New For Me 125 Gallon Upgrade, Now Will Be A 150 Gallon Upgrade, How About A 180

This old 125 gallon Oceanic tank, stand, filters and some other odds and ends followed me home today for $200. The tank and stand need to be cleaned up, and the stand may need to be refinished. I'll try to get the whole setup operational for under $500. I already have the black paint for the back glass, also stain, sand paper, stripper, and polyurethane Clear coat. Substrate will be 3-4 bags of BDBS, I have already tracked down a light for $100 or less depending on which model I want, and about $20.00 for a pair of heaters. It didn't have any glass hoods, but I'll go with egg crate due to temperatures.

 

I'll try the other pictures, the iPad was acting up.

 

Congratulations!!! Can't wait to see it set up!!!

 

Congratulations!!! Can't wait to see it set up!!!

Thanks Dawn, I'm going to try to post picture as it goes along. There will be quite a few things in that tank that will come from the other tanks. The good thing is there won't be any cycling involved a filter will come over from a cycled tank.

 

Thanks Dawn, I'm going to try to post picture as it goes along. There will be quite a few things in that tank that will come from the other tanks. The good thing is there won't be any cycling involved a filter will come over from a cycled tank.

That's what I did when I got my 125. I transferred everything from my 55 to it. It worked out PERFECT!!!! Your going to LOVE your 125!!!

 

That's what I did when I got my 125. I transferred everything from my 55 to it. It worked out PERFECT!!!! Your going to LOVE your 125!!!

Dawn actually I'm kinda upgrading from a 5' 100 gallon to the 125. I really wanted to go to a 150 or 180, but for the price I got this for I'll settle for the 125 at this time. The next upgrade is a 180 or 210, great foot print at 72"X24X24 for the 180. The 210 has the footprint, but if I remember right it's 30" tall.

 

Dawn actually I'm kinda upgrading from a 5' 100 gallon to the 125. I really wanted to go to a 150 or 180, but for the price I got this for I'll settle for the 125 at this time. The next upgrade is a 180 or 210, great foot print at 72"X24X24 for the 180. The 210 has the footprint, but if I remember right it's 30" tall.

What are you going to do with your 100?

 

Right now the 100 will just be moved in the house to the dining room, the 55 may go over to my girlfreinds place or my extra bedroom here at the house. The 100 has a great stand and canopy so its really a piece of furniture.

 

Today, I scaped off the old paint from the back glaas of the tankand started cleaning out several years of accumulated dirt and poop from the inside of the tank. low and behold there was a crack in the front right corner spanning from the front to the side about an inch away. Now for the good news, I get a hundred dollars back from the guy that sold me the tank and stand. The tank I can list for about $75 dollars for reptiles. So I end up with a stand and some filter equipment for $25. I does give me time to refinish the stand, and I have already got prices on a new 125 gallon tank from the LFS, they are cheaper then most of the online places. I'll still look for a used tank while the stand is getting refinished but once that jobs done. I already have the light and heaters inbound at this time, and the substrate I can get anytime at Tractor Supply.

 

Nice just saw that you're doing a build similar to mine! I will say I'm digging the 125 acrylic, being able to easily lift the tank up by myself is a huge plus, thing probably weighs around 70lbs, just gotta be care with how you hold it and and move it around.

It looks like you can get the Aqueon 125 LED Ensemble for $446.24 if it's available near you since it's on sale and by using a promo code.

 

Nice just saw that you're doing a build similar to mine! I will say I'm digging the 125 acrylic, being able to easily lift the tank up by myself is a huge plus, thing probably weighs around 70lbs, just gotta be care with how you hold it and and move it around.

It looks like you can get the Aqueon 125 LED Ensemble for $446.24 if it's available near you since it's on sale and by using a promo code.

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I'll look into that, then I have the hassle of getting rid of the stand, light, and any other things I don't want.

 

Just a real quick update, I tracked down another 125 gallon tank that has no cracks in it and good seals. It does come with filtration decorations, substrate, back glass already painted blac, lighting, wavemakers and a bunch of other odds and ends for $150. I did get $100 dollars back from the cracked tank, and it will be up for sale as a reptile tank. Hopefully I'll get$75 for it, so sometime after tomorrow I'll have the basic setup with $175 invested, I have a Beamswork DA FSPEC light on order and a pair of heaters for $116 delivered. I did pick up a nice piece of MopanI driftwood yesterday at the LFS for $13. The BDBS should run me about $36 dollars, when I pick it up. So its looking like I will have about $340 invested into the build plus some gas money. That I don't keep track of to much.

 

I picked up another uncracked 125 today for cheap, with wave makers and some other assorted goodies. The tank just needs new frames Top and bottom, reseal, a couple 3/4 inch holes plugged at the top, and some glass polishing. The good thing is I'll have plenty of time to work on it in the future.

 

As of right now I just bought a 150 gallon tank from a friend. The 125 I got ended up with a couple of problems that I will fix in the future and sell. I just didn't feel like working several months on the tank at this point. It will get done but I already have everything except for the BDBS at the house to get the tank up and running. I'll have the stand refinished this week and pick up the tank next weekend. If there's time during the week I"ll have the substrate per-rinsed and ready to put in the tank.

