than the other). Apparently the guy I bought the system from liked to oversize everything, so he had a total of 30x turnover flowing through his sump. Too much, so I cut that in half. Now the tank is at a MUCH better noise level, although I will be attempting to pad the pump and add some plumbing to the overflow feed end of the sump. I'm a tweaker, so until I can hear the light fans, I'm not giving up!

Monday morning... SNOW DAY! So the boss celebrated by letting me know she didn't quite like the aquascape, and so guess what I spent the morning doing? Tis fine, I tend to like it better now as well.

Tested the water, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 100!, phosphate 10!. Media reactor in place with some PhosGuard and carbon. 15 gallon water change last night brought nitrites down to 70-80, and another one scheduled in a day or so.

I know you are all craving for pictures, and so, when I get home from work, I will post the ones I took last night... ;D

 

Good luck; cant wait to see it finished!

 

Sounds like a super busy time ! Cant wait for pics, this looks like its going to be a phenomenal tank.

 

This link here may help you with your noise issue. there are other options as well.

http://www.3reef.com/forums/i-made/my-herbie-overflow-write-up-pics-beware-60239.html

 

Alright, got home tonight with some filter sponge, cut it up and put it around the pump. Can hardly hear it now! ;D Now I just have to take care of the splashing water...

As promised, pics! Pardon the colors, still expeimenting with my wife's DSLR.

Full tank:


Coral I managed to save:


One lonely clown for right now: