Mini's DSA 90 Peninsula

[Miniblade]

Hey fellow reefers! Finally decided to bite the bullet and upgrade to a bigger tank. Current tank at the end of the bed is a 40g breeder, going to be liquidating it and moving it's residents to my other 40g breeder, then moving into a Deep Sea Aquatics 90g I'm buying used at some point in the next week. Planned spec list down below along with a pre purchase pic of the tank. Goal is to have good results while keeping it reasonably affordable.

90g DSA Peninsula Tank, Starfire glass model, with internal overflow (purchasing within the next week)
Dual 3/4in VCA RFGs (subject to change, gonna see how the in-tank return is set up.
I plan on hard plumbing almost everything except a 1.5' section of the return plumbing
40g Breeder Sump with 2 Bubble traps and a fuge growing Chaeto or Gracilaria Hayi, haven't decided on which one yet.
Jebao 1500GPH return pump, bought oversized so I can run it under 100% power.
Will use matala mat for filtration temporarily because I have a bunch of it. Will eventually DIY an automatic filter roller.
Going to use whatever cheap powerheads I can find, will probably either go with the new Jebao DMP series (Vortec clones) or maybe find something used.
2 Noopsyche K7 V3 Pros (Have 1, just ordered the other) Very good light, I'd buy these over any radeon/kessil/hydra. Will post up videos and reviews when tank is running
2 200W Eheim Jager Heaters (Just ordered)
Non-wifi Inkbird controller (Just ordered)
Will custom build a stand and a small canopy to block light from blaring into my eyes while I sleep (I work nights so I'm usually asleep during the day)
Scape inspiration will be Joe Tucci's tank that was featured on TSA Aquatics

Here is the tank.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Following along! Can't wait to see how the tank will look once it is fully set up!

 

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I can't wait either... All my other aquariums I haven't exactly done "right" and due to that I've never had long term (longer than 4 months) success with a reef. I had a 10g peninsula but it crashed due to a cheap ATO failing, causing it to overdose RODI which dropped my salinity to .014 in the span of an hour. When it bounced back from that it got overtaken by bryopsis from a frag i put in and I decided to just say screw it and disassemble it. I'm gonna take my time and do this one right... And dip everything LOL

Since this tank is going to be at the end of my bed for the next several years to come, I want it to be exactly how I want it, and for it to be successful long term. I'm gonna take my time letting it cycle then add some fish add some coral add some fish etc, I'm gonna test on a schedule, set up a strict water change schedule, set up dosing, set up a filter roller, etc. I'm doing it "right" but budget-conciously. Reefing will always be expensive, but I'm trying to make it reasonably affordable. I've learned that cheap pumps, cheap powerheads, and cheap lights are all fine as long as you do pre-purchase research and do your own quality control before use. There are some things you must absolutely not cheap out on and as I mentioned earlier I found that out the hard way. I'm ABSOLUTELY not cheaping out on an ATO, heaters, temp controller, or any critical life support equipment other than the pump. Will eventually look into getting a backup pump and a backup heater to keep handy in case of equipment failure.

Now, back to tank updates, I've got a rough timeline set out. Tomorrow (actually today) I'm getting a 27 gallon HDX tote of completely filled to the brim with sand for free. Planning on driving to pick up the tank on Monday morning after I get off of work at 8AM. My dad is taking me his Cadillac XT4 because there's no way I can fit it in my 93 Audi S4, plus I dont want to ruin my Recaro seats as they're extremely rare and expensive if you can find them. As stated in the OG post, I ordered the Jebao 1500 GPH return pump, ordered the 2 Eheim Jager 200w heaters, ordered the non-wifi inkbird (temporary until I can afford hydros), and I also ordered another K7 V3 Pro. Got the K7 V3 pro on special of aliexpress for 130 shipped, we'll see if/when it actually comes in lol. Been doing a lot of research on DIY'ing a filter roller and I'm gonna do that as soon as I can afford it. For now the matala mat will suffice as I'm not going to put much life in it until I have the foundation set up.

