Howie's 82g Tank Journal

[Howie]

Well I decided to start a journal for this tank, I'll try keeping it updated :razz: A long story short I ordered my tank in September and got it in mid October. I then sold my 180 and filled this new tank only to find when I got my lights on i found several defects in the glass. Turns out I had bad luck and ended up with a bad batch of starfire that was used on all 3 viewing panes. Concept was great and replaced the 3 affected panels but that meant me tearing it all back down and waiting again. Lol but the wait is over :D

About the tank.
36×24×22 82g*The 3 sides and one piece euro are starfire, all edges are polished and black silicone.
External overflow. Bean animal drain. Dual returns.
Stand is 36x24x36 Powder coated steel w/magnetic Birch Panels. Painted with a high gloss enamel.
Return pump: Fluval sp4
Skimmer: Vertex Omega 150
Lights: 2 GHL Mitras 6200HV's (2 is*Over kill I know but I had them from my 180*)
Powerhead: Vortech*MP40qd*
Heater: Ebo Jager 250 watt
Doser: GHL 4 chanel doser 2
Reactor: TLF 150 for gfo
ATO: Hydor ato w/Eheim compact 300
Sump is 34x20x17 both the drains drop straight into a 4x7 sock into the skimmer section, then into a lit fuge and then the return section. Also I have ato compartment built in which also is plumbed so I could use it as a cryptic sump if I ever decided to. I went with the 4x7 sock to maximize space to allow*the largest fuge and allow me to have an ato reservoir

Most of the equipment I carried over from my previous tank. Lol and thankfully I found a good used skimmer and I sold my Jebao wavemakers and found a gently used mp40qd. I am very pleased with the quiet drive, definitely quieter on reef crest mode than the jebao on else mode.

The tank has now been running with rock and sand for 5 days...here's sone pics to catch up on things. They are cell pictures but they'll do for now lol

http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb331/Howie1988/Mobile%20Uploads/20151225_210321_zps52utnpfj.jpg
http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb331/Howie1988/Mobile%20Uploads/20151225_210555_zpsvj5s3fex.jpg
http://s1200.photobucket.com/user/Howie1988/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20151225_210555_zpsvj5s3fex.jpg
http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb331/Howie1988/Mobile%20Uploads/20151225_210512_zpsjwkiamoi.jpg
http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb331/Howie1988/Mobile%20Uploads/20151225_210847_zpsvqios6fp.jpg
http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb331/Howie1988/Mobile%20Uploads/20151225_210737_zpsnswizp9r.jpg
http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb331/Howie1988/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-12-29%2019.32.05_zpsviqv31p2.jpg
http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb331/Howie1988/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-12-29%2019.39.48_zpsu1txjf3o.jpg
http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb331/Howie1988/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-12-29%2019.38.04_zpsrjowi9gp.jpg
http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb331/Howie1988/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-12-29%2019.35.22_zpsbpdwcy8f.jpg

[Aquattro]

Looks like a great start! Love the rock work.

[Geo]

Nice tank, love the dimensions.

Do you have any livestock from old tank to transfer or is this a fresh start?

[Bugger]

That egg create is such an eye sore to what looks to be an awesome tank. The white pipes could be colored to make it stand out otherwise Im loving this tank

[Howie]

Thanks Brad, I am very pleased how the rock work turned out. Lol I had lots of rocks to work with that came from my 180.

Nice tank, love the dimensions.

Do you have any livestock from old tank to transfer or is this a fresh start?

Thanks, I have some corals from my 180 that are in my frag tank that will eventually go in. Then I had 5 fish that I was going to add but I lost 2 about 2 weeks ago. Looked like fin rot and I must of not caught it in time, they didnt respond to meds well. And a tang that was in my 180 is being rehomed. The fish that are left and wll be added are: Goldstripe maroon clown, longnose hawkfish, and a melanurus wrasse

[Howie]

That egg create is such an eye sore to what looks to be an awesome tank. The white pipes could be colored to make it stand out otherwise Im loving this tank
Lol the eggcrate is there to stop any chaeto from going into my return eventually. Maybe I could come up with a prettier solution. I thought about colored pipes but I won't see much of the sump with the panels on :razz:

[lpsreefer]

Looks good.

