My "Water on the Floor" 3 ft Cube Upgrade

[straightrazorguy]

In late 2012 I picked up a 55 gallon tank from Craigslist. It came with over 50 lbs of live rock. Not knowing anything about reefing (in a previous life I was a planted tank freshwater guy), I didn't realize I picked up somebody's phosphate problems.

In my enthusiasm to grow coral I picked up and killed hundreds of dollars worth. Eventually I found Canreef and other saltwater forums and I educated myself. When I realized the problem I had, I picked up a 33 gallon tank, packed it full of rock and macroalgae, and plumbed it in line with the display tank. I also began running Rowaphos. Things got better; I started being able to actually keep coral alive. So, I bought more fish! Eventually I outgrew my 55 gallon tank. So I picked up a 3 ft cube from a fellow reefer. It is a Marineland 150 gallon cube tank 36 inch square x 28 tall. Star fire front on a Monterey stand.

[WarDog]

Looking forward to another interesting build here on Canreef! I too started as a freshwater guy and this new journey has been a huge learning curve. This forum in packed with invaluable information which has helped a ton!

Can't wait to see your progress!

[straightrazorguy]

I was going to post photos; but it turns out I can't. Or don't know how. Can some expert tell me how?

[Doug]

You need a photo host like Photobucket. Then copy and paste on here.

[straightrazorguy]

Like this?

http://i1370.photobucket.com/albums/ag260/straightrazorguy/OldTank_zps5ee12b1a.jpg

This is the old tank...

[Doug]

http://i1370.photobucket.com/albums/ag260/straightrazorguy/OldTank_zps5ee12b1a.jpg (http://s1370.photobucket.com/user/straightrazorguy/media/OldTank_zps5ee12b1a.jpg.html)

Like this. Click on the image code. Then paste here.

[straightrazorguy]

Great, thanks Doug!

Here's the old and the new. Please note the floors. That kind of patina on old wood floors can only be achieved through my outstanding skills....

http://i1370.photobucket.com/albums/ag260/straightrazorguy/OldNew_zpse9d51e9e.jpg (http://s1370.photobucket.com/user/straightrazorguy/media/OldNew_zpse9d51e9e.jpg.html)

[Aquattro]

Like this?



Bingo

[Doug]

:thumb:

[straightrazorguy]

This is no Herbie or Bean Animal. In keeping with my floor maintenance skills, I am keeping the plumbing simple...

http://i1370.photobucket.com/albums/ag260/straightrazorguy/PlumbedSump_zpsbcba5171.jpg (http://s1370.photobucket.com/user/straightrazorguy/media/PlumbedSump_zpsbcba5171.jpg.html)

[straightrazorguy]

http://i1370.photobucket.com/albums/ag260/straightrazorguy/DrainReturn_zps1fcb9d70.jpg (http://s1370.photobucket.com/user/straightrazorguy/media/DrainReturn_zps1fcb9d70.jpg.html)

[WarDog]

I would recommend a Herbie, for safety's sake. Durso is so 80's! Lol.

:pop2:

[straightrazorguy]

My idea of a manifold. The idea is to run a couple of reactors on the return pump.
http://i1370.photobucket.com/albums/ag260/straightrazorguy/Manifold_zpsfcbec863.jpg (http://s1370.photobucket.com/user/straightrazorguy/media/Manifold_zpsfcbec863.jpg.html)

[straightrazorguy]

And the tank full of saltwater:

http://i1370.photobucket.com/albums/ag260/straightrazorguy/CloudyTank_zps720b90b2.jpg (http://s1370.photobucket.com/user/straightrazorguy/media/CloudyTank_zps720b90b2.jpg.html)

[pinkreef]

love this part :multi:

[straightrazorguy]

I haven't updated this thread in a while. After the cloudiness settled down, and all the coral and fish moved into their new digs, after a lot more water on the floor, the tank looked like this (circa late June):

http://i1370.photobucket.com/albums/ag260/straightrazorguy/DSC00266_zps9f1ac8bd.jpg

[straightrazorguy]

I am now trying to place all power bars and controllers and the electrical guts of the new setup in one panel on the wall behind the tank. I got myself some panduit channels (thank you Canreef for the idea!). I am looking for a panel board of some sort to mount all the power bars and controllers on. I figure I need it co be a couple of feet wide by 3 ft tall, but I will do an exact layout before cutting.

Any ideas what kind of material I could use for the panel board? I would prefer some kind of plastic that can be drilled, but I'm open to ideas. Any electricians out there?