dear journal,here we go again-200g build: to be continued.....on to new dreams:)

[reefwars]

well its been decided im shuttin it down and startin it up,im buyin another tank then im dropping my other 4 tanks selling it all but my skimmer,pump and some coral and starting on the tank ive been wanting since the beginning:) i never like the look of rectangle tanks and i hate being limited for space and especially view.the plan is still early in the makings but a tank design has been chosen and the spot has been picked:) i am selling my 110reef and 33gmixed reef and 20mantis tank and 120g oscar tank plus all thats with it to fund this little project:) the tank i have chosen is going to be 48x42x20 and is going to go in my dining room as i dont have a dining room table anyways lol its going to be roughly 150gals the exact dimensions are still being worked on,i went this direction so i can walk right around the whole tank,should be easy to maintain with lots more places for corals and dedicated areas:).i am going to have the tank custom made with a trimless top and beveled and polished edges.my sump will also be custom made to include a large refuge and fragtank, another bonus with all the room underneathe:)im really undecided on lights reactors dosers etc as ive always bought second hand or done without:)

the tank is going to have a section roughly a quarter of the tank floor boxed out just for my snowflake eel as his appetite for delicates is getting bigger :) its going to be made from acrylic drilled with many holes and removeable for any reason necessary.

the tank is going to have a coast to coast overflow with three return lines and three drain lines, two return's for the tank and one for the eel's den,the eels den will be built onto the overflow.im still looking for suggestions on if i should have more return lines to the farther corners where it will be 36" wide , or leave it at two from the back?? trying to stay away from powerheads for a bit anyways:)

im awaiting some quotes this week for my tank and in the meantime i will be going into my basement to build a loadbearing wall,and posting a for sale add for my fish and coral, im going to be keeping a few items as i cant bring my self to sell it all especially my zoas and carpet plus ill be keeping my puffer,eel and cinn clowns:)

wish me luck and hopefully ill have an answer about my tank this week :)cheers:):)

[reefwars]

heres a pic of the spot in my living room where the tank is going it holds my 33g now but soon it will be the only tank in the house:)

http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/033.jpg?t=1283931465


http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/032.jpg?t=1283931465

[reefwars]

im going to be looking for help and suggestions from you guys on designing my sump and using up the space i have down there as best as possible plus im looking for suggestions for lighting,also on other things i should add like reactors.i want to have a large refuge plus ill be having a frag tank also.im going to be keeping my skimmer a vertex in-sump 180 and my mag 12 the rest is from scratch so all or any suggestions are greatly appreciated:) thanks

[ALang]

Wow! Ambitious project, Reefwars. I wish you luck and will be checking your posts for you journey. Wish I can get mine going soon. That lottery ticket just won't do its job!! I love this hobby! Lenny.

[reefwars]

thanks lenny, im really excxited and happy plus it will be alot easier and cheaper with one tank:) its going to be all new too not much being bought second hand and i want it to be as modern as possible with everything running automated and controlled by controller or pc:) im going to be spending alot to get a nice light and have my sump running with everything i can think of.

[lockrookie]

pmed:)

[reefwars]

hey guys so ive been thinking about the lights for my new tank really undecided on what i want. i have 4' of square space to light up at 20" deep the livestock is going to be mostly zoas and lps and clams i will have some anemones in there maybe some sps depending on what kind:)

what are my best choices for lights im going to be buying new and ive never bought new lights before lol i want to get something with moonlights and id like to stay with halides but the times they are a changin so someone pls sell me on something else:) thanks guys:):)

[reefwars]

Got one quote in waitng for another To compare:) also got my tanks for sale and sold about 75% of my livestock yesterday:):) hopfully I'll have something to take pics of soon but wanted to keep you updated:)

I have also decided to go with the centeroverflow to gain a little more viewing space and hide everything:):)

[reefwars]

well the first step is done i have most of my stuff sold and my main display went out the door today:) i have a 50g tank which was my sump from my 110 mixed reef and i have my rock im keeping plus some fish and coral they will be stored in there untill dec-jan im hoping anyways lol:):)

[reefwars]

finally got my first payment of two made for my tank, and it will be finished in one month, tomorrow i build two load bearing walls under my floor to support the weight then i can start to build my stand.the plan is to frame and ply the stand then im going to be doing a drystack stone similar to fishoholic's beautiful tank ,thanks laurie hope your not mad im stealing your stand design lol:):).afterwards it will be a granite top with a cut out of the tank in the middle where it will sit on 3/4" plywood and 2" s&m styrofoam:) thanks

[reefwars]

so far so slow lol well im hoping my tank will be here on the 24th of october so ive started on the stand so as i can get my sump measurements into the builder . ive decided because of the room that i wont be doing a 6" shelf now its just going to be a 3" shelf. here are some pics of the stand in its framing stage ive built a viewing window into the stand using acrylic , from there i will be able to view my frag tank and refuge and on the opposite corner will be 2 large magnetic doors with enough room for me to enter if need be , also from the large doors in the back i will have access to all the equipment easily enough:):)

here are some pics although untill i get my final measurments for the overflow box i have had to leave out some of the framing and braces:)

http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/008.jpg?t=1287344345

http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/007.jpg?t=1287344416

http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/006.jpg?t=1287344416

http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/005.jpg?t=1287344416

http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/009.jpg?t=1287344345

http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/010.jpg?t=1287344345


http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/011.jpg?t=1287344344

http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/012.jpg?t=1287344344

http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/014.jpg?t=1287344344

http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/015.jpg?t=1287344344


http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/017.jpg?t=1287344344

http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/019.jpg?t=1287344344


http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/020.jpg?t=1287344344

ill add some more pics later as im still working on the stand today:):) cheers!!!!

[reefwars]

word on the wire is tank will be here on sunday:) cant wait to get this in my house:)

[lastlight]

I love building stands and that looks hella beefy nice start to it. Makes me wanna start sawing lumber again.

Few other things:

- the rock type and layout in that tank in the bg looks awesome. Can't recall if I commented on it in your build thread but I really like that.

- that is the most overbuilt t5 retro fit I have EVER seen! You could stack a small tank on top of it! RAD.

[reefwars]

I love building stands and that looks hella beefy nice start to it. Makes me wanna start sawing lumber again.

Few other things:

- the rock type and layout in that tank in the bg looks awesome. Can't recall if I commented on it in your build thread but I really like that.

- that is the most overbuilt t5 retro fit I have EVER seen! You could stack a small tank on top of it! RAD.


Haha thanks being a carpenter def helps when it comes stand time lol and that little tank is my 33g zoa tank, Ive never been happy with the layout untill lately, it started off as just zoa's on round rocks and PVC tunnels running throught out for my snowflake eel now it's all grown over you can't see any piping and I've added about 20lbs of tonga branch which purpled up nicely in just 3weeks:) now when my tanks a little more mature I'll be glueing spsto all the branches. It's got a million caves and overhangs but the downside it's horribly packed lol I don't even have room for a tiny zoo frag I sit there twenty mins going where in he'll am I going to put this lol. That tank has been running for a few years and has had about fifty overhauls and 5 new dirEctions lol but someday I'll be happy with it:) and some day I may even get a good FTS.

That t5 is something else lol it's all actinics 39w blue and I use them during the late evening or to show off some zoo colors but it's gonna be in storage soon like the other ten lights I have lol:)

[reefwars]

if anyones curious the square hole in the front of the stand is a window to view my refuge and fragtank from the couch, its hard to tell but the window is in place:)

[lastlight]

Holy cow it is. Gotta love (new) acrylic sheesh.

[reefwars]

tank was delivered today, and i have a minor set back the tank was broke coming into my house it was dropped on its corner by my helper and now i need to replace some panels so i get to do some cutting for the next week, it wont be too hard to replace the two panels im just glad the bottom didnt get affected. on the plus side we got some measurements for my sump and when its built ill be getting two replacement panels and getting them put in when the sump gets here:) so ....all in all im pleased:) and the tank is magnificent its huge ill post some pics later when i get a camera:)

[reefwars]

id like to thank the builder for doing such an amazing job on this tank every inch has perfection written all over it and im very very impressed with the built in sanctuary and everything eles right down to all the beveled holes:) this truely is a tank i can have displayed in my house with no crap black plastic showing or no cut corners.thanks guys you did an amazing job:)

[PoonTang]

Oh man what a bummer about the broken glass. :(

[reefwars]

heres a few quick phone pics of the tank the last one is showing the crack:)http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/007-1.jpg?t=1287957283



http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/006-1.jpg?t=1287957283





here is the crack ill be taking out the cracked panel and putting in a new one while the sump is being built:)

http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/008-1.jpg

[reefwars]

the second pic is going to be the front so my tank is split into and from the front you should see a mix of both.....im still way up in the air on whats going to go into what but lately ive been thinking small mini reef in the small section which is about 60g and some sort of non reef friendly section in the " L " part of the tank , i have a snowflake eel and at least one of the sections needs to accomodate him as he grows , i gotta say though im loving the dimesions so far im going to be figuring out the flow here soon and i think i will run both sections off different pumps and use a powerhead in the end of the " L "


all together there are 3 return drains coming from the over flow and 4 drains in the overflowbox returning to the sump so i have quite a few options for flow without having to use powerheads but we will see how it works and i guess its time to go pump shopping i already have a mag 12 at my disposal i could use for the 60g section and i could match it up with a higher mag for the rest but ill have to gather up some info and who knows i may not even use the mags:)

[jphong]

Hey Denny the tank looks awesome! Cant wait until you get this one running. Bummer about the glass, it looks like its gonna be a lot of work. Congrats!

