Finley's 160g Re-Build Sump into Basment

[Finley]

Hey all, since I've been wandering around the LFS's and different Canreefer's homes looking for additions to my new system, I thought I would start a build thread so everyone knows what I'm talking about. After reading through different threads I decided to wait until I was mostly done the build. I am by nature somewhat impatient and reading other build threads waiting for 6 months to finish just isn't my style.

I've been in the hobby for just over 2 years and quickly discovered it isn't a cheap hobby! My first system was a 90g acrylic with a rear overflow. I ran it with hang on a skimmer and a cannister filter. I rubbled it with 200lbs of live rock and stocked it with soft corals and some fishes.
Here are a couple pics of my old tank which I've replaced.
http://canreef.com/vbulletin/picture.php?albumid=357&pictureid=3122
http://canreef.com/vbulletin/picture.php?albumid=357&pictureid=3123

I soon realized I dislike acrylic and my system wasn't set up how I wanted. So rather than try and find used stuff that didn't quite fit or work I broke down and had a tank built by Jason at Elite.

Tank
60x24x28 polished edges with a centre overflow 1 1/2" dual herbie with a 1" return. 4" Eurobracing notched at the back for the powerhead cords.

Light
Coralife Aqualight Pro w/ 2x250 MH

Sump
36x18x18 with 20g fuge and double bubble traps.

Stand
60x24x32 built from the DIY plans on canreef link and finished with black stained fir. (Doors on order from multi wood)

Vertex Alpha 200 skimmer
Red Dragon 8 return pump
Running Bio bead and Carbon reators.
4 Korlia 4 powerheads
200lbs live rock
Black sand

[H2o2]

N.I.C.E. looks great

[fishytime]

Great to meet you last w/e man.....tanks looks saweet......but no coral pics?:wink:

[Finley]

So here are a couple shots of lumber and plywood.

http://canreef.com/vbulletin/picture.php?albumid=357&pictureid=3135
http://canreef.com/vbulletin/picture.php?albumid=357&pictureid=3136

And here is the stand in the Fish Room errr, I mean office.
http://canreef.com/vbulletin/picture.php?albumid=357&pictureid=3137

[Finley]

So, lets skip to the new tank on the stand and sump, in place.
http://canreef.com/vbulletin/picture.php?albumid=357&pictureid=3125

Return/Overflow
http://canreef.com/vbulletin/picture.php?albumid=357&pictureid=3124

First fill.
http://canreef.com/vbulletin/picture.php?albumid=357&pictureid=3126

[Finley]

So here we go with sand settled, rock in, and a few fishes.
http://canreef.com/vbulletin/picture.php?albumid=357&pictureid=3128

http://canreef.com/vbulletin/picture.php?albumid=357&pictureid=3127

After I managed to get everything in the stand.
http://canreef.com/vbulletin/picture.php?albumid=357&pictureid=3130

[Finley]

Its been a few weeks and everyone is settling in.
http://canreef.com/vbulletin/picture.php?albumid=357&pictureid=3133
http://canreef.com/vbulletin/picture.php?albumid=357&pictureid=3131
How many Tangs in this pic?
http://canreef.com/vbulletin/picture.php?albumid=357&pictureid=3120
http://canreef.com/vbulletin/picture.php?albumid=357&pictureid=3134

[kien]

Return/Overflow
http://canreef.com/vbulletin/picture.php?albumid=357&pictureid=3124

Looks great! Have you removed those metal clamps that are on your return line yet? :biggrin:

[Finley]

Thought I would add a few pics of the fishes.

http://canreef.com/vbulletin/picture.php?albumid=357&pictureid=3121

My yellow spotted boxfish - Junior
http://canreef.com/vbulletin/picture.php?albumid=357&pictureid=3129

Tassled Filefish - very cool fish
http://canreef.com/vbulletin/picture.php?albumid=357&pictureid=3116

Bellus Angel - Great fish, one of my favs
http://canreef.com/vbulletin/picture.php?albumid=357&pictureid=3118

Best Friends?
http://canreef.com/vbulletin/picture.php?albumid=357&pictureid=3117

So I posted my build in one day. Talk about instant gratification, thats how I like it. I suppose if I've learned anything about this hobby it's patience, at least I think I've learned.

[Finley]

Kien,

Yeh, I did after I realized I should use plastic.

Fishytime,

It was good to meet you as well, I did go against your advice and added the purple. Ironically it has one of the easiest and nobody really bothers him. Thanks again!

[Wingin It]

Awesome...Your tank is just awesome! Thanks for letting us gawk for awhile! LOL
P.S. You're a bad role model for me...impatience is my middle name! hahaha

[Eb0la11]

Great to meet you today, thought I'd check out your thread haha.

Tank looks really good. Any problems with the box fish in there? Does it get tossed in the current or get picked on or pick on corals at all?

I've always found them interesting. Just wondering.

[Finley]

It was good to meet you yesterday as well. The box fish does hold his own and doesn't get tossed around by the current, however there are a few spots in the tank he has to swim faster! He is also one of the best eaters in the tank and definitely has personality. I must admit I probably wouldn't have added him if I already had this tank set up, I combined my 2 old tanks into this one and he was in my FOWLR tank. I've had him for about 1 year and have owned 3 prior box fish which didn't make it. I haven't caught him nipping at anything yet, but we will see when he gets bigger!

I think most box fish can handle current once they are older, all the fish stores seem to have really small box fish so everyone wants to buy them. The only reason I tried him was because a fellow canreefer was selling him. When I first had him I did turn down the powerheads/flow so he would have a better chance to grow. So far so good.

[Skimmerking]

I love the look if the Rock well done I wish that i could take the time to do good aquascaping, however if I could just stop spending money on Aussie Acans and Scolly's I might get sorted out.

[Finley]

So here I go again, moving the tank. Just a side note, a 12' x 12' room which doubles as your wife's office is not condusive to a 160g fish tank. I'm moving the tank out into the living room area beside the kitchen nook. The living room in sunken down about 1.5' so there is drywall to run pipes through into my unfinished basement. I've braced the floor (for my own piece of mind) and built a sump stand. I've built a new stand since it needs to be lower and have been ordering the parts and plumbing I will need so it's just a matter of finding the time to put everything together.

I'm going with a Reeflo Hammerhead since I'll be running all of my reators ect from it. I also figure I'll have have about 18' of head height plus a few elbows so I went big since it can be dialled down.

I'll post a couple pics as I get going.

[fishytime]

wow!....there's a project and a half.....sounds like the makings of a killer set-up!