Mike's Dream Build

[trivan]

Well, with some juice in me from :


I did some more work on the build:
I added a small fan to the light box to keep the air moving, I'm not sure how hot the power packs get, but figure better to put one in now then later:


I hung up the light box:




The gaps are just the wires not neatly tucked in.

I still have to work on the cable management, but so far so good.


Here is a picture of the reenforcement below the tank:


I also primed some of the sides of the stand skin, but those are pretty boring pictures. I'll start the layout of the sump table, this week and I hope I can get to some plumbing next weekend.

 

[dnov99]

Love the espresso machine!! I look forward to trying some when I come to see the tank!!!

 

[Hockeynut]

Awesome build can't wait to see it up and running.

 

[trivan]

So made some decent progress today:

I wanted to make the wires for the lighting neater looking, so I found some expandable cable covering. The ends fray bit, bit I think I can use some tubing or black tape to close it up.


With the plumbing set to be done within a week or so, I decide to play around with the layout of the "Real Reef Rocks" (yes the fake kind). I bought 2 cases of the large rock.






Without getting it wet, I'm a fan of this stuff, it's great to work with, the piece lock in together very nicely and it's very easy to create open spaces. People criticize about the color, but it's going to get covered with coralline anyway. I think it's better then the bleach white look to start. Here is my first attempted. I'm going to let it be for a day, and then I'm sure I'll play with it. I do have about 5 piece left.





I used starboard on the bottom and I cut some groves along the top so the rocks won't slide.

My goal was to create a space for future growth, I didn't want a wall of rock but did want a space for SPS to grow out. The bottom is very open to allow flow, and I will be using sand.

I ran an electrical line to the stand through the floor for the pumps, but it's not connected to the panel yet.
The skins for the stand have been primed:


The problem is that there is now a little warping with the wood, so there are gaps in places. I'm not sure if I should rebuild it or just let it be for a while. It's not that bad, but I notice it.

 

[kschweer]

Great progress. Looks really good so far. What color are you planning on painting the stand?


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[redfishbluefish]

Wow!







That looks like a triple beam with a steel plate supported by lally columns.....that will hold a Sherman tank.



Looking good....keep the pictures coming!

 

[Hockeynut]

Wow!







That looks like a triple beam with a steal plate supported by lally columns.....that will hold a Sherman tank.



Looking good....keep the pictures coming!

Multiple Sherman tanks, looks great nice rock work

 

[trivan]

Wow!

That looks like a triple beam with a steel plate supported by lally columns.....that will hold a Sherman tank.

Looking good....keep the pictures coming!

LOL!! When I asked the structural engineer if the weight of the tank would cause the floor to deflect, he wouldn't give me a straight answer. All he would say is that the floor will have enough support for it not to fall though. I guess that is what they are paid for anyway. So I asked the contractor, what I can do to minimize the risk of deflection, steel plate was recommended, the structural engineer then say, that "should" do it, but no guarantees. All in it wasn't that much given the spend on the rest of the kitchen so the piece of mind was worth it.

 

[trivan]

Great progress. Looks really good so far. What color are you planning on painting the stand?


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I have no choice, the color consultant my wife hired for the kitchen and house said it must be the same color of the cabinets, it's an off white. I'm not fighting that one, hahahaha

 

[Tommyboynj]

I think you'll like keeping the rock lower like that. It will give you plenty of growth room and swimming space above the reef. Aquascaping is a very personal thing so this is just my opinion, but if I was scaping the tank I'd break the wall into two sections so as to create some swim through space. Something like these.

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[kschweer]

I have no choice, the color consultant my wife hired for the kitchen and house said it must be the same color of the cabinets, it's an off white. I'm not fighting that one, hahahaha

Good call there...lol. Best of luck moving forward.


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[Fish Brain]

If that is the braided nylon cable covering, singeing the ends with a lighter after it is cut, will keep it from fraying. Some electrical tape will fix the ends and clean them up.

Great progress. I can't wait to see some water in the tank!


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[trivan]

If that is the braided nylon cable covering, singeing the ends with a lighter after it is cut, will keep it from fraying. Some electrical tape will fix the ends and clean them up
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I'll give it a try, but I think the original ends were but to get the plugs thru I had to break them up. I have plenty left so will give it a try again. Thanks!

 

[trivan]

I like that design a lot, thanks. I'll have to play around with it.

 

[Hockeynut]

You can buy heat shrink tube and put it in at the same time and then shrink the ends really clean look

 

[trivan]

With limited time and no patience left, I gave Ethan a call to help me plumb up the system. What every one wrote is true, he is great and does a great job, his experience and knowledge with installs is worth every penny.

Here are some updates:
Continue to paint the stand skins, I liked them, but the maple I used for the edges have bowed on the shorter pieces. I'll probably remake them out of Plywood and edge band them in the future.


I ran 2 dedicate circuits for this system. Some GFCI's and some not. Electrical line run to the bottom of the tank for the powerheads:



After Ethan installed the gate valve, overflow and return, we decided it would be best to add some more bracing. The decision was to use flex as much as possible. The bottom of the pipe is held in place, but insurance is cheap. The adhesive is drying and then I'll use some pipe clamps to hold them in place.


defacto pump shot:


The FILL!!! now wait and wait and wait


My sump table w/skimmer installed:

 

[Tommyboynj]

Getting close. This is going to look great. What are your thoughts fish wise?


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[trivan]

I currently have a clown (from Hawkeye), a Hawaiian Flame Wrasse, Anthia and a watchman goby (which I haven't seen in days). These will go into the tank as soon as its cycled as I've had these for years so not worried about QT'ing them. I will probably add another goby, some cardinals, Firefish and then lastly a tang. I haven't really planned it all out yet. I guess it will be a few months before I'm fully stocked. My first order will be for the CUC, I'm going to be pretty selective and going to have to get some that do a good job on the sand.

 

[kschweer]

Awesome! Everything looks great


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[trivan]

It was so cold today, I really didn't want to go out so I did some more work while the tank is cycling.

I made a stand so the CaRX can sit on top of the pump.


Put up some wire raceways to organize as I put thing up on the wall:


I order some heavy duty screen frame and made a cover with corners so it can sit flush with the euro bracing:



I also got some cool quick disconnects and put them on the manifold, I'm still wait for a reducer to come in to get the last one up.


Not pictured yet, but I picked up a 50 gallon tank for RO/DI, which I'm going to plumb into my crawl space. I purchased another master flex which I will use to feed my ATO reservoir and to feed my mixing container. I also picked up a 20 gallon at the $ sale for QT, I'm waiting for the filter to come in so I can get that set up.