In the summer of 2007 I began to make preparations for getting a 90G reef tank set up. I proceeded to do a little research to see what exactly would be involved as far as equipment goes and what type of finances that I would be looking at to get up and running, and then the maintenance involved and monthly expenses to operate such a system. I currently have a 20G nano reef and simply love it. After my research, I still felt compelled to move forward with my plans. So far all my efforts have been a challenge to me, but I am a very patient and determined individual who enjoys a challenge.
I started looking at 90G reef tanks and decided that I preferred the standard tried and true rectangle shaped tank. I knew I also wanted a tank with some width as I didn't want my
live rock looking like it was inside a glass jar like pickles.
I wanted plenty of room across the front to view the marine life that would eventually live there. I found a tank just like I was looking for from a woman that lived 45 minutes away from me. She had the tank custom built, but decided that she wanted a tank of lesser height due to her coral raising. I purchased the tank which measures 18 X 25 X 48. In the meantime, I had gotten a 55G tank that I had decided to turn into the
sump/refuge for the system I was building. I took it down to the
LFS and explained what I was wanting. After several weeks of delays from the
LFS, the
sump/refuge was built. I stored both tanks in my living room and sat back and worked on finding a stand.
Here are some sample shots of the simple
sump/refugium I had built out of a common 55 gallon aqurium that was 48" in length.
Below is a left hand shot of water coming from the display tank, clearing the baffles and making it's way to the
refugium.
This shot shows the first solid baffle and the second baffle which is an underflow baffle. This modified baffle is for use with a cryptic style
fuge. It has worked quite well. Modifications has since been made with a 4" layer of LS strategically placed to not interfere with water flow. And Le Garcon, my wine glass seems to have become empty. Ahemmm. Thank you, let us continue. Mud and sand have been added below the cryptic screen table to enhance
nitrate reduction. A 4" sand bed has been layered over the crushed coral to improve the effectiveness of
nitrate reduction, along with the introduction of spagetti style
macro algae.
This is a right hand shot of a 55 gallon tank that was modified into a
sump/refugium. Left hand portion is the
fuge and right show the
sump which houses the
skimmer and 2 main pumps which run the system.
My
sump/refugium was built from an existing 55 gallon tank measuring about 48" long. This photo shows water as it run from the
refugium into the
sump compartment that houses the
skimmer and main pumps to the system. Water drains from the
fuge out of 3 holes which measure a 2" in diameter.
I found a solid wood cabinet large enough for my tank, but what I did not take into consideration was the plumbing that had to be installed inside. This was mistake #1. I was back to square one. A friend of mine who has awesome carpentry skills agreed to go with me to Lowes and I purchased a oak kitcken base cabinet like contractors use in new constructions. We spent one entire afternoon installing a brace support system inside the cabinet and creating the top for it. He was quite thourough using wood screws and wood glue on everything he did. I was very pleased.
My installation for plumbing had been postponed several times by the
LFS for one reason or another. Thats fine by me as I am a patient person and it gives me more time to select the different sand types that I will use in my tank. After doing a little research I have decided to go with a mixture of sand instead of choosing just one size grain. I purchased sand as fine as sugar and the next 3 sizes up to be mixed in equal parts before being placed in my tank. I will not layer the sizes as I know that all will eventually settle according to mass and weight. I have also decided that I will purchase the ready made salt water for my tank. I don't want any errors or miscalculations on my part at this critical time.
