Ryan Posted September 8, 2008 Share Posted September 8, 2008 Hello all! Im new to this site, and fairly new to salt water/reef tanks! I started building my 36 gallon March and got it running on May 17! Setup: -36 Gallon All Glass Display (drilled 1" overflow, 3/4" return) -20 Gallon All Glass Sump w/acrylic baffles -Custom stand & Canopy -4-75w 24" Actinic VHO's w/2 Workhorse 7 ballasts -1-250w Metal Halide w/Icecap Ballast -AcuaC Remora Skimmer modified to run in-sump -Rio 2500 Return pump -2-modified MJ600's on wave timer -Auto top off hooked directly to PureWaterClub RO/DI filter If I were to do it again, I would probably go with a bigger tank but at the time I didn't realize how into this hobby I would get. Its very addicting! I already have very big plans for a future tank!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael7979 Posted September 8, 2008 Share Posted September 8, 2008 Glad to have you around!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted September 8, 2008 Author Share Posted September 8, 2008 Stand & Canopy: : Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael7979 Posted September 8, 2008 Share Posted September 8, 2008 Very very nice work!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted September 8, 2008 Author Share Posted September 8, 2008 Sump & Plumbing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted September 8, 2008 Author Share Posted September 8, 2008 Lighting When I took these pics I was still waiting for my MH ballast and light so the pics only show the mogul for the MH light... Not show are 2 timers. One for the Actinics (12p-10p), & one for the MH (2p-8p) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted September 8, 2008 Author Share Posted September 8, 2008 RO/DI & Auto Top Off Update: I installed the auto top-off today! It is hooked directly to my RO/DI fillerts auto shut off. My RO/DI unit is hard plumbed under setup under my kitchen sink. I didn't want to drill any holes in my kitchen cabinets, and my tank is only about 5' from the RO/DI unit so I did this: I used a "T" to go to the float valve in my sump, then put a stright valve in so I could still use the RO/DI unit to fill up my 30 gallon rubber made tub for mixing water. This pic shows where the 1/4" hose tucks between the cabinet and door. This pic shows where the hose goes from underneaths the cabinet to my tank stand on the left. I used "L's" to and little 3M adheisive wire holder things to hold the hose tight to the cabinet and wall. This pic shows where I hooked the drain line from the RO/DI unit into the drain of the kitchen sink. This is how I hooked the supply line for the RO/DI unit to the cold water supply for my kitchen sink. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted September 8, 2008 Author Share Posted September 8, 2008 Thats pretty much the build of my tank. I'll post pics of it up and running tomorrow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef-fisher Posted September 8, 2008 Share Posted September 8, 2008 Cool progress. Thanks for sharing. Cant wait to see this up and running. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spectra Posted September 8, 2008 Share Posted September 8, 2008 Looks good(rock2) Keep the pics coming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsoz Posted September 8, 2008 Share Posted September 8, 2008 That is a really cool build for your tank! I can't wait to see what is in store for it next. It seems like you know what you are doing for being so new into the hobby. dsoz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePremiumAquarium Posted September 8, 2008 Share Posted September 8, 2008 Super nice progress shots! I love the set up. Looks heavy duty and very functional. Keep those pics coming! I want to see the tank with all of its critters! Garrett Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGooseWhisperer Posted September 8, 2008 Share Posted September 8, 2008 I really like the design and layout of your stand and canopy. The attachment of the canopy to the uprights coming off the stand is really nice and ties everything together well to make one clean package. In the ATO pics you can see sand and LR in the tank...any livestock yet? if not how 'bout a FTS just to see the aquascaping? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted September 9, 2008 Author Share Posted September 9, 2008 I really like the design and layout of your stand and canopy. The attachment of the canopy to the uprights coming off the stand is really nice and ties everything together well to make one clean package. In the ATO pics you can see sand and LR in the tank...any livestock yet? if not how 'bout a FTS just to see the aquascaping? Well, I have quite a bit of live stock now...I'll post some pics. I am still trying to to get the hang of fish tank photography, so some pics may look a little strange. Some were also take with my iphone so may be a bit blurry. I'll post from the first day of start up with 60lb of live rock from the Seahorse. Day One Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted September 9, 2008 Author Share Posted September 9, 2008 First Inhabitant, peppermint shrimp First Corals Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spectra Posted September 9, 2008 Share Posted September 9, 2008 Tank looks great but am not sure if I would call Zenia a coralDOH! I call it a weed(laugh) Just watch it as it can spread and next thing you know you have a forest of it:eek: The GSP is kind of the same way but in my book looks a little better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted September 9, 2008 Author Share Posted September 9, 2008 Various progression pics in no particular order Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted September 9, 2008 Author Share Posted September 9, 2008 The rest of these pictures are the most current, but taken with my phone cause I was too lazy to get the real camera out.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CCR Posted September 9, 2008 Share Posted September 9, 2008 Now that's the way to post Pic's!!!!!!!(clap) Looks super nice. Did you have any cycle issues? Over what time frame did you add the corals, fish? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted September 9, 2008 Author Share Posted September 9, 2008 Now that's the way to post Pic's!!!!!!!(clap) Looks super nice. Did you have any cycle issues? Over what time frame did you add the corals' date=' fish?[/quote'] I added the Peppermint shrimp at 1 the 4 week mark, first corals at 6 weeks, then the first fish (clowns) at just under 8 weeks. I slowly added the clean up grew over the second month. As for a cycle of any sort...I tested ammonia, NO2 & NO3 every single day with API test kits for the first month waiting for they cycle to "begin". I never once detected ANY of the 3 and to this day have never detected ammonia, NO2, or NO3 (testing once per week). (I did not use any "quick cycle" products either) I started the tank with just under 60lbs of LR & 10lbs of LS (added to 25lbs of aragonite). All of the rock & sand came from the Seahorse from a system that Im sure was very well established. It went from their tanks to my tank in less then an hour so Im guessing the bacteria colony made the trip without any die off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted September 9, 2008 Author Share Posted September 9, 2008 Newest frags (pics took with phone) Purple Haze Montipor (could not get a good pic for anything, lots of light reflection) Red/white acan of some sort I think(anyone know the name?) Birds Nest SPS of some sort (anyone know the name?) It has blue tips, with green polys that come out of the tips Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
undrtkr_00 Posted September 9, 2008 Share Posted September 9, 2008 Thanks for sharing your build process with us. I enjoy seeing people's DIY projects. Looks like things are progressing really well. Congrats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted September 9, 2008 Share Posted September 9, 2008 Looks good, nice work on the curved stand build. I'd keep a close eye on that float valve, one snail in the wrong place at the wrong time and you're facing a potential flood. Also, some folks have had the plastic weld on the float fail over time, allowing the float to fill with water and also leading to a potential flood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downhill_biker Posted September 9, 2008 Share Posted September 9, 2008 I am thinking that from your description it is a tricolor of some sort, because that is typically their coloration, but get a better pic to be sure. Your stand is AWESOME!!! I built a stand for my 72 bowfront, and didnt follow the bow because I thought it would have been too hard, looks GREAT. Did you want the putty to show up on the finished product? If you did great, gives it a rustic look. For me, I like clean....just some constructive criticism The build is killer though, i am inspired to build a new stand with a bowfront. I may anyway. I kindof want to build a wood and metal stand, stainless steel that is... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted September 9, 2008 Author Share Posted September 9, 2008 Downhill, Ill try to get some better pics of it today when my lights turn on.... As for the putty showing on the stand, it shows up a lot more in the pictures then it does in person. I was not planning on the putty showing when I built the stand, I though the putty would absorb the stain more. Honestly though, like you said, it does give it kind of a rustic look which pretty good. A bowfront stand for a 72g will be much easier to build I think! The radius is much less steep then the 36g so it will be a much more gradual bend. to achieve the bend on the front of my stand, I used 2 layers of 1/4" birch plywood glued/screwed together. The rest of the stand is 1/2" birch plywood screwed to the 2x4 frame. My stand is a tank, way overbuild for just 36g....lol! I took some more pics last night with just the actinics on, let me up load them then I'll post them! