Ryan's 120g.
This tank was inspired by conversations I had months ago with Joel (revolution). I received the sump and a bunch of the parts in March of this year, after planning during January and February. During this summer I had major tank problems with my 34g and lost the bulk of my coral and fish... it's still an algae nightmare. It really took the wind out of my sails, and made me contemplate bailing on reefing all together. However, as time goes on, the urge came back, and I'm now rapidly approaching the completion stage. I didn't really take photos along the way, as I was in a funk and the living room was covered in aquarium stuff, and rapidly became a point of contention with my girlfriend (who owns the house I live in). Here are a few photos of the journey. I hope to update the thread as I get this thing running. The sump has arrived! Looking back I now realize that I really should have notified my girlfriend about this. She was not pleased to see a semi-truck dropping off a palette at our house. The mandatory cat-in-sump shot Overhead shot of the sump Side views I asked my old roomies to help move it all, and to model for a full tank shot...

Purrdy sump you got there. I bet that sucker cost as much as the tank and stand ;)

Holy heart failure, Batman! I am glad it is you at the helm and not me.

Daddy likes I want your sump

Man, that Lifereef sump is nice.

I learned the value of siphon breaks yesterday, after having ~10 gallons of water drain on to my floor while I was away. I called Chris though, and he gave me a lesson on how to make them! For now, I'm keeping the pump on, and the return nozzles elevated, until I can get around to actually drilling!

This is why we don't buy used chillers, kids. One of the best (and smar-*test*-('")) buddies a guy could have. He built my standpipes and return, helped me plumb my entire system, and basically helped put it all together. And he's never owned a fish tank. Ghetto rigging the RO/DI The live rock...

The live rock is in. I changed the aquascape a little since these were taken, but it's still generally the same.

The 300 snail clean-up crew.

awsome... Is your getto rigged r/o dI waste water goin into your neighbors back yard? NICE.. did their weiner dog poop on your lawn?

Sweet set up!! Are those Tunze boxes I see ;) The maristars are very nice ( I wish I knew that's what light you were going with, they were on sale for really cheap). What ballast did you go with? WOW 300 snails! I take it that was an online purchase? Those online sites always try and sell too large of clean up crews IMO. Don't take this the wrong way but don't be surprised if 75% of that clean up crew dies on you. With new tanks there just usually isn't enough algae and nutrients to keep them alive (so keep an eye out for ammoina spikes)

Yeah without a lot to *cleanup* they might not do so well and as Rob said - NH4!!! YIKES. Looks good however! Thanks!