125G Setup (PICS ADDED)

[asnelson]

So I bought a used 125 with stand, canopy, sump, pumps, pretty much the works.

It came with this sump:

LF1-125 Lifereef Berlin System

Does anyone have any experience with them? I plan on using it and then adding another tank for a refugium only. What I havent decided is if Im going to use the skimmer that came with it or continue using my Reef Octopus.

I plan on sanding down 100% of the stand and canopy and will either stain it or paint it. My wife says she would rather me stain it than paint it and we all know what that means, its getting stained.

I have 2 175 MH's and 2 Exoxotic LED Stunner Strips over my 75G now. Im thinking about putting a 400W MH over the center and putting the two 175's on each side. The 2 stunner strips will go on each side of the 400 like this:

175wMH....Stunner Strip.....400wMH.....Stunner Strip....175wMH
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
..................................................................................................

Would this work or should I just go with like 3 250 across the top? One more thing, there were 2 60" T12's w/Ballast that came with the tank that I plan on using actenics for the dusk and dawn effect.
Any advice would be great, I plan on posting pictures as I progress.

[asnelson]

Here is a picture of the Sump. I went online and did some research on it and they cost over $950.00.

[jb61264]

LifeReef equipment is quality built stuff...you pretty much can't go wrong getting something built by Jeff (I believe he is based in Colorado)...pricey, but very well built. When I was running a non-drilled 40 breeder a few years back, the overflow was one thing I absolutely did not want to skimp on and everyone I heard from said get a LifeReef overflow...I wasn't disappointed. I would strongly suggest using the skimmer that comes with that system as his skimmers are very highly spoken of...that Berlin system looks awesome, great find!!

[asnelson]

The best part about it is I got the entire setup for less than half of what the sump and skimmer sells for. I still cant believe I got it for what I did.

[asnelson]

My main concern is I dont know how to integrate a refugium into this system.

[jb61264]

My main concern is I dont know how to integrate a refugium into this system.

Your best bet is to just probably have a separate overflow/return to whatever you are using for the refugium...you could also consider finding a CPR Aquatics HOB refugium if you don't already have one...what do you plan to do with your refugium?...need it for pods/chaeto/all the above?

[asnelson]

Yes, all of the above.

[jb61264]

Maybe consider something like this:
CPR Aquatics AquaFuge

As far as the lights go...I would just recommend going with the 3 250s all the way across using the 2 actinics to supplement...I don't think you really gain anything by having the 400W in the middle of two 175's...except a lot of inconsistency in the light column for your tank. I think having the 400W in between the two 175s would introduce a lot more guesswork for certain corals as far as placement, whereas 3 250's is much more consisent across the entire tank and you can still do a nice dawn to dusk program with the actinics coming on first and then having the MH's come on from one side to the other throughout the day...JMHO...I use T5's currently so I don't have much MH experience

[asnelson]

I figured it wouldnt be best to do it that way but thought I would check with other. Now I have to sell my 2 month of 175w Ballasts and bulbs and replace them with 250's

[asnelson]

Here is everything that came with that 125. As you can see this is down in my man cave right now and I plan on filling it will water and see what issues need to be fixed. Hopefully there isnt any, but you never know with a used setup.

[gpalmer]

looks like it will be a nice setup.

[asnelson]

I'm looking forward to getting it up and running.

[asnelson]

Let the the rebuild begin!!!

[asnelson]

So this has been quite a slow process for me. Usually I would obsess over a project like this until I got it done. I've made some Major changes to this build since my last post. So much that I should just start a new thread, but I'll just keep this one.

The idea of having the drain and return going out the side of the tank really got to me, I just don't like it. Then I started thinking more and more about it and old myself, this will be my tank of a lifetime and I'm not sure I would want to upgrade after putting this one up, so I decided I'm just going to go up to a 180 and be done with it. I based that decision on the stand and canopy I got. The gal told me that they were actually made for a 180, which I believed because they were both to big for the 125. When I measured the stand i found out it was only like 22 1/2 inches deep. I went online and couldn't find a tank that was 22 1/2 deep. Now I can't have. Tank that is two inches deeper than the stand is.

Back to square one with that I guess.....

This might be done in 2012

[Briaidan]

[quote="asnelson"]So this has been quite a slow process for me. Usually I would obsess over a project like this until I got it done. I've made some Major changes to this build since my last post. So much that I should just start a new thread, but I'll just keep this one.

The idea of having the drain and return going out the side of the tank really got to me, I just don't like it. Then I started thinking more and more about it and old myself, this will be my tank of a lifetime and I'm not sure I would want to upgrade after putting this one up, so I decided I'm just going to go up to a 180 and be done with it. I based that decision on the stand and canopy I got. The gal told me that they were actually made for a 180, which I believed because they were both to big for the 125. When I measured the stand i found out it was only like 22 1/2 inches deep. I went online and couldn't find a tank that was 22 1/2 deep. Now I can't have. Tank that is two inches deeper than the stand is.

Call Mike at Fish Freaks and ask him what a stand for the tank would cost. I am assuming you bought and All Glass brand tank with the pluming out the bottom of the tank. Is that correct. Mike will be able to get you a stand that will work great for that tank for a good price. The only issue is that All Glass does not make a canopy to fit this. They only make canopies up to 48" long. Yeah dumb I know, but it is what it is. Once you get a stand, you can come see the canopy I built for my tank. It was well under $100 and works just great. I can also show you what I did in strengthen my stand as well.

[asnelson]

Well, this is kind of comical, but my wife gave me a closet last night....a fish closet that is. This closet is located about 4 foot from my aquarium. She came to me last night and said..."it looks like im losing the battle on the closet, its yours and I dont want to see anything laying around that is fish in the family room anymore". I already called the electrician about getting some power ran in there so I can get the APEX and ballasts and everything set up.... A win for the reefers!