75g Penninsula Build

[showjyr]

I'm starting this a little prematurely because the tank won't be here for another 3 weeks to a month but I have a ton of stuff on the way. Once this tank is set up everything from my 14g BC and 29g will be transferred.

Tank-75g RR AGA with black silicone, corner overflow, and plumbing kit-$285

Lights-Hellolights retros, 2x150w MH + 2x54w + 2x54w T5 HO and T5 bulbs, 2 Phoenix 150w MH bulbs from aquacave-$610

Stand-Veneer Plywood, screws, paint, 2x4's, hinges, stainless door handles, brackets, chain, eye hooks, rollers/brushes-$264

American DJ 8 switch panel-$38

Salt and sand-$94.96

Pumps-QO 3000, Koralia 4, Vortec MP20 -$300

Filter socks/plumbing/epoxy putty/acrylic rod/acrylic sheet ect-$115

Live Rock-80lbs+-already have

Heaters-two Jager 150w-already have

Sump tank-30g AGA(baffled)-already have

ATO-Tunze Osmolator-already have

Skimmer-still trying to decide

Total-$1679.57(not counting stuff I already had)

I'll keep this updated and take pics of the build.

[joel1234567]

Cool. Sounds like you're building your own stand? You should do a writeup on the DIY forum for the stand. I'm always interested in different ideas/methods of stand construction.

[showjyr]

Yup I'm building my own, I'll be taking pics along the way of everything. It'll be the 3rd one I've built....I got french, full overlay hinges for this one so the doors will have a little spring open and close to them and you won't be able to see the hinges

[joel1234567]

Stand-Veneer Plywood, screws, paint, 2x4's, ...

Do you use something like an oak veneer plywood, or some other type?

[showjyr]

I'm using birch. I would go with oak but the stand is being painted black so I'm not worried about having a nice grain.

[Erik]

Whew! You've got some nice stuff there! Can't wait to see it progress... But I have to ask, QO3000, Koralia 4, and a MP20 for $300? May I ask how?

Cool. Sounds like you're building your own stand? You should do a writeup on the DIY forum for the stand. I'm always interested in different ideas/methods of stand construction.

Joel, I'm planning on inviting some people over when I build the stand for the 180gal tank I'm building up. You're more than welcome to ride up with us when it comes time to build the frame. I've done a few and it's a piece of cake. I'm framing the 180 with 2x6's and don't think it'll take more than a few hours to make all the cuts. Even quicker if I have some help to assemble the pieces. Let me know if you're interested.

[showjyr]

Yup...I'm freakin excited

K4-$48
QO3000-$45
MP20-$200 from a buddy, 2 months old just like new with warranty card and packaging

[joel1234567]

Joel, I'm planning on inviting some people over when I build the stand for the 180gal tank I'm building up. You're more than welcome to ride up with us when it comes time to build the frame.

Thanks. Send me a PM with the details if you don't mind. If I'm free I'd def like to check it out. I can bring some tools if you need anything. I built a stand for my 180G FW tank last year- so I have a little experience with the builds, but I'm always curious what other people are doing, esp with custom installs.

[showjyr]

I've been thinking about running my sump in the basement for this tank. The basement isn't living space and gets minimal heat so I was planning on a large 50 to 75g tub inside a slightly larger tub and filling the dead space between with expanding foam and covering the top with foam insulation to keep the heat loss low.....should work right? I could leave the top off in the summer to keep the tank temp down where I want it.

I've been skimming classifieds looking for pumps that would work at 600-700gph at about 9' of head height. I'm going for the lowest wattage I can find, any suggestions?

[Erik]

I've been thinking about running my sump in the basement for this tank. The basement isn't living space and gets minimal heat so I was planning on a large 50 to 75g tub inside a slightly larger tub and filling the dead space between with expanding foam and covering the top with foam insulation to keep the heat loss low.....should work right? I could leave the top off in the summer to keep the tank temp down where I want it.

I've been skimming classifieds looking for pumps that would work at 600-700gph at about 9' of head height. I'm going for the lowest wattage I can find, any suggestions?

The reeflo pumps were the best I could find... The Reeflo Uno Tarpon would work well.

[showjyr]

Off to look up specs

[showjyr]

Ouch....expensive.

[showjyr]

A mag 12 would be perfect.......at 9ft of head it would give me 650GPH. The bonus is I can run it right in the sump.

[joel1234567]

I don't have much input on different pump types. But, I bought this book a while back, "Ultimate Marine Aquariums", that has some amazing tanks with all different types of setups- all the equipment used, tank parameters, etc. One thread of commonality that I found between many of the tanks was the pump type used. It seems that a lot of the people used Iwasaki pumps. I don't know much about them. I was able to find them online (I looked a couple years ago), and that's about it. But, maybe something worth checking out.

[natedt82]

I got a pump for my small pond I built outside last summer for fairly cheap. I'm not sure where I got it may have been home depot. it does about 3200 gph flat cant remember what it does at 9ft. I know its not a pump for saltwater so i dont know if it would work or not but check home depot because mine was around $100 if i remember correctly, could save you some dough.

[joel1234567]

showjyr- maybe my dumb question... is it a "Peninsula Build" because of the rockwork that you'll be doing in the tank? Or will the tank install itself be a peninsula, so it will be viewable from either of the long sides of the tank (so that the short end abuts the wall)?

[showjyr]

Either way really, but mine will be short end against the wall and veiwable from the end and both sides.

Still looking at pumps.....I'd like something in sump instead of external. It can't run dry, no chance of leaks, and it will be that much less plumbing. I'm on the search for a cheap mag 18, it would be slightly more than what I need but I could just "T" it after the pump to regulate flow. They Danners are good dependable pumps and are in sump......but the 18 is also like $160
Keep your eyes peeled for a used one PLEASE


I've got everything I ordered except my salt....it was supposed to be here friday

I'm really trying to decide how to mount my fans. I ordered two 3 7/8" low profile fans to be mounted in the hood but I'm not sure if I should mount both in one end blowing up each side of the MH, somewhat down the T5's, and over the T5 ballasts or mount one blowing directly at the first MH(enclosed reflector) and one blowing directly at the second MH....doing this the T5's would only get what was deflected off the MH housing.....thoughts?

If that doesn't make sense I can do a lil sketch.

[showjyr]

Been playing with the Vortec....these things are freakin sweet

[ncastro1981]

So i run a iwasaki pump. 25.6 gal min. It is external and it kicks major ass. I know where you can get one, same place i got mine, for 100$. Let me know and i will contact my friend. will post model info later.

[showjyr]

Wow $100 nice....Just gotta be able to get 600-700 at 9-10' of head. Thanks.