What did you end up deciding on?

I went with Vertex 200i for the skimmer and the Ecotech Vectra M1 for the return pump.

Also bought a bunch of goodies... I shall share some pictures once I get back home. Looking forward to give my system a vinegar bath by the first weekend of January.

Sounds good! I'm waiting on my new IceCap K2 160 skimmer I ordered. I'm curious on the Vectra M1 as I will need a return pump for my new 150g

Update time: Work is underway....
 

Hi All, had a very busy holiday season and didn't get much done except for ordering some essential components of the system as well as shipping most of my saltwater goodies from Vancouver to Edmonton.

Made a trip down to Edmonton yesterday and here is what I was hauling back...

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/...psa0nj1zna.jpg

Checked out some local fish stores in Edmonton during that day. Looked for PVC plumbing all over the city and finally made it to Lowe's where I found most of it.

Drove back home and got working early this morning.

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/...psokck9qfp.jpg

All the live rock, water holding tanks and many many other things...

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/...pseskbdso3.jpg

Got plywood cut to size to skirt the stand from the back and the top and bottom panels.

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0mr3nurj.jpg

Couldn't hold myself back from the awesome deals at Lowe's. Finally have my own Miter saw... This is one of the best part I love about this hobby. So easy to convince myself to buy things I wouldn't buy otherwise. This should help me with building the water station.

Also picked up a shop vac to clean all the mess I'll be making in the next few days.


http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/...psrxiguu0v.jpg

Here is the stand partially sanded. Stripping all the paint off and cleaning the rust from the few spots that have it. Its taking a bit of time but I'm looking forward to a nice clean paint job.

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/...pst7j4xmtn.jpg

Looking good! Following this build as I will be starting my 150g soon!!!

Update time...
 

Hi all, I've been busy working on the build. Below are pics form the past week.

Got the plywood board all sanded and painted.

Bottom panel.
http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9fdnrwpa.jpg

Top Panel.
http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/...psg0jk9pze.jpg

Back Panel.
http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/...psap5ljpgw.jpg


Here is the stand after the first coat of paint. I wanted a brighter shade of red but this is all that was available.. oh well.

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/...psufy7lasb.jpg


Painted the bank pane of the aquarium black. Always wanted a jet black finish. It looking real good from the front side.

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/...pskpl3cwin.jpg

Got an awesome place for my RO/DI setup. Wife is not home these days so maybe this will have to move but I'm optimistic for now.

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/...pscvvsxd9k.jpg

While I waited for the paint to dry off it was time to nuke the dry rock and take out any possible trace of algea.

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/...psmt9lwavl.jpg

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/...psmwtuzogq.jpg

Its cooking up a storm in there...

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/...psgwtdcfwv.jpg

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/...psxripxjtb.jpg

Didn't get a picture of the cleaned up rock but it turned out pretty nice. I ran short on the acid so have some pieces that didn't clean properly. I'll be picking up some more acid this week to nuke them again.

I finally got to open up all the goodies I had ordered over the holidays.

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0fpztgrg.jpg

Really stoked about the skimmer. Its my first ever brand new purchase of an integral piece of equipment. Hoping this guy will last me years.

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/...psel0sufdk.jpg

I decided to take full advantage of wife's absence. Got my temporary holding tank setup for cycling the rock in the dining area.

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0e0kycqe.jpg

RO/DI system made enough water overnight for my purposes. Got the salt in this morning and temperature is now stable.

In goes the rock...

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/...pskyyfy4lo.jpg

Will be adding Brightwell Microbactor7 and some food pellets to jump start the cycling process. Hoping for the cycle to be completed by Sunday next week.

More to come...

Got another toy delivered to my place in Richmond today. Thanks to fellow reefer reefaddict29 for dropping it off.

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/...psmwixmqop.jpg

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/...psxlu8ynpx.jpg

I picked up all the plumbing from Lowes in Stoney Plain. I may have paid a premium but had no other option as I only make it out to the city on the weekends and every other supplies who carries PVC is usually closed.

Sump cleanup is going down tonight.

Hoping to dry plumb everything on Friday and finish it off by saturday and vinegar bath in on Sunday night.

Will be sure to post pics along the way.

Is it done ? :-)