A noobs first attempt at a tank...by rjengen

[rjengen]

So, I've been stalking all of you for the last two months, gathering intel and insight on what I hope will turn out to be a great first attempt. I have several fresh tanks in the house, and have always wanted to get into salt water, but honestly just felt overwhelmed with everything. Well, as I said, two months ago I signed up on here and decided it was time to figure it all out, and make a go at it.

I had serious thoughts of drilling one of my existing tanks, but then when I started thinking hard on it, I decided I'd let someone who actually knew what they were doing do it for me. If it turned out bad, I could get mad at them, and not be poopy at myself for a crumy job. Now, I live in Grande Prairie, and if any of you know the place, you know we're SOL up here for anything that resembles LFS that deals with salt, so I emailed a few people with my idea's for a tank. I ended up having Red Coral in Calgary build the tank, and here's what we decided.

48x18x20 Tank = 74g ish
Eurobraced
External overflow set up for a herbie
Bottom of the tank drilled for a closed loop
Glass edges polished and beveled
Tinted black back
and my fav...Starphire front

Well the tank was finished friday, and I ended up getting up at 5 in the morning saturday and did the 1500km door to door round trip to pick the tank up. I was going to overnight in Edmonton at the inlaws, but outside of Panoka on my trip home a jeep tried to pass me on the #2, blew his front pass tire, swerved into the guy behind me and both cars ended up in the ditch, the jeep rolling once. Everyone was okay, but after dealing with the police and giving a statement, I was just too jacked up to even think about sleep...so I just drove home.

I did happen to stop in Airdrie on my way down and meet Powertec, and bought a slightly used, new to me Vertex IN 180 off of him though. Haven't been through that place in 7 years, and I'm glad he came to meet me, I would have been lost forsure!

So anyways, I finished my stand this morning, and finally got the tank sitting on it. I snagged the stand design off of here, and with the tank on it it is very stable. I plan on sheating it with 3/4" oak, and staining it a dark cherry, but that will be down the road a little bit. For a sump, I went with a spare 33g tank I had sitting around. I cut a deal with the glass shop we deal with at work for our windshields, and told em they could put a new windshield in my truck if they cut me some glass...so I got 4 baffels @ 3mm for free, and I can see out of the windshield again.

I started looking around town 3 weeks ago for a 2 3/8" diamond hold saw, and the only on I found was at Rona. They were asking $140 for it, so once the guy found it for me, and told me the price, I walked out...and may have mentioned "Good luck selling that you effing retards" and I must say...Bless ebay, and all the goodies you can find on there.

And that's where I'm at guys...I did pick up 2 Peseidon PS4 pumps from Red Coral when I was down, and have one of them already rigged into the sump circulating water. It's a humble beginning for me right now, and since Christmas is right around the corner, I can't get too crazy with my spending, my wife would have me and my tank out on the front step in no time...but once the season has pasted, I intend to get a little crazy. Things on the top of the list

Some T5 retro kits
Neptune Controller
Oceans Motions 2 way squirt (If someone has one they want to sell...hit me up please)

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/rjengen/IMG_7075.jpg
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/rjengen/IMG_7076.jpg
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/rjengen/IMG_7077.jpg
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/rjengen/IMG_7078.jpg
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/rjengen/IMG_7079.jpg
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/rjengen/IMG_7080.jpg
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/rjengen/IMG_7081.jpg
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/rjengen/IMG_7082.jpg
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/rjengen/IMG_7083.jpg

[kien]

wow, someone has definitely done their homework! Very nice! Looking forward to the progress!

P.S. If you plan on finishing the basement I recommend doing it now BEFORE the tank is filled and stocked! :lol: That is, unless you're the type that enjoys moving a fully stocked saltwater tank! :-D

[lorenz0]

Tank looks great, nice to see you decided on the external overflow

[Carmen]

Excellent start! Glad you made it home okay! PHEW! What a trip! Nice meeting you in red Coral! Will be a fabulous tank! I will be watching your build!:mrgreen:

[Boomboy]

very nice for a "noob"

[rjengen]

wow, someone has definitely done their homework! Very nice! Looking forward to the progress!

