bpounds1991 Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 So some of you know over the past few months I have been slowly but surely gathering my supplies for my reef tank build, and now that my roommate and I have decided not to move that means I can start setting it up ASAP! I just want to take a moment to thank all of those that have helped me along the way in my decisions, classified equipment sales, and general help about all the painstaking questions I've had (I know the list is long and I don't have time at the moment to name everyone!). So far to date this is my equipment list with a couple more items I need to purchase then I'm hoping to fill it up within the next couple weeks.Tank:-Micro-Reefs Tropical 15.5 AIO with stock pump, and custom media basketEquipment: Cadlights 50 pls pipeless skimmer Mighty Mite 50 GPD RO/DI NeoTherm 75W heater Hydor Koralia Nano 200/600 gph (one for in tank one for mixing) Nano Box Duo with Storm Controller Digital thermometer 160 gallon bucket of instant ocean reef salt JBJ ATO with 5 gallon reservoir Refractometer All I'm waiting on at the moment is my Florida rock 15 pound reef cleaners order, and then the sand. I'd like to find about 10 pounds of a more fine sand, but of course not at the expense of having a sand mountain in my tank! If anyone would like to offer any suggestions on what type of relatively cheap sand is available feel free to chime in! I'll have some pictures up later tonight of the equipment and I hope to keep the build interesting Link to comment
bpounds1991 Posted April 5, 2014 Author Share Posted April 5, 2014 After a few hours of tinkering and assembling, I've got almost everything in the tank! Amazing how much the space fills up and I'll need to do some skimmer height adjustments this weekend, but here's the first few pictures. http://smg.photobucket.com/user/joker577/media/Newest%20Tank/IMG_2253_zpsfe1fa423.jpg.html'> http://smg.photobucket.com/user/joker577/media/Newest%20Tank/IMG_2192_zps7c99ce93.jpg.html'> http://smg.photobucket.com/user/joker577/media/Newest%20Tank/IMG_4323_zps68ee0845.jpg.html'> I'll have a few more once they upload tomorrow Link to comment
bpounds1991 Posted April 6, 2014 Author Share Posted April 6, 2014 Today was an EXTREMELY busy day for myself and the tank! Ran the Cooper River Bridge 10k run this morning then went off to one of the local fish stores to pick up some live sand, went with the CaribSea Fiji Pink for a little more fine sand. Then came back home to solve my pump problem, which involved trying to make a 1/2" output feed into an 1" output of my bulkhead in a matter of 4". One party 10 beers 6 champagne's later I had a hacksaw, superglue, and an idea and went with it and it turned out perfect! (Although not aesthetically appealing). Also picked myself up 2 cabinets stacked on top of each other for organization today for all my reef supplies. Last but not least I finished up by rearranging/lowering my skimmer so I could move my nano box more in the middle of the tank. New cabinets fitting nicely below the tank/next to the outlets http://smg.photobucket.com/user/joker577/media/IMG_1849_zps67e6149a.jpg.html][/url] My crudely constructed new piece http://smg.photobucket.com/user/joker577/media/IMG_1850_zpsf8652d8c.jpg.html][/url] All attached! http://smg.photobucket.com/user/joker577/media/IMG_1851_zps4483a5fc.jpg.html][/url] New skimmer placement http://smg.photobucket.com/user/joker577/media/IMG_1852_zpsd6888d41.jpg.html][/url] Link to comment
bpounds1991 Posted April 6, 2014 Author Share Posted April 6, 2014 Went ahead and got the acrylic piece for the tank top today, although I have to wait about a month or so to drill it due to my dad having the drill back at my parent's house about 3 1/2 hours away! Either way I was able to cut and fit it to the exact size of the tank with the cutouts for the light and powerhead. http://smg.photobucket.com/user/joker577/media/IMG_6738_zps59846332.jpg.html'> http://smg.photobucket.com/user/joker577/media/IMG_3433_zps3ac1393d.jpg.html'> http://smg.photobucket.com/user/joker577/media/IMG_1241_zpseed57d1d.jpg.html'> Looking to be wet by sometime next week! Link to comment
frankdontsurf Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 Looks awesome How are you going to mount the lights Link to comment
bpounds1991 Posted April 6, 2014 Author Share Posted April 6, 2014 The lights are mounted with a gooseneck from Dave with Nano Box. I moved it up to the false wall since the wall in the back was too far away to be even over the tank and too thick (3/8" vs the 1/4" gooseneck) Link to comment
