A noobs first attempt at a tank...by rjengen - Page 2

rjengen · #1 11-28-2009, 06:46 AM

Ah they joys of the hobby...Got stuck working in Edmonton for the last couple of day, and I headed home today finally to go see the family. Of course I had to go shopping around town before I left though...

I picked up 90lbs of live rock off a fellow CanReef'er and finally got to go through it tonight and take a good look at it. Got a steal of a deal, and a good head start now on that. Picked up a RO/DI unit at Blue World and also snagged a bit of Ken's sand to seed. I have the RO/DI set up and I'm going to purge it over night and see if I can't get it to settle down a little. Ah, also picked up 120lbs of Carbisea.

I have figured out the set up for my closed loop, but since it's so friggen close to christmas, I decided to just send my wife the link. I'm tough at the best of times to shop for, so hopefully she will take the hint, and there will be oceans motions 2way squirt for me christmas morning, along with some omni flex nozzles. Until santa decides to make that appear though, I'm planning on just using some PVC plumbed into the PS4 pump to move water...after all, I plan to cycle for a good 6 weeks. I was going to attempt some D.I.Y. cement and coat a 1.5" Y fitting for the suction end of the closed loop...but I then got smart (I think) and ended up coating that said "Y" with reef epoxy and placing some rubble I had from when I was down picking up the tank. Not sure I totally like it, but I'll decide more on that once I get the rock in.

Finished plumbing the herbi tonight...and was just about to fill the tank and sump with water / viniger when Noob Mistake #1 of the thread took place. Was working on the bulkhead on the overflow and dropped my pipe wrench accidentally and it took a bad bounce and decided to make a break for it. Needless to say, I will be building a new sump in the morning, not even going to try and fix this boo-boo. I think it was a stroke of luck though, because I now have a reason to re-design things, and build in a fuge to the sump...costly little mistake though, but stuff happens like that right? I will post picture in the morning.

leducreef · #2 11-28-2009, 07:13 AM

sounds like you are moving right along
sucks about cracking the sump

now we need to see some pics when you get that rock in place

rjengen · #3 12-03-2009, 01:09 AM

Well, I thought I had posted last night with an update and some pictures, but I guess I had a brain fart. Anyways, I've finished the plumbing for the time being, and it is just temp until santa show's up with the OM. When that gets here I plan on going with all flex PVC plumbing. I have 120lbs of LR in the tank now, some of it is cured, and some that I picked up yesterday isn't. I made a batch of water on the weekend and got it in the tank with the rock. I've figured out my lighting now, and will be going with 4-48" T5's, and a single MH that I hope to pick up this weekend in Edmonton. I have one retro kit here, and another one on order. Let the waiting begin I guess. anyways, here's some pictures for you all, hope you like em. Chime up with suggestions please if you have any as well

EDIT: The rock is in there to get it going...some of the stuff I picked up was smaller then expected, so I'm slowly going to be looking for bigger pieces. I would like to try and create a two teir archway...so don't flame me on how it's placed in there, or flame me...whatever...it is a noobs attempt after all.