P.S. If you plan on finishing the basement I recommend doing it now BEFORE the tank is filled and stocked! :lol: That is, unless you're the type that enjoys moving a fully stocked saltwater tank! :-D

I hate moving period...I don't plan on finishing this basement cause we're looking at building a new house next fall. I hope to slowly tackle this project so 1 of 2 things happens...everything is tweaked and looking sharp for our new house, or the more likely scenario I cut my teeth with this tank, and end up going bigger and building something into our new house. Either way, my son is already asking when we will put water in the tank :biggrin:

[Myka]

Yes, you have done your homework for sure!! Great looking tank. :)

Excellent pump choice - I have a PS3 on my 90, and it is silent. It does add about 2 degrees to the water temperature though. Grr... you will be better off than me though since you are using T5s.

What do you have planned for corals and fish? :D

[Delphinus]

Wow that's quite a story. Good thing to hear everyone was OK.

And as far as the TANK goes, I must say this is an incredible beginning to a "noob" setup. This is gonna be a great tank for you!

[leducreef]

looks great now get that stand painted lol

[leducreef]

:lol:

[rjengen]

Well, not too much has gone on in the last few days. Once leducreef got me set straight on my stand, and paint I did manage to get two coats onto the stand of kilz, a mold and mildew resistant primer. I put the second coat on it last night, and got the tank set back on it tonight. I hope to put some water in the tank tomorrow night and give it a leak test...fingers crossed

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/rjengen/IMG_7133.jpg

[leducreef]

looks good :lol:

[rjengen]

Ah they joys of the hobby...Got stuck working in Edmonton for the last couple of day, and I headed home today finally to go see the family. Of course I had to go shopping around town before I left though...:lol:

I picked up 90lbs of live rock off a fellow CanReef'er and finally got to go through it tonight and take a good look at it. Got a steal of a deal, and a good head start now on that. Picked up a RO/DI unit at Blue World and also snagged a bit of Ken's sand to seed. I have the RO/DI set up and I'm going to purge it over night and see if I can't get it to settle down a little. Ah, also picked up 120lbs of Carbisea.

I have figured out the set up for my closed loop, but since it's so friggen close to christmas, I decided to just send my wife the link. I'm tough at the best of times to shop for, so hopefully she will take the hint, and there will be oceans motions 2way squirt for me christmas morning, along with some omni flex nozzles. Until santa decides to make that appear though, I'm planning on just using some PVC plumbed into the PS4 pump to move water...after all, I plan to cycle for a good 6 weeks. I was going to attempt some D.I.Y. cement and coat a 1.5" Y fitting for the suction end of the closed loop...but I then got smart (I think) and ended up coating that said "Y" with reef epoxy and placing some rubble I had from when I was down picking up the tank. Not sure I totally like it, but I'll decide more on that once I get the rock in.

Finished plumbing the herbi tonight...and was just about to fill the tank and sump with water / viniger when Noob Mistake #1 of the thread took place. Was working on the bulkhead on the overflow and dropped my pipe wrench accidentally and it took a bad bounce and decided to make a break for it. Needless to say, I will be building a new sump in the morning, not even going to try and fix this boo-boo. I think it was a stroke of luck though, because I now have a reason to re-design things, and build in a fuge to the sump...costly little mistake though, but stuff happens like that right? I will post picture in the morning.

[leducreef]

sounds like you are moving right along
sucks about cracking the sump :sad:
now we need to see some pics when you get that rock in place :biggrin:

[rjengen]

Well, I thought I had posted last night with an update and some pictures, but I guess I had a brain fart. Anyways, I've finished the plumbing for the time being, and it is just temp until santa show's up with the OM. When that gets here I plan on going with all flex PVC plumbing. I have 120lbs of LR in the tank now, some of it is cured, and some that I picked up yesterday isn't. I made a batch of water on the weekend and got it in the tank with the rock. I've figured out my lighting now, and will be going with 4-48" T5's, and a single MH that I hope to pick up this weekend in Edmonton. I have one retro kit here, and another one on order. Let the waiting begin I guess. anyways, here's some pictures for you all, hope you like em. Chime up with suggestions please if you have any as well

EDIT: The rock is in there to get it going...some of the stuff I picked up was smaller then expected, so I'm slowly going to be looking for bigger pieces. I would like to try and create a two teir archway...so don't flame me on how it's placed in there, or flame me...whatever...it is a noobs attempt after all.