[Wayne]

I have seen the tank and its AMAZING :mrgreen: The workmanship is second to none, but considering its done with a CNC you could expect nothing less. Cannot wait to see this thing with water in it (whenever that may be)

[foxfishfan]

I hope that it'll be as good as new, but you will be the envy of Edmonton reefers when it's up and running with your zoa collection and fat healthy yellow tang.

[reefcanada]

Hey, Denny thanks for the kind words and I am glad you like your tank. That was a shitty thing to have happen, but we will get it cleaned up and looking new soon with your new sump. Try and have a good night.

[reefwars]

Hey, Denny thanks for the kind words and I am glad you like your tank. That was a shitty thing to have happen, but we will get it cleaned up and looking new soon with your new sump. Try and have a good night.


no worries , tomorrow night im taking out the panels and going to clean any silicone ,the way i see it stuff happens and you got to think positive and tomorrow evening me and a buddy are gonna get it fixed right up and ready for new glass:) all in all though i must have spent a few hours this evening looking at it and thinking how glad i am so far to have added the divider section:) really gives me a good ability to mix things up a bit:)


im looking forward to getting my sump built i think its gonna be a really nice layout with finally enough room to play with:)

[reefwars]

well tonight i am taking apart the tank lol well some of it anyways, i have already removed some of the eurobracing that came off easy enough and now we are working on the broken panels , i wanted to get this done while everything is still new and setting:)


and the plus side i just about got my lights gathered up i have 2 pendants coming from a friend plus some live rock and i am picking up the other two pendants plus a t5 fixture tomorrow evening from another friend:)

[reefwars]

here are some more pics of the tank and the crack:)


http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/018.jpg?t=1288051922

http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/019-1.jpg?t=1288051922


http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/020-1.jpg?t=1288051965

[jphong]

Looking good so far Denny! Hope you got a decent discount on the new glass. When are you planning on getting water in there?

[reefwars]

Looking good so far Denny! Hope you got a decent discount on the new glass. When are you planning on getting water in there?


it wasnt anybodys fault so im not expecting anything whatever needs to happen im completely willing to take on and "reefcanada" was more than happy to help get it fixed so while im getting my sump built i will have 2 more panels also made to fit back in.

more good news!!!!:):) i got all the tank cleaned up and glass is out with no damage to the rest of the tank plus i got every little shed of silicone off and tank is cleaned and ready for new glass:):)


john it will be quite a while untill water hits it my plan is to move in april so untill then i am going to build a teamporary stand i can take apart and ill use the time i have untill then to get everything gathered up and anything built that needs building then i will run a freshwater course hopefully in december and see if everything runs the way i like and then once i am in my new house i will start building it up to where i want it:):) untill then ill just keep stockpiling the ol zoa tank lol

[ALang]

Denny, I just read about your crack! Oops. The tank, I mean.
Sorry to see that. You have such wonderful out-look on life, are you a yoga practitioner?
And I see that the stand is looking wonderful. Cannot wait to see it!
I would love to see how you rig up your sump and the plumbing, so I can show Tim how it's done. We are trying to figure all that ourselves.
Chin-up. But of course you don't need that. Cheers.

[Wayne]

Awsome that you got the glass out, did you have to break it or did you get it with a razor?

[reefwars]

Denny, I just read about your crack! Oops. The tank, I mean.
Sorry to see that. You have such wonderful out-look on life, are you a yoga practitioner?
And I see that the stand is looking wonderful. Cannot wait to see it!
I would love to see how you rig up your sump and the plumbing, so I can show Tim how it's done. We are trying to figure all that ourselves.
Chin-up. But of course you don't need that. Cheers.



well really its not that big a deal i mean it took us under an hour to get the broken glass out and since i am having my sump made by the same guy were going to get two more made up.and he was nice enough to offer to come up once the sump is done and get the new panels in:) so im happy and i dont see it as a set back at all:):)


as for the plumbing well thats gonna be a doozie , im gonna have quite the sump made up using just about all my space so its a big sump from the front view in the window there will the section with the low flow refuge and frag tank it will be split in to two it will take up roughly half my sump im also having it made so theres two main drains both ending in filtersock holders.there will be a large section also for my skimmer and enough room to accomodate either two decent pumps or one very large pump in case i change my mind about that.there is also a section just for media reactors etc. :):) sump should be finished within a month im hoping anyways:)

[reefwars]

Awsome that you got the glass out, did you have to break it or did you get it with a razor?


i did it with about 30 brand new razors some of which was given to me some i went and bought i wanted to be sure i got it all off. so now i have two almost full pieces of glass which i will be giving back if he wants them im sure they could be used for something else i really didnt want to break them lol:):)

[jphong]

The sump sounds like an all in one sump anyone could ever ask for! Glad to hear that you will be getting help on replacing the panels. A guy like you deserves the best! By the sounds of it your tank guy seems like a good guy, I might get his number from you in case I need one made for myself in the future!

[reefwars]

The sump sounds like an all in one sump anyone could ever ask for! Glad to hear that you will be getting help on replacing the panels. A guy like you deserves the best! By the sounds of it your tank guy seems like a good guy, I might get his number from you in case I need one made for myself in the future!


very good guy was very fast getting back to me with prices ,invited me down to see his tanks and took care of delivery plus he kept me informed and then the tank speaks for itsself its done perfectly as i looked it over every edge is perfectly in line with the other all the holes have been polished and beveled and he was more trhan willing to help me find the dimesions i wanted and make them work.....plus i should mention that he gives a fair price for great quality work:):)

[Wayne]

i did it with about 30 brand new razors some of which was given to me some i went and bought i wanted to be sure i got it all off. so now i have two almost full pieces of glass which i will be giving back if he wants them im sure they could be used for something else i really didnt want to break them lol:):)


Good call on saving the glass cause I am sure there was at least two 3' sections of good stuff that can be reused and its saphire glass too?

[reefwars]

Good call on saving the glass cause I am sure there was at least two 3' sections of good stuff that can be reused and its saphire glass too?

No tank was too expensive as it is lol so just standard glass, the pieces that all came out are full sections with just a small triangle out of the corner:)

wicked news I got a file fish today :) finally getting my zoa tank cleaned up with any luck:)

[ALang]

Hey Denny,
Would love to comer over to see your sump build when its done.
2nd frag party?? Hint, hint:wink::wink:
Lenny.

[Llamarama]

wicked news I got a file fish today :) finally getting my zoa tank cleaned up with any luck:)

what happened to your other filefish?? where did you get the new one? I need one as mine didn't make it through the whole anemone getting chopped up and poisoning the tank episode :(

[reefwars]

what happened to your other filefish?? where did you get the new one? I need one as mine didn't make it through the whole anemone getting chopped up and poisoning the tank episode :(

My carpet ate my first one and I just hot mh second one from aquarium illusions took it right from the box lol they go realllllllyyyy fast so j jumped right on it:)

[reefwars]

hey all i need some advice or for someone to brainstorm on what im gonna put in my tank lol so heres the layout the tank is as you all know 4x4x20" .....it has a section dived off at 36lx24wx20" origional plan was to house my snowflake eel.i believe its just about 75 gallons.

so all in all i have a " L " that is 130 gallons and a box that is 75 gallons

i was thinking possibly aggressive tank or non reefsafe in the 130 and do a mini reef in the 75 or i could do it vice versa have a small predator section and large reef any thoughts???

[reefwars]

Picked up another 75 lbs of live rock yesterday so I'm up to about 130lbs and the rest will be tonga branch if I can find some dried. The rock I got last night has some really cool pieces and I got to pick out the best pieces from around 400lbs :):) swweeeeeeettttt!!!!!!