My plan is to get the tank and sump on Monday morning after I get off work at 8am, get some rest, build the stand foundation how I want it on Monday evening, reinforce the floor after I get the stand moved to my house, plumb the tank whenever my pump and RFGs come in, test the tank/sump with freshwater and no rock/sand, if that goes well I'll build the cabinetry for the stand which will probably take a good bit because I'm picky and so is my wife. Once I get the cabinetry finished I'll start scaping and do my first salt fill. Hoping to have this all accomplished within the next week and a half but we all know how overseas shipping goes...

Still figuring out stocking plans but I've got a pretty good baseline figured out.
I have a massive Sailfin Blenny and a decent sized but proven Aiptasia Filefish that are for sure going in there as I'm getting rid of the tank they're in.
I for sure want to put in a Ruby Red Flasher Wrasse, a Sixline Wrasse (will go in very last, LFS stocks almond sized juveniles), a Blue Star Leopard Wrasse alternatively a pair of blue/red dragonets IF I have the pods to sustain them, a pair of Ocellaris/Perc Clowns, a Yellow Coris Wrasse, a few Cleaner Shrimp, a Falco/Longnose hawkfish (if my wife will let me), a few standard Firefish, a Wardii goby, and something cryptic like a Black Cap Basslet, Royal Gramma, or Possum Wrasse.
My wife for sure wants to put in a Pearly Jawfish (dont know how he'll do with the coris, firefish or the blenny), a couple Neon Cleaner Gobies, a Ruby Red Flasher Wrasse, a few standard Firefish, and a few cleaner shrimp.

Beyond that we're mostly unsure of what we want. I'd like to put in a centerpiece, something "large" that's an active swimmer. A 36.5"x24.5"x25" tank is 100% too small for any tang. I would quite like an Angel but most centropyge aren't guaranteed reef safe, which I dont want to have to worry about my corals/clams getting nipped. This limits me to Geniacanthus Angels, which the only one I'd be able to get away with is a Watanabei (Japanese Swallowtail) and when fully matured they really should be in a 4ft tank.
Any stocking suggestions, and really tank suggestions in general, are greatly encouraged and thoroughly appreciated. Mostly looking for suggestions on a centerpiece fish and a cryptic fish, but all suggestions are welcome. Has to be 100% reef safe, and ideally peaceful or only territorial. For centerpiece I want something active, relatively large, and showy. Think Potters Angel, Gold Flake Angel, Watanabei Angel, etc. For cryptic, think Black Cap Basslet, Royal Gramma, Possum Wrasse, Marine Betta, something that has a couple caves it hides in and seldom strays from those caves.

 

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Well I got the tank. Its a lot nicer than I thought itd be. Got the bulkheads at my lfs, built the foundation of the stand, got a sump tank, then the inkbird and heaters arrived today. Ended up going with a 20g long for the sump because a 40b absolutely wont fit where i need it to. I still need to actually build the sump but im gonna wait on that until i get my pump in. Will post up tank pictures when its all cleaned up and in its final resting spot. Heres the structure of the stand. Going to be wrapping it in 1/4in douglas fir plywood that attaches to the stand via pocketed neodymium magnets.

 

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Pump arrived at 8pm yesterday. Very fast shipping considering it came from mainland china. Very impressed with the quality so far.

 

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Got the stand done and moved into my living room temporarily. Got the paint on clearance at lowes, 1 gallon for 15 bucks. It was a mistint but the color was almost exactly what I was going for - dark enough to where it doesnt draw attention but not black. The stand is by no means perfect but its certified good enough. It was very cheap to build, theres no visible hardware, and the fascia panels are quite secure but easy to remove. I used forstner bits to make a pocket for a 25lb magnet to slot into, superglued the magnets onto the 1/4in fir plywood fascia, then the magnet attaches to some screws i drove into the bored out hole on the stand. I was going to use another magnet on the inside, but i worried about the structural integrity of the wood.

