Rich's 125 Gal Build

[rdnelson99]

If you want to follow along you have to be patient. :-)

Worked out a good deal today on a new tank, stand and canopy. Tank is a 125 (72" x 18" x 23"). It isn't reef ready so the first step will be getting it drilled. Over the next several months, I will work on rounding up equipment. While I would love to go LED I don't think that is going to be in the cards for the time being so I will most likely go with a DIY T5 setup. When the time comes to set it up, I will convert my existing 45 into the sump.

[Crewdawg1981]

Hey Rich good luck with the setup!

I would look into the true costs of the T5 setup though. I know if I had spent the same money on LEDs that I spent on my MH setup... It'd be just about the same or very close.

Food for thought.

[rdnelson99]

I hear you but.....I have access to ballast and reflectors etc. that may help offset the cost. My current 4' 6 lamp set up was a modified from a fixture that was damaged in shipping and the factory told us to "Field Scrap" it when they sent us a replacement. So I "Field Scrapped" it to my garage. LOL

[rdnelson99]

Starting to think about a stock list. I currently have the following in my 45 all of which will go in the new 125:

1 Kole Yellow Eye Tang
1 Six Line Wrasse
1 Blue/Green Chromis
2 Ocellaris Clown
1 Fire Shrimp

May be adding in a day or two 1 3"-4" Coral Beauty from a member.

Of course a big part of my desire to upgrade is to open up possibilities for other fish. Would a 125 be big enough to allow introducing another pair of clowns? I would like to have something other than just the Ocellaris. Also, while a blue or yellow tang would be nice, they are not my favorites. Most of what I see listed on Live Aquaria says 200 gal or more. Are there figure right? What kinds of tangs would be good? Any other reef safe fish you would suggest?

[Thanh386]

3 x 120 watt led boxes @ 130-140 each is cheaper than the t5 if money is a concern

[rdnelson99]

LOL Money is ALWAYS a concern. When you say that are you including the cost of the fixture in the t5 price? The reason I ask is I can most likely get all the ballasts and parts for nothing. I can have one of my vendors throw them in on a fixture order. Of course if I get the job I am currently bidding I might be able to get them to find me a nice LED set up for nothing. LOL The light fixture order will be about 1/2 million if I get this job. My vendors are drooling all over it. The problem with that is, the manufacturers I deal with don't deal in that kind of LED.

[Thanh386]

I am saying that t5 pricing is still close to if not higher than these cheap box led. You said DiY, lets say the ballast were free. That leaves with wiring, reflector and bulbs. I assume since u have a 125, most likely u want to do a 6 -8 bulb set up. ATI or better bulbs run about 18-26 for the 36 inch. Reflectors will be about the same . Waterproof end caps and hardware is not cheap. It's roughly 300-400. if you just want led, and you dont mind not having all the bells and whistles its' about the same.

[rdnelson99]

Definately going to look at LED closer when the time comes. Right now, I have come across my first MAJOR hurdle. My plan was to move the TV over the fireplace and put the tank where the entertainment center is now. Our current 45 sits on top of the entertainment center. Momma is resisting my efforts more than I thought she would. LOL Funny how she gets to decide how to decorate the entire house and I can't have one corner of the family room.

[dme330i]

Congrats on the tank! Momma only has 49% of the vote in my house.

[rdnelson99]

LOL. Well with a wife and 3 daughters I am a bit out numbered.

[rdnelson99]

One big step completed. Did the work today and picked up the tank, stand and canopy as payment. Tank will need to be cleaned and the I will drill it I have decided to go with a Bean Overflow and a semi- coast to coast overflow box which I will build out of acrylic. Supposed to wire a basement in trade for some equipment here in a week or two. Curious how cheap I can put this all together. That's why I have a big nose....air is free. Hehehehe

[rdnelson99]

Unloaded, in the garage and black paint scraped of the back. Tomorrow, time remitted, I will finish getting it cleaned up.

[wmboots]

If you need any help let me know

[rdnelson99]

Originally Posted by wmboots

If you need any help let me know

You could convince my wife that it would be a great replacement for our current entertainment center. Not sure if I am going to win that battle but I haven't given up the fight yet.

[grouper therapy]

Are you going to use a background color?

Edit: If you have the space the tank would be a good peninsula style.

[rdnelson99]

Love the peninsula idea. May have to think about that one for a while. :-) The tank was painted with a black background but it was pretty ratty looking. Plus I don't care that much for black backgrounds so I scraped it all off. I am thinking of going with a light blue painted background. I am thinking it would be better to drill it before painting to avoid scratches to the paint. Of course precautions would need to be taken to keep the overspray out of the drilled holes.

[rdnelson99]

Sure glad I finished drilling this tank and building the overflow box before this big Thunder Boomer rolled in. Now for some paint and plumbing.

[Tbrennan]

So you get to set up the tank?

[rdnelson99]

Originally Posted by Tbrennan

So you get to set up the tank?

LOL Now, I didn't say that. Since no one wants to buy it like it was, I figured I would drill it, build the overflow, plumb it and paint the background. If, during all this work she happens to say "Oh go ahead" well.......... LOL

[Tbrennan]

haha Well i hope it all works out for the best I would hate to see all the hard work go to waste.