Trevor W Posted February 4, 2013 Author Share Posted February 4, 2013 I would leave it how it is. If you go to high there won't as much room to grow his sps that high. Aqua scaping can't be rock alone. This is has the potential to look stunning! Font let us down Thank You! I will try and live up to these comments! It will be a long slow process but it will be worth it. I have rushed and slapped tanks together just to get some coral and fish growing and in the end I was never satisfied with them. This time I am trying to do it right. As I get further along with the build I will keep taking photos and documenting the process and when I am further along I hope to start an actual build thread. Lets just consider this a pre-cursor to the build thread, so far the feed back and support has been amazing. It makes me feel like I am on the right track with where I want to go. With that being said I am also open to any criticism. Sooo lets try and get peoples thoughts on stand (skin/panel) colour: Black White Grey Link to comment
Jackal_Knight Posted February 5, 2013 Share Posted February 5, 2013 i would go with what matches the rest of your furniture, i would like a white stand but my furniture is all dark colors like dark brown or black so i think white would stand out to much or look out of places for me. Link to comment
Trevor W Posted February 5, 2013 Author Share Posted February 5, 2013 i would go with what matches the rest of your furniture, i would like a white stand but my furniture is all dark colors like dark brown or black so i think white would stand out to much or look out of places for me. Very good point, however this tank is set-up in a un-used spare bedroom. So this allows me the freedom to choose whichever colour for the stand panels. If it was in my living room or any other part of my home it would hands down have to be black. Link to comment
ward827 Posted February 5, 2013 Share Posted February 5, 2013 Wow! That is really nice! The scape will look amazing when it's full! Always love tanks that include a 'valley' of negative space in the middle. Helps to add a sense of realism and depth. IMO. W- 1 Link to comment
specore Posted February 5, 2013 Share Posted February 5, 2013 Love the scape. Can't wait to see what it looks like once it fills out. 1 Link to comment
Trevor W Posted February 5, 2013 Author Share Posted February 5, 2013 Wow! That is really nice! The scape will look amazing when it's full! Always love tanks that include a 'valley' of negative space in the middle. Helps to add a sense of realism and depth. IMO. W- Thank You very much! I am also a big fan of the use of negative space, it IMO adds so much to even a smaller tank of 100 Gallons or less. The valley may change somewhat with the placement of corals but in the end I plan on keeping it open and not placing corals so that they will close it in. Love the scape. Can't wait to see what it looks like once it fills out. Thank you! I too can not wait but like I said before I am definatly not going to rush anything and regret it later. I just have to keep reminding myself that its not a race and its not going anywhere. Link to comment
Trevor W Posted February 21, 2013 Author Share Posted February 21, 2013 Well the time has come and the tank is now slowly filling. Its very exciting yet somewhat nerve racking, waiting to see how my plumbing skills and bulkheads stand up to the much anticipated leak test. Given that all my plumbing passes, I will start the process of cycling. During the long wait for the cycle to complete I plan on working on my "secondary" or "satellite" cabinet. This cabinet will sit beside the tank and be no taller than my current stand. It will house on one half, my ATO resevoir, reactors, and future dosing pump and containers. The other half (seperated by a divider of course) will house all of my electrical and will be all organized onto a "panel" with all excess wires hidden below the panel. Lack of organization of wires and equipment aswell as the cluttered ball of mess in a stand/sump is one of my biggest pet-peves with alot of tanks and I am really hoping to eliminate this with the "satellite" cabinet. I know alot of people have made some very nice equipment panels for in there sump, but has anyone here ever made a secondary cabinet like I have explained. If so would you care to share your experience or ideas. I am always happy to have all sorts of input and feedback (+OR-). So please feel free to post suggestions or ideas. Link to comment
Trevor W Posted March 9, 2013 Author Share Posted March 9, 2013 I have started working on the panels for my stand while the tank is cycling, not finished them yet just got a couple quick coats of primer/sealer on. I still havn't decided on what the final colour will be. Now cue the shotty cell phone pics..... Link to comment
jdantunes Posted April 22, 2013 Share Posted April 22, 2013 what powerhead is that? Ecotech Vortech MP40. Link to comment
jdantunes Posted April 22, 2013 Share Posted April 22, 2013 Really nice tank, love the dimensions. You did a great job in the aquascape. Your idea of a satellite stand is great. I seen it before, a guy from Miami did it. I build something different and I house everything under the tank, minimizing the view of the wires and clutter that are usually seen in other builds. I haven't post pictures yet, but I will In the next couple of days.... Link to comment
