I know exactly what you are talking about with the spending more on gas then parts... I just did my plumbing... go to the first place they have something that kinda works but isn't perfect so you go to the next 3 places that have worse or nothing so you go back to the first place and they are closed... so you start over the next day after work. It took me a week just to get all my parts...

woohoo
 

Ok.... so I think... THINK... I have all my plumbing... I made two more trips back to Rona as I "discovered" more required parts.

Yes the gas. Ouch.

But... after laying everything in sequence... I think I have it all... and more.

I am using multple unions to make it easy to replace things like check valves and old ball valves as necessary. So maybe more unions than needed but what the heck.

Tomorrow I do some dry fitting and pipe cutting.

Plumbing
 

Well dry fit my plumbing and started gluing tonight. Parents are in town from Regina so I am cementing the PVC while they sleep. Ha ha! Maybe i am too excited to slow down ha ha.

Oerflow and Plumbing
 

Well I received my overflow box today. Bob offered to build one for me and it turned out amazing! Thanks Bob... you saved me one head ache of attempting this myself.

Plumbing is almost done. Too tired to deal with pics for the day so hopefully tomorrow I can post some pics of my progress.

Thanks again to Bob, Jason and those who have helped out in my build so far!

It is going slower than I wanted it to, but it is going well.

Quote.
 

Taken from one of my favourite movies....
"Good. Someday, and that day may never come, I'll call upon you to do a service for me. But until that day......"

No worries, some day you can help me out, I believe in Karma.

Water day!
 

Well I am adding water... its almost full. I need to add about 30 more gallons and I will see if my plumbing holds.

Sorry no pics in last bit... can't find the cable for my camera.

All said and done... things looks good. If all my plumbing is good... I will look to add rocks asap!

Check valves
 

Well I dont like the check valves I bought. Very noisy. I bought wrong ones with stainless spring inside and they rattle all to hell.

I guess there is a rookie mistake.

I am going to replace them. I saw loc line check valves for return lines. Anyone used these before?

$12/each through the reef shoppe. I may get these as easy to replace and just remove the inline ones and replace with pipe.


Asides from the noise.... no leaks (so far) and system is running.

getting there
 

well water is mixed and running through the system.

I will be changing out the check valves in about a week as I ordered new ones from bulk reef supply (true union check valve).

I also ordered a tank heater as I was not finding what I wanted for a reasonable "used" price. I ordered the Finnex HMO series titanium heater. I wanted durable and least likely to break. So will try it out and see how it goes.

i am also pretty much ready for rocks. Trying to get my hands on some but things are busy.

I still need a light and some power heads but things are looking good as they are. I will try find cable for my camera and post current pics soon!

Rocks and Lights
 

Well I am going to pick up some rock today.... not sure on amount... depends on pieces available. Hopefully 30 pounds or so.

Might have a light. MIGHT. I was messaged third party about a TEK light - 6 bulb. Waiting on more details tomorrow.

Things are coming together. Tank is running but not "running" if you know what I mean.

tec
 

your gonna like that tec i have a 6 bulb on my 90 and i love the colors it brings out

cross your fingers Paddy!

Rocks
 

Well I added roughly 40 pounds of rock today.

I do not think its enough. I will be adding from my other 2 tanks... roughy 20 pounds or so.

I hope this is enough.

Pictures Pictures Pictures
 

My Sump - approximately 40 gallons.... 30 gallons water.

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/pic...pictureid=3542


My Euro-Reef RS80.

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/pic...pictureid=3544


Overflow box... built out of acrylic by Bob

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/pic...pictureid=3545


My tank as it sits today.

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/pic...pictureid=3546



It is a work in progress. The rock work is tentative as I have more rock to add. I am going for the dual masses look. Lights are still missing but hopefully soon!

BRS
 

My Finnex HMA-300 heater and check valves arrived from Bulk Reef today.

Heater is in.

I will attempt to get the check valves done tonight as well. Should be an easy swap out.

Glad the overflow works, tanks coming along.

