Finally Upgraded-Pics Included!!!

[Leviathan]

After almost 5 years of running a 75 gallon mixed reef, using powerheads, no sump or refugium etc... I have finally upgraded to a larger system.

I will be the first to admit that even though I had done it so long without a closed loop system, now that I have one I dont know how I managed without one.

The new tank is a 90 gallon AGA with the new megaflow overflow box. I was at first a bit taken back by where the overflow was in the tank. It was no longer on the side where AGA had usually had them. I was worried it would be not only a visual obstruction, but a pain to aquscape around.

I was VERY pleasently suprised after painting the back the usuall flat black, that the overflow became next to invisible.

I have a 25 gallon rubbermaid sump under the stand, which has a mag12 in it for the return.

below are some LOWREZ pictures and a bit more info. I was just so excited thought I would share.

[Leviathan]

Shown here is the empty tank and open stand the day I brought it home. I decided to save some money and use my 75 gallon stand. With a little stain it looked brand new. The 25 gallon rubbermaid sump is also visible from this shot.

[Leviathan]

Here is the so-called new "megaflow" overflow that AGA is now using. Once I got it filled and running I put a Y adapter on the return to have a dual return instead of the normal single return commonly found on this tank.

[Leviathan]

Here is the Mag12 return pump. I ended up going to HDepot and getting soom additional parts to install a ballvaluve on the output ( not shown here ), so I could regulate flow if needed. Cost $4.00, piece of mind-priceless.

Also in the background you can see a partial view of my DIY canopy that I used on my old 75 gallon. Once again a little stain and looks brand new, plus saved me a bit more money!

[Leviathan]

Finally here is a shot of the display filled with what VERY few corals I ended up keeping from my old system, and 30lbs of new Kaileni sp? rock. I hope to get another 60 or so Lbs in the next few weeks to finish the aquascape. I need a updated picture from this one, the display is now crystal clear a,d looking great. You will get the general idea though.

My plan is to also upgrade from my current dual 175's to dual 250's by the beginning of next month.

This 90 gallon will be SPS dominated, of course there will always be room for a few Ric's etc... but for the most part my plan is 95% SPS inhabitants.

Inhabitants I transfered from 75 gallon:

2 Chinese Zebra Gobies
1 Sixline Wrasse
1 Yellow Watchman Goby
1 Fighting Conch
1 Tuxedo Urchin
Green Pavona sp?
Solid Green Candycane
Red Sea Xenia
Orange Fungia
Blue Ric's

I will post more pics as I go, thanks for taking a look.

Chris

[Tarasco1]

Sweet! Keep us updated as you aquascape!

[dmirza]

do you think a mag 12 will be enough water moveoment?

I read that you should have 15 to 20 times water turnover, so that would bring you up to a mag 24?

I am setting up a 90 gal sps tank and was planning on using a mag 24 (part of the output will be sent to a spray bar the majority to a scwd).

Do you think that will be too much water movoement?

[s13silvia]

so far so good.... i'm interested to see how you will aquascape this tank since your last one was a beauty

[in2deep]

I am about to set-up a tank with the new style AGA Durso and was wondering where is the water level in relation to the standpipe? It looks like it's about halfway up the horizontal pipe from your photo? Thanks, Mike.

[Leviathan]

Thanks s13silvia & everyone,



dmirza
I believe that a mag12 will be sufficent, it will produce 13.3.... turnover rate and I have seen thriving SPS tanks done with much less. If I see down the road a problem, I can always upgrade the pump.
As far as a mag24 for your system, in a 90 gallon that would be aprox. 26.6.....turnover rate. Personally I wouldnt go with that much. You can always do what I did and install a ballvaluve on the pump to control the flow rate if it is of major concern.


in2deep

In the behind the tank picture there is no water in the tank at all yet. I simply put the connections together and set them in place for the picture. Later before filling the system I had to cut both the return and drain line down to the appropiate height. The drain elbow is all but submerged, only the top air intake is exposed. and there are syphon breaks about 2 inches below that.
The water level in the overflow is less than an inch lower of that in the display.

[Ron]

Lookin' sharp. I too have a new 90 gallon AGA that I am in the process of setting up. I've had he stinkin' tank since November and am still in the process of gathering parts. Seeing yours going up is really making me wish I had all my stuff. However, life seems to keep interrupting and delaying my purchases. I really only need to get my ballasts and bulbs and build my canopy. FWIW, here is a list of the stuff I am going to be using.

90 gallon AGA reef ready (megaflow)
GRI 518 return pump
RO3+ DE pendants (250w)
AquaC EV180 skimmer
Sen 700 pump (skimmer)
Icecap ballasts
AB 20kK bulbs (?)
MJ 1200 powerheads (until I either go with a closed loop or Tunze Streams).

Ron

[Holyreefer]

Leviathan,
Things looking great keep the pics & updates going

[Algae Blenny]

Lools great. How much taller is the 90 than the 75?

[ErikS]

How much taller is the 90 than the 75

4"

[FishhyRen]

Brand new setup and you already have a clam in there??????

[Leviathan]

Algae Blenny

The little difference in height looks much more drastic than you would think.

FishhyRen

This was unavoidable, I have had this clam for almost 5 years since it was barely 1" There were a few things I kept over from my old 75 gallon, that I have no other place to put but in this system. I am keeping a very close eye on all the transfered inhabitants.


Thanks again everyone!

[Sloth]

outstanding!

[Leviathan]

Added 25 lbs more rock the other day, mix of carib. & kalien sp? as before. The aquascape is really coming together like I had invisioned it. I think 20 lbs more will finish it off, which I will probally add in 2 weeks.

I will be upgrading to dual 250's also next month.

Plus I finally ( at least for the moment ) got my micro bubble problem completely under control.

Below is a shot from this evening.

[nanocat]

Very subtle, I like

[speccialj922]

i guess less is more. great aquascaping.

[Leviathan]

Thanks,



Like I said I have two ideas on how to finish the aquascape one way will take about 25 lbs the other probally less than 20 IF I find the right piece. Then upgrade the lights let it run a while. And I will start the slow process of stocking it.

[BlennyBabe]

The black really does hide that overflow well. Good luck on the new tank. Im sure it will look great.

[joeychitwood]

Very nice. I like the coral head appearance instead of the usual rock wall.

[XxDutchxX]

I love the aquascape and I can barely see the overflow. Great Job!

[Leviathan]

Thanks for all the compliments, I will keep updating this thread with pics and info as the tank slowly matures.