The
LFS finally keeps an appointment saying they finally found the heavy duty schedule 80 bulk heads that I argued back and forth with them about. ( The
LFS said that I could use regular schedule 80 on my tank. I had heard different from the previous owner. I also had contacted the business who custom makes these tanks and was told by the owner to use only "heavy duty" bulk heads to keep from having problems and that the
LFS was full of beeswax..) The guy does the plumbing and says he'll be back in 2 days and that the plumbing and glue had to cure. That's fine with me.... I'm making progress. After a week of delays, he comes back again and fills my tank and starts the system up. He adjust the water level so it is at the right height in the
sump/fuge and things look good except for water running from both bulk heads. He applies more glue, epoxy or whatever one uses and the left bulk head sealed up and the bulk head that pumps the water from the
sump is still leaking bad. He stays 30 minutes longer and the leak slows some. He calls it a pin hole, but it is drip, drip, drip in rapid succession. Probably a gallon in 3 hours. He leaves saying he will be back the next day and I have not heard from him since. Approximately 9 days pass and the leak is slowing down and I feel much better, but know I still have problems that need to be addressed in the near future. I decide that I will work with what I have so far and not pursue the
LFS to correct the problem as they can't return my phone call. I do not trust myself to remain dignified in a patronizing conversation full of lip service and butt pats out the door. Good riddance to bad rubish!
My tank is up and running and the day before the
LFS came to fill the tank, I did some shopping at another
LFS 2 cities away. I purchased 125lb of a combination ofFigi Pukani being the bulk
LR, Figi Premium, Tonga branch, natural coral mix and some lace rock to use as a building base. The rock is cured and the Pukani looks awesome. It is a very lightweight, porous, soft rock. Quite beautiful. I got more enjoyment from picking each piece and found myself going back and choosing just one more! I bring back my precious cargo and begin laying it out by shapes and sizes and coloration. My tank is cloudy due to the sand storm, but is settling nicely. I have decided to cut eggcrate to lay on the bottom before building my aquasctructure in hopes that it will be more base stable. I have my drill, ties and hold tight clay medium at the ready. Finally after changing my mind several times, I feel I have created a look that I like. I then check the flow of water in the tank and felt that the left side of the tower did not have enough flow so I put a rotating powerhead there for good circulation. I felt that even though the
LR was cured, it would still have more die off until my tank did it's first initial cycle.
I am thinking that even though my cured
LR has bateria in it, I still need to start a cycle. I run to the back yard and dive into our fishing bait freezer and pull out a shrimp. I toss it in my tank with glee. I leave it in for 3 days before I pull it out. 2 weeks later, my system has had it's first initial cycle! Yeah!
Now I see other problems that need to be addressed. I have 2 section of the top portion of my overflow tower that needs to be repaired as live stock will be pulled out of the tank and into the tower. I was given excellent advice from dedicated, experienced members here at TR and the repair went smoothly with a little trial and error.
The next problem that I realized was that the overflow cut outs from my
fuge that flow into my
sump with my
skimmer and pumps were inappropriate. There are 4 2" drainage overflows from the
fuge and they were allowing everything to pass through them. Again, the fine, dedicated folks here at TR gave me some more valuable advice on how to correct the problem. It was a very easy task. I just used GG here again, but cut out all plastic from the screen, only using the hard plastic to work like a frame to support the screen. A mag float now holds this in place and is located above the water level in the
fuge.
I am in the process of cutting 2 plexiglass squares that will be a cover on the
DT to help with evaporation. I am planning on using eggcrate on the back 3" to aid in air circulation and gas exchange. Will update with photos as they become available.
icon under their name to add to their reputation. 
I will offer a word of caution: even though you are using pre-mixed 
I would love Dick to come down this spring and fish. I can't wait. The only bad thing is my health insurance deductable starts over in January. 
Nothing like an ER visit to get that outta the way! 
Those people never cease to amaze me with their scam. However you will be proud of me. I got Scott to go with me the day after Christmas and pay a friendly visit to them and let them know that my plumbing was still leaking. (How many weeks has it been now?) Explain this to me.... why is it that a man can put the fear of God into someone and me, a little woman gets patted on the butt? Heck, he had the owner up front during this little interaction and they were all but falling all over themselves. He told them that they could fix it on their own or he would find someone to do the job correctly and would send them the bill. From what I could tell, the owner never knew there had been a problem and the lil boy who did the original plumbing had scheduled with me to come out in 2 weeks. After the owner got involved, well, they're suppose to come Saturday. For their sake and my nerves, I hope that they do. Especially after I told Scott how much money I have spent in their store so far for a