LIGHTS and stuff
 

Sooooo... after a long time looking and TRYING to find a good light... it looks like one is coming my way.

Sunlight Supply Tek Light 6 Bulb T5 Fixture (48 Inch, 6x54W).

Thanks Wes for hooking me up with your friend. 6 bulb T5 don't seem to come around very often on here so I committed to the purchase right away.

Although I do not have it in my hands yet.... it appears that John is willing to sell it to me. I am going to go see it Thursday... or so. He needs the light for about another 10 days as he is waiting for his new light to show up.

As I am still cycling... I can wait 10 more days for this.

My new check valves went in last night as well. Running great.


Thats todays update. Thanks for tuning in.

Current Set Up
 

70 Gallon display
40 gallon total sump volume - 30 gallons water
Euro-Reef RS80
Quiet One 3000 return pump
Finnex HMA-300 heater


60 pounds Aragamax™ Select sand
50-60 pounds live rock (at this time)

Nice set up...throwing two cents in. On the overflow box, put some eggcrate on the inside so it overlaps to make the holes smaller. I did that with my overflows...used acrylic glue to glue them together, works pretty ok...just a suggestion. Looks good so far though.

Good thought. I may also use some on the inside to raise the water level a little more.... its about 3/8" below trim and I would like it to the trim at least.

Power heads
 

I ordered powerheads from Reef Pefection today. He had a great deal on Koralia 3's and 2's. He only had one 3 left so I also took a Koralia 2.

I hope one Koralia 3 and one Koralia 2, in conjunction with my return lines, is enough flow.

The Koralia 3 was $31 and the Koralia 2 was $27.

Too good of a deal and fit my current budget.

I just set up my 50g holding tank with nothing but 2 koralia2's alot more flow than I thought I need to swap one outfir something smaller they really do pack alot of flow:) glad to see the builds coming along:) did you order dry rock after?? If so from where abd happy with it??? :)

Nope
 

I did not go the dry route. I bought 40 pounds of nice cured rock form Codfather and have about 20-25 of my own to add.

It would have saved me only $10 on 40lbs so why bother?

Yeah true and codfather had some primo rock I have a few select pieces making it into my newset up :) I also want to do at least one side in tonga branch as well:)

Powerheads
 

My powerheads came today.

One each....Koralia 2 (600 GPH) and Koralia 3 (850 GPH).


SUBSTANTIALLY more flow ha ha!


Hopefully I have lights soon.

Cycle is going well. Had some detectable ammonia on Tuesday but it was still in the same zone. In two more weeks I should be adding fish from my 20 gallon.

WOOP WOOP
 

So all I am waiting for now is lights. I am supposed to be buying some off a fellow reefer in town. He is waiting for his new lights.... so in turn, I wait.

I hope it is soon as my tank is cycling well and in two weeks first livestock should be added.

From my existing tank I am adding 2 Ocellaris and a Six-line Wrasse.

I also picked up a couple new corals today in preparation for the tank. From Denny (reefwars) I acquired an awesome neon green Montipora Capricornis. I also a small zoa frag.... I am not sure what they are called by they are identical to pink panthers but with a blue mouth. very cool. I plan to put the panthers and this new one side by side as I think they would make a fantastic mixed colony. Hopefully they well!


It is in my 20 waiting the BIG day!

Before or after?
 

So just a quick comparison of how the tank has progressed. One picture is how the last owner had the tank looking... the second is how it looks today.



How it looked before I came along….

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/pic...pictureid=3567


How it is today….


http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/pic...pictureid=3546


I personally think it has come a long way and is looking fantastic! I am so excited for this to finish coming together! (Does it ever come together? Or is it constantly evolving? HaHa!)

Test Results
 

08-28-2010 - Water added to tank

09-05-2010 - Live rock added


So one month has passed since water was added to tank. The rock came a week later.

This is the second time I have tested the water... and I can say... it looks like the cycle may be done.