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/rjengen/IMG_7141.jpg
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/rjengen/IMG_7138.jpg
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/rjengen/IMG_7134.jpg
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/rjengen/IMG_7135.jpg
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/rjengen/IMG_7136.jpg
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/rjengen/IMG_7137.jpg
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/rjengen/IMG_7139.jpg
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/rjengen/IMG_7140.jpg
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/rjengen/IMG_7157.jpg
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/rjengen/IMG_7160.jpg

[rjengen]

I moved the rocks around a little to where I like them. I'd like to get a little feedback from some of the "old guard" around here on their thoughts. Any thing I could do different with it? I have a micro bubble issue that I'm working on right now, and hope to have solved here sooner rather then later.

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/rjengen/IMG_7162.jpg

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/rjengen/IMG_7163.jpg

[leducreef]

i will bet you lol
that your micro bubbles are comeing from the input side of the pumps
prob a air leak around the poly line with the hose clamps
i had the same prob with my t3 pump it was sucking air around one of the conections i took it apart and put more teflon tape around it and my prob was solved

[Ryan]

Looks good. Glad to see more people up there getting into it. I thought forsure I was the only one up there with a SW tank. I used to make trips to edmonton every 2 weeks on my days off. I hated that 8 hour round trip drive.

[rjengen]

I've been working so much lately...back and forth from Edmonton, and I think I missed an ammonia spike, or at least I hope so. Anyways, not a lot has gone on, I did pick up a 150w metal halide fixture when I was in Edmonton from leducreef (Once I finally found his house...lol) , and bought a 150w Ice Cap ballast for it. Got it all wired up today and mounted in the canopy and it does make a nice difference to the tank.

I'm about ready to take the resun pump out of the skimmer and set it up for target practice, everyone is welcome to come see what happens when a 12g goes after it. I don't know what it is about them, but I guess...well...anyways, I'm trying to find a Sicce PSK 2500 and once it's found, it will be slapped on the skimmer and life should be good. I have the supplies as well bought to add a silencer to the venturi tube. Turns out I have a first get IN-180 (Noob mistake #2 of the thread) and if the new pump doesn't do the trick, I'll end up adding it on.

There is rumor of another Poseidon pump for sale in the Edmonton area (back off...it's mine...just got to get back there!) and I plan on picking that up and plumbing it into my water station as a mixing & transfer pump over to my main tank. I'll post pictures of that mess once I get it all rigged up...I think it should work fairly good, since the same plumbing philosophy has been used in the oilpatch for the last 100 year...unchanged :lol:

There's not much that is picture worthy right now, hope to have the controller and OM here over Christmas, then there will be some pics.

Edit...I found out the source of the micro bubbles, the level in the sump was too low. I had it down a bit for the skimmer, but once I raised the level the bubbles dropped off 95%. I raised the skimmer out of the water so it's only in 7" and everything is looking good.

[BlueWorldAquatic]

Looking good Rob.

Sorry I missed you on the weekend, you got my number call if you need anything.

I got lotsa PVC and ends in the back room if you need any more.

Ken

[leducreef]

if you take a 12g to that pump you gota take a clip of that
i wanna see lol
glad the light worked out for you !

[albert_dao]

Ask for a new impeller from your dealer. Gen 2 IN skimmers had a different shaft material. That will solve your issues.

[rjengen]

Just a little update I guess, santa didn't get the hint and I guess I'll have to order the OM tomorrow. I did pick up Dumb and Dumber yesterday though, and the green monster (green carpet anemone) Once I got them in the tank last night it was lights out, and this morning everyone was buddy buddy.

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/rjengen/Fish001.jpg

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/rjengen/Fish004.jpg

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/rjengen/Fish005.jpg

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/rjengen/Fish009.jpg

[plutoniumJoe]

Great looking tank. I am impressed with how fast you have progressed.

[Delphinus]

Great looking carpet! Good luck with it! :)

[rjengen]

So an update, but nothing picture worthy as of yet...and an idea for you guys to chew on, and give me some advice on. I may have a leed on an OM 4 way, that I'd like to buy, for about half of what it is new. What are the chances of me drilling the back wall of my tank if I brought the water level down? and then had two holes in the bottom, and two on the back wall for a 4 way? Can it be done?

