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My addiction 300DD
My name is Rich, R I C H and I am an addict. I have been in the aquarium hobby for some time now, it all started with a free 20 gallon tank 8 years ago where my ex-girlfriend was planing to keep her hamster. Long story short, the hamster ran away in my apartment and I figured why waste a perfect tank... and it starts. I went from the 20g to as much as 6 tank ranging from 20-72 gallon fresh, brickish, and saltwater. It was fun for a while but it quickly gone outta hand with all the different types of water changes.
April 2009, we bought a house and I decided to upgrade from all my tanks to streamline into one large reef aquarium. So in comes the 210 gallons with a custom stand which I thought would be the "last" aquarium I will ever purchase, boy was I wrong about that. After many months of reading, learning, and up-grading all the equipment and husbandary, the 210 was shaping up to be a decent sps tank but it's not without flaws and issues. Those issues might have been insignificant and for most of us. It would have been okay but as merticulous as I am, it really ****ed me off. A month back I was out at OC and saw the 300DD which I have been looking for. I was originally thinking about getting the one from porgressive reef but for the price I just could not refuse(Thanks Paul). I had a custom stand made, powder coated, and it turned out extremely satisfactory. I had everything setup and ready to move in but not with out a sense of trepidation when the thought of moving my 210 outta the way for the 300 into the same spot. So the plan was to get my buddies over for dinner and sprung this move on them. It took 8 of us to move the 210 out of the way and move the 300. Lesson learned #1, use pnuematic suction cup not the cheap princess auto ones. #2, sauce after the tank move. #3, Don't do it on Christmas day. Anyways the switch-over was F-ING terrible. lost so many fishes including my prized Achilles tang. Mothers!!! I just don;t get it. 150 gallon tub with heater and tunze 6105, I figured that should've been okay but I guess I was wrong. On the plus side, all the sps and clams has made it with just a few exceptions. |
I've always loved the look of the DD tanks. Let's see it!
Sorry about the Achilles that's rough man. |
No pics means it didn't happen. Good story though.
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Holding Tanks
http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/...s/7ba3ec22.jpg
OLD 210 IN THE GLORY DAYS http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/...s/7c0a4311.jpg ready for the move. the tear down was about 3 hours, hard to believe almost year and half of hard work could be dismantled with in a few hours. http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/...s/93d57476.jpg Holding tank 90 gallon and 150 gallon rubbermaid tub. http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/...s/010c5936.jpg http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/...s/f198f845.jpg |
Tough crowd... :biggrin:
Any pics of the new tank? The 210 looked amazing! |
The big move!
http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/...s/e14dde16.jpg
This is a special picture for me as for the most of you that lives in the lower mainland would know this person. I would like to use this chance to Thank this certain individual who came over during the busiest time of the year to help me move a 500lb tank FREE OF CHARGE! You have a customer for life! |
I like Double D's too........:twised:
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Stuck in the door.
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that is it for pictures come on:razz:
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Some more moving pics
http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/...s/6b56d129.jpg
http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/...s/1025e5e8.jpg http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/...s/34fefaae.jpg http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/...s/ca9506a3.jpg The poor 210, This tank wasn't that special but the stand is very nicely built. 6 plug in on either side with switch for the light. http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/...s/80b76e8e.jpg |
more pictures
http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/...s/bcab9a36.jpg
http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/...s/2e0a6112.jpg http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/...s/b0aa64c1.jpg I don't even need a babe sitter anymore, just toss them in the tank and we are good to go. |
equipment
http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/...s/475463f5.jpg
http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/...s/431c5f53.jpg 48 x 24 x 16 sump, gotta drilled to accommodate reef flo dart with a 2 inch bulk head. |
looking good man
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setting up
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Lotta money resting on some paper towels lol. Love it that is so my style =)
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GO
Bblinks Bblinks GO B blinks man you are fast i like it I like It :mrgreen: |
Looking good. Love to see more of these big tanks going here on Canreef. Any pictures with things back into the new tank?
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So I encounter the first major issue with the DART leaking. It turned out to be a manufacturer defect in the housing. 2 tiny pin hole was some how formed during the milling process. I guess the lathe operator had a couple too many the night before.
http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/...s/ed10c351.jpg check out the wet spot on the housing. I contacted Chris at Reefflo, even though they were closed during the holiday season, he still reply to my email and had the part and an extra seal kit shipped priority mail today. Now thats service. I have ran into countless dealers that just want to sell you the product and as soon as you pay the money they are gone with the wind. Altough the experience with my first reefflo pump was negitive but the customer service I recieved from Chris was good enough for me to recommand the product and company to anyone. I used a bit of 2 part epoxy to seal it off temporarily till I get my new replacement and so far so good. |
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holding tank being emptied.
http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/...s/d5cad256.jpg
http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/...s/49b33650.jpg All the photos are taken with my iphone 4, so excuse the crappy quality. one day I will get a better camera. |
lighting choice 9 x AI maybe 3 more...
http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/...s/8e73e1fc.jpg
http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/...s/e9e2ee81.jpg I mounted the lights directly to the canopy with a inch of free space between the light and the top of the canopy. Anyone who has better ideas please don;t be shy to let me now. |
Looks awesome so far cant wait to see it with the lights on. I just ordered some for my tank.
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Wife is in the tank.
:mrgreen:http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/...s/3eddf537.jpg
http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/...s/dc2fb6c0.jpg http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/...s/f8bae29d.jpg This is how I can upgrade so soon. My wife doesn;t exactly share my passion but she understands my addiction and the best part is she sure try her best to help. I would not have been able to do any of this without her support. kiss kiss!:redface: |
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2x2 powder coated stand
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So I guess that's about it for now. I still have a whole lot of stuff to do before I can sit back and enjoy. I am open to any suggestions if you guys have any.
Thanks for looking. Rich. |
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I was rather pleased with the out come of those leveling feet. I think there are 16 all together. Man, what a difference it made to level the tank, nice and easy took my buddies a few minutes while I was out side taking a smoke break.:redface: I gotta give props to my buddy Jason for sketching it up for me, Thanks buddy! I was originally concerned about the weight distribution bu my welder told me that I could park a Dodge Ram Van on the stand without any issues. |
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Nice job, I love the deep dimension tanks, only think I don't care for is the way the braces are in the water, I reduced my flow and opened up the teeth in the overflows to lower the water enough so you don't see them on mine, what are the plans for skinning the stand?
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As far as skinning the tank, I will give it an honest attempt this weekend, we will see how it will turn out! I want to pick up a couple of sheets of oak or maple. I was thinking to use magnets and counter sink them into the each panel, so it will hold them to the metal stand. I want to split the front into 2 separate pieces in the front and 1 piece on either end and leave the back open. just incase I mess it up, I have a guy who did my stand for the 210 will come over and help me with it. |
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