CastawayReef 120 tank build!

[CastawayReef]

Hi fellow reefers!

I'm going to be documenting my 120 gallon build here.

First and foremost I need to thank the following people that made this dream tank happen:

Denny at concept aquariums for making the tank and stand.
Eli for supplying the awesome dry rock.
Primo reef acrylics for making an awesome sump.
Albert, Paul and Tyler for all the advice, planning and setup.


Background: Been in the hobby off and on since 2001. First tank was a 72 gallon All Glass bowfront. I learned a lot from that setup especially what to do differently. I let that tank slide after ich decimated my tank a few years ago in 2009. It was cramped, the rock wasn't that great, mostly lps and softies.

There is something rewarding about this hobby that is deeply satisfying especially to us engineering guys. It encompasses biology, chemistry, plumbing and electricity.

Last August 2014 I decided to take the plunge again. This time is the era for reefkeeping, the technology has advanced soo much and soo many resources available!

I went around town looking at tanks and I couldn't find one that I liked so I opted for a custom tank. I called Denny at Concepts and he made me a gorgeous standard 120 (48x24x24) 3 sides starfire and metal stand.

[CastawayReef]

This tank is going to be SPS and LPS only. Just say no to GSP and xenia!

Equipment:

Primo custom 3 chamber sump (50 gallons capacity)
Video about my sump: http://youtu.be/aB4z0b1Ao1c

- If your looking for a kickass sump better check Primo out! He is in the GTA
https://www.facebook.com/PrimoReefAcrylics

Return pump: Reed Octopus DC 3500
Vertex 2L media reactor for Hydroton (ceramic media)
Vertex Omega 180i skimmer
Maxspect Gyre XF150
Vertex Illumina light fixture
Apex Gold

Future: Doser for 2 part and ATO.

[CastawayReef]

Picture of the sump

Originally I was going to do a Durso overflow but thankfully Paul changed my mind to Herbie.

I chose durso because of simplicity but after understanding more about the Herbie and tuning it I am much happier!

[CastawayReef]

Sump

[CastawayReef]

Tank and stand

[CastawayReef]

My Nano tank was a recent tank a couple years ago 2012. Once this tank is up the livestock will be moved over to the 120 DT.

[CastawayReef]

Handsdown Albert has some of the best rock scaping ideas around.


The inspiration of the rockscape was from a FW Discuss tank I found online that was minimal, driftwood arranged like a fan and only sand. Simple but elegant.

[reefwars]

I like where this is going :)

[CastawayReef]

Equipment

[CastawayReef]

Last December I filled up my tank with RODI water, mixed the salt, seeded zeobak,VSV and ammonia to kick off the cycle.

Once the new year came around did a test for NH4 and it was good. 100% water change and time to start stocking!


Think I'm off to a good start here!

[CastawayReef]

I still need to build a skin around the stand to close it off and reduce the noise from the pumps.

liveestock right now in the tank are:

2 open brain corals
1 frogspawn
1 birdsnest
1 fungia
1 tyree toadstool

Overall I am very happy. The tank by concept is awesome. Patience is the best equipment you can get and its for free!

Looking forward to posting updates as this tank evolves!

[albert_dao]

Missing a few pics bro :P

[CastawayReef]

Yeah. Apparently I hit max already for uploads.

[gregzz4]

There's not much server space for uploads ... plus only peeps logged in can view your site jpgs

Use something like Photobucket or whatever and post away !!!

We want to see pics :smile:

[lastlight]

really sweet looking setup so far! i checked out other videos by your sump builder and looks like he does some really nice work.

[albert_dao]

Use www.imgur.com, no need for an account unless you want to manage your images :D

BTW, got stuffs for you; I'll just leave these right here...

