75G Sandless Bottom Reef Tank Build

[Chapz]

For some time now, I was contemplating upgrading to a larger wider tank. Previously, I had a 65G tank but grown dissatisfied of its size.
Well I tried to purchase a 120G 6ft long tank but the mrs. went berzerk with that suggestion. Tried for a 90G 4ft tank but couldnt find one.
I finally found a 75g tank while the mrs. was on vacation beginning of February 2009 so thats what I stuck with.
One saturday while she was at work, I decided to push full throttle emptying the 65 and moving the 75 into its new location. To tell the truth, the tank was freaking heavy. Doing this alone didnt help. OFcourse i was able to get it done before she got home.

Stand Build: I had help from Welmer aka: Daddyreefer13. He was also upgrading to a 90G so we built 2 stands to make time work with us.
Got the wood cut at a friends place then put it together in his hallway. Extremely heavy taking it home. Thank goodnees for elevators.
Stand is actually 38" high. Was tired of staring at tank thats too low due to the standard 28" high stands made by manuafacturers. This was also an accomplishment that I wanted to do. Check that off my list.

Canopy Build: Started before I went on vacation first week of March 2009. Once I came back 3rd week of March, I actually bought Kewlfish's canopy since he was breaking down and getting ready for his move. Canopy came with (2) 250k MH (2) Fans and (2) Actinics. As for my early canopy build, i just finished it also. Didnt want to keep a project incompleted since I have time to work on it. Unfortunately I have 2 canopys I like. Maybe buy another tank? heheheheh

Sandless: I started having cyanobacteria on my 65g sandbed and ruined it. Didnt want that issue again. I just figured give it a shot. Looks well for now.

Purchasing some of this material was difficult as I no longer own a vehicle.
Had to walk to and from Home Depot on Woodhaven when I needed stuff.
That wasnt fun either.

Most of the work was occuring while the tank was running. Couldnt let time fly by with out progress. Even painted tank the week before the swap. Looks better without the flash and will try to get a better shot.

Well I tried My best to take pictures but this stand build started with my cellphone. The next set of pics are actually my canon powershot. They still arent the best but i'll figure it out.

Hope I'm not missing anything but will update info when possible.

75G Sandless bottom Reef Tank
30G Long Sump
Bunch of live rock in the sump
Aqua C Urchin In Sump Skimmer w/ Mag 5
Mag 7 return Pump
2 Phosban Reactor: (1) For Carbon (1)for Phosphate
Tunze powerhead (from DaddyReefer13)
Modded Maxijet 1200
(2) Koralia 2 (Purchased from Leo NaClH20)
Hang on back overflow

 

[Chapz]

Pics after the stand and canopy painted.
As for the Lights, I actually use them at night to light up the living room.
Very Bright. I rarely turn the living room lights and the lamps on anymore.
Also shown is the first canopy design I had for the 75g, not the one i purchased from kewlfish.

 

[Chapz]

A bunch of these corals were from my original 65g tank thread.
I purchased nureous frags from members during the previous frag swap at Pratt University. Not sure how to add a description per pic so Its gonna have to be looked at individually.
Added more sps from Green Slimer frag, to pink birds nest frags and hydnophora frag while also adding numerous zoas. Nuclear green, Purple People Eater, and True red people eaters and also a yellow fiji leather from LeslieS.
Purchased at swap from questionmarc, Teddy, Bl007, GQ22, Lazibonez, TB Aquatics, Finksmart, & Reefman.
All scattered around tank.

As you can see in a couple pics, my frag racks is fully booked and growing rapidly.
Hopefully the new frags continue the trend.

Thats all for now.
Will do my best to figure how to take better pics.

Also, Can anyone figure out what type of people eater paly that is in the first pic below?
I really cant figure what it is? They multiply like crazy and are even overwhelming my frag rack.
Looks really nice though.

ENJOY!!

 

[noelskii]

nice tank! i like the stand and canopy build.

 

[CHEMCHEF]

Great Job

 

[ecvernon]

nice tank!!! think you could use more flow?

 

[Chapz]

Took awhile longer since I didnt have all the supplies and tools available.
But pretty proud of myself with the amout of effort I put into it.
Trying to get better shots but then the timer turned off and I had to wait for the MH to cool off.
Gotta take a pic of the new Convict Tang I picked up from Domboski earlier this evening.

 

[DaddyReefer13]

nice tank!!! think you could use more flow?

Hey Chap - I agree with ecvernon you can mod the tunze to produce more flow.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1025361

I was going to do this while i had it but got a Vortech instead.

 

[woodman]

nice cab ,let me know if you want furnture grad ply .all type's ,cut down to size for you.

 

[m'akoyPINOY]

sweet tank,chaps!can't wait to see those sticks grom out.

 

[lazibonez]

Good job Peter. I am very impressed with the woodwork job U and Welmer has done. I didnt know u have so much corals already. Thanks for sharing. Nice upgrade.

 

[DEL]

great setup!! keep the pics coming!!

 

[baja2700]

Nice set up very clean look

 

[krak256]

very nice peter! great upgrade. hmm... do i recognize that clownfish? lol

 

[Chapz]

This was big difference. That goodness Welmer had his suv since that was the only way to get the stand home. Weighs a ton.

M'akoy- The Sps are actually doing well. One of my brown digi's started to grow. Thats how I figured the tank was doing well

Alan- Moost of the sps and zoa frags on the bottom of the tank came from Kewlfish this month when he broke down. I will still get from you. Gotta make sure the pinks birds nest shows progress. Still got a while til mine looks like your show tank.

Don- Wish u still had them? Thanks for the clowns.

Evernon- I did think about the mod but wasnt sure i wanted to cut the tunze. Just a bit cautious.

Woodman- Thanks for the offer. Good to know people can help out here.

Thanks everyone!

 

[Domboski]

Looking good Peter! Got any room for some extra tanks? I need to unload some :wink1: J/K I don't want to get you in trouble.

 

[Chapz]

Looking good Peter! Got any room for some extra tanks? I need to unload some :wink1: J/K I don't want to get you in trouble.

Its not that having too many tanks will get me in trouble, its looking for wall outlets. Running out of them. heheheh. I do have a plan though for more set ups. Gotta make a local tank!
I tried taking pics of the convict tang but it just keeps hiding.
Was lucky i caught some of the other fish in the earlier pics.

 

[Domboski]

Cool. We'll all have to go out this summer and collect some goodies

 

[Chapz]

Yeah cant Wait!

EVERYONE:
In the picture with the orbic cardinal, I have a frag rack with a bunch of zoas an palys. Thats the first pic of my coral thread. Can someone figure out what type of coral the one on the top right is called? I know the pic isnt the best.
Is it Gold Palys, People Eater, Etc? I have no idea but there spreading like fungus. heheheh. There even taking over the frag rack.