62G Starfire Reef [40x18x20]
 

Well, here we go again.... Although this tank, is not at the office! :mrgreen:

A bit of background can be found here on the last few pages: http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=57734. Basically, evicted, tank sale, new place/roommate didn't want to risk a tank in his new house/no reefing for 3 years. Fast forward to today, and here I am typing up a new tank journal.

Background: A week or so ago I brought up the idea to my roommate asking if there was any possible incentive for him in allowing me to setup this tank in return for me upping my own monthly rent to him. I never heard a reply from him for close to a week, we actually barely even spoke for days on end, but I just left it with him to think about and didn't push the question any further. 2 days ago I come home from work and he is outside working on his car, I stopped, we chatted, and the discussion of the tank came up and he asked me a few questions, mentioned some things he had read during his research in the days prior (when we hadn't spoke to one another). I told him my plans and precautions, design ideas, etc. Gave him a few more days to think and sent a text msg today asking if he had given it anymore consideration.

We just finished speaking about it this evening and obviously, since I am typing up this journal, have come to an agreement.

So here begins my next reef tank.

Anyone who has read my 180G Office journal has probably seen the tank that I will be starting. It is a 62G, 40"x18"x20" euro-braced tank, with an external rear overflow and a starfire (low-iron) front glass. This wasn't a tank that I ordered, it just happened to be a tank that Dave @ concepts had sitting in the shop. Something about it called out to me.. I'm not sure if it was the dimensions, the euro-bracing, the polished edges, external overflow. Maybe a combination of all those, but I immediately told him that I wanted to take it, even though at the time I really had no place to set it up, but wanted it for the future anyways. They finished the tank up (overflow, silicone trimming, etc) and I picked it up a week or so later.

Couple pics during construction:
http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...f/IMG_0180.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...f/IMG_0181.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...f/IMG_0183.jpg

And the final pic after getting it home.

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...f/IMG_0206.jpg

Unfortunately, my roommate and I lugged this tank up 2 flights of stairs to my room where is has sat since.. taunting me to setup it up, even if that meant moving out. :lol:

Now after my agreement with the roommate, it has to go back DOWN 2 flights of stairs to where it will be positioned. FUN!! :lol:

Here is a break down of the equipment I plan to use on this build.

62G Euro-braced Tank w/ Low Iron Front Glass
- 40x18x20 w/ External Overflow with 2-1" drains and 2-3/4" returns.

- Digital Aquatics Reef Keeper Lite w/ SL1
- Custom Sump (35x20x16)
- Skimz SK181 Skimmer or a CSC equivalent
- Water Blaster HY-3000W Return pump
- 2x VorTech MP10W w/ Battery Backup
- Puratek RO/DI System
- LED Lighting (undetermined which brand) with DIY light rack

Another piece of the puzzle! :mrgreen:

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...ps90319de0.jpg

Cool! So glad you are able to set it up :biggrin: There's nothing worse then having a tank sitting around that you're itching to set up, only to know you're not allowed to.

Thanks Laurie! Definitely excited to get this build going. Finalized my stand design today with The Grizz. That should be done around Oct 3rd.

Between now and then I will get the tank back downstairs and into the garage to leak test it, although I have full confidence in Concepts tanks, it's just a precaution really. Aside from that I will have to plan out and order my sump as well.

Picked up my sump tank from dave@concepts yesterday after I was done fiddling with the 180G at the office.

Actually, I went into see Dave to place my order for a sump, and when he asked what dimensions I was looking at and I told him, he mentioned he had a sump already built @ 38x18x20 which wasn't a whole lot different that my original plan of 35x20x16 (which didn't include an RO reservoir). This one does. So I had to have a look and after measuring the compartment sizes and double checking that it would work with my stand I decided to take it.


The right side is the RO reservoir, which holds about 17G, the middle section at the front is the refugium, the middle section in the back is the return area, and the large section on the left is for the skimmer.