[reefwars]

here is a pic of some of the shapes i have i think its really nice with lots of holes for corals especially zoas:)


http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/066.jpg?t=1289173138

http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/065.jpg?t=1289173138

http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/064.jpg?t=1289173138

http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/063.jpg?t=1289173138

http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/062.jpg?t=1289173138


http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/061.jpg?t=1289173138




if anyone likes this rock i have a friend who has alot for sale its 5$/lb but has some real nice pieces big or small:):) cheers:)

[Myka]

Is that rock dry or live? You got some sweeeeeeet pieces!

Is it too late to take the divider out and just have one big tank? That's what I would do! Either that or move the divider so that it is half and half. I think it would look funny the way it is...? Got a pic? I'm assuming the two-tanks-in-one will share a sump? Might not be a good idea to have a predator share water with your reef. Predators tend to have big turds.

[reefwars]

Is that rock dry or live? You got some sweeeeeeet pieces!

Is it too late to take the divider out and just have one big tank? That's what I would do! Either that or move the divider so that it is half and half. I think it would look funny the way it is...? Got a pic? I'm assuming the two-tanks-in-one will share a sump? Might not be a good idea to have a predator share water with your reef. Predators tend to have big turds.

its all live rock a friend of mine has a overload of it i went through about 200lbs to pick out this stuff i was looking for specific pieces , hes got a load more for sale but no ads made just selling to friends etc.


here is a pic of the tank it is divided in half so from the front view you would see half and half and the tank is a full walk around tank with all 4side viewable. they will share the same sump and im literally still in the air about what to do with my two halfs see i have a snowflake eel hes still a juvie now but he will get bigger and then bigger again lol and soon he will start seeing food where he didnt see them before so he needs his own area .....so i think anyways.....that he will go in the 75g part pretty much to himself with a load of zoas .i will do a full on reef in the 130 lps/softie with the rock in the picture for one side and a mix of that rock and tongabranch on the adjacent side with some hardier sps and maybe some nems. im excited to own shrimp again lol my eel really likes them and after my last eel ate 5 cleaner shrimp in one night i wasnt taking any chances with this guy lol:)

the pic is a crappy pic but the left side of the pic will be the front so you will see a bit of both and then the 130 will wrap around the 75 in a " L " shape:):)

[reefwars]

lol sorry here is the pic lol:):)http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/018.jpg?t=1288051922

[reefwars]

the next rock i buy will be tonga branch i will be buying dry rock and seed it in my liverock bin untill needed im hoping to buy around 60 lbs of it:):)

[Myka]

Uhm...I probably missed something, but there's a crack in the glass?! :eek:

Honestly, if I had that tank I would consider it such a shame to not have it one whole tank. I would buy a 6' 125 for the Eel. Cool to watch them swim one side to the other imo. That way you could put a few more predators in there put a giant chaeto filter in the sump. But that's just me. I would love to have that tank, I have always wanted a square tank with a center overflow.

[reefwars]

Sump should be here next weekend along with replacement glass, light ring to mount my halides will be here by the end of the month. J finished the stand yesterday and got some 1" s&m foam for under my tank.

Lately alot if lights have fond there way into my house lol so here's what I got snd here's what I'm thinking :)

I have:

4x 400w pendants and ballast plus reflectors(no bulbs)
2x 250w fishneedit pendants and ballasts
48" Hamilton 2x175w metal halides plus actinics and ballasts
250 w mh retrofit plus ballast that runs 3x250w mh's
6 bulb t5 54w
4bulb retrofit actinics 39w

would you belive out of all this the only two I'm gonna use are the 2x250w fishneedit pendants I'll be buying 2 more I was also looking at the Cree led's and was thinking about buying 24 it would be 6 between each halide. Where my tank is only 20h do you think they would be alright??:):) thanks all

if someone has 2 250w fishneedit pendants and would like to do a trade for something in the list pls let me know:)

[Myka]

4x400w pendants? Hehehe...hello electricity bill! :p

[reefwars]

4x400w pendants? Hehehe...hello electricity bill! :p

Yeah I dontvthink they'll be used in this build but I may them all as a package for my other pendants and apex:)

[reefwars]

tank is now on stand and in place ready for repair, believe it or not i trusted my roomate agin to help me put it up there lol ...he did good this time:) hes gonna start a profile here with his nano soon and call himself tankdropper lol too funny:):) heres some pics of the tank on the stand:):)http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/004.jpg?t=1290229638







one for size comparison:)


http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/003.jpg?t=1290229638

[paddyob]

Just an FYI.... but I don't think Duct Tape is gonna do the job. Might consider screws or nails. LOL.

[reefwars]

Just an FYI.... but I don't think Duct Tape is gonna do the job. Might consider screws or nails. LOL.


haha nice but how do you think i kept the tape down ??? lol

[fishoholic]

Very cool Denny, glad the tank made it safely to the stand this time. Also love the idea of it being split into two sections so you can house different types of fish in the same tank without issues of them hurting one another.

[paddyob]

So how is the sump going to go in there? Place sump and set stand on top?

[reefwars]

So how is the sump going to go in there? Place sump and set stand on top?


the back of the stand is completely opened and will have two magnetic doors on it and the sump has been measured by myself and the builder and designed to fit in there with comfort:) any idea where to get magnetic doors to??

[reefwars]

Very cool Denny, glad the tank made it safely to the stand this time. Also love the idea of it being split into two sections so you can house different types of fish in the same tank without issues of them hurting one another.


thanks laurie im so glad it went well truth be told i moved it from the kitchen by myself lol i just put it on a blanket and dragged it lol:)

[paddyob]

the back of the stand is completely opened and will have two magnetic doors on it and the sump has been measured by myself and the builder and designed to fit in there with comfort:) any idea where to get magnetic doors to??


Where to buy them? I would say get some industrial magnets and build the doors yourself.

Otherwise I am sure Home Depot has those little magnet door things like you see on bathroom cabinets.

Either way I am sure you need to build the doors and simply add magnet attachment.

[reefwars]

Well glad to say the sump arrived today and I also got my tank repaired today as well with new glass. Thans to reefcanada for building me a kick ass sump , thus thing is massive and designed with a large fuge and fragtank. Fragtank and fuge will be visible from the front of the stand through acrylic:)

Next step is to hunt down some plumbing and bulkheads and gather up some things like sand, salt

I have a phosban reactor I'm gonna buy in mind and I'm also buying a ro/di, apex controller, mp40, 2 chamber media reactor just after Christmas:)

it's going to be a few weeks before I can do a freshwater fill because if the repair so tomorrow I'm gonna start the outside of the stand , nothing to fancy just drywall and nice trim.the idea of short shelf/step right around the bottom to view in through the top and do maintanance came up abd I'm thinking I may go for it :)

light ring will be here shortly abd I can mount the 4 metal halide pendants and order some led's

Still alot of work left to do and I don't expect to see anything in there living untill spring sometime so I have lots of time to work out bugs:):):):)




########. PICS TOMORROW OF SUMP AND TANK. #######

[The Grizz]

Yes indeed your light ring is coming, if I am lucky I can built it next week and bring it up to you next weekend. Have been stupid busy the last month working 7 days a week and up to 18 hrs a day :wacko: ,have even had a couple 36 hr days:faint:

Keep you posted, look forward to seeing the finish set-up.

[reefwars]

well finally got some pics ,sorry been a busy week but here they are:):)



http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/057.jpg?t=1291168812



http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/058.jpg?t=1291168812



http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/059.jpg?t=1291168812

http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/060.jpg?t=1291168812




now for theeeee sump!!!!!!!!



http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/061-1.jpg?t=1291168812


http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/062-1.jpg?t=1291168812


http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/063-1.jpg?t=1291168812



http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/064-1.jpg?t=1291168812

[jphong]

sweeeeet

[The Grizz]

Dam that is one sweet sump!! Now the pressure is on that lazy ass who is building your light ring to get his act together and get it done :redface:

[paddyob]

Looks really cool... but WAAAAAAAY too much for me.