Next step is getting the sump built and everything plumbed. I ordered a dual sock acrylic baffle sump kit from Jax Racks along with a 6 set of 200 micron socks. Those things should be getting here tuesday assuming all goes well. Depending on what time it arrives, I should be getting the sump done on Wednesday/Thursday including silicone dry time.

To-Do list
- Build sump
- Plumb drains and return (still need to order RFGs and locline)
- Take down and move tank thats where I want this one to go
- Build canopy and hang lights (other k7 still hasnt arrived)
- Reinforce joists
- Test
- Live run (sand, rock, water, and start the tank up)

 

[Miniblade]

Got the sump siliconed and the back panel of the tank painted black as it shouldve been from the factory.
Socks come in tomorrow and the silicone should be cured by then. Going to pick up the majority of my plumbing supplies then get to plumbing sans the RFGs, pvc to locline adapter, locline splitter, and locline. All of that will be ordered as my LFS doesnt stock most of what i need and what they do stock is expensive. May also just have someone local 3d print what I need as thats what VCA does anyway. Still debating between a ball valve vs a gate valve. Gate valves are just so dang expensive and im trying to keep this budget-minded. At any rate, will hopefully post plumbing updates tomorrow.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Got the stand done and moved into my living room temporarily. Got the paint on clearance at lowes, 1 gallon for 15 bucks. It was a mistint but the color was almost exactly what I was going for - dark enough to where it doesnt draw attention but not black. The stand is by no means perfect but its certified good enough. It was very cheap to build, theres no visible hardware, and the fascia panels are quite secure but easy to remove. I used forstner bits to make a pocket for a 25lb magnet to slot into, superglued the magnets onto the 1/4in fir plywood fascia, then the magnet attaches to some screws i drove into the bored out hole on the stand. I was going to use another magnet on the inside, but i worried about the structural integrity of the wood.

Next step is getting the sump built and everything plumbed. I ordered a dual sock acrylic baffle sump kit from Jax Racks along with a 6 set of 200 micron socks. Those things should be getting here tuesday assuming all goes well. Depending on what time it arrives, I should be getting the sump done on Wednesday/Thursday including silicone dry time.

To-Do list
- Build sump
- Plumb drains and return (still need to order RFGs and locline)
- Take down and move tank thats where I want this one to go
- Build canopy and hang lights (other k7 still hasnt arrived)
- Reinforce joists
- Test
- Live run (sand, rock, water, and start the tank up)

The stand looks great!

 

[Miniblade]

The stand looks great!

I definitely couldve done a better job, but for what I spent on it and considering that was my first time doing carpentry by myself Id say it came out pretty dang good. I learned a lot while doing it and now I want to redo all my other stands lol.... The one thing I regret not doing is adding a hole on the back panel for cables but its ok, I can just route them through the back to my UPS.

 

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I've got a long and not so fun night ahead of me... Going to be getting the basis of the plumbing done, will cement it at some point probably tomorrow. I'd like more unions but it isn't in the budget at the moment. The 2nd K7 V3 Pro is supposed to be coming in tomorrow, hopefully it does.

 

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Well that wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be... Only took me about 1hr 30 minutes (didn't cement it yet because it's late for me, technically early.) Most of that time spent was on perfecting the length of the drains. For the main drain, I went with a Durso style standpipe because I only have 2 drain bulkheads and I'm favorable towards and familiar with their setup/operation. On the pump end of the return plumbing I went with a 3/4in ID barb so I can run "soft" tubing towards my pump. I've heard it really helps quiet the Jebao pumps down and it also makes yearly maintenance a LOT easier in my experience. Don't exactly have space to fit a union on the main drain otherwise I'd use one there. It's probably gonna be a pain in the butt perfecting the plumbing for my DIY filter roller (coming soon™) but I'll cross that bridge when I get there. Will cement most of it together tomorrow except for the pipe that inserts into the underside bulkhead. I still have yet to move the tank into its final resting place....