45 Gallon Reef - first FTS shot with scape and a FISH!!

[phi delt reefer]

:biggrin:5 feet wide, 23.5" deep and 70" tall
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/007.jpg
display fuge/sump (that little stand will hold a 20L and is removable)
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/009.jpg
another shot;
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/010.jpg
left door to the sump area
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/012.jpg
cabinet for electronics/supplies/etc.
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/008.jpg
light hood (will hold a tek light 6x39w)
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/011.jpg
entire thing will be skinned in birch plywood
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/014-1.jpg
display tank area
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/015.jpg


Still need a custom tank to match my stand. :biggrin:

[Rbacchiega]

*cough* 40 gallon rimless *cough cough*

[jorjef]

Very nice, like the design

[lastlight]

Yeah that'll be nice for sure. I'd leave space between the canopy and tank so it's sorta open top. Great for heat removal and looks cool.

[phi delt reefer]

*cough* 40 gallon rimless *cough cough*


yeah i am looking into a couple options. I want a bean animal overflow but i dont want pipes out of the back. May have to design a wierd L shaped or trapezoid tank so i can keep the pipes within the stand on the left back side of the tank. I will try to draw something to show everyone.

looking for something 36" x 24" x 14" - I have a quote on acrylic... hoping for glass though but if i get no hits from my WTB ad then i going acrylic

[phi delt reefer]

Yeah that'll be nice for sure. I'd leave space between the canopy and tank so it's sorta open top. Great for heat removal and looks cool.


canopy is 18" from the base of the "tank stage". Tank wont be more than 18 high.


The tank sits at 40" above the ground so its a nice viewing angle either from standing or sitting on my couches :biggrin:

[MrGoodbytes]

Could you possibly plumb the left side through to the side of your supplies cabinet? You seem to have a lot of space in there to work with and you would still have easier access to them.

Also, did you get that TEK light from ReefGeek?

I look forward to seeing what's to come.

Graeme

[phi delt reefer]

got the light used :) someone in Toronto was getting rid of one. Gonna order bulbs from ReefGeek. As for the plumbing - you pretty much stole my idea after i sat and stared at the stand for hours (wife isnt too happy). I am trying to sketch something in google sketchup right now. just spent the last hour downloading and watching some movies so I do my best to show you all very soon :biggrin:

Going to have the left side of the tank have a rim thats half an inch shorter than the other sides than an external overflow box in the supplies area. I have to adjust the shelf slightly but i want to see what the extra cost will be. Options cost money :mad2:

[phi delt reefer]

so after about 3 hours this is what i came up with. I dunno how people get all the plumbing into the drawings so i just used some 1.5" cylinders. Feel free to help me figure out how to make the drawing better :)

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/vincetank1.jpg

[phi delt reefer]

now i need an MP40:confused:

tank is twice the size of what i had originally planned (23 long) so the two Korila nano's are going to be useless.

[MrGoodbytes]

You're going to have so much room to 'scape in that; it'll be great. Any ideas on rockwork yet? As for the overflow, are you considering some sort of grating/guard so you don't get any critters in there?

As for SketchUp: if you go to File-->3D Warehouse, you can do a search for models that you can import. A search for PVC plumbing yielded some promising results.

Graeme

[phi delt reefer]

You're going to have so much room to 'scape in that; it'll be great. Any ideas on rockwork yet? As for the overflow, are you considering some sort of grating/guard so you don't get any critters in there?

As for SketchUp: if you go to File-->3D Warehouse, you can do a search for models that you can import. A search for PVC plumbing yielded some promising results.

Graeme


might throw up some quarter inch clear fish netting (as opposed to ugly starboard everyone in reefing seems to love :))

I saw the drawing but how do you "Assemble" the pieces? I only watched the beginner movies so far. I only have the free version so i dunno if i can still do an align via centre points.

[phi delt reefer]

This is the dry scape i have had in my 23long for some time now. I want to epoxy it together then transfer it;

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/003.jpg

another angle

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/002.jpg

[MrGoodbytes]

I spent about 10 minutes or so messing around in the free version of SketchUp but I was using prefab'ed straight PVC and couldn't separate the one I wanted from the other sizes to show you how they assembled. In any case, you should be able to get them to fit them together if you use the tape measure to set a guide point. Then, you should be able to drag the corresponding point on the other piece so that it lines up with the guide point and they fit. There may be a clearer method to do this but I taught myself without the videos :P. Hope this helps.

