Cela Vie's 90G Perfecto

Cela Vie · 08-07-2007, 08:48 PM

Okay. Here is my build so far. I'll start with a picture of one of the most important things in aquarium keeping that some people ignore (I used to):

An RO/DI unit, this one is from www.airwaterice.com:

The tank, a 90 gallon reef ready tank with the corner-flo built by Perfecto Manufacturing (a Marineland company):

The stand (I got the "better one" out of pure fear):

The skimmer, an AquaC EV-180 powered by a RIO3100, and return pump, another RIO 3100 (I later upgraded the return pump to a Mag 9.5, but did not notice much difference...I actually think a Mag 12 will probably end up being a better match, but that's going to have to wait):

The switch upon arrival:

The switch installed (this view is from the back of the stand), but once you open the right cabinet door, the switches will at the top:

The sump/refugium as it arrived (I ordered it online to my specs...scary!):

The sump/refugium ready for cement (better, but still scary):

Pre-baffles water test (really scary...Holy Bow Batman!):

No leaks though!

Next, I will post the remaining sump/refugium build pics.

Cela Vie · 08-07-2007, 08:59 PM

OK. Here are the remaining sump/refugium build pics, which is when I reinforced the sump/refugium and put in the baffles (as step-by-step as it gets, specially for someone working with acrylic for the first time):

Then it was time for the full day water test. It sat like this until I got home from work, a total of 10 hrs. of testing full to the rim (Look ma! No bowing!):

Time for the plumbing, so here is the "before" (the spaces in between are for PVC or tubing):

Here is the "after":

PelagicMagic · 08-07-2007, 09:13 PM

getting off to a great start. Looks like you have been doing alot of research.

Cela Vie · 08-07-2007, 09:18 PM

The real "after" of the plumbing (under the tank making sure everything fits to specifications):

And here was the tank right before it finished fillng (on The 4th of July

):

The lights got here the following Monday and...cue the heavenly music...tada!!!

The tank was so nice and clear, then the sand went in...

Okay. That's it for now. No more pics. Since then, a month has passed and the tank completed the cycle (at least the algae bloom happened). First, I transferred my turbo snails, hermit crabs, false percula, and royal gramma from my 37 FOWLR, which I'm tearing down. Sorry, I never mentioned that this was an upgrade build. Anyway, last week I added a green bubble tip anenome, a couple of violet mushrooms and a rock with lots of colorful zoanthids. I will post new pics soon, I just haven't taken any. So, what do you all think?

teach · 08-07-2007, 09:23 PM

Very nice. What kind of lighting are you using?

slant77 · 08-07-2007, 09:47 PM

Looks like your off to a good start. It looks to me like a tek T-5 light fixture I could be wrong tho.

MikeAtJax · 08-08-2007, 02:04 AM

Great Job. I like all the pictures.

motorslave · 08-08-2007, 02:06 AM

great job, well done!

Hop · 08-08-2007, 02:15 AM

Wow! Nice job. I'll be patiently waiting for updates!

raycityboy1 · 08-08-2007, 08:56 AM

Looks great so far. Either you've done a ton of research or you've done this before.

mecold · 08-08-2007, 08:59 AM

Looking nice! I agree that the light looks like the tek.

Cela Vie · 08-08-2007, 10:22 AM

Thank you all. Yes, it is a 48" Sunlight Supply Tek T-5 light fixture with 8-54W bulbs.

With respect to research, I've done quite a bit, but some things you just have to learn as you go along, which is good because of the sheer experience of it but bad because it is very hard to move a 90 gallon tank on a stand with a 35 gallon sump by yourself. Anyway, I got back into the hobby last year after a five-year hiatus. I set up my 37 gallon AGA, that was in my sitting in my garage collecting dust, as a FOWLR. I wanted to make sure I was going to be able to "go all in" and that my wife was going to be okay with "it" (and the cost). I almost got back out due to my experiences with AquaZoo and the fact that for some reason, it was not easy for me to find any good LFS. I blame it on the yellow pages, as eventhough it seems like I get a new set of books from either BellSouth or Verizon every other month, everyone's telephone numbers seem to be disconnected (PAY YOUR BILLS PEOPLE) or the LFSs weren't listed. Also, my wife suggested that I divert from San Jose once in a while but that's a story for another time...maybe at the local club meeting. Anyway, after ordering some stuff online versus going to see the monkeys at the Zoo and after reading and posting on Reef Central, Reef Builders and Marine Depot's Forum (for some reason I did not know about TRT until after I visited Rob's Reef), I decided to go for it. BTW, Googleing for NFMAS without knowing the acronym did not yield any results regarding a local club (maybe I just wasn't looking hard enough but then I again it shouldn't be that hard).

Well, that's my story for now. I will take and post pics this weekend. I will also post parameters and full inventory (live rock, sand, etc.). In the meantime, please let me know, based on the above build, of anything I should be doing or changing to make sure I continue on the right path to building an awesome reef.

Thanks again.

zxcv123 · 08-08-2007, 10:28 AM

great build!!

Loverotties · 08-08-2007, 05:26 PM

WOW! Great job!