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...f/IMG_0405.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...f/IMG_0407.jpg

Brought it into the garage this evening and filled it with freshwater to leak test and also rinse out the dust that it accumulated sitting in the shop.

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...f/IMG_0408.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...f/IMG_0409.jpg

Well The Grizz (Greg) came through for me a day early, and dropped off my tank stand tonight on his way to the Carrie Underwood concert. Thanks again Greg! :)

I went a bit different that most and had it finished in white. Now I need to get the water out of the sump from the leak test, and get the DT back downstairs to leak test that.

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...eef/photo5.jpg

Lookin' sexy, very very sexy. I really like the white stand.

hey looks great

Wow! Looking great and moving fast!

I like it to.. fits in the the trim in the house nicely and gives it that clean clinical operating room look. As you can see I got a patch to clean up on the right side that stuck to the wood bracing Greg had it sitting on. My sump is going to be a tight fit though!

Thanks Mike!

Thanks!

I wouldn't say its moving fast.. haha The display and sump were quick because they were already built when I walked into Concept Aquatics, so I just had to pay, load it in the car and drive home, zero waiting around.

I still need to purchase my RO Unit and supplies for my mixing and water change system, skimmer, return pump, lighting, plumbing supplies, sand, rock, another 150W heater, ATO system, so much! :neutral:

Really really sorry about that Josh, I thought I had an extra day to let the paint set but I messed up my dates on the tickets I got for the wife for Carrie Underwood.

Hopefully you are still pleased with the stand Josh :pray:

Don't worry too much about it Greg.. It will be getting covered when I skin the stand anyways (unlike fishytime, I prefer my sump hidden), so to be honest I probably won't even bother fixing it up as it won't be seen.

Love the stand. As you can see, I'm not the only one who seems to like it, and it has gotten some good feedback on another forum too.

Test fit the tank tonight and the height is perfect. :mrgreen:

Not much of an update but I finally got both tanks leak tested during the week. Got them situated on the stand last night. Actually starting to look like a tank build now. :razz:

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...eef/photo1.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...eef/photo2.jpg

Very nice! Glad you and the roomie came to an agreement, he won't be sorry ;)

Thanks reefgirl. He shouldn't be sorry. He has enjoyed my previous tanks as well as fishytimes too. He just thinks he has bad luck in all of life and that this will be no different. :lol:

I'm currently trying to figure out if I want to plumb the tank now or wait and setup my water system in the back room. Ultimately, I'm working on a budget per pay period to chug along in this build so one or the other has to come first.

Tank now, water system later. Why? Tank now = more photos sooner.

:lol:.. Good excuse Catherine! What's to say I wouldn't post photos of the water mixing/change system just as soon?

Just catching up with what everyone's been up to and it's nice to see you back at it! I do have one concern with the placement of the tank though. Have you taken into consideration the "morning after benders" ? You know, when you're hung over and staggering down those stairs? There doesn't appear to be much margin for error :lol:

looking good, hopefully you're done moving furniture up and down those stairs :surprise:

And you can sit on the washer and dryer to watch the tank! (reflection) :lol:


AND KIEN LIVES!!!!!!!!!

Good to see you on the forums kien! I haven't been back long, but I haven't seen you around since returning! How's things?

I didn't take them "morning after benders" into consideration, because they don't happen anymore. :lol:

Thanks Steve. haha.. It's not to bad really, it's been there for a few weeks now and I have yet to even graze it with my arm, even in the pitch dark when I go to work. We shouldn't need any furniture coming in. We've both got everything we need really. It can actually go back a few more inches when I'm ready to fill it.


Besides getting the plumbing going on the tank, I've been working on how I'm going to have my waterchange/mixing station setup in back room. Plan right now is to have dual 15G Tanks. One with Fresh RO and another with Mixed SW for WCs. Each with a bulk head in the bottom and a ball valve attached for transferring the contents to the tank.

Progress is a bit slow with my current work load at the office ramped up this last little while. Should be able to get a few things rolling next weekend.