Anyways, I was sitting staring at my tank the other night watching dumb and dumber play in the green monster, and I noticed a few other creatures in the tank. I have a population explosion of Copepods right now, all over everything, rocks, glass, plumbing...and I've noticed some little white antena's poking out of the rock...all good I hope. Anyways, haven't added much right now, other then some snails to get after the algae on the glass, and I don't plan on stocking anymore until I get my Profilux II controller up and running, as well as a few other toys.

[rjengen]

So it's been way too long since I have updated this...partly due to the fact that this winter was a crazy time at work, and my daily routine was eat, sleep, work, and come home and check the tank, then back to sleep. I have not forgotten you all though, and I guess it's my turn to make a post.

When we last left off on my saga, I had bought dumb and dumber and the green monster and life looked like it was going good. Well, the carpet I had turned out to be a great guest in the tank, and he really thrived and was a great host to the fish. He found a stop and attached his foot, and did not move which made things very easy for me. I bought an OM 4 way, as well as a snapper, and made an attempt at getting some different flow patterns in the tank. Then one of the bulkheads decided it just didn't like my anymore, and started leaking. I'm sure this was my fault in some shape or form...and Karma was just getting me back...what can I say...it's a noobs attempt at a tank right?

I ended up putting the fish and the carpet into a 10g tank, and drained the display, pulled the rock, and sand out, gave it a good cleaning and changed out all the buckheads in it...this time actually taking the time to make sure they were not too tight. I also switched up the plumbing a bit, to give myself more room under the tank. During this I cracked the sump...again...and gave up on drilling my sumps. I built a new sump myself, since I found the LFS here just hard to deal with when it came to ordering me a new tank the size I wanted. The new sump is 1/2 glass, 36 x 18 x 18 and eurobraced, and gave me the room I needed to actually house my skimmer. This left me with no room for the closed loop and the OM 4 way. Since I am planning to build a larger tank in the new house, I kept the 4way, but sold the pump (Now there's another story...) and just set the CL back up with one of the PS4's...the one that was making the least amount of micro bubbles.

Flash forward about a month, and everything back into the tank...I ended up with a HUGE H.A. problem...that was to the point where I was about to tear down everything and sell it all. I made a trip to Edmonton though, and after about an hour in blue world, I had a cuc that we figured would take care of the problem. After a little trimming, and a great cuc...I had taken care of the algae problem.

I added a foxface to the tank, and he started to thrive in there...and had taken the whole tank over and claimed it as his own. One morning though I woke up, and it had looked like he went through hell and back. I was in the process of getting another tank going so I could pull him out and figure out what was wrong with him, when he decided...sorry, the green monster decided it was time to eat. So yeh, my carpet decided the foxface would make a tasty snack. I could not believe it, and I pulled out the rock too look for him after a day, which gave me time to rock scape the tank.

That just about has got us caught up...I would like to say I have pictures of the whole process...but I was too drained mentally and physically to even bother with the camera...talk to my wife though and she will tell you...I wasn't a happy camper. Anyways, I'm still not sure where I'm going to take the tank, but one thing was certain, the green monster had to go to a better home. He's now sitting in one of ken's display tanks at blue world in Edmonton...I think he was pretty ****ed that he had to leave my tank, but hopefully he has gotten over it and has opened up a little more. Ken, if he eat's any of you fish...well...sorry :lol:

I have a profilux ordered, and hoping that it show's up soon...I will also be upgrading the lights in the tank in the near future, adding some of the LED moonlights from profilux...as well as one of their heater/ chilling units. All great things take time though, and so this is humbly this noobs progress thus far. I'm not the best at taking pictures, so sorry...and if you guys have suggestions for me...please speak up!

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/rjengen/IMG_8912.jpg
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/rjengen/IMG_8920.jpg
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/rjengen/IMG_8922.jpg
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/rjengen/IMG_8932.jpg
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/rjengen/IMG_8942.jpg
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/rjengen/IMG_8946.jpg
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/rjengen/IMG_8947.jpg
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/rjengen/IMG_8951.jpg
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/rjengen/IMG_8958.jpg
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/rjengen/IMG_8959.jpg
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/rjengen/IMG_8975.jpg

[BlueWorldAquatic]

Everything is looking good, glad the livestock made it ok.

The controller will be the first order shipped out by AD when they get their shipment of PABs.

Ken

[catchandrelease]

Great tank, makes me think i should have had some holes drilled in my new tank for a closed loop.