GP's Reef Savvy 125

[GPReefer]

Might as well start this build thread at the very beginning. It's going to take forever, no matter when I start it anyway.

The order has been called in and the deposit will go out in the morning mail to Reef Savvy. The 6 months of waiting on the tank building begins! Fortunately for me, I have most of the equipment already. I will likely be making a change in lighting and maybe the sump and pump(s). I have a new skimmer, a new Apex controller and a new Geo calcium reactor. Will need another MP40.

Here are the tank specs:

125 gallons
48(L) x 24(W) x 25(H)
1/2" glass - Eurobraced (I know, not as sexy as rimless, but mucho more sexy than the 14" center brace I have now)
Front panel will be Starphire (I will have MP40's on each end, so I figured no use in the added expense for Starphire on the sides. Plus both ends will have limited visibility where the tank sits anyway).
20" Ghost Overflow (centered on the back wall) Love the looks of this overflow, I hope I like the way it works.
Black silicone
Black background
2 holes for returns drilled in the back wall, one on each side of the overflow. Nothing over the top on this tank (I hope).

A pic of one of their Eurobraced tanks. I think the thick black band at the waterline and at the bottom is custom on this tank.

Sample of the Ghost Overflow

This overflow will add so much more room inside the display! There will be more real estate to scape in the 125 than in the 140.

I will be so glad to be done with the large center brace and it will be hopefully be easier to reach the bottom of this one. Now to get to planning. Might even have time to finish the nano while I wait.

 

[minhvu]

Sweet Gary. Looking forward to this. Personally I prefer eurobrace over rimless cause of the water splashing over when I run the magnet. I had a rimless and hated it.

 

[Humblefish]

Always nice to get a fresh start with a new build!

 

[GPReefer]

Sweet Gary. Looking forward to this. Personally I prefer eurobrace over rimless cause of the water splashing over when I run the magnet. I had a rimless and hated it.

Thanks Vu. Yeah, I know what you are talking about with the splashing over the edge with the rimless. The rimless nano that I have is like that. Really hard to use a magnet cleaner at the top of the glass. I think most of the Reef Savvy tanks that I have seen pictures of are rimless. I am happy with it being Eurobraced though. I hope it gets here undamaged. I have had some rotten luck in the past with shipping fragile things.

Always nice to get a fresh start with a new build!

Yeah and it won't be all my fault that it takes forever to put it together.

I was going to look into Aquabox maybe building a sump, but I noticed their web site is "expired." They build (or built) them out of ABS and acrylic. Some pretty neat looking sumps, but there are other options.

I may just keep the 40B sump that I built last year, but I would like to make a few changes to it. Just thinking out loud at this point though.

 

[Humblefish]

What kind of tank do you have in mind? Reef or FO? SPS, LPS/softies?

 

[GPReefer]

I have always been a mixed reef guy. I think I will cut back on the softies in this one though. I like them for some motion in the tank, but I tend to keep too many of them. Definitely won't be a fish only. I will keep maybe a dozen fish in the tank.

 

[Typlus5]

The base bracing is standard on the Reef Savvy. With the size of your tank the euro bracing also allows for 1/2" glass and some savings. Mine is similar dimension but shorter at 22" high (rimless) and had to use 3/4" glass.
You'll love the ghost overflow as well. I made mine a standard Bean Animal design and is silent. Your also correct on the overflow size as it takes very little real estate and really opens your tank for less complicated scapes
Felix's build standard is impeccable...but you pay for it. You'll love it and as my wife says, that is the "last tank" your ever going to get! Enjoy.

Ty

 

[GPReefer]

The base bracing is standard on the Reef Savvy. With the size of your tank the euro bracing also allows for 1/2" glass and some savings. Mine is similar dimension but shorter at 22" high (rimless) and had to use 3/4" glass.
You'll love the ghost overflow as well. I made mine a standard Bean Animal design and is silent. Your also correct on the overflow size as it takes very little real estate and really opens your tank for less complicated scapes
Felix's build standard is impeccable...but you pay for it. You'll love it and as my wife says, that is the "last tank" your ever going to get! Enjoy.

Ty

Yeah, I think the cutoff for a 48" long 1/2" glass rimless tank is 20". You were a just a couple of inches over the limit. I am good with the Eurobracing. Like Vu said, I won't have to be as careful about splashing water out of the tank when I clean the glass, which I try to do everyday now.