I actually think I will be doing a lot more viewing from the stairs :lol: Something about looking into 40" of water tickles my fancy! If anything, this will encourage me to do laundry more often! :mrgreen:

I've been enjoying watching your office build and am looking forward to following this as well.

Indeed :-)




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That's because I have not been around.. I feel like a newbie again LOL. This past year has been crazy busy. Now that summer is over I think things might actually be settling down a bit. I'm hoping to dedicate more time to the hobby this fall/winter.


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Unless you get snow tires for the bike ? :razz:

WTF?! They make those?! Excuse me while i google..

Couple more bits and pieces for the system... Will be picking up plumbing parts tomorrow. Hopefully have this thing plumbed by end of the weekend.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...aster-3000.jpg


And a 2nd 150W Heater.
http://www.goreef.com/images/P/Eheim...50W_Heater.jpg

Good to finally see you back where you belong. I love the tank too it's sexy as hell !

Then you get yourself one then Brett

Well I got a majority of the plumbing done today, and like usual it took more than 1 trip to Lowes for parts. :lol: I don't think I have ever successfully plumbed a system by making only 1 trip to the store for parts.

I say the majority of the plumbing is done, when in fact I should be completely done, but for the 3rd time in a row I've got issue with brand new pumps. Certainly not Concepts fault, but I'm definitely having bad luck with gear lately. This pump was sealed brand new, and yet when I open it up the Union coupling was COMPLETELY different that what it should be. So that has left me hanging with the return portion of the plumbing not done until I can get back in to Concept and hopefully get the right coupling to finish the job.

Couple photos:

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...eef/plumb4.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...eef/plumb3.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...eef/plumb1.jpg


And I threw in a few lbs of sand I had left over from the Office tank, just to give it that look of progress. :mrgreen:

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...0Reef/sand.jpg

What did you use for seals at the return lines? They don't look like standard bulkheads?

:lol:

So whats the plan for inside the tank once its filled? Colourful sticks? Current-swept blobs of waterfilled cells?

They are bulkheads installed backwards. I realized once I started doing my plumbing that the "back end" of the bulkheads + 90' elbows were going to stick out to far and my down pipe would not clear the edge of 1.5" crossbeam of my stand. So I flipped them around and used the "front side" which saved me that crucial 1-1.25"

:lol: Likely a combination of mostly sticks and few cells. I can't not do SPS, so that's a for sure. I've got a bit of a coralscape in my head of certain things in certain spots.

My fish choices are going to be well thought out, and I'm still trying to narrow down my tentative list.

Every time I see your thread pop up I consider making an offer until I realize it's a build thread. That's a very nice tank it's coming along nicely.

I won't turn down an offer.......... to fund the build. :lol:

Slowly adding parts to this build.

Picked up some Seafloor Special Grade substrate (crushed coral style) and 1 of my 2 MP10wES powerheads.

Nothing interesting otherwise. Going to try and finish up my plumbing tomorrow.

Powerhead and Pizza!

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...eef/mp10-1.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...f/photo1-1.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...f/photo2-1.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...eef/photo3.jpg

Did a bit more work on the tank tonight. I started the "power center" last week I think but never ended up finishing it or cleaning up the wiring, so I took care of that tonight.

Picked up a Tunze ATO from Concepts and some Dry Rock as well. So I set that up as well as placed the rock in the tank.

Still need to finish my plumbing (just the return portion left) this weekend, but I picked up the wrong size PVC part on my way home so will have to get around to that tomorrow.

Couple photos, as crappy as they are.

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...f/photo1-5.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...f/photo3-4.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...f/photo1-6.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...f/photo2-5.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...f/photo4-3.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...f/photo5-3.jpg

Looking good. I can almost taste the salt!

The Tunze only comes with the one magnet set. You sneaky bastard you split the pair and used something metal on the other side of them didn't you? I like you eggcrate mounting board too that's handy.