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10931285_780074392062233_9095278217534680783_n.jpg ?oh=ce767c3044fd9dc878bbff482a9c21fa&oe=55622783&__gda__=1428907103_5a35fd816700e0eda948a6353e74169 3

https://scontent-a-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10920929_780072558729083_7731087093136508937_n.jpg ?oh=45c9d753279208b50cd0d7d90dca57c6&oe=5526BBAD

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/1610861_779985428737796_4353587017734404919_n.jpg? oh=8da2b5b8c99eb4d771ccae54a9b3a38e&oe=5537E130&__gda__=1432992939_cf42aa47a12e7a8f7ddf12b01204e2f 3

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10930900_780078088728530_5841401817477744383_n.jpg ?oh=1fd3333419ffcebca10feb1e55dd9a51&oe=55688045&__gda__=1428833945_3a05cd56171bbfec639faf108c0403a 5

https://scontent-b-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10933904_780078395395166_1700647084391335295_n.jpg ?oh=a0f4446493243c217b151a8b369e447f&oe=552C8104

[CastawayReef]

Use www.imgur.com, no need for an account unless you want to manage your images :D

BTW, got stuffs for you; I'll just leave these right here...

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10931285_780074392062233_9095278217534680783_n.jpg ?oh=ce767c3044fd9dc878bbff482a9c21fa&oe=55622783&__gda__=1428907103_5a35fd816700e0eda948a6353e74169 3

https://scontent-a-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10920929_780072558729083_7731087093136508937_n.jpg ?oh=45c9d753279208b50cd0d7d90dca57c6&oe=5526BBAD

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/1610861_779985428737796_4353587017734404919_n.jpg? oh=8da2b5b8c99eb4d771ccae54a9b3a38e&oe=5537E130&__gda__=1432992939_cf42aa47a12e7a8f7ddf12b01204e2f 3

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10930900_780078088728530_5841401817477744383_n.jpg ?oh=1fd3333419ffcebca10feb1e55dd9a51&oe=55688045&__gda__=1428833945_3a05cd56171bbfec639faf108c0403a 5

https://scontent-b-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10933904_780078395395166_1700647084391335295_n.jpg ?oh=a0f4446493243c217b151a8b369e447f&oe=552C8104



Dude! Sick fish especially the blondie! It has found a nice home : )

[CastawayReef]

http://i.imgur.com/IF3Nre0.jpg

[gregzz4]

What wrasse is that ?

[Wheelman76]

What wrasse is that ?


Male exquisite

[Myka]

Hey, nice start. What's the ceramic media for?

[albert_dao]

Biomedia.

Edit:

Just gonna leave this here in case Ivan doesn't get around to doing it - Castaway Reef, now with more coral love:

https://scontent-a-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/l/t1.0-9/10891805_788113364591669_4078801572872498769_n.jpg ?oh=d0688758367e463018bbfcd86a39d8bc&oe=555B6DA2

[CastawayReef]

Here is another FTS side view:

http://imgur.com/FLSYI9m.jpg

[CastawayReef]

Pic of my rainbow fuzzy, haven't seen him eat yet but it did try going after the CB shrimp :)

http://imgur.com/9Z1JZQr.jpg

[CastawayReef]

This frag is money! (Acropora borealis)

The pic does not do it justice.

http://imgur.com/moyKACs.jpg

[CastawayReef]

http://imgur.com/qvThkNh.jpg
http://imgur.com/eUBRvQq.jpg
http://imgur.com/HPHfine.jpg
http://imgur.com/oVCPGlN.jpg
http://imgur.com/EdB9NpR.jpg
http://imgur.com/Yaz9rFH.jpg

[CastawayReef]

Hey, nice start. What's the ceramic media for?

Thanks!

Have to give credit to Albert and Spit.Fire for the setup.

Can't wait for the frags to start growing out into colonies!

[albert_dao]

:D

[albert_dao]

Yellow-Striped Whiptail in the Castaway Reef:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkzOyTqtlQw&feature=youtu.be

[WarDog]

Nice looking set-up! I might have to hire Albert to do the aquascape on my next tank!

[spit.fire]

Nice looking set-up! I might have to hire Albert to do the aquascape on my next tank!

defiantly worth it