 

As of right now I just bought a 150 gallon tank from a friend. The 125 I got ended up with a couple of problems that I will fix in the future and sell. I just didn't feel like working several months on the tank at this point. It will get done but I already have everything except for the BDBS at the house to get the tank up and running. I'll have the stand refinished this week and pick up the tank next weekend. If there's time during the week I"ll have the substrate per-rinsed and ready to put in the tank.

Congratulations!!!

 

I've been working on getting the main part of the stand ready for refinishing. Tomorrow it will get stained and hopefully clear coated. The weather sure doesn't help much with rain every afternoon.

 

I got the main part of the stand stained up tonight. I went dark since there where some dark rust stains and mildew stains in the wood. The doors will get done here soon. I need the main stand ready for the weekend.

 

Looking real nice!!

 

Looks good, can't wait to see how it all ends up.

 

Hopefully if the weather cooperates I can get the stand clear coated today. That ones an outside job, two dogs and the dog hair would set off my OCD.

 

What a nice stand! Looks great!

 

Looks great Max!!!

 

Unfortunately today I didn't get any clear coating done. VA medical appointments got in the way.

 

The main part of the stand is clear coated with 4 coats of Polycrylic Satin finish. It could use a light sanding and a final coat sprayed on thru my paint gun. Right now the compressor and paint guns aren't to where I can use them from moving. I'll get the doors done next week.

 

Looking fantastic! I have been following along on your journey to bring this back to life. Like you, I tend to buy gently used tanks, and I am always leery of hidden "gotchas" (leaks, cracks, etc that don't show in the pictures). I am eyeballing a 200 gal tank, stand and filter combo for $350 right now...still debating.

 

Looking fantastic! I have been following along on your journey to bring this back to life. Like you, I tend to buy gently used tanks, and I am always leery of hidden "gotchas" (leaks, cracks, etc that don't show in the pictures). I am eyeballing a 200 gal tank, stand and filter combo for $350 right now...still debating.

I thought about building a matching canopy for it, but the setup is going t be tall enough as it is. The stand is 36" tall and a 6' 150 gallon is about 26" tall. I'm only 67" tall as it is so I'll need a step stool for regular maintenance.

 

Looks beautiful Max!!!

 

Looks beautiful Max!!!

Thanks Dawn, I'll have to do the rearranging of the living room tomorrow. The TV and it's stand goes on a different wall now.

 

Just a quick update today, I went out and picked up just about the rest of the equipment for the 150. 200 pounds of BDBS, some new hinges for the stand when the doors get refinished. I on weather delay for that, I also picked up another FX4 since I had planned to run a pair of them. I will have to order a new hose for the older FX4 since the 100 gallon tank is 18" high and the 150 is about 26" high, plus the stand for the 150 is 36" tall. The plan is to use the new filter right after filling the tank, then after it clears I'll bring the stock over and the cycled FX4 and connect it to the hoses from the new filter. Throw the new filter on the 100 gallon tank until the new hose comes in from an online order. If I get cooperation from the weather I may get some of the sand rinsed. If not, the living room gets rearranged today.

 

Rinsed the rest of the substrate today, all 200 pounds are sitting in my 150 quart cooler draining as much as possible. The cabinet doors are also stripped and will be getting stained tonight. Tomorrow is the fun day, I'm headed over to pick up the tank. If the back glass needs painting I can do that right in the truck bed, and get the guys next door to help me move it inside on the stand. Then the fun of bringing buckets of substrate. The top of the tank frame will sit about 4.5' to 5' tall, I'll need a step stool to put in the substrate and a ladder for cleaning it. Hopefully tomorrow we don't get any rain and I can post some pictures up.

 

It's just really fun, I may not have the 150 up and running next week. I picked up the tank today it turns out to be a 180 gallon tank at 72 x 24 x 24", I'm not complaining at all for the price I got it for.

 

The 180

 

So I haven't been able to get much done due to rain the last two days. I did get most of the residual sand out of the tank along with about 15 gallons of rainwater. Hopefully the rains lets up some tomorrow to get the back glass painted. I did finish and mount the doors on the stand, and tomorrow an old Squadron mate from the Navy is swinging by to look at the stand. He has a woodworking business on the side, he is coming by to see if he can match the design of the stand for the extension. He's got the tools and I sure don't mind paying him for his time.

 

Hi, max h! Just curious... What kind of paint do you use?

 

Hi, max h! Just curious... What kind of paint do you use?

I used Minwax Expresso Stain and then 4 coats of Polycrylic satin clear coat.

 

I used Minwax Expresso Stain and then 4 coats of Polycrylic satin clear coat.

Thank You! I wasn't specific enough, I guess.... I meant to paint the back of the tank. I'm considering painting the back of one but have never done it before!

 

Thank You! I wasn't specific enough, I guess.... I meant to paint the back of the tank. I'm considering painting the back of one but have never done it before!

I pretty much use what ever spray paint I have on hand. The back is going to be black on this tank, I have several different automotive paints sitting around. I have also used Krylon in the past.

 

The tank stand went over to my friends house today so he can make the extension to match the rest of the stand.

 

The tank stand went over to my friends house today so he can make the extension to match the rest of the stand.

Can't wait to see it done over!

 

Can't wait to see it done over!

Hopefully I'll have the stand back by the beginning of the week. And have it stained and clear coated by mid week. Hopefully it will be all up and running by the end of the week.