aggiejames
Community Member
My plan is to use this thread to post weekly updates on a 90gallon frag tank build which will live in my office at the church where I work.
First off, thank you so much for joining me on this journey! I will have LOTS of questions as I have never done a tank rebuild and if you read and participate (even if you just tell me I am crazy), you are an incredible gift to me. This place is filled with so much knowledge. Thank you in advance to all of you!!
Background: I currently have a 75 gallon tank in my office at work but it hasn't gotten the love and care that it needs. It's a deep tank which makes it difficult to clean while at work. I have to come in on my off days to clean it and so it gets neglected. It's a bit socially awkward when you have to take your shirt off at work to get into a tank. So, I've been shopping for a shallow reef or frag reef setup so that I could make the move. The goal wasn't a massive size increase as I am a bit limited with my office. However, my hope is for an easier to maintain setup and that I can do 10-15 minutes of maintenance each day. A shallow look down tank / frag tank seems like I could really be better about tending to it. My secretary is amazing and loves to help so part of this new process will be to add a job board in my office for tasks to be completed.
The solution: I didn't have the budget for a $4,000 Waterbox (although that tank is a dream for one day) so I've been searching my local Facebook marketplace. I found something this week but it was going to be a ton of work. I wasn't sure about it and if it was even possible. But I tend to die a death by paralysis and miss out on things. So today I took the plunge and purchased a used frag tank (shout out to Miles at Odyssey Fish and Pets in Dallas, TX)! It needs some love for sure. In fact, if you were just looking from the outside you would call it an absolute wreck. It has a leak in one of the side seals. It's 20+ years old. It's all kinds of nasty. But for only $400 for a 72"x24"x14" tank, I am happy to reseal it and put in the sweat to make this my own. Will this be more than I can handle? Will it be a fun project? Will it be a waste of $400? Time (and this thread) will tell.
Day 1 photo is attached.
The goal: Have this tank cleaned, resealed, and installed by July 4, 2025 so it can begin the cycle.
Tasks to do by July 4th:
Clean tank inside thoroughly
Strip out all silicone
Redo bulkheads
Redo seams
Remove all paint from the back and side
Repaint back of tank
Paint bottom of tank? (Or install black starboard)
Paint stand
Repair stand
First off, thank you so much for joining me on this journey! I will have LOTS of questions as I have never done a tank rebuild and if you read and participate (even if you just tell me I am crazy), you are an incredible gift to me. This place is filled with so much knowledge. Thank you in advance to all of you!!
Background: I currently have a 75 gallon tank in my office at work but it hasn't gotten the love and care that it needs. It's a deep tank which makes it difficult to clean while at work. I have to come in on my off days to clean it and so it gets neglected. It's a bit socially awkward when you have to take your shirt off at work to get into a tank. So, I've been shopping for a shallow reef or frag reef setup so that I could make the move. The goal wasn't a massive size increase as I am a bit limited with my office. However, my hope is for an easier to maintain setup and that I can do 10-15 minutes of maintenance each day. A shallow look down tank / frag tank seems like I could really be better about tending to it. My secretary is amazing and loves to help so part of this new process will be to add a job board in my office for tasks to be completed.
The solution: I didn't have the budget for a $4,000 Waterbox (although that tank is a dream for one day) so I've been searching my local Facebook marketplace. I found something this week but it was going to be a ton of work. I wasn't sure about it and if it was even possible. But I tend to die a death by paralysis and miss out on things. So today I took the plunge and purchased a used frag tank (shout out to Miles at Odyssey Fish and Pets in Dallas, TX)! It needs some love for sure. In fact, if you were just looking from the outside you would call it an absolute wreck. It has a leak in one of the side seals. It's 20+ years old. It's all kinds of nasty. But for only $400 for a 72"x24"x14" tank, I am happy to reseal it and put in the sweat to make this my own. Will this be more than I can handle? Will it be a fun project? Will it be a waste of $400? Time (and this thread) will tell.
Day 1 photo is attached.
The goal: Have this tank cleaned, resealed, and installed by July 4, 2025 so it can begin the cycle.
Tasks to do by July 4th:
Clean tank inside thoroughly
Strip out all silicone
Redo bulkheads
Redo seams
Remove all paint from the back and side
Repaint back of tank
Paint bottom of tank? (Or install black starboard)
Paint stand
Repair stand