Graeme

[doramide7]

canopy is 18" from the base of the "tank stage". Tank wont be more than 18 high.


The tank sits at 40" above the ground so its a nice viewing angle either from standing or sitting on my couches :biggrin:
Could you possibly plumb the left side through to the side of your supplies cabinet? You seem to have a lot of space in there to work with and you would still have easier access to them.

Also, did you get that TEK light from ReefGeek?

I look forward to seeing what's to come.

[phi delt reefer]

Could you possibly plumb the left side through to the side of your supplies cabinet? You seem to have a lot of space in there to work with and you would still have easier access to them.

Also, did you get that TEK light from ReefGeek?

I look forward to seeing what's to come.


Yep - thats exactly what I am doing now :) - have look one page back to see the tank design that utilizes a "through cabinet" overflow design.

I got the Tek light from another local reefer who was downsizing. Its a 6x39w model that I would love to trade for a 8x39w retrofit if anyone is offering :mrgreen:

[MrGoodbytes]

Did he just repost something I said earier?

[phi delt reefer]

Did he just repost something I said earier?

yep, lol :) - did you get my pm about border shopping?

[phi delt reefer]

Thanksgiving was productive :) - ate a ton and worked on the stand some more. Painted and caulked the frame with some outdoor paint. Also made some adjustments and added a couple more finishing panels. I have three more panels to cut (right sump door is cut but we are going to mount with a piano hinge - which i still have to buy :angry:)

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/009-1.jpg

the left side is made of two panels, i still have to sand that filler - i am already $300 into this build so i cant keep buying full sheets of plywood for each side, lol. Plus you wont be able to see that side head on due the layout of my living room - AND its going to be stained satin black - maybe 5-6 coats. I like my black :)
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/008-1.jpg

door open - my goofy three year old saying CHEEEEEEESEEEEEEE to give a size perspective
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/005.jpg


had to fully notch the 2x4 to get this euro hinge to sit right. Used a 2x2 to re-brace it. The top portion of the stand will only hold electronics and test kits so its not a big deal. Plus the entire box has two 1/2" panels (left and back) holding things square. Theres also a 1/4" panel up top.
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/006.jpg

hood panel closed
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/002-1.jpg

hood panel open
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/003-1.jpg

heres the "holding" mechanism i used - ten bucks at HD as opposed to $30 for a mini shock
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/004.jpg


and pose...
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/001-1.jpg

[Rbacchiega]

looking great!!!!

[phi delt reefer]

[QUOTE=phi delt reefer;17913893]Alright so here is the final design that i need some help with...

Some background on my tank design - its approx 40-45 gallons made of 10mm glass. The overflow will be made of 6mm glass. This will run to a 20long sump and the return will be a Eheim 1250. Should get about 200-250gph given my head loss (used the RC HL calculator)

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/vincetankfinalleftside2.jpg

I have a couple questions about implementing the I am going to have built soon if you don't mind assisting;

How should I place my bulkhead holes in my overflowbox so it fits all three pipes with regular tees (they dont make 1" sanitary tees from what i understand) and down turned 90s? I am planning on running 1 inch piping. So what I really need to know is how wide each overflow pipe with a tee and a 90?

I want it to look like this (but have tees and 90's on all three pipes)
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/150-Overflow.jpg

I went to my local Home depot and they didnt have any one inch pvc so I am going to have to find it online or check another HD (they seem to have it at HD Canada online...)


Is the weir/notch i made deep enough? My tank is only 12" tall so I don't want to loose a lot of water volume or have very obvious water line 3/4 up the tank for I am going for that rimless look.

Thank you all in advance - your help is greatly appreciated.

Vince

[phi delt reefer]

Placed my deposit on my 45gallon tank. 36" x 23.5" x 12" - 10mm glass, black silicone. Should be ready next week.
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/vincetankfinalleftside2.jpg

Also - completed my border run last Wednesday so I brought home some goodies...

