Hi everyone,
I’ve been working on a 75 gal standard tank build since around April now and figured I would upload my tank, it’s progress, and it’s pitfalls. I don’t have pictures of the initial rock design or tank filling, or the building of the stand. Currently we have a 75G DT with a 30G sump underneath. I believe I filled the tank and added live rock/ live sand around mid-April. Initially I didn’t have a sump and had a HOB skimmer, so I’ve come a long way in the last three months changing my mind on everything a million times from trying to use a direct siphon for the sump, to skimmer brands, powerhead brands, and everything in between. The internet has been a saving grace for research and meeting people who are willing to help. I’ll upload pictures later tonight. Unfortunately I don’t have very many from the very beginning of the tank or the stand build, but I’ll upload what I do have. As always, if anyone has any suggestions or advice for anything at all I’m all too happy to learn!
I guess I can also share my current equipment list. It’s changed tons over the last three months, but here is what is currently in place.
75 G Tank (duh)
30G Sump with only about 15 gal of water in case of a siphon problem, theres plenty of extra space for water
80 LB live sand
~40 LB live rock, ~60LB dry rock
Jebao PP4 powerhead
Jebao PP8 powerhead
Sicce Syncra Silent 1.5 sump return pump
EShopps PF800 Overflow box (Wish I bought a reef ready tank)
Aquatic Life Reef Edge LED 48" (71W 120degree lens) Total PAR should be ~175 at 12" and ~130 at 18"
Current Orbit IC LED (46W 90degree lens)
1" Plumbing from overflow box to sump with a gate valve to make it super quiet ::bs::
Fluval 300W Heater
Thermometer that sticks to the glass (idr the brand or anything)
Aquatic Life RO Buddie RODI system
Reef Crystals by IO
I think this pretty much sums up the current equipment list.
Temp is 79F, Salinity 1.025, Nitrates ~10, Nitrites 0, Ammonia 0
Can’t post pics yet :BB) looks like I’m having the same problem bgriff44 described in the Griffin/Graff tank build thread.
Sounds like your tank is coming along well Kyle!
Taking it slow was a good choice, I can’t wait to see how it will look when the frags start to grow out
I just fixed your account, you should be able to post pics now. 
Thanks! I’ll post some pictures in the morning when I get to work. All corals I have are courtesy of Lee and Donavon :
:
Here’s a picture of the tank as of a few days ago. I made a little hood to hide the lights, but it’s normally not on unless company is coming so it’s easier to feed and fiddle with the tank.
One more for tonight. Here’s Donavons awesome trumpet coral. Looking super happy in the evening actinic lighting PBJ! lol
Here’s my sump setup and the stand I built (not a carpenter) - I need to find a way to hide the light from shining through the crack between the doors
Great start! I like the look of your stand. You just just run a strip of wood behind one door and you’d block the light.
That’s what I was thinking too, I just haven’t gotten around to it. I like how easy it is to access everything in the cabinet without a strip in the middle of the cabinet doors though. I fiddle around with everything a lot
[quote=“Kyle Mench, post:13, topic:9128”]
That’s what I was thinking too, I just haven’t gotten around to it. I like how easy it is to access everything in the cabinet without a strip in the middle of the cabinet doors though. I fiddle around with everything a lot[/quote]
I meant attached to one door. It will swing out with it.
Ahhhh! Makes so much sense. Great idea!
I also don’t understand why all my pictures are turning 90 degrees when I post them?
are you posting from your phone? they tend to show up wrong.
