120 Gallon Money Pit..

[Veni Vidi Vici]

So when I moved to San Antonio my 125 cracked in transit and I lost my enthusiasm.I thought maybe someday I might get back into a Reef Tank so I boxed up all my stuff and tossed my stand and hood.
Then one day not to long ago I was in Bass Pro Shop Looking for .22lr and BAM! I got the bug.....
Here is my plan. I want to build a SPS dominate tank .I just bought a Aqueon 120gal. 48x24x25. I plan on doing a Bean Animal overflow running down to the biggest sump/refugium I can fit. My plan was to use a old 75 gal I had but..... I messed up while building the stand and didnt leave enough room for it to fit. Plan B is to trade it or ill just buy another tank and build one again. I currently have a 20 gal breeder that will work for now if i needed ,but i dont think I wanna start this build off that way. I also want to do a Closed Loop,I did it on my 125 and it worked great. I built a manifold that circled the perimeter of the tank that had 8 Loc-Line outlets.
Equipment wise I have a good jump.
Skimmer: MSX160
Lighting:3-250w MH
Closed Loop: Reeflo Dart
Water:6 stage RO/DI
assortment of pumps, powerhead,plumbing
In the very near future I want to add a Apex Controller along with dosing pumps or Calcium Reactor.Havent made up my mind yet. But i have some time before i have to decide.
So here I go.

[Veni Vidi Vici]

First thing i did was got the water up and running.24055 Clean and unsort the mess240562405724058 Maybe start cycling the few hundred lbs of dead LR and Sand in the 7524059

[Veni Vidi Vici]

Got started on the base.Ill be out of town all week so ill have to wait until Friday to start on the hood and all the detail trim.24060240612406224063

[SABOB]

Nice job so far, interested in seeing how this turns out


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[Flyride95]

Man this is looking awesome. Glad to see you got the bug again.

[Veni Vidi Vici]

ordered 3- 1" bulkheads,

3-1.25"x1" street 90's,
1- 1.5" gate valve and
1- 1.75" glass hole saw
I already have my 1.5" bulkheads and 2- 3/8" hole saw for my closed loop so it looks like I may get to drill next weekend if I finish building stand and hood..Oh yeah and if rain ,sleet,or snow dont slow down USPS

[Veni Vidi Vici]

This is my old tank,im going to plumb the back similar to this except im going to attempt to relocate some of the holes so i can keep the plumbing tighter to the back of the tank.
Any Ideas?
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w103/Detox67/unidentifiedstand075.jpg (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/Detox67/media/unidentifiedstand075.jpg.html)
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w103/Detox67/unidentifiedstand065.jpg (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/Detox67/media/unidentifiedstand065.jpg.html)

[Veni Vidi Vici]

Got some of my order this week ,still waiting on my street 90's though. So ill be building my canopy tomorrow .... .
I hope to have them both stand and canopy finished up this weekend and ready for stain next week. I also found someone to trade me a 55 gal for a my 75 so i can start on my sump / refugium, holes for my Bean Animal/coast to coast and Closed Loop,and plumbing.

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w103/Detox67/20140328_231103.jpg (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/Detox67/media/20140328_231103.jpg.html)

[Veni Vidi Vici]

Almost there...need to do some detail trim and the doors.
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w103/Detox67/20140329_211822.jpg (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/Detox67/media/20140329_211822.jpg.html)
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w103/Detox67/20140329_211844.jpg (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/Detox67/media/20140329_211844.jpg.html)

[Ms. Mermaid]

Very nice wood work.

[Veni Vidi Vici]

A few steps closer..... Drill for Bean Animal overflow and closed loop suction.
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w103/Detox67/20140413_145548_1.jpg (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/Detox67/media/20140413_145548_1.jpg.html)
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w103/Detox67/20140413_203132.jpg (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/Detox67/media/20140413_203132.jpg.html)

[Veni Vidi Vici]

And almost finished stand and canopy.....
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w103/Detox67/20140413_203411.jpg (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/Detox67/media/20140413_203411.jpg.html)
Im going to wait until I finish plumbing to hang the doors.
Next weekend ill hopefully get the back of the tank painted and maybe the coast tho coast overflow built.

[Veni Vidi Vici]

Very nice wood work.

Thank you :)

[Veni Vidi Vici]

*Update*
I got a lot done since my last post.So here I go.
Painted back with black appliance epoxy and siliconed my almost coast to coast...I didnt go all the way because of the most likely ugly a** silicone bead that would be all over the side of my tank,so i stopped 3" short on both sides.
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w103/Detox67/20140430_193910_2.jpg (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/Detox67/media/20140430_193910_2.jpg.html)

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w103/Detox67/20140430_194104.jpg (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/Detox67/media/20140430_194104.jpg.html)

[Veni Vidi Vici]

Then my least favorite.....PLUMBING!
Started off with the suction side for the closed loop
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w103/Detox67/20140430_194121.jpg (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/Detox67/media/20140430_194121.jpg.html)
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w103/Detox67/20140430_201818.jpg (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/Detox67/media/20140430_201818.jpg.html)
To my Reeflo Dart.
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w103/Detox67/20140430_201608.jpg (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/Detox67/media/20140430_201608.jpg.html)

[Veni Vidi Vici]

The return and manifold.
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w103/Detox67/20140501_212900.jpg (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/Detox67/media/20140501_212900.jpg.html)
The manifold consists of 1-1/2" pipe reduced to 3/4" lock line x 8
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w103/Detox67/20140501_212900.jpg (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/Detox67/media/20140501_212900.jpg.html)
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w103/Detox67/20140501_213057.jpg (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/Detox67/media/20140501_213057.jpg.html)
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w103/Detox67/20140502_225814.jpg (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/Detox67/media/20140502_225814.jpg.html)
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w103/Detox67/20140503_004909.jpg (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/Detox67/media/20140503_004909.jpg.html)
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w103/Detox67/20140503_004924.jpg (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/Detox67/media/20140503_004924.jpg.html)

[Veni Vidi Vici]

Im thinking of adding a few flow accelerators in the near future, maybe ..... need more feed back on them first.