Picked up this one in a group buy I started on R2R - pm if your interested its still going on till the end of this month ;) .

XTREMEEEEEEEEE!

SWC150 BMK - good for 100g heavily stocked.

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/P1010097.jpg

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/P1010105.jpg

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/P1010107.jpg

VOGA Wine bottles to be used as dosing containers in the future
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/P1010110.jpg

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/P1010112.jpg

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/P1010113.jpg


BRS group buy stuff...

biopellets/ROX carbon/netting for future screen

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/P1010094.jpg

BRS Dual Reactor
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/P1010092.jpg

sump tank full of other stuff (
couple maxi-jet 1200s
RO fittings to break out the BRS Reactor
couple 2x39w t5ho ballasts
RKL w 2 PC4s
2 Koralia Nanos 425
Salifert/SeaChem test kits
Eheim 1250 return pump
Jager 150w heater
Odyssea Pump and Heater for salt mixing
ATI bulbs ( 4 B+, 1 AB Special, 1 GE6500, 1 ATI Purple Plus)
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/P1010095.jpg


already had this (running the old bulbs it came with) Tek Light 6x39w
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/083.jpg

[phi delt reefer]

so for some long due updates....


tank still isnt ready - builder is taking his time due to a hurt back and my stand still needs some finishing touches so I can't complain
sold my TEKLIGHT - ordered a 8x39w ATI Sunpower. $500 brand new/shipped...border run penind
met Torsten at Eco Reefer - GREAT GUY! He has a tonnes of rock - literally tonnes. I got to cherry pick some stuff for my build. 1 lb for gallon rule certainly doesnt apply to his stuff. I would have rock sticking out of my tank if i put all 45lbs in!
my indecisive self is having trouble figuring out how i want to run my retuns and reactors. I will start a new thread for this... possible group buy on some ATB FLOWSTARS/Water Blaster or MSX 1500 pumps.. more info to come

[phi delt reefer]

so here is my rock from Eco-reefer - aka Torsten.

Ordered 45lbs, Torsten being the great guy he is sent me back with a little extra :mrgreen:

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/001-2.jpg

here is what i came up initially - green tape represents the 23.5" width of my tank. My tank is only 12" tall so I need to keep my scape short for SPS growth

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/020.jpg

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/025.jpg

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/024.jpg

I was left with this much rock...

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/021.jpg

slept a couple days... had some reef dreams and figured I should use some more rock as a biological filter and so my fish have some hiding places, etc. So I added a couple more pieces;

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/001-3.jpg

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/008-2.jpg


There is about 9" of "rock free" area from the front glass to the closest rock. I think that will be sufficient swim room for the fish.



i will leave a small gap at the back of the glass to help ensure i get some flow back there;
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/006-1.jpg


I still have a few large pieces left that i might use in the sump or break up and try to glue a floating bonsai pieces. I have a lot of ideas...problem is that i am pretty lazy :(


****

Do you guys/girls think I should go back to my original scape OR do you like the latest version better? I will have a 1 to 1.5" sandbed as well.

[phi delt reefer]

progress....


tank

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/P1000587.jpg

overflow

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/P1000590.jpg

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/P1000591.jpg

stand - stained and assembled - still needs some detail work (sanding/re-staining)

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/P1000595.jpg
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/P1000596.jpg
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/P1000575.jpg
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/P1000584.jpg

reefkeeper mounted

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/P1000599.jpg

sump area

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/P1000598.jpg

ATI Sunpower - 8 bulb
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/P1000602.jpg
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/P1000609.jpg



random shots
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/P1000605.jpg
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/P1000612.jpg



why did i build such a big stand? Simple - I needed some place to store all this crap;

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/P1000548.jpg

[freezetyle]

Thats going to look really good full on water. I like how you are hiding your overflow, it will give it a very clean look.

[phi delt reefer]

Thats going to look really good full on water. I like how you are hiding your overflow, it will give it a very clean look.

thanks man - just came back from the sugar bush where i attempted to eat my weight in pancakes and sausage. Going to nap for a bit then finish painting/staining and start drilling holes for all the wiring.

