65G Build. (Pics Finally!)

[md14]

Well, I finally took the plunge and the following is my first salt water tank. Been doing lots of reading for the past 2-3 months, and just hope all goes well.

The tank is a 65 Gallon, (36 x 18 x 24) and I'm running a herbie. The sump is 30 x 12 x 12 split into 3 sections. Skimmer/Return/Refuge. DIY stand which was orignally metal tubing which I just ended up skinning and painting

I'm going to be sticking to most of the easier/hardier corals since I get the hang of things but eventually I'm hoping this can become a full blown Zoa/LPS reef.

Still need to paint the return all black, and support the refuge line so its not slumping

Any comments/suggestions/questions would be great! (espically newbie pointers)

(Got a simple point and shoot camera so not the greatest pics ever)

http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk78/dhillon2414/65%20Gallon/DSCF0364.jpg

http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk78/dhillon2414/65%20Gallon/DSCF0365.jpg

http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk78/dhillon2414/65%20Gallon/DSCF0363.jpg

[Rbacchiega]

Looks great so far. Are you going to go barebottom? Sandbed? What type of lights?

[md14]

Guess I should add that to the first post, I'm going to have a shallow sand bed just like the look of sand to much to go bare bottom. Lights are going to be 36'' Odyessa Metal Halide. How are you liking yours?

[Rbacchiega]

They're great for the price. Eventually when it comes time to change bulbs I'll be going to name brand bulbs but keeping the housing unit. Probably Pheonix or Ushio Metal halides and then a 50/50 bulb for one of the PCs and a bluer actinic for the other.

[Snaz]

Looks great. One problem I foresee is playing XBOX with your tank in view, my eyes would constantly be drawn to the tank and then I would get my ass fragged, or fragged more so than it already does I guess. :lol:

[md14]

Looks great. One problem I foresee is playing XBOX with your tank in view, my eyes would constantly be drawn to the tank and then I would get my ass fragged, or fragged more so than it already does I guess. :lol:

lol, Well lets just hope that doesnt happen.

Filled up the tank today tested out the herbie and everything works out the way it should I believe. Had a few leaks in the return ended up fixing those and picked up about 45lbs of LR from jasond, Thanks again man.

Oh yeah and thanks to Kevin at redcoral for all the advice. Best place for anything saltwater in this town

[md14]

Well finally got around to some aquascaping tonight.. First time ever and it took some time :neutral:

Let me know what you think.. not to sure about it

[JDigital]

That shaded part of the light looks bad.. haha.. very distracting...

[rocketlily]

I really like the basic shape of your rock layout except for one little thing. The rocks on the righthand side all have a little lean to the left. I think that if you could straighten them out a little it would look really great.

[Leah]

Looks great.....When do we get more picture's? For someone who love's picture's i
should really learn how to use mine. lol huh! Never mind what they say up there,
what do they know.

[i have crabs]

That shaded part of the light looks bad.. haha.. very distracting...

have to agree, kinda kills the mood.
i assume its from a centerbrace, if so id cut it out

[xenon]

have to agree, kinda kills the mood.
i assume its from a centerbrace, if so id cut it out

Too risky.

That is a very tall tank and they brace it because the glass is thin.

I would simply get T5's. They spread the light much better so you would barely see the brace at all.

[md14]

Yeah its the center brace, that glass isn't to thin its 3/8'' but I agree it does look akward

[i have crabs]

could be a big pain but how about cutting it out and doing a small eurobrace and centerbrace,

[fishytime]

Cut the center one out and put in two spread farther appart?

[md14]

Yeah, talked to Kev about it today at Red Coral, planning on cutting out the middle brace and putting in two a bit farther apart, also wasn't to happy with the rockwork got some more rock to work with, i'll have pics up later

[md14]

Well plentys happened since the last post,

Dont have to worry about the center brace anymore, got a new light fixture :mrgreen:

6x39W ATI Powermodule

Also picked up about 20lbs more of live rock and redid the rock work, got the fuge going and the phosban reactor inplace as well (still need to add the GFO to it though, wanted to see if it would fit alright)

Stuck with a Coralife Super simmer 125 for now, saving up for something alot better down the road but for now It's doing the job been getting some nice dark skimate

(Returns got painted black, and theres no more heater in the main tank lol, didnt feel like taking new pics agian for that)

Comments, suggestions?


http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk78/dhillon2414/65%20Gallon/DSCF0388.jpg

http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk78/dhillon2414/65%20Gallon/DSCF0386.jpg

http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk78/dhillon2414/65%20Gallon/DSCF0384.jpg

http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk78/dhillon2414/65%20Gallon/DSCF0393.jpg

[rocketlily]

I really like your aquascaping. It's going to be a very interesting tank.

[lorenz0]

oh man, so jealous of that light lol

looks great, keep the updates coming

[md14]

aha thanks,

The aquascape changed a bit I'll get a more recent picture up,

[md14]

.

[md14]

Well its been a while and I forgot about this build thread, alots happened but overall the tank is running really well, aside from a algae bloom that just occured (which I believe was from old bulbs)

I just lost my mystery wrasse due to carpet surfing :cry: only other inhabitants at the moment are a small Purple Tang (which is getting relocated to a much bigger tank once it grows in size :biggrin:) an Ebili Angel and a fire shrimp.

Finally got around to taking some pics, first time trying to take pics of an aquarium they didnt turn out to great and I never had any time to really do any editing but I hope you enjoy them anyway (the colors look so faded and bleached, when there quite vibrant in real life any tips on how to improve the color quality on pictures?)


Purple w/green tips torch
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk78/dhillon2414/65%20Gallon/DSCF0171.jpg

Small blue carpet
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk78/dhillon2414/65%20Gallon/DSCF0168.jpg

http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk78/dhillon2414/65%20Gallon/DSCF0172.jpg

http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk78/dhillon2414/65%20Gallon/DSCF0161.jpg

http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk78/dhillon2414/65%20Gallon/DSCF0160.jpg

http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk78/dhillon2414/65%20Gallon/DSCF0175.jpg

http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk78/dhillon2414/65%20Gallon/DSCF0183.jpg

[fishytime]

Hello gargantuspawn......I miss you:lol: Lookin good man!

[lorenz0]

looks real good. keep up the good work

[Leah]

Wow it looks great!!! Love your lil angel.

[KennyKen]

wow that is a small carpet....
I supposed they have to start somewhere though.

Looks good.

[Navarchus]

Cool tank i love it :)

[sharuq1]

Looking good! Where'd you find the little carpet nem? It's nice.