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w103/Detox67/flowaccel.jpg (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/Detox67/media/flowaccel.jpg.html)

[Veni Vidi Vici]

The clossed loop in action.

http://youtu.be/tFBi0iFk6Ok

[Veni Vidi Vici]

The Bean Animal over flow system......Works as advertised and well worth the trouble IMO.
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w103/Detox67/20140501_214640.jpg (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/Detox67/media/20140501_214640.jpg.html)
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w103/Detox67/20140503_004902.jpg (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/Detox67/media/20140503_004902.jpg.html)

[Veni Vidi Vici]

I also forgot to mention that I added a Tee into the closed loop with a 3/4" reducer and hose for easy water changes. You can sort of see it in the last photo.

[Veni Vidi Vici]

My sump/refugium is a 55 gal (Thanks Enginerd) it fit perfect. the first cell is 16" and it will hold my MSX160 Skimmer and the 3 overflows. Cell 2 is 24" long and yet to be determined as to what im putting in there. And the 3rd cell is for the return pump... It turned out pretty good .
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w103/Detox67/20140509_180022.jpg (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/Detox67/media/20140509_180022.jpg.html)

[BBQHILLBILLY]

AWESOMEEEE!!! Those darts have a lot of water flow. O YEA closed loop. Tank is awesome. great job

[Veni Vidi Vici]

LIGHTS! I picked up 2 Lumenbright reflectors and built a rack out of aluminum angle and installed 10 blue LEDS for moonlight sim. I thought it turned out well also.
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w103/Detox67/20140508_173148.jpg (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/Detox67/media/20140508_173148.jpg.html)
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w103/Detox67/20140508_173201.jpg (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/Detox67/media/20140508_173201.jpg.html)

[Veni Vidi Vici]

And last but not least and after 4 trips for hinges...I hung the doors. all most there.
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w103/Detox67/20140509_180221.jpg (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/Detox67/media/20140509_180221.jpg.html)

[Veni Vidi Vici]

I ordered all new filters and membrane for my RO unit and new cartridges for my dual DI. SHould be here Tuesday and i can start makeing water.
My next projects are getting my DJ Power strips and MH ballast hung somewhere? And I also need to go through the roughly 200 lbs of dead rock I have and rinse it off.
I can see light at the end of the tunnel.

[Veni Vidi Vici]

AWESOMEEEE!!! Those darts have a lot of water flow. O YEA closed loop. Tank is awesome. great job

Thanks... it does move some water:bigsmile:

[BBQHILLBILLY]

I really like the closed loop a lot and had an 8ft tank with a closed loop and it was awesome.
Still have the parts such as dart, plumbing, etc for another closed loop build in the future.
Yours is a fun build too watch and cool video too.

[Veni Vidi Vici]

Thanks again.... I think a closed loop just gives you so many more options than power heads other than programability and I think they are less aesthetically intrusive.

[Veni Vidi Vici]

Almost there... in the home stretch.
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w103/Detox67/20140517_215103.jpg (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/Detox67/media/20140517_215103.jpg.html)
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w103/Detox67/20140517_215116.jpg (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/Detox67/media/20140517_215116.jpg.html)

[ramsey]

It's coming together nicely. Awesome plumbing job and nice close loop.

[Veni Vidi Vici]

It's coming together nicely. Awesome plumbing job and nice close loop.

Thank you

[Francis]

Nice setup! Can't wait to see what livestock you put in that awesome tank!


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[Veni Vidi Vici]

Nice setup! Can't wait to see what livestock you put in that awesome tank!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Thanks,me either lol.... The 55 worked great btw.
I still havent given to much thought to the livestock yet...my mind is still wrapped up in the thrill of the build.
When I start adding water is when ill start thinking about it... but my RO only kicks out 16 gal a day so its gonna be awhile yet.

[Southern Flame]

Looks awesome! Can't wait to see it running :-)

[Veni Vidi Vici]

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w103/Detox67/20140521_214038.jpg (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/Detox67/media/20140521_214038.jpg.html)
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w103/Detox67/20140521_214011.jpg (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/Detox67/media/20140521_214011.jpg.html)
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w103/Detox67/20140521_213950.jpg (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/Detox67/media/20140521_213950.jpg.html)

[Southern Flame]

Looking good


90 gal reef <3 250 build<3
MAAST

[jrossjr79]

now I am envious :). Really love your closed loop.

[Veni Vidi Vici]

Made some semi DIY supplemental LEDs
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w103/Detox67/20140524_174834.jpg (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/Detox67/media/20140524_174834.jpg.html)
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w103/Detox67/20140524_174834.jpg (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/Detox67/media/20140524_174834.jpg.html)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkuQAhCzfq0