El Dude's 150g build

El Dude

El Dude

New member
I've decided to document this build. My friends all tease me to start a build thread. So I'll start one here for Chi-town...

Tank: 150g 5x2x2 got it used from another member at socalireefs. It was in bad shape. It took me 3 hours and 2 gallons of vinegar but I cleaned it up. Then I got my reef buddy from down the street to help move/rinse it. It looks rough but this is waaaaaay better than it did when I got it.
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Next step is to scrape the background, repaint and replace the bulkheads.


Stand: The same friend who helped me move the tank had an extra steel stand and matching light brackets just laying around. So he hooked me up! Great guy! Great Reefer! Great friend! OGFrenchHorn @ socalireefs...
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Foam fractionator: I picked up a used ASM G3 fractionator with a Sedra pump. It's rated for 250g, so I think it will work for my needs. I've heard they can be finicky...does anybody have any experience with these models? Can anyone give me words of wisdom? I'll post pics after it takes a nice long vinegar bath.

Filtration etc.: I plan on turning my current DT into a sump...should be enough realty in there for my needs. I plan on a simple three compartment design. Filter socks, fractionator and biopellet/gfo reactor in the first. Refugium in the second. Return pump and ATO in the final.

Lighting: I have a Current USA Nova 6x48" bulb fixture. These come with the WORST stock bulbs ever. They wash out all color. I plan on switching them out for all ATI bulbs as soon as the tank is plumbed...I'm planning on using this fixture until my wife let's me splurge on LEDs. Lol...

It's all just plans right now. I have other financial obligations(mortgage, utilities, bills etc.). On top of that I need new bulbs...FML

It's gonna be a slow build. Thanks a million for checking out my thread!
 
Great start amigo!!!! I also have a G1X and a G3.. The G3 is not running yet and can't say about its performance.. Now my G1X does the job on my 75gal..

Post progress ;)
 
Smitty said:
Looking good so far...any stocking plans yet?
Click to expand...

Well I'm going to obviously transfer everything from my current DT. ORA stubby occi clowns, yellow tang, assorted corals, RBTA. I AM planning on making the tang police flip out! Staying with the mixed reef for sure.

EricTheRed said:
Hey EL Dude, how'd you find us from sunny California ?

:welcome:
Click to expand...

Mike is the admin for both SoCaliReefs and ChicagoReefs. I also hear Chicago reefers know what's up...
 
Alright so I've been taking it slow since I got a bunch of other stuff on deck, don't we all? So I scraped and painted the tank black. I also ordered all my bulkheads, fittings and the most economical powerhead I could find...Hahaha yeah right!

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I had to trade a whole mess of buckskin,beadwork and arrowheads I made to afford it...but I think its worth it.

So now I just need a return pump...I'm thinking of a Rio 32HF, it's high flow and in my price range(open to suggestions). Oh and some PVC/tubing...things are starting to come together....
 
Epic revive...

Alright due to some extenuating circumstances in my life I had to put this on hold. But now that I have a baby on the way next month it's now or never...

Everardo(OGFrenchHorn from SoCaliReefs) just left, we moved this heavy beast into the living room. I have all my plumbing and whatnot so everything should fall into place...hopefully within the next week.
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Rinsing out 80 lbs of Caribsea Special Grade Reef Sand. I'll be adding more later but for now this is what I have to work with. For those of you who have never used it, its a great substrate but requires EXTENSIVE rinsing. I'm rinsing 10 lbs at a time, you can see the pic below with about 2 gallons of water in the bucket of sand.
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I have to rinse each 10 lb batch about 10 times just to get rid of the "bucket of milk" look.
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I'm waiting on the tank to fill before I can mix salt and place all the sand in it. Good times.
 
great looking tank, i have the same dimensions on my tank, i love it. what were you thinking for the aquascape? check my build for some pics of what i ended up with
 
Thanks! Its a Vizio and they put a double layer of glass for a center brace so the center of my tank will need a shelf and the sides will be less interesting for sure...
 
I found a leak in the plumbing earlier this week. I forgot to put the ring over the PVC length with the union. I pulled that piece out really quick and slipped the ring on, but it was too late. I had a slow drip so I shut the sump down for the week till I had time this weekend to go head-on. Oh yeah I finished my new sump too! I'll post pics after everything else dries and is going good.

I went up to the LFS today and got the new bulkhead for the return, a small red star and a goby-pistol shrimp combo. They're acclimating right now so I'll post more pics of them later as well...
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Welcome to Chicago Reefs. First, great build thread! I actually really like your aquascape. Its nice and open, has some hiding spots, gives you plenty of room for future corals additions, coral growth, and allows easy glass cleaning. I wouldn't change it. Also, I love the Goby addition!
 
So I picked up a Desjardin Sailfin (Zebrasoma desjardinii) Friday. It was eating Gracillaria(not sure a/o I'm not a botanist) and pellets well. I threw it in the QT tank and let it acclimate overnight.

I dosed it with:
Metronidazole(antibiotic) @ 6.58ppm
Praziquantel(anthelmintic) @ 1.97ppm
I'm going to run a two-part course of these drugs and observe for Cryptocaryonosis. If found, I guess I'll have to dose copper as well. I just don't want to ruin a perfectly good tank, fractionator, heater etc. I'll keep you all posted.

Simple QT setup: 15g tank, CPR BakPak fractionator, heater, few pieces of live rock(maybe 7lbs).
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It's hard to take a good picture because this guy is about 2" and quick.
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