PH - 8.0
Ca - 580
KH - 180
NO2 - 0
NO3 - <5
NH3 - <.1


SG - 1.025

Temp - 78.7


I used only H2Ocean salt this tank build and so far it seems ok. I have approx 50-60 pounds of rock in there and does not seem to be sucking the elements out too fast. I have dosed anything in the tank.... nor have I done a water change.

Any thoughts?

Patience is a virtue remember time time time patience patience

Added
 

So I added a Tail Spot Blenny last night and a small CUC (10 margerita snails and 10 blue leggers).


prices were very good at Red Coral Edmonton.... .99 cents for snails and crabs ( NICE!!!) and the tail spot was $24.... cheaper than online so I cold not resist. The tail spot is gonna be mad at e when I temporarily move is home to add more rock but I know he will forgive me when I drop mysis in ha ha!

WOW the tank is coming along so well! What a transformation between before and after! That filter sock was pretty nasty looking :lol:

:D
 

Thanks! And I am so far from done!!!!!

STILL WAITING
 

So I am still waiting for lights. I have a small light over half my tank as I acquired not one... but TWO beautiful RBTAs from Kona (Jason). These are absolutely amazing in color and they bubbled right up after they hit my tank.

Very bright red. I added my clowns and I am hoping that with the RBTA in there, and nothing else to distract them, that they will take to one of them.

They have a habit of hosting my frog spawn and bubble.... so why the hell should they ignore this beauty?!?! I hope they don't. I ma going to try some of the things people have posted in the past about hosting tips... picture on glass of clowns hosting or the flower pot.

Time will tell.

I also threw a couple more zoa colonies in as I am slowly moving stuff from my old 20G into here and if I can add some now... then when my light arrives it will not be such a huge chore.

Anyhow... I will try post pics of the RBTA later. Again they are beautiful... definitely a future show piece!

Current Stock
 

Well awaiting lights but here are some things going into the tank....

Rose Bubbletip Anemone (Thanks Jason**Kona)
Acan Lord
Red Frogspawn
Green Bubbble Coral
Red Chalice (frag)
Favia (red with neon green mouth)
Montipora Capricornis (red)
Montipora Capricornis (neon green - frag)


countless Zoa and Paly

I am most likely adding GSP to the backside of my rocks as it is a swim around aquascape. I will let the GSP grow over the back to add dimension as opposed to putting something "nice" back there.


I have some more stuff.... but not sure what I am going to add.

This is a start and once my lights show up I am going to have a whole bunch of fun!

Patrick

SUCCESS!!!!
 

Soooo my Ocellaris finally started to host something asides form a bubble coral or frogspawn.

I set this tank up... and added the clowns and RBTA within days of each other. No action. I added a picture to the side of my tank with an Ocellaris hosting an RBTA and now 3 days later.... HOSTING!!!!!


This is the first time they ever took to an anemone!!! No I can add other corals with the hopes they stay in the RBTA forever!!!!


WOHAHHAHHAH!!!! Good day after all!!

Light!
 

My lights will be here tomorrow! Its been a long wait but its finally time to shine! ha ha ha!

Lights
 

Deal fell through. I am lightless and not happy.

are these comming from a supplier or a fellow hobbyist? (did I even come close to spelling that right? I dunno...not enough coffee yet)

Either way, I'd see if you can get some other lights pronto.

From another reefer.

hopefully you didn't pay in advance. I'd call it a wash and just order them from a supplier if you can then.

Water Tests
 

Todays test results (last test results beside)

Temp: 78F ... (78F)
SG: 1.027 ... (1.025 )
NH3: 0 ... (<.1)
NO2: 0 ... (0)
NO3: <5 mg/L ... (<5mg/L)
Ca: 540 ... (580)
Kh: 120 ... (180)
Ph: 7.9 ... (8.0)




I have still not dosed anything. My last tests were completed on 9/27/2010.... so with H2Ocean things seem pretty stable so far.


Anyhow thats an update.


****ALSO.... lights may be coming my way after all. I will know tomorrow when I can get the lights!****