+TxSkyGuy Posted May 10, 2016 Share Posted May 10, 2016 So my wife and I had a 29 gallon FOWLR we had established, running great, but wife wanted more and bigger fish, so we found a 125 gal tank on Craigslist for $200. Offered the guy $100 he took it and we went to pick it up. It had been abandoned in his room for a while, and DIRTY!!! But it looked in good shape so we brought it home. While we picked up the tank, dude also gave us a protein skimmer and pump, 1 powerhead, and some heaters, as well as some buckets and misc plumbing. SCORE! I cleaned the tank up real good, and we sanded and painted the stand black, and I built a canopy for it. We used an old Rubbermaid tub as a sump, and plumbed some DIY overflows, and she was ready for water! Saddly, during our transfer we had a ph spike while we were I the hospital having our first baby girl, and we came home to a ton of dead fish, only survivors were our sand sifting star and flame scallop. (So if you have any cool livestock for sale, hit me up.) But here's the build as it runs so far, making lots of changes every day. Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+TxSkyGuy Posted May 10, 2016 Author Share Posted May 10, 2016 The old tank, turned into sump! Swapping out tomorrow night once the silicone sets Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+TxSkyGuy Posted May 10, 2016 Author Share Posted May 10, 2016 Our only occupants left standing. Flame Scallop Sand sifting star Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+TxSkyGuy Posted May 10, 2016 Author Share Posted May 10, 2016 Ive got about 70lbs of live rock right now, would like to get 50-100 lbs more. Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+TxSkyGuy Posted May 10, 2016 Author Share Posted May 10, 2016 Added bonus to not having any fish, my pods are growing like crazy! All over the place, theres gonna be some happy fishies soon! Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+BobcatReefer Posted May 10, 2016 Share Posted May 10, 2016 Congrats on the new tank, and kiddo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gig 'em @ NDstructible Posted May 10, 2016 Share Posted May 10, 2016 Sucks to hear about the crash. Do you know what caused the pH spike? Congrats on the deal of a tank and new daughter. Sounds like an exciting time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+TxSkyGuy Posted May 11, 2016 Author Share Posted May 11, 2016 Sucks to hear about the crash. Do you know what caused the pH spike? Congrats on the deal of a tank and new daughter. Sounds like an exciting time! We had read some stuff online about finding wild rock, and how to test if it would be safe, and I think it was some bad advice.Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+TxSkyGuy Posted May 11, 2016 Author Share Posted May 11, 2016 Heres the tank the day we brought it home And today Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+OU12004 Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 Looks good, did you paint the stand a darker color? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+TxSkyGuy Posted May 11, 2016 Author Share Posted May 11, 2016 Yeah, we painted matte black Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbyb3 Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 Good to hear your getting it under control. Yeah I think non professionally cleaned rocks are little gamble. I was having the same problem with ammonia. Tim knows what he is doing and the only thing I used different was rocks I got from a landscaping supply comp. They are now fine but took a little longer to cycle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+TxSkyGuy Posted May 11, 2016 Author Share Posted May 11, 2016 Yeah, it was an expensive mistake, but you live you learn. Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+TxSkyGuy Posted May 11, 2016 Author Share Posted May 11, 2016 Got sump leak tested, and cleaned xtra silicone off, about to install!! Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 Got sump leak tested, and cleaned xtra silicone off, about to install!! Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk I'd wait at least a week before putting it online until the silicone completely cures. You'll leach chemicals in your water otherwise and could kill corals and fish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+TxSkyGuy Posted May 11, 2016 Author Share Posted May 11, 2016 Got sump leak tested, and cleaned xtra silicone off, about to install!! Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk I'd wait at least a week before putting it online until the silicone completely cures. You'll leach chemicals in your water otherwise and could kill corals and fish.Im posting all the old pics I have super out of order, today ill be Installing it, just about a week past new sump buildSent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 Just wanted to mention just in case. Kudos for waiting for it to cure already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+TxSkyGuy Posted May 11, 2016 Author Share Posted May 11, 2016 Just wanted to mention just in case. Kudos for waiting for it to cure already.Appreciate the lookin out! Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+TxSkyGuy Posted May 11, 2016 Author Share Posted May 11, 2016 Ok, so I finally got this sump swapped out, it was a PITA for sure Had to remove the front support, luckily it was non load bearing, then fitted everything in! I went to the dollar store today and found a new basket to put all my fish stuff in, wife wanted her pretty basket back, and found some sections of outdoor carpet that fit perfectly, I think it will knock the vibration factor down Removed everything Got the new sump in and the DSB and Cheeto swapped, as well as a little cord management id been putting off All done! Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+TxSkyGuy Posted May 11, 2016 Author Share Posted May 11, 2016 Now I want to plumb hard lines for my overflows and return Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+TxSkyGuy Posted May 14, 2016 Author Share Posted May 14, 2016 So I did it, I plumbed hard lines for my overflows and the return yesterday, looks so much cleaner and quieter too! Picked up a dual media reactor off the classifieds yesterday, (thanks @crendon2003!) Just finished installing it running GFO and carbon. I feel like I actually have a real set up again finally!! Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+TxSkyGuy Posted May 14, 2016 Author Share Posted May 14, 2016 I'll start on my DIY ATO tomorrow or Sunday after work. Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+TxSkyGuy Posted May 15, 2016 Author Share Posted May 15, 2016 Just picked up two beautiful O Clowns from a fellow member and a blue damsel, feels good to see some movement in the tank again! Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+TxSkyGuy Posted May 19, 2016 Author Share Posted May 19, 2016 Built a DIY fish feeder for my cubes Build thread here: http://www.austinreefclub.com/index.php?/topic/36739-DIY-Deluxe-frozen-feeder/thawer Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+TxSkyGuy Posted May 24, 2016 Author Share Posted May 24, 2016 Added some corals from the monthly meeting, and picked up a nice powder blue tang for the wife. Happy Hammers Happy Zoas Happy Acros Happy Monti Happy Tang Happy Clowns and Damsel So glad to get the tank started on filling in!!! ARC Rocks! Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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