[Skimmerking]

looking god man well done ya lots of stuff for a small tank :mrgreen:

[phi delt reefer]

thanks man! I was showing the wife your build and she figured it must of taken you like 5 years to put that 8 footer together considering how long mine is taking. I showed her the dates on your posts and got a smack across the back the head for taking so long with mine. Its her fault really - she decided to move the tank to the other end of the room where the floor dips like 5/8" over 5 feet so now i need to add leveling legs. I have no idea as to how i am going to install them considering this stand weighs at least 300lbs. This project is turning into a bottomless money pit and i haven't even bought a single fish or coral yet. :(

[lorenz0]

Stand looks awesome man

Your doing it right with taking your time, from the looks of things it is really working out in your favor.

[phi delt reefer]

thanks Lorenzo - your tank is looking gorgeous with all that SPS man!

I gotta throw out a big "Tank You" (really bad reef joke) to Asmodeus who was kind enough to help me with my leveling issue yesterday. He called me long distance and spoke with me for an hour offering different options as to how to get this sucker straight and true.

I had another look at the base of my stand and it looks like the front and rear 2x4s bows upwards near the front right corner of the tank. This is what is creating the gap. My floor definately isnt 100% flat but it appears to be pretty level though - possibly a 1/4 dip but i dont have a long enough straight edge to tell. So this means the stand isnt resting on the ground. Asmodeus recommended adding a piece of half inch plywood to the base the stand where it's not touching the ground and then using some shims for the final bit of "trueing". I wanted to use just leveling legs to make up the difference but Mike brought up a valid concern that all the weight would be supported on a single 23" 2x4. The plywood would reinforce the base further and re-distribute the load evenly.

I thought about it some more last night and I might try this...

the base of the stand is made of 2x4's standing on edge (similar to everyone else's designs. They are screwed together with 3" deck screws. Because the front and rear right side is not touching the ground I am going to screw in some metal L brackets on the under side where the 2x4's meet at 90 degree angles. This should further tie everything together and allow me to just use the leveling legs. I will use 4 legs on the right side of the stand to distribute the force on the front facing 2x4's as well as the right side 2x4.

none of this makes sense now that i have re-read it but I will show you all some pics when i am done. Lifting that stand is going to be epic. Time to call in some favors with the fraternity :D

[phi delt reefer]

got some work done and water in the tank!
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/DSCN0006.jpg
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/DSCN0007.jpg
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/DSCN0009.jpg
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/DSCN0010.jpg
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/DSCN0012.jpg
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/DSCN0014.jpg
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/DSCN0016.jpg
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/DSCN0019.jpg
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/DSCN0022.jpg
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/DSCN0023.jpg
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/DSCN0024.jpg
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/DSCN0025.jpg
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/DSCN0027.jpg
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/DSCN0028.jpg
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/DSCN0030.jpg
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/DSCN0033.jpg
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/DSCN0035.jpg
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/DSCN0037.jpg
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/DSCN0040.jpg
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/DSCN0041.jpg

just letting the sand settle then i will start aqua-scaping

[claymax]

looks like you could use some more live rock in that middle chamber there


jokes

[phi delt reefer]

looks like you could use some more live rock in that middle chamber there


jokes

all but two pieces are back in the display. We put them in there because we couldnt see anything in the display with the sandstorm going on :mrgreen:

[phi delt reefer]

cleared up a bit...


http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/DSCN0042.jpg

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/DSCN0043.jpg

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/DSCN0044.jpg

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/DSCN0045.jpg

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/DSCN0047.jpg

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/DSCN0048.jpg

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/DSCN0049.jpg

[chris88]

great aqua scape!

[DCDN]

I second that. I love the right island. Great job with the aquascaping

[phi delt reefer]

just messing with the camera and here is the final scape... I think. ;D

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/P1000729.jpg

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/P1000757.jpg

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/P1000751.jpg

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/P1000768.jpg

right island had to grow a little for future SPS;

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/P1000747.jpg

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/P1000758.jpg

fishes (chromis and two pyjama cardinals)!

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/P1000731.jpg

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/P1000740.jpg

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/vinceispatel/P1000735.jpg

[Blom]

Love the aquascaping, nice and open for all the swimming that will be going on there, but lots of room for coral. Really nice design all around on the tank!

[DCDN]

I can't wait to see this fill up with growth