A Brit's Glass Box

[Toongraeme]

So, here we are..... Almost 2 years after having to give up the hobby to nice from the UK, I'm almost ready to get the new tank up and running...

I'll get this brought up to date over this weekend

[Toongraeme]

Ok, so.... Here we go! I moved to Edmonton in feb 2012 from the UK. I had kept a Marne tank for about 7 years before the big move came. My first tank was a 5ft basic tank. I was keeping softies, and a couple of lps. But most important this was to be a learning curve. I was always changing things and making mistakes here and there, but because I didn't have any really sensitive species all was quite forgiving. That was until I bought a ritteri anemone!!!! Yup, it died.... I wiped out my tank! I had to start all over again with the fish I'd lost, but instead of getting beat by this I decided to buy a bigger tank!
I found a 2m long, 650litre tank. Once this was set up I picked a few tangs to go in there. Regal/yellow/orange shoulder and my favorite powder blue. For some reason I had limited success with this tank. I couldn't get much to go right in this one. I did however learn a lot about equipment with this tank. I had a chiller, my first calcium reactor, bio pellets, big skimmer, modified halide light..... But I was determined to keep wasting my money on it and started to get into sps....
Then came the big move, so everything had to go!
This is what it looked like before I left:

http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i455/toongraeme/3a185d5c.jpg

It was never finished, there was always something to do on it.
So, what was the first thing I did when I got here? That's right, scrawled canreef for a tank. I came away with hazratty's old setup. But I was just never quite satisfied that it was what I wanted. So it sat around.... Until Sphelps put a tank up for sale. Now, this one was just perfect for the space I wanted to put it in, great dimension too!

[Toongraeme]

Since I was starting to fall into the sps route, I had the opportunity to visit fellow reef keepers around Scotland. I got to see some amazing setups, and also some sad tear downs.... But most importantly I got some inspiration as to what I 'hope' to achieve with this tank. Since my last tank was never complete, I've decided I want to completely build this one, take my time and hope everything is just right for when I finally get it salty :-)

[Toongraeme]

So here's some pics so far:

http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i455/toongraeme/null_zps0ff8dbce.jpg

http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i455/toongraeme/null_zps1a954113.jpg

http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i455/toongraeme/null_zps6daf77e1.jpg

http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i455/toongraeme/null_zpsd346569a.jpg

http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i455/toongraeme/DF6FF596-48AB-4936-AD80-F142F9346BAF-1005-00000076B8242DAC.jpg

http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i455/toongraeme/BDF2E02B-E9EF-4629-AB9D-AEE2111824A7-1005-00000076BE4B1BCF.jpg

http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i455/toongraeme/null-2.jpg

http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i455/toongraeme/null-23.jpg

http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i455/toongraeme/null-21.jpg

http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i455/toongraeme/null-22.jpg

http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i455/toongraeme/null-32.jpg

http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i455/toongraeme/null-28.jpg

http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i455/toongraeme/null-40.jpg

[The Codfather]

It's about time you got some pictures up. Looks good, keep it coming.
Nice to meet you the other night.
Now get those other pictures up, I know you have more.....

[Toongraeme]

So, with the plumbing complete, all the electrics done, and a few bits of equipment.... It was time for the wet test:

http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i455/toongraeme/null_zps2fa5e8ab.jpg

http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i455/toongraeme/null_zpsda8b91f7.jpg

http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i455/toongraeme/null_zpsb9c7a8d8.jpg

http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i455/toongraeme/null_zps7ee6799b.jpg

And I only had one leak..... Behind the tank!!! So I had to drain it, pull it out, fix the leak.... You get the picture!!!

http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i455/toongraeme/null_zps93706101.jpg

[Toongraeme]

It's about time you got some pictures up. Looks good, keep it coming.
Nice to meet you the other night.
Now get those other pictures up, I know you have more.....

Lol, thanks.... And you. I've got a little vid to put up too

[Toongraeme]

Wet test video:

http://youtu.be/lUQ6xci8uyw

[ensquire]

Nice set up , only thing I would suggest is to change out those valves on the drain lines for gate valves. Easier to tune in .

[Toongraeme]

Nice set up , only thing I would suggest is to change out those valves on the drain lines for gate valves. Easier to tune in .

Yeah I know.... I was being lazy lol. It's gonna be a nightmare to cut them neatly so I might just add one further down. That way I still have a way of closing the pipe without affecting the syphon :-)

[gregzz4]

Good lookin' build so far Graeme

I'd like to suggest one change before you go salty ... if you don't mind

I regret my power panel not being waterproofed and suggest you re-think yours
Even though mine is above my sump and in a dedicated room where you would think it wouldn't get wet ... it has
After only 1 year it's covered in all kinds of salt spray ... It's amazing how little moisture it takes to contaminate a surface
Your's is confined to your stand and will definately get wet in some way

I cheaped out and should have bought sealed outlet boxes or used back boxes, but I at least used boxes for my duplexes
Your's is very exposed to moisture
I hope you consider at least putting them boxes, and preferrably sealed ones

Good luck with the rest of your build bud :biggrin:

[Toongraeme]

Yeah, I've got a sheet of flexi plastic stuff to put against the sump to try and stop spray. I've also got a humidity sensor wired up to a shower fan which sits up by the display tank, and 4 pc fans to help draw moisture out of the cabinet.... I would prefer a proper cover though....