bpounds1991 Posted April 7, 2014 Author Share Posted April 7, 2014 A little update for the night: Had a minor speed bump with the light but Dave has been more than helpful in assisting with the issue, should have that back by Wednesday as well as my shipment from ReefCleaners! A few more goodies for the tank should be coming in sometime near the middle-end of next week including -Phosphagen -Chemi-Pure -Epoxy Putty -5 gallon ATO Reservoir -160 gallon bucket of Instant Ocean -API Master Test Kit Link to comment
bpounds1991 Posted April 8, 2014 Author Share Posted April 8, 2014 Bump for some love Link to comment
JR! Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 what a cool build man. love the pump fix Link to comment
bpounds1991 Posted April 8, 2014 Author Share Posted April 8, 2014 Thanks lol. Ended up having to take a hacksaw to the barbs of it to fit it down to size it was definitely an interesting fix Link to comment
Hussar Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 Do you think the inside of the lid will mist up a lot? Link to comment
bpounds1991 Posted April 8, 2014 Author Share Posted April 8, 2014 I'm hoping that by drilling the 30-something holes I have marked and waiting the air exchange may allow for less condensation? Either way it was only 8$ and there's always egg crate as the back up Link to comment
jbb Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 You're probably going to end up with salt creep in all of those 30+ holes due to evap. My suggestion would be to go with a screen top. Link to comment
bpounds1991 Posted April 8, 2014 Author Share Posted April 8, 2014 Darn, well it's certainly worth a try as I can't return the piece now lol. What type of materials would you recommend for the top? Something at least aesthetically pleasing (egg crate isn't too bad of a look imo) Link to comment
jbb Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 Darn, well it's certainly worth a try as I can't return the piece now lol. What type of materials would you recommend for the top? Something at least aesthetically pleasing (egg crate isn't too bad of a look imo) I use Window screen with aluminum frame. I will be building one today as a matter of fact. Link to comment
bpounds1991 Posted April 8, 2014 Author Share Posted April 8, 2014 Something like this? http://www.lowes.com/pd_15542-15369-30105_0__?productId=3092545&Ntt=window+screen&pl=1¤tURL=%3FNtt%3Dwindow%2Bscreen%26page%3D2&facetInfo= Link to comment
jbb Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 Exactly , then for the frame I spray it with krylon fusion to try and keep the aluminum protected. Keeps the fishes in and doesn't limit the gas exchange. Link to comment
bpounds1991 Posted April 8, 2014 Author Share Posted April 8, 2014 If you wouldn't mind showing or PMing me with some of the building steps for that, I may have to try that out! Link to comment
bpounds1991 Posted April 8, 2014 Author Share Posted April 8, 2014 So, thanks to jbb_00, I decided to head to Lowe's to try and pick up some new top design materials. Thinking more about it I didn't want to spend multiple days a week having to clean an acrylic top, so I went with the mesh. I picked up an adjustable 15" mesh screen for a "window" for 5$, and realized after I got home that it was just too big. http://smg.photobucket.com/user/joker577/media/IMG_1864_zps60b0b21a.jpg.html'> So I took it apart, salvaging all the outside pieces, the spool, and the perfectly cut out mesh piece just slightly bigger than I needed. http://smg.photobucket.com/user/joker577/media/IMG_7636_zpsd110a469.jpg.html'> Nothing a little hacksaw couldn't handle Finished product http://smg.photobucket.com/user/joker577/media/IMG_6901_zps1e32ad37.jpg.html'> And on the tank http://smg.photobucket.com/user/joker577/media/IMG_3988_zps611237a6.jpg.html'> http://smg.photobucket.com/user/joker577/media/IMG_0586_zps719ebf34.jpg.html'> All for a whopping 5$ plus tax Link to comment
bpounds1991 Posted April 9, 2014 Author Share Posted April 9, 2014 Trying to decide..my nano box is white, should I do something with the color of the screen top or leave it? Link to comment
frankdontsurf Posted April 9, 2014 Share Posted April 9, 2014 Trying to decide..my nano box is white, should I do something with the color of the screen top or leave it? I'd spray it black if it was going to be so visible. The LED will make it blue. Link to comment
bpounds1991 Posted April 9, 2014 Author Share Posted April 9, 2014 Oh ok, what paint did you recommend? Still not a bad deal I'd say for 5$! Link to comment
jbb Posted April 9, 2014 Share Posted April 9, 2014 I use krylon fusion on anything tank related. Link to comment
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