I am looking forward to the Ghost overflow. I have hated the two massive Mega-Flows in my tank since day one. I did a DIY coast to coast overflow in my 75 15years ago and really liked it. I am also planning to go with a Bean Animal drain set up. Do you have pics of yours? Feel free to post them here. I am gathering ideas. With the Bean Overflow in that box, is a cover on the external box possible? Thinking about getting the optional cover, but had ordered the tank before I saw them on the web site. I can add it later, if I see that it will work. I don't want any algae growing in the external box.

You are right, the tanks are not inexpensive, but that sure doesn't discourage sales. A six month waiting period (hoping it is shorter) shows how busy they are. I plan on retiring in less than five years, so this will likely be my last tank of this size. I wanted to make sure it would be a well built tank that would last a good while.

 

[Travis]

Gonna be epic!

 

[GPReefer]

Next up on my wish list for this build - wall to wall lighting.

ATI 48" 3x75W LED & 8x54W T5 LED Powermodule

Product Includes:
- ATI 48" 3x75W LED & 8x54W T5 LED Powermodule
- Controller-Power Supply w/ US Plug
- Acrylic Shield
- Hanging Kit
- Quick Start Guide

Product Specifications:
- LED Layout: 3x 75W LED Clusters
- LED Configuration (Per Cluster):
6x Cree XPE Blue
2x Luxeon M Royal Blue 450nm
2x Luxeon M Cool White
2x Cree XPE Red
1x Semileds Violet 420nm
- Power Consumption: Up to 657W at full intensity
- Warranty: 1-Year Manufacturer Limited Warranty

Product Highlights:
1. Color and Growth: Combines the control and energy efficiency of LED’s with the superior coral color and light balance of T5’s. No more loss of coral color and uneven growth found in many LED only light fixtures.
2. Dual Control: Each 75W LED cluster features 4 independently programmable LED color channels each capable of 0-100% dimming. The T5’s feature 2 independently programmable channels each also capable of 0-100% dimming. (T5 dimming not available on 80W units.)
3. 24 Hour Light Cycle: Produce realistic sunrise-sunset effects, cloud sweeps and moon light simulations. (Cloud sweeps not available on 24W units.)
4. Easy To Use: Intuitive, computer based control software makes adjusting your lighting quick and easy.
5. Stylish Design: The sleek, heavy-duty body is durable and rust-proof. All components, except for the LED power supply and controller are enclosed inside the fixture housing.

General Sizing Guideline:
- Tank Size: 160-260 gallons.
- Recommended Tank Length: 48-60”.
- Recommended Tank Depth: up to 36" with proper placement of corals.
- Recommended Tank Width: up to 36" with proper placement of corals.

The only "downside" to the light is that it comes with its own controller. Can't program it with the Apex.

 

[GPReefer]

Gonna be epic!

Thanks Travis. Not sure how epic it will be, but hopefully it will be an improvement. It will, at least, be a fresh start. Reinvigorating my interest in the hobby anyway.

 

[Travis]

Gonna be epic!

Thanks Travis. Not sure how epic it will be, but hopefully it will be an improvement. It will, at least, be a fresh start. Reinvigorating my interest in the hobby anyway.

Awesome. Being you want to thin your herd of leathers, I'm defiantly ready for frags!

 

[wazzel]

New build, how exciting. Looking forward to watching.

 

[minhvu]

Nice lights. That the exact lights I want for my next build. I really like led but its hard to beat T5 colors.

 

[GPReefer]

New build, how exciting. Looking forward to watching.

Well, it will be a while before the actual build part, but I am excited about it. Thanks for watching!

Nice lights. That the exact lights I want for my next build. I really like led but its hard to beat T5 colors.

That tells me that I am looking at the right stuff! :HTY:

 

[GPReefer]

Gonna be epic!

Thanks Travis. Not sure how epic it will be, but hopefully it will be an improvement. It will, at least, be a fresh start. Reinvigorating my interest in the hobby anyway.

Awesome. Being you want to thin your herd of leathers, I'm defiantly ready for frags!

Travis, I have some green nepthea and the green stalked Kenya tree. It is different than the run of the mill variety. One if my favorite softies. I haven't fragged the green polyped leather in a while. Been a while since it looked the way it should. Not happy for some reason.

 

[Travis]

Yeh Gary I'd love to get a piece of that green Kenya tree.

 

[GPReefer]

Yeh Gary I'd love to get a piece of that green Kenya tree.

Might have a little algae on it.

 

[Typlus5]

Here's some pics of the ghost overflow. Just looked at mine and you will be able to place a cover on it. I don't have a cover and looks like I don't need one. No algae after 6 months.





And the vent elbow for the second drain.

 

[GPReefer]

Looks good. Can't wait to get my hands on one. Are you using 1" pipes for the plumbing? Or, larger?