[Toongraeme]

Still a couple of pieces of equipment to buy. The list so far:

Eheim 1260 return pump
Vertex omega 150 skimmer
36" Tek 5, 6 tube T5 light unit
Twin TLF 150 reactors for GFO and carbon, powered by mj400
250w heater
Coralife calcium reactor 250
Milwaukee ph control/monitor
Milwaukee CO2 regulator/solenoid
Pair of 6" Honeywell fans for circulation while lights are on

Still to get:
Tunze osmolator
Top up tank
Power heads
RO unit/storage container
Co2 canister
Salt
Rock
Sand

[Toongraeme]

I've also got a fish wish list. I've had big fish in the past, so this time I'm going to try and keep things small as I want to try and focus on sps this time.

6 line wrasse
Scooter
Mandarin (maybe a pair)
Clown goby
Neon goby
Royal gramma
Red spot blennie
Blood shrimp
Sexy shrimp (4 or 5)
Blue tuxedo urchin

I'd also like a group of schooling fish. All I can really find that will stay small are thread fun cardinal, so maybe 5 or 6 of these aswell.

[Toongraeme]

Just got to tidy up the sump a bit, re-route some wires, and get a top off tank made up

http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i455/toongraeme/null_zps8c38f616.jpg

[Toongraeme]

This arrived today:

http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i455/toongraeme/null_zps135d5f0f.jpg

http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i455/toongraeme/null_zps24aac3a2.jpg

7 stage with spare filters..... Just need to put it all together, and plumb it up!

[pinkreef]

6line wrasses are sometimes nasty and if you dont like him its near impossible to get him out of a reef. a yellow coris wrasse eats lot of
pesty things and leaves corals alone, way nicer fish

[Toongraeme]

Sump space tidied up a little bit:

http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i455/toongraeme/null_zps6490798b.jpg

Just need CO2 and osmolator to add. Also going to modify the end pipes to 1" flex. This will give me a bit more room around the skimmer.
Also found a 15 litre recycling tub. Perfect fit, just need to water test that.

[Toongraeme]

Here's the RO unit assembled. I changed the pre filter canisters for clear ones that I had off a spare unit. I think it's more aesthetically pleasing.....

http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i455/toongraeme/null_zps2d99d45f.jpg

Should have it plumbed in by the weekend.

[Toongraeme]

Just placed an order for the last few pieces. Hopefully get it all finished this weekend. Maybe even wet test one last time. Maybe try and load it up with dry rock, and seed it with a bit of live in the sump. Then let the cycle commence....

[kien]

Looking good! I like your attention to detail. That splash guard to protect the outlets is a good idea! Are you giong to cover and protect the light as well? It appears very close to the skimmer cup, and skimmer cups have a tendency to blow their load from time to time.

[Toongraeme]

The light isn't as close as it looks in the photo, but the skimmer isn't in it's final position yet anyway. The light is just for working in there anyway and is for wet areas so should hopefully be ok.

[Toongraeme]

A few more pieces arrived:

http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i455/toongraeme/null_zps21cfe6bb.jpg

[Toongraeme]

Osmolator installed, getting very close to wet now! Need to add just one more power out let....

http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i455/toongraeme/null_zpsdf34f6b8.jpg

http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i455/toongraeme/null_zpsa5e72378.jpg

http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i455/toongraeme/null_zps46980872.jpg

[Toongraeme]

RO unit plumbed, ready to flush.....

http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i455/toongraeme/null_zpsdd1d73b0.jpg

Rock from marine aquaria:

http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i455/toongraeme/null_zps0a03a113.jpg

Also got a tunze 7095 controller. Hoping to get power heads in new year

[Toongraeme]

And so it begins...... SLOWLY!!!

http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i455/toongraeme/null_zpsaf22dce0.jpg

[Toongraeme]

Latest update.....

http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i455/toongraeme/null_zps8262ec89.jpg

Think it needs a tad more rock haha!

[kien]

Latest update.....

Think it needs a tad more rock haha!

Actually I rather like how it is now. That looks like more than enough rock to me :-)

[asylumdown]

Actually I rather like how it is now. That looks like more than enough rock to me :-)

+1

I think that looks great. Minimalist rock design is very hot at the moment. You've got great negative space in there, plenty of swimming room, and lots of space for coral

[Toongraeme]

Salty!

http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i455/toongraeme/null_zpsb9922b55.jpg

http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i455/toongraeme/null_zpsd7c3f587.jpg

[Toongraeme]

Yeah, I hear what you're saying. I want to build a tower on the left aswell. And maybe stick some small branch type rocks in there too....