45 Gallon Reef - first FTS shot with scape and a FISH!!

[phi delt reefer]

thanks Lorenzo - your tank is looking gorgeous with all that SPS man!

I gotta throw out a big "Tank You" (really bad reef joke) to Asmodeus who was kind enough to help me with my leveling issue yesterday. He called me long distance and spoke with me for an hour offering different options as to how to get this sucker straight and true.

I had another look at the base of my stand and it looks like the front and rear 2x4s bows upwards near the front right corner of the tank. This is what is creating the gap. My floor definately isnt 100% flat but it appears to be pretty level though - possibly a 1/4 dip but i dont have a long enough straight edge to tell. So this means the stand isnt resting on the ground. Asmodeus recommended adding a piece of half inch plywood to the base the stand where it's not touching the ground and then using some shims for the final bit of "trueing". I wanted to use just leveling legs to make up the difference but Mike brought up a valid concern that all the weight would be supported on a single 23" 2x4. The plywood would reinforce the base further and re-distribute the load evenly.

I thought about it some more last night and I might try this...

the base of the stand is made of 2x4's standing on edge (similar to everyone else's designs. They are screwed together with 3" deck screws. Because the front and rear right side is not touching the ground I am going to screw in some metal L brackets on the under side where the 2x4's meet at 90 degree angles. This should further tie everything together and allow me to just use the leveling legs. I will use 4 legs on the right side of the stand to distribute the force on the front facing 2x4's as well as the right side 2x4.

none of this makes sense now that i have re-read it but I will show you all some pics when i am done. Lifting that stand is going to be epic. Time to call in some favors with the fraternity

[phi delt reefer]

got some work done and water in the tank!





















just letting the sand settle then i will start aqua-scaping

[claymax]

looks like you could use some more live rock in that middle chamber there


jokes

[phi delt reefer]

Originally Posted by claymax

looks like you could use some more live rock in that middle chamber there


jokes

all but two pieces are back in the display. We put them in there because we couldnt see anything in the display with the sandstorm going on

[phi delt reefer]

cleared up a bit...

[chris88]

great aqua scape!

[DCDN]

I second that. I love the right island. Great job with the aquascaping

[phi delt reefer]

just messing with the camera and here is the final scape... I think. ;D









right island had to grow a little for future SPS;





fishes (chromis and two pyjama cardinals)!

[Blom]

Love the aquascaping, nice and open for all the swimming that will be going on there, but lots of room for coral. Really nice design all around on the tank!

[DCDN]

I can't wait to see this fill up with growth