[Aquattro]

Lol the eggcrate is there to stop any chaeto from going into my return eventually. Maybe I could come up with a prettier solution. I thought about colored pipes but I won't see much of the sump with the panels on :razz:

I'm on the side of the hobby that doesn't much care what the sump looks like, it's simply a functional piece of equipment. Who cares if it has eggcrate or any other piece of whatever works to do the job. It's covered anyway, and more energy can be put in the display. Does it do the job? Then it works and no point worrying about it.

[duncangweller]

I use the same technique in my sump. Who cares if its not beautiful, like Brad said, if it does the job and doesn't cost a fortune then its a success in my eyes. I'll spend the extra money on fish and Coral.

Tank looks great.

[Aquattro]

Another thing. Trim those shims off before you get used to them being there. Or your tank will be 2 yo and still have shims sticking out. Trust me :)

[Howie]

I use the same technique in my sump. Who cares if its not beautiful, like Brad said, if it does the job and doesn't cost a fortune then its a success in my eyes. I'll spend the extra money on fish and Coral.

Tank looks great.

Thanks lol I am aiming for a beautiful display and a functional sump that is easy to work in :razz: I am so glad I went with a 36 inch high stand.

A week in and the skimmers needle wheel sperated from the shaft so I will be needing a new one. And I have found out that I will need to change out my ato pump. In the new setup the compact 300 is pumping water to fast and keeps adding to much water and setting off the alarm. Found that one out around 5am :cry: I picked up a aqualifter while in the city this weekend and i will install that hopefully after work today. Lol and maybe get to those shims as you have mentioned Brad.

[riceboy]

hmmm these dimensions and tank build look very similar to someones tank lol. nice rock work and stand

[Myka]

Nice dimensions, sweet stand, and awesome scape with REAL rock ! I'm excited to watch this one mature.

Sent from my SM-G870W using Tapatalk

[Howie]

hmmm these dimensions and tank build look very similar to someones tank lol. nice rock work and stand

Lol well I had some inspiration from a certain tank :biggrin: I always enjoy seeing updates on your tank! I originally wasn't going to do a one piece euro but after seeing the price wasn't so bad and my wife absolutely loving one piece euros the decision wasn't to hard.

[Howie]

Nice dimensions, sweet stand, and awesome scape with REAL rock ! I'm excited to watch this one mature.

Sent from my SM-G870W using Tapatalk

Thanks lol I am actually pretty happy how my panels turned out. Some minor imperfections but overall I am happy. I love the magnetic panels makes working on the sump a breeze. And for the rock...lol it is probably half live rock I purchased for my very first tank and half originally Dry puakanI that I had in my 180 which was up and running for a year. And for the last 3 months all my rock was sitting in bins with heaters and pumps while I waited on my tank. And now that I picked through it all I need to find a nice home for the rest:biggrin: I used fijicrete, arcylic rod and few zip ties building the rockscape.

[Myka]

Lol well I had some inspiration from a certain tank :biggrin: I always enjoy seeing updates on your tank! I originally wasn't going to do a one piece euro but after seeing the price wasn't so bad and my wife absolutely loving one piece euros the decision wasn't to hard.

I have the same tank too with one piece euro. :o Is your eurobrace Starphire? I have a false back wall instead of an overflow though, so my display dimensions are 36 x 21 x 21".