Trevor W Posted July 31, 2013 Author Share Posted July 31, 2013 Well havn't updated in awhile, so here goes...... Long story short after setting it up and starting to cycle I had to tear the tank down. It sat empty for awhile than I decided to run it freshwater for the time being. Resulting in this.... http://s1324.photobucket.com/user/Trevor_de_W/media/Manz2_zps432d0695.jpg.html'> http://s1324.photobucket.com/user/Trevor_de_W/media/Manz3_zps4d8a49e5.jpg.html'> I soon found myself angry that I had lost my scape and wishing it had never been tore down. So after constantly lurking on forums looking at all the great tank I said screw this and pulled the drain yet again. At this point I am completly sick of removing sand from this tank. http://s1324.photobucket.com/user/Trevor_de_W/media/IMG_20130713_194114_zps429f705a.jpg.html'> Tank scrubbed and disinfected http://s1324.photobucket.com/user/Trevor_de_W/media/IMG_20130713_234713_zps707637dc.jpg.html'> Sump scrubbed and disinfected http://s1324.photobucket.com/user/Trevor_de_W/media/IMG_20130713_234745_zpsb9e4f90f.jpg.html'> Luckily I had saved all my equipment minus the MP40. The rock had to be stored in a tote and I was unable to save the original 2 island layout. The sand was strained and kept in an empty Reef Crystals bucket. http://s1324.photobucket.com/user/Trevor_de_W/media/IMG_20130714_112148_zps7e88e56e.jpg.html'> 30 minutes later sand and rock was back in the tank and I had achieved what I thought was impossible and created a scape that was very similar to the one before. http://s1324.photobucket.com/user/Trevor_de_W/media/IMG_20130714_122136_zpse2b63b57.jpg.html'> http://s1324.photobucket.com/user/Trevor_de_W/media/IMG_20130714_122128_zpsac2e3085.jpg.html'> Lights hung http://s1324.photobucket.com/user/Trevor_de_W/media/IMG_20130719_204629_zps4abf9a8d.jpg.html'> http://s1324.photobucket.com/user/Trevor_de_W/media/IMG_20130719_204642_zpsac563db2.jpg.html'> http://s1324.photobucket.com/user/Trevor_de_W/media/IMG_20130719_220823_zps666ca8b8.jpg.html'> Finally filled http://s1324.photobucket.com/user/Trevor_de_W/media/IMG_20130728_104018_zpsbd7623ca.jpg.html'> http://s1324.photobucket.com/user/Trevor_de_W/media/IMG_20130728_104024_zps5bbc947e.jpg.html'> http://s1324.photobucket.com/user/Trevor_de_W/media/IMG_20130728_104055_zps19181e27.jpg.html'> Started working on the electrical cabinet that will house and hide all the electrical equipment and cords. Was originally going to be used and a place to store my reactors ATO and future dosing but I decided the electrical was more important to hide. http://s1324.photobucket.com/user/Trevor_de_W/media/IMG_20130726_211538_zps9d8d1060.jpg.html'> Removable false top will have a slot cut into it where the American DJ power strip will be mounted. Panel will also be painted. http://s1324.photobucket.com/user/Trevor_de_W/media/IMG_20130726_211601_zps7f349fd5.jpg.html'> I have 2 Vertex Rx-U 1.5 reactors one will have GFO and one will have Carbon. I have also switched to using a Tunze 6105 with a 7096 controller and will be purchasing one more very soon. Link to comment
Jackal_Knight Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 Dang was wondering what happened to this build, looks like your back at square one. You still have the same game plan or u mixing things up. Link to comment
Trevor W Posted July 31, 2013 Author Share Posted July 31, 2013 Dang was wondering what happened to this build, looks like your back at square one. You still have the same game plan or u mixing things up. Same game plan. This time however I have jump started the cycle with a HOPEFULLY pest free 5lb piece of liverock. It will still be SPS dominant. For fish I am thinking: Group of blue/green chromis Harem of Lyretail Anthias Pair of tomato or cinnamon clowns midas or bi-colour blenny (undecided) I havnt decided much on what other fish, these are just what I have always envisioned swimming in the tank. Any suggestions? Link to comment
Jackal_Knight Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 Are you a tang man? Other than that id be happy with your selection, anthias are awesome. Link to comment
Trevor W Posted August 1, 2013 Author Share Posted August 1, 2013 Are you a tang man? Other than that id be happy with your selection, anthias are awesome. I have always liked the look of the powder blue tangs or powder brown tangs but I'm not too sure if I want to add either because it might change the esthetic of the tank being that I will have smaller-medium sized fish one larger speedboat of a tang might look odd. I might eventually add a yellow tang but time will tell I guess. What about cardinals? I was also thinking about some wrasses but I dont have alot of knowledge about the different types and I dont know which would best suit my current stocklist and tank? Link to comment
JDigital Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 So much WIN with this tank.. Looks fantastic and the aquascaping is MINT! Link to comment
Lalani Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Sleek build, that scaping is perfect (especially the rocks on the right)! Link to comment
Trevor W Posted August 20, 2013 Author Share Posted August 20, 2013 this tank Thank You! So much WIN with this tank.. Looks fantastic and the aquascaping is MINT! Thanks! Your on canreef aswell right? Sleek build, that scaping is perfect (especially the rocks on the right)! Thanks! Link to comment
Trevor W Posted August 20, 2013 Author Share Posted August 20, 2013 Electrical Cabinet Completed View from bench/electrical cabinet Stand Panels Completed I still have to finish cleaning up all the excess cables for the lights and the Tunze 6105 and 7096 controller, I am just waiting till I recieve my second 6105. I will be using electrical raceway to finish hiding all those cables that you see on the wall. Link to comment
Trevor W Posted August 20, 2013 Author Share Posted August 20, 2013 Media Reactors As I had previously stated before, I purchased 2 Vertex Rx-U 1.5 media reactors (one for carbon, and one for GFO). Well as soon as I seen the factory supplied sponges that come with the reactors I forseen a problem. I have a large bag of Vertex ROX 0.8 activated carbon and anyone who has seen or used it will know just how small the grains are. The problem is simply the size of the sponge pores VS the size of the carbon grains. Sure enough this was a problem almost instantly the carbon started working its way into and through the sponges. This is just flat out unacceptable. A quick google search returned nothing for results. I then remembered that I had a small sheet of Poret foam. It was a no-brainer, Poret foam is IMO the absolute best foam that can be used for aquariums and has been used for years in freshwater tanks. Never did I think that after spending $$$ on media reactors I would have to DIY them to work properly with the same brand of carbon. Factory Sponge Poret Sponge Link to comment
JDigital Posted August 20, 2013 Share Posted August 20, 2013 Thanks! Your on canreef aswell right? Depends who's asking. But yes, I am. Link to comment
Trevor W Posted August 20, 2013 Author Share Posted August 20, 2013 Depends who's asking. But yes, I am. HA Thought as much Link to comment
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