[reefwars]

Dam that is one sweet sump!! Now the pressure is on that lazy ass who is building your light ring to get his act together and get it done :redface:


no rush here buddy lol its two weeks minimum before i can add any water so ill wait around three and then im going to do a freshwater fill and im thinking i will get the 75g part up and running so my fish in my house will be happy and i will then work on the reef part:):) so no need to rush im takin er slow lol:):)

[reefwars]

sweeeeet


thanks little buddy shes coming along, i think the zoas are gonna love it :) your tanks looking nice btw glad to see your getting the algae problem licked:):)

[reefwars]

Looks really cool... but WAAAAAAAY too much for me.


thanks, the fuge and fragtank take up a good chunk and will have their own drain and i have the room for 2 return pumps and lots of room for my skimmer plus reactor section:):)

its made so it holds 8" of water and the section with the fuge and frag tank will be just about filled and viewable from the window in the stand.im going to use leds to light them up. i think i am going to add some shelfs to the fragtank to keep them higher and insight without having to look in and down:):)

[The Grizz]

no rush here buddy lol its two weeks minimum before i can add any water so ill wait around three and then im going to do a freshwater fill and im thinking i will get the 75g part up and running so my fish in my house will be happy and i will then work on the reef part:):) so no need to rush im takin er slow lol:):)

Well I still need to get it done, material is going to be picked up tomorrow. I will send you some pic's as I build it for your thread.

[reefwars]

Well I still need to get it done, material is going to be picked up tomorrow. I will send you some pic's as I build it for your thread.


that would be sweeeeeet :) thanks grizz:):)

[ALang]

OH. WOW.
I'm speechless.
I was away for a bit and, WOW!! Denny!!!
I am so JEALOUS!! I wanted to rush and show Tim what you did (but he's at work right now). It is massive! and beautiful! and all that!! And it doesn't even have water in it yet! Cannot wait to see it filled. Greaat job, Denny. Love the sump, too.

[reefwars]

OH. WOW.
I'm speechless.
I was away for a bit and, WOW!! Denny!!!
I am so JEALOUS!! I wanted to rush and show Tim what you did (but he's at work right now). It is massive! and beautiful! and all that!! And it doesn't even have water in it yet! Cannot wait to see it filled. Greaat job, Denny. Love the sump, too.

Thanks Lenny I'm loving it I sit there and stare at it in my living room and like you said it doesn't even have water lol

I have enough stuff to get it running but I'm gonna wait untill I have the things I really want . Besides salt and other small things like plumbing my next purchases are gonna be ...apex, reactors, LEDs, ro/di :) it's a few weeks before it can even get wet so I'll tinker with the stand , order the LEDs, and hunt down some reactors and an ro/di. I'm gonna start stock piling change water from my other tanks and see how many gallons I can get built up:):):)

[Wayne]

thanks laurie im so glad it went well truth be told i moved it from the kitchen by myself lol i just put it on a blanket and dragged it lol:)

Humm good idea! :lol: Awesome sump and its great to see the tank put back together! I can't wait to see it with water :multi:

[reefwars]

Humm good idea! :lol: Awesome sump and its great to see the tank put back together! I can't wait to see it with water :multi:

Was a good idea eh Wayne lol how come you never thought of that lol :) well your idea worked like a charm it slid easy peasy japaneasy:):)

[The Grizz]

Well I was a little bored today and decided to build something in hope's that someone might be interested in it, take a look and if you know anyone who might like to have this over there tank LMK. :biggrin:




http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx291/GRIZZtheWELDER/Picture014.jpg
http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx291/GRIZZtheWELDER/Picture013.jpg
http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx291/GRIZZtheWELDER/Picture016.jpg
http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx291/GRIZZtheWELDER/Picture018.jpg
http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx291/GRIZZtheWELDER/Picture019.jpg

[reefwars]

i doooooo!!!!!!!!! lol that looks sweet man looks even better than i thought it would:):) thanks grizz for building this for me i cant wait to see it over the tank when its all running:) very clean looking:)

[The Grizz]

No problem, now I just have to get it up to you. Should be able to come up next week.

[reefwars]

No problem, now I just have to get it up to you. Should be able to come up next week.

No worries grizz buddy glad to see it done and it's just what I wanted I'm gonna mount the pendants on the " x " part and LEDs on the " + " part:) :)

[Vitaminz]

Wow, what an amazing building thread!! Looking good Denny!!

[reefwars]

Thanks Jeff man , I'm trying to include as much as I can so no one gets bord of it lol if I can get off at a decent hour I'm gonna do some work on the stand but I'm fairly tapped for cash being the holliday month so not much will happen now untill January:)

tanks nice though eh and I can't wait to see how my lights turn out:)

[Myka]

The light ring looks nice, but it's hard to see around that MASSIVE SIGNATURE!!!

[Llamarama]

Wow Denny everything looks awesome!! Can't wait to see what you do with the 2 sections :D

[reefwars]

The light ring looks nice, but it's hard to see around that MASSIVE SIGNATURE!!!




Haha thanks would you believe there was alot more I wanted but your only allowed so long lol:):)

Really happy with the way the ring turned out I can't wait to see it in person and I have canreef and the grizz to thanks for helping me design it and come up with a moderatley cheap light route, now to try my hand at some led's:)

[reefwars]

So Bern thinking about the finished design and the final layout and I'm gonna try....try to replicate the " volcanoe tank" , won't be an exact replica but same general idea with rock surrounding the overflow and I'm gonna buy a rock fountain and modify the bowl to fit with some liverock surrounding it the use a small pump to let water run or trickle down:) .... I'm still looking at some pics and reading up on it:)

[The Grizz]

The light ring looks nice, but it's hard to see around that MASSIVE SIGNATURE!!!

And here I thought you were refering to my sig.:biggrin:

[reefwars]

well hello all :)

today the grizz is bringing my light ring(thanks grizz) and yesterday i started plumbing my tank(thanks steve) i was short on some 90's so hopefully today i can get it finished and ready for a fresh water fill.after the freshwater fill i plan to get my sump up and running with all the liverock i have in it and let it all skim for a while to make sure my skimmer still kicks ass lol.then after the new year i plan to set up the 75g part(so i dont get busted by the tang police) and start on the 130gpart.

a big thanks to steve at red coral edmonton for ordering me the things i need next to help me get this badboy going, we have a zeo-reactor(3l) on order for january and then once thats in i will be getting the neptune system(apex) and then i will order my led's.

things im going to get right away are some new sand to cover up my old sand, im grabbing some more bulkheads today and some loc-lines,salt random things like that:):)


ill try to post pics tomorrow as i hope to have the stand painted by then and ill have the light ring etc etc etc :):)

[Doug]

The light ring looks nice, but it's hard to see around that MASSIVE SIGNATURE!!!





:pound:

[reefwars]

:pound:


haha it started from a frag but then it just blew up lol i guess its in need of a trimmin :):)

[reefwars]

So a little good news I now have my light ring and I'm very impressed it was certainly the right way to go and it only weighs around 10lbs.

Also picked up the last of my plumbing plus some salt and tonight I start washing sand I got around 200-250 lbs to rinse so that's my Christmas lol

I have a dual stage reactor for carbon that the codfather picked up for me:) thanks Bob:):) I'm gonna use it to run some carbon and gfo in my 33untill it's tear down time:)

the only thing holding me back now is a 1 1/2" gatevalve for my herbie overflow:):) untill I can get that gatevalve I'm just gonna run the tank as durso style for the freshwater fill:):)

pics soon as the misses comes home from Christmas with the family:)

[ALang]

Oh, that's a nice way to spend Christmas: to finally getting closer to your dream tank!! Jealous:mrgreen:
Cannot wait to see what it looks like now.

BTW, Grizz is an artist, to be sure. That light-ring looks incredible. Master welder, indeed!
So wonderful to know that the reefing community is so generous and helpful.
What a great hobby.
Merry Christmas to you and yours, Denny.

[paddyob]

The light ring looks nice, but it's hard to see around that MASSIVE SIGNATURE!!!

+1 HAHAHAHHAHHAHAHAHAHahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahahahahhaahhahaha hahahahhahahahah

[paddyob]

Well I was a little bored today and decided to build something in hope's that someone might be interested in it, take a look and if you know anyone who might like to have this over there tank LMK. :biggrin:




http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx291/GRIZZtheWELDER/Picture014.jpg
http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx291/GRIZZtheWELDER/Picture013.jpg
http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx291/GRIZZtheWELDER/Picture016.jpg
http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx291/GRIZZtheWELDER/Picture018.jpg
http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx291/GRIZZtheWELDER/Picture019.jpg

Aluminium or Stainless?

[reefwars]

Aluminium or Stainless?



Aluminum it's so light I couldn't believe it grizz def did a good job and it's clean looking, Im gong to get the pendants mounted when I get a chance hopefully soon I have so much to do lol

Lenny you wouldn't believe how much help I've had from other reefers and lfs all my stuff has been gotten at a decent deal or someone would see something I needed and grab it soni would have it I've had help lifting I've had help with the stand pretty much everyone it's more like a little bit of everyones tank:)

thanks guys you all know who you are:):)

[reefwars]

Picked up the loc-lines and parts for my return and I found a gate valve I'm on my way to marine aquaria right now to grab it then I'll be able to finish my plumbing tonight:):)

[jphong]

I have to see this in person, whens the big opening Denny?

[paddyob]

I have to see this in person, whens the big opening Denny?

2020. Haha!

[jphong]

Lol I can settle for a viewing during the Christmas break, how about it Denny?

[reefwars]

Lol I can settle for a viewing during the Christmas break, how about it Denny?

Haha i'd say pat is right more like closer to 2020 it's all so pricey lol I'm playing catch up while not skipping steps at the same time..... Tuff stuff lol:)

John I'd say your welcome over anytime you knows that lol let me know when your free I've got no plans for Christmas:)

[paddyob]

Ha ha! I was actually thinking the sand washing might be 2020 itself! Ha ha!

[reefwars]

Ha ha! I was actually thinking the sand washing might be 2020 itself! Ha ha!

Honestly I don't even. Know how I'm gonna do it it may sound awful but I may send one of the young fellas at work over and wash it for a few bucks lol something I'm def not looking forward to:)

I'm trying to have it ready for a freshwater fill by the weekend:):)

[reefwars]

well its been a busy day i managed to track down the elusive and infamous gate valve that doesnt seem to exist on the north end of town lol and i got the loc lines for my return put together, i have the herbie overflow all done and i have the load bearing walls in the basement finished as of five minutes ago, tank is now perfectly level all around sooooo........safe to say after a few small overflow water tests im gonna fill this bad boy up and see if it leaks and if not ima gonna fire this puppy up with some salt water and get to washing 200lbs or more of sand lolololol im going to go crazy me thinks lol:):)

over the hollidays if my house doesnt flood ill get to working on the light ring and getting my ordered stuff together........pics soon as the misses comes home from hollidays and as long as she doesn't kill me !!!!!!!!!!!!

[paddyob]

Honestly I don't even. Know how I'm gonna do it it may sound awful but I may send one of the young fellas at work over and wash it for a few bucks lol something I'm def not looking forward to:)

I'm trying to have it ready for a freshwater fill by the weekend:):)

You know who cares? You are going to cycle your tank anyhow. Give it a nice rinse with a colander to get the "chunks" out and let your tank cycle. There is the ammonia starter.

I rinsed the sand from two tanks that had been sitting a month in pails and my tank still cycled in 3 weeks.

As long as you don't plan to add anything the next day you should be fine. If it is all new sand.... it'll be a piece of cake anyhow... I never even rinsed my new sand.... dropped it right in. It'll settle on its own in a few days if you don't just dump the water at will.

[reefwars]

You know who cares? You are going to cycle your tank anyhow. Give it a nice rinse with a colander to get the "chunks" out and let your tank cycle. There is the ammonia starter.

I rinsed the sand from two tanks that had been sitting a month in pails and my tank still cycled in 3 weeks.

As long as you don't plan to add anything the next day you should be fine. If it is all new sand.... it'll be a piece of cake anyhow... I never even rinsed my new sand.... dropped it right in. It'll settle on its own in a few days if you don't just dump the water at will.



thats pretty much the plan im just doing a quick rinse to wash out any of the crud that might of dried in....its from my 180g , the rest ill let my tank take care of.....theres no plans of anylivestock untill a proper cycle is done and then ill be moving my livestock from their small tanks and letting the take equal out before i think about adding to my livestock again:):) so c'mon spring lol:):)

[The Grizz]

BTW, Grizz is an artist, to be sure. That light-ring looks incredible. Master welder, indeed!


:redface:Thanks Lenny I do try to do my best

Denny where is some more pics of this light ring I keep hearing about.:lol::lol:

[reefwars]

:redface:Thanks Lenny I do try to do my best

Denny where is some more pics of this light ring I keep hearing about.:lol::lol:


haha just waiting for the misses to come home from visiting her family, i only have my camera phone and its fuzzy from scratches and dirt from work as soon as shes back ill lots of pics to post including the sump,lights,stand and more :):): its a rollercoaster ride lol:):):)

[The Grizz]

:):): its a rollercoaster ride lol:):):)

Well I better hang on tight then :puke:

[ALang]

Quick! We need a tank warming party at your house!

[paddyob]

I have to ask you.... plumbed in like an orange? I am afraid to ask the origin Denny.

[reefwars]

I have to ask you.... plumbed in like an orange? I am afraid to ask the origin Denny.



haha thats what the rum will do to ya bye lol:):)

[paddyob]

haha thats what the rum will do to ya bye lol:):)

Ha ha! You crazy East coasters!

[reefwars]

Quick! We need a tank warming party at your house!


im thinking im gonna host a aquascape party when im ready for my rock to go in i have alot of nice unique pieces including tonga branch and jakarta and fiji so maybe after new years ill invite everyone over:):):)

[reefwars]

ok well i got to filling the tank thius morning and no leaks in the display but a small pinhole leak in one of my oveflow drains in the bulkhead , i couldnt help but think of how much damage it would do to have it break.....lucky me i guess:):) after i fix the leak im gonna get my sump and herbie tuned up a bit and then ill let it sit for a few days and get to working on the lights and building up some salt water i guess its gonnba be alot of water changes for the ol zoa tank and we will see how it likes the clean water:):)



heres some pics to prove i still have a lkiving room floor:):)


http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/017-1.jpg?t=1293128121



http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/016.jpg?t=1293128121


http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/015-1.jpg?t=1293128121



http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/014-1.jpg?t=1293128121



wish me luck washing a bit of ol sand here today :):)

[reefwars]

so i got my sump up and running , leak is fixed .....im very proud of myself for doing the herbie overflow and getting it on the first shot its amazing at how quiet it really is aside from my return pumps vibrations its the only noise thats being made:):) also glad i held out and found the gatevalve i needed as its quite sensitive to tune:):) durso standpipe emergency is working greaty as well and when the power goers out im still left with about half my sump for insurance:):) sweet:):)

[bignose]

Hey Denny I have a question for you. Your return lines seem low to me, when your pump is turned off all the water above the return will flow to your sump. Do you have enough room in your sump to hold all that water? I've seen your tank and that's a lot of water you wouldn't want on your floor!

*edit* Never seen the answer in your own post.

[reefwars]

Hey Denny I have a question for you. Your return lines seem low to me, when your pump is turned off all the water above the return will flow to your sump. Do you have enough room in your sump to hold all that water? I've seen your tank and that's a lot of water you wouldn't want on your floor!

*edit* Never seen the answer in your own post.




o yeah big sump lol so when the power goes out im filling about half my sump i have it set so my main drains are about three inches from my durso and both are working fine and ive been shutting the power off alot to see if anything changes so basically every five inches of display height is about 50 gallons so im down around 3 inches and pointing slightly up.

my sump is 80 gallons so after 40-50 gallons spill in in still just past half now i dont want to fill it either as it would be pushing it by how thick the glass is:):)


all this was done not including my refuge or frag tank which isnt hooked up to the display at all:):)

[reefwars]

after adding some padding under my pumps ive reduced the noise almost to nothing but im still not happy lol i want no noise what so ever not even a single splash , as it turns out my return pump is silent and the noise im getting is from my skimmer pump not the vibrations but the running noise itself i dont have any doors on the back yet so its hard to tell if ill hear it when they are on but for now im on a mission:):)


also im working on the light ring today im gonna get it mounted to my ceiling and hopefully get some pendants mounted thats if i got everything i need its so easy to forget something when your runnning around and me like a retard got salt for 200g as i had a little bit but didnt take into account for my sump while i was grabbing things :):) so now im short on salt and here doing all the math on my tanks and how much water they can run off lol :):)

also i now have the stand ready for paint if i can get enough time today ill get to working on that too and have it finished in a few days for trim:):) lucky i work doing renos so far the complete stand hasnt cost me a thing its all been from left over jobs unlike my last stand which i had a hard time even walking after buying the materials lol:):)






*****upon closer inspection my returns are only about an inch below thats just from the pics as i was filling and didnt want a syphon sorry:)*****

[reefwars]

here are some pics taken this morning and last night sorry for the quality its a very crappy camera untill the misses comes home:):)


http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/001.jpg?t=1293214814


http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/007-2.jpg?t=1293214814


http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/009-1.jpg?t=1293214811


http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/014-2.jpg?t=1293214811


http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/016-1.jpg?t=1293214811


http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/018-1.jpg?t=1293214806


http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/020-2.jpg?t=1293214806


http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/022.jpg?t=1293214806




http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/025.jpg?t=1293214806







and for those who didnt think i would get my helper over washing sand heres the proof lol its the worst job he said he ever had to do thats sand from 3 different set ups it was quick washed and stored in bins i made him do a good job too lol all i had to pay him was lunch and a few drinks while he was here:):)



http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/006-2.jpg?t=1293214814


http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/005-3.jpg?t=1293214814


http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/003-1.jpg?t=1293214814


http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/002.jpg?t=1293214814




adda boy der johnny bye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! get in er deep!!!!!!!



cheers :):)

[reefwars]

lol the second pic is him croaking from the smell lololol!!!!

[reefwars]

heres some pics of the light ring in progress it turns out i grabbed bolts too small for the screws so i only have one halide hung right now and it will stay like this untill after christmas, i think it turned out really clean i used a small piece of plywood to mount the ballast to the top and the pendants them selves have been bolted on so i can turn them but they arent coming off without a wrench:):)


thanks grizz awseome job:):)




http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/037.jpg?t=1293225117



http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/034.jpg?t=1293225117



http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/033.jpg?t=1293225117



http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/035.jpg?t=1293225117


http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/030.jpg?t=1293225117




sorry again for the bads pics:):)

[ALang]

I love it, Denny! How exciting!
I have no patience at all. Looking at that tank-ful of water makes me want to roll up my sleeves. Now it's the waiting for the sand to cycle, huh?
That's the worse time. People should go on a mini vacation so that they don't rush into the aquascaping and adding lifestock before it's ready.
Never know how people can stand no doing anything until it's fully cycled!
Merry Christmas!

[reefwars]

I love it, Denny! How exciting!
I have no patience at all. Looking at that tank-ful of water makes me want to roll up my sleeves. Now it's the waiting for the sand to cycle, huh?
That's the worse time. People should go on a mini vacation so that they don't rush into the aquascaping and adding lifestock before it's ready.
Never know how people can stand no doing anything until it's fully cycled!
Merry Christmas!


no kidding eh lol well its easy for me as i already have 4 small tanks running lol but yeah the next step for me is to turn this badboy salty lol i grabbed a bucket and i figured i had enough here to make it but im short because i didnt count my sump in so after i rob all the water i can without disturbing the other tanks im still gonna be short like 30-40gallons so i may just get it to where i can which will probably be around 1.020 and get my rock in there ill be adding some eggcrate first and then some rock nothing scaped just in there in a pile for cycling.after that i will add my sand i dont want sand under my rocks in this tank honestly all of my previous tanks have been like that and it starts to sag and get messy down there after a few years so no sand under my rock in this tank:):)

im also hoping the rock will make up for some water that i cant mix im just not sure how much it will be lol :):)

[The Grizz]

Thank Denny, it was my pleasure to assist you in the build. It is always nice to see thing's I have built for people, can't wait to see it all done. I knew I should have stuck a Grizz Welding sticker on it :lol::lol:

Everything looks like to is coming together nicely.

[reefwars]

Thank Denny, it was my pleasure to assist you in the build. It is always nice to see thing's I have built for people, can't wait to see it all done. I knew I should have stuck a Grizz Welding sticker on it :lol::lol:

Everything looks like to is coming together nicely.



thanks greg its really coming together now im almost ready for a cycle soon theres still some stuff i want to do first ,im painting tonight and im hoping i can get it all looking nice for when the misses comes home that ways i may be able to promote her to " reefsafe with caution" lol :):)


merry christmas buddy and best wishes for the new year:):)

[The Grizz]

merry christmas buddy and best wishes for the new year:):)

Same to you Denny, see you some time in the new year for some of those sweet zoa / paly frags.:wink:

[ALang]

So, good timimg for the Boxing day sales, then.
Should be a few pails of salt on for cheaper.
So easy to buy us reefers gifts... just a few buckets of salt is always appreciated, eh?
I'd be careful putting you LR into such lower salinity. I'd wait another day until I get to another pail of salt first. You already have your sand to cycle off, you want the LR to help do that, not to have critters die off in them, too.
Good luck. And I wish that one day, too, I'll be having so much fun with such a huge tank to play with. All it takes is money!

[reefwars]

So, good timimg for the Boxing day sales, then.
Should be a few pails of salt on for cheaper.
So easy to buy us reefers gifts... just a few buckets of salt is always appreciated, eh?
I'd be careful putting you LR into such lower salinity. I'd wait another day until I get to another pail of salt first. You already have your sand to cycle off, you want the LR to help do that, not to have critters die off in them, too.
Good luck. And I wish that one day, too, I'll be having so much fun with such a huge tank to play with. All it takes is money!

thats the joys of having split tank lol one side lower one side where it needs to be...... but..... i have enough salt as it seems, i just disconnected the sump for a bit theres still some stuff i want to do down there anyways and that pinhole leak has started again in the bulkhead, not the bulkhead its self but one pvc join down so ill get to fixing that after it dries.:):) no more purchases for me untill after new years unfortunately ive already went way over budget for this month lol:):)

[reefwars]

ok so im bored i had a long nap and now i cant sleep sooooo im on a mission ill tell you in the morn what im up too but sparks are flying tonight lol :):)

[reefwars]

still plugging away im putting the phase sweat and blood into literally as you may have noticed my title.......well as dumb as i am i just put a 1/4" drillbit right through my hand so to say the least lots of cursing and lots of blood :):) always the luck well no pain no gain i shaaapossse:)

[The Grizz]

still plugging away im putting the phase sweat and blood into literally as you may have noticed my title.......well as dumb as i am i just put a 1/4" drillbit right through my hand so to say the least lots of cursing and lots of blood :):) always the luck well no pain no gain i shaaapossse:)

What no picture's !!!!!!! :twised:

[reefwars]

What no picture's !!!!!!! :twised:


hahah i just woke up been a late night up working on the tank untill 5 this morning but i do have stuff to take pics of and i got alot done last night including a massive hole in my hand (got pics of that too)


really happy today as a friend and me are going in on a j&l order and im getting the apex :):):):) yee haww!!!!!!

[The Grizz]

hahah i just woke up been a late night up working on the tank untill 5 this morning but i do have stuff to take pics of and i got alot done last night including a massive hole in my hand (got pics of that too)


really happy today as a friend and me are going in on a j&l order and im getting the apex :):):):) yee haww!!!!!!

Me too, I was up until 4am draining the 4" of water off my shop floor. I have a drain line from my huge RO system and my dad decided to redirect it. Needless to say it filled my septic tamk and back flow into my shop floor drains.

An apex sweet I snagged a Proflux 2ex for a smokin deal.

[reefwars]

Me too, I was up until 4am draining the 4" of water off my shop floor. I have a drain line from my huge RO system and my dad decided to redirect it. Needless to say it filled my septic tamk and back flow into my shop floor drains.

An apex sweet I snagged a Proflux 2ex for a smokin deal.


brutal nothing worse than water on the floor early in the morning, i was wondering what you were doing up so late i think we were the only ones on here that late lol the profilux is an awesome controller and the apex will be my first ever so its exciting to walk into a new stage of the hobby:):)

[reefwars]

well here is an update on where i am in the tank and what i have or have ordered and waiting for::

48"x48"x20h"
100g sump
low flow refuge 20g and built in frag tank 20g
4x250w fishneedit halide pendants on custom made aluminum octagon light ring
36 x 3w dimmable leds (blue/white/royal blue)
vertex in-180 skimmer
apex-lite
3l zeo reactor with start-up package
brs dual stage media reactor for carbon
no-name return pump 600gph throttled back for returns for frag tank and refuge
filter socks
3 x 250w heaters 2 running 1 for back up
numerous koralias to be replaced by vortech mp40
coralife compact florescent 6500k for refuge



there are still some stuff i need to get but i have what i need to keep it running and ill gather up the rest as time goes by, last night i added rock and sand and wayne brought over some salt so im where i need to be there( thanks wayne your a lifesaver) im still gonna need some more tonga branch and some more porus rock i didnt realize how much aquascaping room there is in a 4 x4 cube lol lots of islands and in the predator side lots of room an open space......tank is almost cleared up this morning im about to run some new carbon and clear up the tiny bit of yellow in it and in a day or two im gonna log my first water tests. the rock is all cured but the sand is gonna create quite the spike judging by the smell lol so no dead shrimp or fish or uncured rock needed.


when i get a chance ill do a video and a walk around basically there are three sections the predator side is a more open look with barely any rock as there will be some massive sand and rock movers in there...ie. dragon wrasse


the reef side is done in two parts one part with a massive rock cliff that will stick up out of the water like the volcanoe tank does and then around the back corner it will all be tonga branch entwined everywhere and which way with very little coral more of a place for schooling fish to swim in and out of. i am in the process of hunting down some very high or large pieces of liverock for my mountain now as we speak:):)


other than that its all little things sooooo i guess thatrs another story:):)

[reefwars]

cant help but think about my stocking so ive been thinking about it and heres what im going with so far:)


for the predator side:

snowflake eel
dragon wrasse
fu man-chu lion( is it possible to get a pair??)
lemon peel angel
*** i want to add a butterfly fish but cant decide on which one any suggestions would be greatly appreciated:)***8




for the reef tank:

pair of bangai cardinals
pair of mandarins
yellow tang
sailfin tang
leatherjacket filefish
small scholl of chromis
pair of cinnamon clowns




for the most part im sticking with fish i have experience with the only fish from the lists i havent owned are the fu manchu and a butterfly fish.im interested in any suggestions for more fish in the reef id like to keep it limited to small fish and ones that are out and about:):) thanks all:):)

[Wayne]

last night i added rock and sand and wayne brought over some salt so im where i need to be there( thanks wayne your a lifesaver)

No worries! Anytime! I just picked up two more buckets of Reef Crystals :lol:

[reefwars]

No worries! Anytime! I just picked up two more buckets of Reef Crystals :lol:



hahah nice buddy im gonna have to look into gettin a pallet to keep this badboy going 25g a week thats a little over 8 buckets a year just in water changes alone lol:):)

[The Grizz]

I had a pair of cin clowns and they got really aggressive had to move them out.