[Howie]

Yes it's starfire as well lol Your tank is another that I follow and inspires me :biggrin: lol I want your space invader pectina. Oh and your guy for the corners emailed me, I finally found it hidden away in my email. I have an idea in my head for a screen top and I picked up the materials to do it. Now I just have to make some time to build it. I am going to try and Make a a template of my eurobrace and try bending some 3/8 clear arcylic rod up. Then on the backside tac the mesh on with some weldon 16. I made a sample piece the other day with scraps and it seems to hold. If it turns out not so good I'll be ordering some corners lol. And a picture of the sample, excuse the beat up piece of acrylic rod and cat fur.

http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb331/Howie1988/Mobile%20Uploads/20160104_184015_zpsrphcm04c.jpg

[Howie]

So after work today (but while my wife was still working) I decided to do a little baking in the oven. I baked this nice frame for my screen top, the glue is drying so I'll wait to attach the mesh to the backside tomorrow night. :biggrin: The tabs that will be sitting on my brace are just propped on those 4 small pieces until the glue dries. I did each end seperatey because that's all I could fit in the oven, all off the joints are hidden under the mounting tabs lol I hope it fits....I did test the bent ends and they fit nicely.
http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb331/Howie1988/Mobile%20Uploads/20160110_192337_zpsvmbktgzz.jpg

[Howie]

So the screen top fits, the one corner does not sit 100% tight with the brace but it definitely will keep the fish where they belong. I think friday I will add my fish to the tank :)
http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb331/Howie1988/Mobile%20Uploads/20160113_210013_zps27iv9eqh.jpg
[img]

[Fishy!]

Looking good! Tagging along on this one.
Did you paint/build the panels yourself?
What type of magnets did you use?

[Howie]

Looking good! Tagging along on this one.
Did you paint/build the panels yourself?
What type of magnets did you use?

Thanks. Yes I did build the panels myself., the magnets are rare earth magnets I purchased at The Bolt Supply House here in Calgary. Few blocks from concept. They are about an inch in diameter with a hole counter sunk in the middle meant for a screw. I screwed them on plus pl glue as well as I was worried they may pull out of the wood eventually. I think 4 bucks a piece, and I used 4 for my big panel and 3 for my smaller panels.

[Fishy!]

Thanks. Yes I did build the panels myself., the magnets are rare earth magnets I purchased at The Bolt Supply House here in Calgary. Few blocks from concept. They are about an inch in diameter with a hole counter sunk in the middle meant for a screw. I screwed them on plus pl glue as well as I was worried they may pull out of the wood eventually. I think 4 bucks a piece, and I used 4 for my big panel and 3 for my smaller panels.

Did you spray or roll on the finish? It looks great.
Did you seal the magnets in any way? If not are you worried about them rusting?

[Howie]

Did you spray or roll on the finish? It looks great.
Did you seal the magnets in any way? If not are you worried about them rusting?

Rolled it on but I wanted to spray it, no room to do so tho. lol it was some really nice Benjamin Moore enamel paint. I was really impressed how well it went on being rolled. I didn't seal the magnets, I thought about it but decided I wanted maximum strength to hold panels on. If they start rusting I may try painting them.

[Howie]

On Wedneaday I woke up to my longnose hawkfish laying dried up ontop of my screen.He was the smallest fish and the only fish who was small enough to fit through my 3/8 screentop.Lol I was planning to buy fish anyway yesterday so I made the trip to Calgary and now have a juvenile chocolate tang and a diamond goby in my qt :) The diamond goby was eating pellets and frozen mysis in the store so hopefully he will keep long term in my tank.

[Howie]

Added my corals earlier this week and here's a quick video of the tank so far.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/nz3gojn35cje1od/20160210_184040.mp4?dl=0

Livestock so far...
Melanarus wrasse
Gold striped maron clown
Pincushion urchin
Few snails and hermits
Toadstool
6 Frags of zoas(wammin watermelons, goblins fire, rastas, orange kisses, tropic thunders and one I have no idea of the name)
2 Torches
Neon green candy coral
Bird of paradise frag
German blue digitata frag
Red monti cap

[iamfrontosa]

looks great. i think you have the perfect setting on your vortech.

[Howie]

looks great. i think you have the perfect setting on your vortech.
Thanks, lol it moves some sand from the left side but I have nice flow everywhere in the tank. I may eventually buy a second mp40 or maybe an mp10 for the left side and dial back the current mp40.