SuperGreen 80g build.

[crony333]

Alright about 2 weeks ago I bought a slightly used 80g bowfront tank, canopy, and stand + some odds and ends for a fowlr setup. I'll try and catch this post up to the tanks current point and specs. I'll post some pics soon as I get some 20posts in.

80g 22x48x18 in middle
20g sump
2 Koralia's 4
Eshopps 1200gph overflow box
2x250w heaters
4x65w pc lighting .. 2x 65w 10k 2x65w Ultra actinic
Mag7
100# marco dry rock
20# lr
60# ls

[crony333]

Initially I wanted to drill the tank for my overflow down to my sump but after some searching and the uncertainty whether the tank was tempered or not I just went with HOB Eshopps 1200gph. I know I don't have to much experience with alot of equipment out there but I feel pretty confident about this overflow box. I tested it out a few dozen times by unplugging return letting it stop then plugging back in the pump. It hasn't failed yet. I did notice some air bubbles on the top of the acrylic tube that goes from inside the tank to the outside box. I know bubbles are a major concern as if they build up to much they can kill the siphon, but I've been keeping an eye out on it and it doesn't get much bigger than quater size. This overflow box can definitely handle anything the mag7 can return.

I did notice that the amount of air or lack of air in the siphon tube between the inside tank box and the outside box is correlated with the speed of flow in it. I stuck a plastic ball valve on the return line and if I close it and reduce the rate of return I seem to get an increase in air bubbles. They don't seem to be able to make the full trip thru the siphon tube. On the otherhand If I drop the inside tank box so its compeletly submerged the flow the the siphon tube is so great that all air that was in the tube gets swept away and it stays clear of any air, well until the water lvl catches up then i am left with the quater size air pocket again. Atm I'm pretty happy with the current flow but if I do see any air building up in the tube I will consider upgrading my return pump to something larger that should definitely help.

[crony333]

The Eshopps box drains into a 20g sump on 1 end of the tanks which is big enough for a MSX160 which I will purchase soon as I'm ready for coral. A bubble trap seperates a refugium which will contain some cheato lighted with a clamp on lamp or 2 with GE 6500k daylight 26w fluorescent bulbs.

I came across a 7g blue water tote used by campers at Walmart that was perfect for a gravity water top off. The container was air tight to begin with so was pretty simple to implement. Just drilled 2 holes in the main cap just a hair bigger then some flexible airline is. I took 2 small pieces of flexible air line about 2 inch in length I heated it over the stove to soften it up some then I jammed a piece of hard line into it, long enough to reach te return section in sump. Threaded both lines into the cap making sure that the cap was snugg over the section of hard line that had the flexible line as a gasket.

A mag7 returns into the main tank, now I think most people tend to put the return close to the surface of the water to skim off the surface of the water. I opted to actually put the return so it behind my rocks, I figured it would help with the overall flow since I realy can't fit a powerhead in there.

[crony333]

As stated before I have nearly 120# of rock in my tank. Marco rock is actually pretty attractive. I'm not incredibly familiar with fiji except for the pieces I seen at the lfs but this stuff is not as heavy for a similar size fiji, lots of holes lots of surface area.



After doing some research and weighing the pros and cons I decided to go with a raised rock system system with sand. Fly Guy's excellent guide to make invisible rock lifts simplified this step. I did opt to using starboard for the acrylic pegs to sit in rather then more acrylic .. I think it was a more economical alternative since there is no real plastic shop in town and I would have had to order it off the net.




btw after taking down my dry aquascaping on the ground I couldn't put the puzzle back the way it was in the tank.. i tried .. i failed.

I also opted for some sand about a 2inc depth. I just don't find a BB tank that attractive, and I did notice that alot of people use starboard to line their tank incase of a rock fall, it may look nice in the beginning but after a few months it can't look that hot.

[crony333]

Here's a current pic of my tank up and running.



Its currently going thru its cycle. I posted about a possible problem with the cycle in general but I think its doing well.. my nitrates are starting to skyrocket tho. I'm using Red Sea testing kit for testing during tank cycle.

As of today:
Ammonia= >7.5ppm
Nitrite = > 1ppm
Nitrate = >50ppm
pH = 8.0
temp= 85-86degrees
SW gravity = no clue.. my hydrometer still all over the place refractometer should be in soon.

[Loverotties]

Nice job!

[crony333]

Thanks a bunch!!

I'm trying to do as much research as I can. I realy want to succeed in this hobby. I look at some of your tanks and they are just gorgeous and I know it took alot of work to get them that way. The guy I bought the tank from bought it and he only lasted 4-5 months after his tank crashed he gave up. I know there will be issues but just trying to learn what I can to avoid the avoidable.. if that makes any sense.

[dealinfoam]

Hey Cronie, cant view the pic you posted. Am I doing something wrong here? You mentioned your build on my post and I wanted to follow it. You seem to be a bit ahead of me on your build, so it is a great reference.

[crony333]

Any luck viewing them yet Dealinfoam? Not sure why you wouldn't be able to view them, I have a few comps and I'm able to see them on all of them.

And I'm just about as new to this as you are. I have been doing my research but still its new territory. The key is to just do some research and don't jump in without realy knowing. Hobby is pretty expensive and its easy to make expensive mistakes.

[dealinfoam]

Crony- I am able to see them now, and this is my 20th post.....so I now get to post pics!!!

BTW- tank looks great, and I really like that rock!