How about a Coral Beauty or a Blonde Naso.

[reefwars]

I had a pair of cin clowns and they got really aggressive had to move them out.

How about a Coral Beauty or a Blonde Naso.

ive always owned a pair of cinnamon clowns and they def are aggressive my female killed the male after a year together i introduced another male and it took a few weeks to warm up to each other, now i only have the male but hes always attacking me my female was around 4" i love the cinnamon clowns as ugly as they get and as mean as they are to their handlers ive always found them to be great clowns to own:)



the blonde naso for me would be too many tangs my yellow is quite aggressive and if i get a juvie sailfin it will become large quite fast so those will be the only two large fish in my reef. the coral beauty is nice but too common for me def a nice fish though.:):)

how about wrasses anything you guys would recommend that will be reefsafe and i understand most of them have an awesome appetite for inverts:)


i think im gonna lean towards smaller colorful or unique fish for my reef :)

[The Grizz]

I have a six line and a coris wrasse and getting a checker board and flasher wrasse as well.

[reefwars]

I have a six line and a coris wrasse and getting a checker board and flasher wrasse as well.


am interested in the 6line actually , i love their color and the way they swim:):) i also like the flasher wrasses as well

[reefwars]

as i said i was bored last night and i did promise some pics so heres some shots of what i was jup to last night, i got the predator section all scaped out and sand added and i have my scaping started in the reef tank i still need more rock for the back and for the one side that goes up the overflow but heres some pics to show you were im too, sorry for the fuzzy pics again itgs a crappy camera ill have better pics in a few days:):)



this is the front view of the predator section:

http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/008-3.jpg?t=1293409115




this is the side view of the predator section:


http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/009-2.jpg?t=1293409115



another side view of the predator section:


http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/018-2.jpg?t=1293409111



a view of both section from the front:



http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/016-2.jpg?t=1293409111




heres another of both sections from the front from my couch:


http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/019-3.jpg?t=1293409111






ill wont post pics of the reef untill i get more done but wont be too long:) cheers all:):)

[othicx]

It looks great, That light hanger turned out great and fits the look of the tank very well. cant wait to see this done :)

[reefwars]

It looks great, That light hanger turned out great and fits the look of the tank very well. cant wait to see this done :)


thanks man im really glad how it turned out i cant wait to get some good pics the pics ive taken arent doing it any justice:):)


now to get the leds on there and the other pendants:):)

[reefcanada]

It's looking good Denny.

[reefwars]

It's looking good Denny.


thanks jay and great fix btw not a drip to be found and awesome math on the overflow box it fit everything just perfectly and i have it set up with a herbie style overflow and its completely silent you could hear a pin drop:):)

thanks again man sooo much im loving it more and more everyday great design and its the perfect tank for me:):) happy hollidays buddy:):)

[reefwars]

hey guys so i compiled a short walk around of the tank on my buddys digital camera....go easy on me theres still alot of work to do especially with the sump and under the stand and i still have some sand and rock from my established tanks to go in there yet. apex will be here in a few days then i get to see what it can do and i should have the zeo reactor by the end of the month:):)

i still have to paint the stand and i have to take the trim off to paint it then ill put it all on and finish it nicely.dont mind the koralias hanging there in there to help the cloud settle and clear the tank up and once i get the apex hooked up all the wires in the stand will be ran through the studs and out of the way:):) cheers:)



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbcIa5QDQPY

[ALang]

It's a thing of beauty, Denny!
Great job envisioning it to begin with! It is a stunning concept, and now an amazing reality! The sump is also very nice. Love how both the top and bottom looks. Cannot wait to see the lights in. Everything is so nice and clean. The video definately helped.

[The Grizz]

Looks sweet Denny, I love the idea you had for all the cord putting them threw a pcv pipe:Thumb:. What is in the jar and the 2 square containers?

[reefwars]

Looks sweet Denny, I love the idea you had for all the cord putting them threw a pcv pipe:Thumb:. What is in the jar and the 2 square containers?

Thanks I hate clutter so untill I drill some strategically placed holes in the stand it was the best way to keep them out of my way and dry.

In the two containers and jar are my refuge, in two containers are two types of sand and in the jar is liverock rubble Im gonna add a fairly large piece of liverock and then hopefully I can keep my refuge clean and doing what it's supposed to do....be a safe haven for life. I'm gonna try some macro algae but with the zeo I'm not sure if you can???

The fuge has one return from where my tanks drains dump out it is controlled by a ball valve to tune the flow throughout. Pod production is my ultimate goal and mandarins next year:)

[reefwars]

hey all so not much over the past week just playing the waiting game, i did get my apex the other day so im still setting it up apparently its harder to set this up then it is to do any sort of brain surgery lol seriously though its alot of f'ing around(pardon my french) so far it makes a great thermometer lol well im almost got it figured out tonight im mounting it in its place with velcro and setting up the controller so its nice and clean.

i also finished up the stand a bit more while the misses was gone on hollidays so i had to make sure it was looking good when she got home to justify spending so much this month on it lol :)

im also gonna set up my refuge and frag tank tonight i have all the plumbing done its just a matter of filling it up and hooking up the return pump for now untill i get my led's ordered ill just use a small t5 or similar i have kincking around:):)


heres some pics as it sits today i still am looking for more rock and some tonga branch:):)cheers all:)

http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/006-4.jpg?t=1294544981




http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/005-5.jpg?t=1294544981


http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/003-3.jpg?t=1294544981




http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/008-4.jpg?t=1294544981







and my job for tonight and proably till the day i die lol:





http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/009-3.jpg?t=1294544981

[Skimmerking]

Dude that stand is Friggin awesome

[reefwars]

thanks mike, funny thing is it cost me $00.00 lol minus some small hardware.... i do renovations for a living and after putting a pile of money into my last stand with all kinds of fancy hardwoods as soon as it was finished it was sold , so this time no way lol i kept it simple to finish it fast and instead of going with the average wood grain stands i went with a very cool color green and trimmed it plain jain.i find it looks sweet when theres little to it and leaves more to viewing the tank plus i gotta say the misses loves it, all the materials i had in the garage plus paint trim etc...... right over the window is where my apex display will be mounted with velcro and after tonight you wont be able to see any more wires as they are getting "fished lol" through the framing or pvc fastened to the stands ceiling:):)

[fishoholic]

Awesome stand Denny!

[reefwars]

Awesome stand Denny!

thanks laurie the green doesnt show up to well in the photo but its very nice im getting "reefwars reef" done in black cool writing right over the window, im finally getting it cleaned up inside it looks like a wiring jungle lol but i just finished hooking it all up to the apex and ran the wires through the stand so alls good and away from water. right now im installing a gfci and as it will stand when it will be done is there will be a tiny wire coming out the bottom on one side of my stand for my apex to my router and on the other side will be another small hole for my apex power bar to the gfci:):) other than that there wont be a cord to be seen or ran outside of the stand:)

[jphong]

That stand is looking great Denny! I love the trim on it, makes it look so clean and classy

[reefwars]

That stand is looking great Denny! I love the trim on it, makes it look so clean and classy



Thanks john Im glad the way it turned out ice always been a fan of bright white and greens:) how's your tank coming along??? Drop over the next night your free and I'll give you the tour, text me buddy:):)

[The Grizz]

Looking sexy dude! Have you finished mounting the MH on the light ring yet, I want pics of that when you do.

