ATLL'S 65 Gallon Reef

[ATLL765]

I swear, eventually....this thing will be a reef.

Here's my 65 gallon tank with a 20L sump and stand....and disorganized basement, but we can ignore that for now.



Here is how I piled my rocks. Didn't really have a plan or knew what I was doing. Would appreciate some constructive criticism. I'm a bit of a perfectionist and it'll kill me if I put this in the tank and it's not just the way I want it.



Thankfully, I got a closing on one of the short sales I was working on...WOO! So I'm finally going to have all the necessary funds to put this together over the holiday.

Wouldn't mind some tips on what skimmer to pick up. Def going used, so no brand new models, but I was thinking something along the lines of a RO-XS 160 or maybe the SRO 1000. Not really sure what to get, but something in that range is what I'm looking for. Something that was ~$275-425 new.

 

[Empire]

Nice start. I have the ro DCS 150 and I love it.

 

[Alcohol120]

i think you could probably pull off a reef-octopus nwb 150 skimmer for that size tank. i have one in my 20L sump. they are around $190 new. im not sure what you plan on stocking. i think the rockwork looks pretty good.

 

[iTzJu]

Find yourself a used SWC 120 or BM NAC7, perfect for that thank.

 

[ATLL765]

About my rockwork. The tank is 24" tall, so I didn't want a lot of wasted space up at the top, so the right pile of rocks is ~17" tall, leaving maybe 5-5.5" to the waterline there. Should I try to bring that down to maybe 14-15" to leave room for stuff to grow in?

Nice start. I have the ro DCS 150 and I love it.

If I could find one used, I'd love one of these. Not sure that would be all that easy since the DC skimmers are still kinda new.

 

[Empire]

It's in your price range. They run about $330. My neighbor has the sro-xp 1000sss ($420). IMO and in his, my skimmer is much better. I love having the ability to control the output of the skimmer pump.

 

[Zippy69]

IMO. Rock work is all fine to try to place it here or there, but if your corals grow and if you get the sps bug, all that rock work detail after 1-2 years of growth will not be appreciated. Hard corals will encrust,zoas spread and cover, all the coraline species you get will also encrust. They obliterate any details you may have with said rock work. So do not get too hung up on it. You should think about what you will be growing and it's form and placement in the tank.

 

[ATLL765]

It's in your price range. They run about $330. My neighbor has the sro-xp 1000sss ($420). IMO and in his, my skimmer is much better. I love having the ability to control the output of the skimmer pump.

That price range I listed was for the retail price, but I'm looking used so I can keep it around $200 or less. $200 is enough to get what I need, but the DC skimmers are gonna be at the edge of my price range, if I can even find one used.

 

[Empire]

Oh ok my bad

 

[ATLL765]

So, I'm probably going to cement all my rocks together tonight. I guess for the next step, my question is:

Did anyone raise their rocks so they'd stay above the substrate? How did you do it? PVC? Acrylic Rods? I'd like to do this as cheaply as possible, if you have figured it out, this will be a theme throughout this project, lol. I figure Acrylic rods probably work the best, but are probably the most work and money. From what I've read eggcrate is a waste because then you might as well have just put the rock on the sand with the detritus that will collect in it.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Instead of acrylic rod, just go to your local dollar store and buy a bunch of plastic clothes hangers. Cut these to whatever length you need.

 

[Zippy69]

Instead of acrylic rod, just go to your local dollar store and buy a bunch of plastic clothes hangers. Cut these to whatever length you need.

Nice one, never thought of doing that.

 

[ATLL765]

Instead of acrylic rod, just go to your local dollar store and buy a bunch of plastic clothes hangers. Cut these to whatever length you need.

Maybe I just lack vision, but how do you use plastic clothes hangers to lift the rock off the sand?

And let me add, I don't own a drill....or pretty much any power tools.

 

[ATLL765]

I just decided for lifting the rocks off the substrate I'll take the section of 1" PVC I got laying around and borrow a friend's drill to drill some holes in it, cut them to ~2-2.5". I figure that seems like the easiest way to go.

I meant to repaint the interior of my stand earlier, but I'm lazy. I will do it next week. The Kilz primer everyone uses is the Kilz original oil based primer, right? I think I'll use appliance epoxy over that. How much am I gonna need to cover the inside of the stand?

 

[redfishbluefish]

Maybe I just lack vision, but how do you use plastic clothes hangers to lift the rock off the sand?

And let me add, I don't own a drill....or pretty much any power tools.

Yeah, you'll need an electric drill with the right size masonry bit. Drills into live rock like a hot knife through butter.

 

[ATLL765]

Yeah, you'll need an electric drill with the right size masonry bit. Drills into live rock like a hot knife through butter.

Would you then be epoxying that into the holes with some of it still exposed at the bottom to keep the rocks elevated. I'm just trying to create a platform for the rocks to sit on. This way none of the rock is covered by sand.

Excuse me if I seem oblivious...it's because I probably am.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Would you then be epoxying that into the holes with some of it still exposed at the bottom to keep the rocks elevated. I'm just trying to create a platform for the rocks to sit on. This way none of the rock is covered by sand.

Excuse me if I seem oblivious...it's because I probably am.

Yes, either an epoxy or quick setting cement (such as Waterplug).

 

[ATLL765]

Still haven't done anything because I'm the worst procrastinator ever. I did, however, buy primer, paint, sanding blocks, silicone, sharkbite fittings for my RO/DI project, a wp-25 and a Syncra 4, so just need to pick up a skimmer and lights to not have an excuse to push off all these projects. Hoping it doesn't rain so I can make painting my stand a bit easier. That way I can do it in the garage rather than the unfinished part of the basement forcing me to leave the bilco doors open.

Really surprised at just how small the wp-25 is, as you can see here it's just as long as a CD including the magnetic clip/holder and just over 50% as wide as the CD.