72 Build thread

[jovreef]

This is my first 4 foot tank I've always had smaller tanks in the past & for christmas the hubby finally gave in and said we could get a larger tank & he'd split the cost with me (sucker little does he know what he just agree'd to)

I figured I'd make a build thread to help me take things very slow & to get oppinions on equipment & such from everyone here since this is my first experience with larger reefs & all the new fancy gadgets I can get to go with them.

I am planning on a SPS dominated reef with a nice collection of zoa's

So far I have

1 dirty 72 RR bow (yay for RR!)
36 inch acrilic sump/fuge
mag 9.5 return
thermometer & temp controler

This weeks tasks
Decide on rock. I currently have about 20 LBS in my running tank. I want to get around 30-40lbs of un-cured nice fresh rock not from a prevous tank.
My choices TBS & LA's deepwater rock. (any experience with either folks?)

Decide on water movement
Thinking a couple of tunze 6055's on controler? Any cheaper options, experience with these? Still really open on this one, I've had some breaking issues with my 6025 but love the water movement.

Narrow down skimmer choices
I'm hoping to get something used as to not break the bank on this 1 item. Chuck insists on a few larger fish so I need something good.

Paint back of tank.
Any tips on painting a bow? How can one keep it flat so we dont get drips?

 

[Jennifer]

Wow sounds cool. I have an sps dominated 72 bow as well.

1. They usually say 1 to 1.5 lbs of live rock is the way to go.

2. look into the sea-flow mods for maxi-jets. Bulletproof and economical.
(I should have done this instead I bought Koralias.)

3.Skimmers lots of opinions there. I like euro-reef

4.Painting: I painted mine with it sitting on the bottom (normal) on a couple of milk crates. (spray paint) Or you can lay it down on its front with a couple of pillows or sand bags. You can tape off the overflow areas allowing you to see into them from the back after it is painted.

Good luck - Jenn

 

[jovreef]

The 30-40 lbs is just to seed & get some rock cooking. I dont think I'm going with 1-1.5 lbs in the long run though. I prefer lots of holes & arches for swimming.

Is the sea-flow mod the one thats been around for a while thats bulky or is this a new type of mod?

You did not get any drips painting the tank upright?

 

[Jennifer]

The 30-40 lbs is just to seed & get some rock cooking. I dont think I'm going with 1-1.5 lbs in the long run though. I prefer lots of holes & arches for swimming.

Is the sea-flow mod the one thats been around for a while thats bulky or is this a new type of mod?

You did not get any drips painting the tank upright?

Cool, I like to see arches and holes as well. I have about 90 lbs in mine. good sized rocks no little ones most of them were about 20lbs a piece.

The Sea-flow mods were demo'ed at the last meeting. The maxi's with the mods are the same size as my Koralia #3's. They are farely new.

No drips if you are carefull and not build up the paint to thick or too fast all at once.

 

[jovreef]

Thanks for the info

 

[rmleal]

Pics Pics Pics!!!

 

[jovreef]

lol, its just a dry dirty tank right now, I'll post some as I go along though.

 

[Liam]

congrats on the tank Jovanna.

Maybe you could get some marco rock to add to your other rock. Marco rock is dry and very porous making it extremely light,you get plenty of rock to fill the tank for not too much cash.

 

[newreefer03]

Just so you know TBS rock is denser and less porous than pacific LR. It is very nice in that it has a lot of life in it--sponges, algae, inverts. But watch out for mantis shrimps and gorilla crabs. I would use it again but would keep it isolated in a rubbermaid until I was sure there were no crabs or mantis shrimps.

 

[Aquaman_68]

Thumbs up fellow bow owner!!! Bout time!!! JK

 

[Behrmon]

What color? Here is a Pic of my old tank spray painted upright with Krylon (sp?) Navy Blue. I would suggest at least 3 coats if you spray, letting each one dry completely.

 

[Jennifer]

Here is my 72bow Black paint just for a comparison. Old pic but the best I could find to show the paint color. 90 lbs of rock I left a lot of room for the corals to grow.
Behrmon's navy blue is really nice too!!!

 

[jovreef]

I scrubbed the crap out of the tank last night & got it taped up and ready for painting.

Thanks for the pics guys, navy blue looks pretty neat... thats an idea.

I ordered some pacific rock from LA last night, I'll start cooking it when it comes in. I was thinking marco rocks alittle later after my live rock was done cooking & ready to go in the tank. Does marco have slab's or just boulders?

 

[Frag Freaks]

I love tank build threads. It would be cool to see your progress. Update with pics as often as you can!

 

[dedfish]

I scrubbed the crap out of the tank last night & got it taped up and ready for painting.

Thanks for the pics guys, navy blue looks pretty neat... thats an idea.

I ordered some pacific rock from LA last night, I'll start cooking it when it comes in. I was thinking marco rocks alittle later after my live rock was done cooking & ready to go in the tank. Does marco have slab's or just boulders?

Marco will hand pick the pieces for you if you ask and and let him know what your looking for. I just bought some of his stuff recently and I have to say I've never been more impressed with rock before. This is truly the most porous rock I've ever seen. He has fiji and tonga shelf. One of the larger pieces that I got has enough holes and space in it for a fish to swim inside and out of the rock a handful of different ways. The surface area of the rock is incredible. It doesn't compare at all to the premium live fiji I bought for my other tank, the marco is way better.

 

[jovreef]

big question!

I know I've not even got water in it yet ... but ... Does anyone think a Mag 9.5 will support good flow for a return pump out of one of those switching current deflector things if I T'd the return pipes & put one on?

 

[ohsweetmadness]

i run a mag-7 on my 90 gal, so i think that would give you plenty of flow...

 

[RayD]

big question!

I know I've not even got water in it yet ... but ... Does anyone think a Mag 9.5 will support good flow for a return pump out of one of those switching current deflector things if I T'd the return pipes & put one on?

A Mag 9.5 will do just fine. I use a Mag 12 on a 120.

 

[RayD]

Jovana check this out ...

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1289933

 

[jovreef]

Thanks for the link but I already bought the mag.