90 gallon slow and steady build

[neil82]

I'm getting this thread started to share the progress of my new tank build. Thanks for taking a look and feel free to share any thoughts or ideas.
I'm calling it the 'slow and steady' build because the wheels started in motion about 2.5 years ago. We had an unfinished basement, so the first step was to finish the basement with the end goal of setting up a new tank down there. My wife and I did the work ourselves. We just passed final inspection a few weeks ago. I've been collecting equipment and daydreaming about this tank for the same length of time.
I'll list out the equipment I'll be using and post a couple pics of how things stand as of today.

90 gallon reef ready tank
20 gallon long for sump
(2) Galaxyhydro Wi-Fi & Manual control 55x3w dimmable 165w LED light fixtures
Reef Octopus Classic 152-S skimmer
(2) Eheim Jager 200w heaters
(2) BRS 1.1 ml/min dosing pumps
(2) VorTech MP40s w/battery backup
Apex Jr w/4 outlet energy bar & temp probe
Eheim 1262 return pump

I'd like to use the Apex Jr to control the heaters and the dosing pumps. I've never used an Apex before, so we'll see how it goes.

View attachment 11263 View attachment 11264 View attachment 11265

 

[SkyShark]

Awesome! Following along for sure.

 

[zombie]

Apex is pretty easy. Tell me what you want it to do exactly and I can give you optimized code with failsafes that you can just copy/paste in. You might want to consider picking up a WXM and another energy bar (there are some used ones right now on the classifieds) so that you can take full advantage of its capabilities and features.

I don't see an ATO in your list. What is your plan for that?

 

[CRW Reef]

Sweet!! Nice work on finishing out the basement!

Bring on the water!!!!

 

[neil82]

Apex is pretty easy. Tell me what you want it to do exactly and I can give you optimized code with failsafes that you can just copy/paste in. You might want to consider picking up a WXM and another energy bar (there are some used ones right now on the classifieds) so that you can take full advantage of its capabilities and features.

I don't see an ATO in your list. What is your plan for that?

Thanks Zombie! That would be super helpful.
Still up in the air with ATO. On my current system I have a mechanical float valve that uses a gravity feed siphon for top off. It has never failed. I have not used an electronic ATO and I'll just be honest and say I'm a little skittish about them.

 

[neil82]

There is a good chance my distrust of ATO systems is unfounded. Again, I have never used one. Can you let me know some pros/cons from your experiences?

 

[SynDen]

Honestly with ATOs, the simple solution is often the best solution. If the gravity feed works for you then stick with it imo.
My big tank is going to be gravity fed as well. I only use an ATO on my 75g because my RO is under it and cant be gravity fed to it.

 

[Balz3352]

Tunze ato is the way to go

 

[neil82]

Thanks for the feedback. I'd be super disappointed if I had an overflow due to ATO failure.

 

[SkyShark]

I’m with balz, the tuner ato is the way to go. Get the one with the optical sensor and float valve as a backup. They also can only stay on a certain amount of time. Just make sure your water level can never rise to the level of the output tube.

 

[neil82]

Working on skin and trim for the stand. Getting close to putting the tank on top. View attachment 11577 View attachment 11578

 

[zombie]

Tunze ato is the way to go

Not if you have an apex. The best ATO money can buy is a good peristaltic dosing pump in the 50-400ml/min range or a good low flow pump like the tunze pump without their controller, two optical sensors, and two floats. All controlled by the apex itself.

The tunze controller primes every time it turns on, isn't adjustable, and can't alert you when there is a problem without some ridiculously crazy workarounds that only kinda work on a 2016 apex.

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[neil82]

View attachment 11809

 

[neil82]

Trying to make progress on the stand. Finished up trim and painting. Picked up butcher block counter top (poplar) to put under the tank. Need to stain and finish the butcher block top. Hopefully more updates soon. View attachment 11810

 

[neil82]

Okay, time to update. Finished up stand for the most part. I'll be ordering some cabinet doors for it eventually. Filled with water the weekend before last. Added sand and rock last weekend. It's Fiji island rock that I ordered in January and have had curing since. Thanks to @Gabe&Brandi and @ryewalk84 for the sand. I've just been letting the system run and breaking in the skimmer, tinkering with return pump flow rate, tuning the gate valve etc. Soon I'll add more live rock and see what I can figure out for the rockscape. I'll also be transferring over some established live rock from my 55 gallon system. To do list at the moment:
Rockscaping
Build hanging light fixture
Install backup battery for mp40s
Install/plumb brs reactor
Setup ATO which will be 5 gallon jug gravity feed to mechanical float valve
Setup Apex jr for control of two brs dosing pumps and heater
Add cheato and light for fuge area in sump

That's about it for now. Thanks for looking and let me know what you think about this design so far. View attachment 12605 View attachment 12606 View attachment 12607 View attachment 12608 View attachment 12609 View attachment 12610 View attachment 12611

 

[Dr.DiSilicate]

Great stand, love the butcher block. Everything looks super clean. What are you thinking about for live stock?


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[McFish]

Super clean. I too love that bucher block.

I need a kitchen island made w/ bucherblock...maybe I should put a tank on it

 

[neil82]

Great stand, love the butcher block. Everything looks super clean. What are you thinking about for live stock?


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Thanks for the feedback! I will eventually be transferring livestock from my existing 55 gallon. The 55 gallon is mixed reef with zoas, LPS, SPS, BTAs. Fish include yellow tang, mocha misbar clown, yellow watchman, tricolor fairy wrasse, and banggai cardinal. I'm thinking of adding another fish or two if anyone has suggestions. The yellow tang currently rules the roost.
For rockscape and coral layout, I'm thinking of building up the right side for SPS colonies and keeping the left side more open with a couple small rock islands for zoa garden and LPS. Open to any and all suggestions for rockscape and coral layout ideas.

 

[neil82]

Super clean. I too love that bucher block.

I need a kitchen island made w/ bucherblock...maybe I should put a tank on it

Thanks! I stole the idea from someone on R2R. Here is a link to the butcher block I used:
https://www.flooranddecor.com/wood-...-block-workbench-5ft.-100110147.html#start=13

 

[neil82]

Thoughts on using Apex JR to control brs dosing pumps for two part? Am I asking for trouble? This will be my first time using an Apex and it makes me nervous.