[reefwars]

hey guys so tonight i filled up the frag tank and refuge and plumbed in the return pump, i also mounted the other front halide and did my water tests.last week i was showing a small amount of amonia and nitrate now im nil for amonia and sitting at around 5ppm for nitrate and 0 for phos. i added my male cinnamon clown to the tank and he seems very happy exploring all corners and holes....he already owns the joint lol:):)

heres some pics taken tonight and steve at red coral edmonton has my zeo reactor in so when ever my broke ass can get over ill have that up and running as well:):) cheers guys:)


http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/050.jpg?t=1295152041



http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/048.jpg?t=1295152041


http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/047.jpg?t=1295152041


http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/046.jpg?t=1295152041


http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/045.jpg?t=1295152041


http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/043.jpg?t=1295152041


http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/042.jpg?t=1295152041


http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/041.jpg?t=1295152041



http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/040.jpg?t=1295152667


http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/038.jpg?t=1295152667


http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/reefwars/new%20tank%20build/036-1.jpg?t=1295152667

[reefcanada]

Wow Denny, That is looking great.

[The Grizz]

That is one sexy looking light hanging thingy:biggrin: as well as everything else to Denny nice work dude .

[cwatkins]

Good choice with the Apex Lite. Lookin' nice. :)

[Wayne]

WOW awesome looking tank dude! Keep up the good work, I can't wait to see it again :lol:

[reefwars]

thanks guys im really proud of this badboy its the most fun ive ever had building a tank. today i am installing the doors and maybe some insulation in the stand to stop some noise.

my cinn clown is in there now testing the tank for me so after this week ill start transfering stuff over from the zoa tank:):) then ill be down to 1 tank:):)

[ALang]

WOW! Cannot wait to see livestock in that baby! Your clown will be the BIG BOSS now that she's got the run of the tank. Aren't you worried that she might be even more pugnacious towards anything else that you'll be putting in there later on? I wish you were closer. I'd be over there everyday just to drool.
Great job on the stand. I love the green paint and the plain trim around your window.

[fishytime]

Looking pretty snazzy there Denny....looking forward to seeing it after you do the transfer.....

[reefwars]

WOW! Cannot wait to see livestock in that baby! Your clown will be the BIG BOSS now that she's got the run of the tank. Aren't you worried that she might be even more pugnacious towards anything else that you'll be putting in there later on? I wish you were closer. I'd be over there everyday just to drool.
Great job on the stand. I love the green paint and the plain trim around your window.



he really loves it so far he explores every little spot he can, i thought he would hide out and slowly get use to it but no way he owns it now lol but truth is hes close to his nem and once it goes in he wont leave it to go far.eventually i will add another clown more than likely a female and a very large anemone i havent decided what kind yet but alot of you know ive had some really different nice and big ones in the past :):)


im hoping after i put the doors on today there will be no sound from the tank at all but the doors im putting on are just tempoaray as im still undecided on what pattern ill be using, they will be made from hardwood and ill router the design my self when i choose something:):)


drop by anytime you like lenny to come see it in person the pics dont do any justice to how big of a space im working with lol:):)cheers

[reefwars]

Looking pretty snazzy there Denny....looking forward to seeing it after you do the transfer.....


thanks doug, tell ya one thing though im frightened to death to do the transfer lol i was afraid to add my clown even though all my tests say its fine and even though hes doing fine my eyes are on him like a hawk lol kinda like watching your kids go to school for the first time (im guessing lol)

im gonna add a tester coral a finger leather and a common blue zoa frag and see how they do. all my parameters are right where i want them and after my clown settles in a bit more im gonna do a decent water change.

when i do take down my zoa tank ill get lots of little presents now that all my algae is gone i noticed i have a dozen zoa frags behind my rockwork that need rescuing and im curious as to what they all are lol:)

ill have to get you and laurie over one of these nights for a beer and some insight:):) cheers

[MarkoD]

i havent really read the whole thread... but is that 2 tanks? are they joined somehow?

[reefwars]

i havent really read the whole thread... but is that 2 tanks? are they joined somehow?


Yup, it's a 200g tank with 75g sectioned off for a fowlr the other 130 is gonna be a full on reef . They both are running off a center overflow for a gull viewable walkaround tank. Each section is equipped with a herbie style overflow with 1 1/2" plumbing.

The sump is a 100g with built in frag tank and refuge, system will run full zeo and activated carbon and monitored via apex controller and my iPhone:)

in my 75g will be a snowflake eel, Fu Manchu lion, dragon wrasse, lemonpeel angel

in the reef the skies the limit but the back is all tonga branch with a bare bottom for small fish, the side will be a liverock mountain extending out of the water and the front will be for exotic Lps or nem's and lots of swimming space for the bigger fish:)

[MarkoD]

thats really cool. i like the idea of the tank.

but if it was me i would have just made it all reef and set up a separate tank for the fowlr. with such an awesome tank, i think the dividers take away from it.

but maybe thats just me

[reefwars]

If I could I would lol only one tank allowed in the house according to the boss, I've had a few large reefs and started with fish only's .... After having just reefs I get bored, fish aren't enough to entertain me so fish only didn't interest me either. The idea of this tank is to get it all in one neat little maintance free package. Even though it's divided in two the tank has four main sections....predator,tonga reef, cliffside,open plain . With these four sections I should be able to get quite the diversity of reefs in one. If I could have left the predators unfenced I would but they'd make quick meals of the reef;) cheers

[MarkoD]

lol i suppose its a different story when you have "bosses" to consider....

i use to bring tanks into my house monthly almost and my parents always just shook their head.

now i have 4 large tanks and they come downstairs to enjoy them and show them off to their friends

[reefwars]

so the tank sold today and is now gone glad that it sold was surprised it took as long as it did with the amount of emails i was getting for it.so i leave for home on feb 11th and im already thinking of my next build lol

so it would seem i cant really find any full setups for sale let alone someone parting out thiers so im gonna have to be creative and build it my self once their... so to keep me a little happy i have kept enough stuff for another small tank and i am getting 5 pieces of glass cut for me tomorrow for a 24inch cube tank ill be taking the pieces with me as its alot cheaper here i can have it made for like 12$ a piece lol, i still may go a little bigger for a cube as the price is for half inch glass so may also do 27 inchs for that little bit more:)

once home with my glass and mailed box of goodies ill start building my little cube and curing my live rock ill gather some sand and seed it with some from someone elses tank(if i can find someone)

i kept my halides and some stuff i figured would be hard to come by down there but cant run a tank without.

the idea is another zoa tank and ill call it the zoobix cube.im gonna be building my own coast to coast overflow and herbie style drains. and using a 40 breeder for a sump which will be set up in its own room.

liverock i have already but will be purchasing 50lbs of dryrock as well.

im going to be plumbing 2 more 40g breeders as well into the sytem for a frag tank and refuge.youll see soon enough i dont want to divulge to much info just yet.the 40g are the hard ones to find down there it would seem, not like here lol alot of them they want 100 for so ill have to keep lowballing people untill i can come up with a couple

ive also got plans in the works for a few other things my days off are being put to good use with phonecalls and research and soon enough ill have something good going wont be anytime soon but soon enough:):)

i actually have a decent budget this time around so if i can actually get the things i need it should be a smooth build:):)



baby steps...

[Skimmerking]

So are you moving or staying in EDMONTON

[The Grizz]

Bye bye light ring:cry:

Good luck Denny with the trip home.

[reefwars]

So are you moving or staying in EDMONTON


moving on the 11th of feb to good old st.johns:):)

[reefwars]

Bye bye light ring:cry:

Good luck Denny with the trip home.



thanks greg if its any concellation the guy loved your light ring and was very interested in it:):)

all is set now for the trip home im just playing the waiting game having a little vacation well say;)

[The Grizz]

Well that is good that he seemed to appreciated our design concept. Look forward to seeing what come next for you.

[fishytime]

Hope you have a smooth move back, there bye.....seriously hope you stay active here(on CR).....you seem like a good shite:razz:......looking forward to the next tank!

[reefwars]

thanks guys:):)


so im all happy today cause check out the sweet deal i got on a brand new cube tank i get to take home with me lol i got a good deal because i have to build it once home but heres what i got:):)

5 pieces of 1/2" glass at well say 24"x 24"
i got a 24"x24" sheet of acrylic well say 1/2"
i got 2x1" bulkheads and 1x1 1"2 bulkheads
3 holes drilled to where i want them.

all glass is polished and beveled and brand new baby:):)


heres the best part $120 bucks:):) and thats the package im taking home with me and combined with the box of goodies ive already sent home badda bing badda boom somethings in the works;) im sure am gonna miss the good deals that come around here:):)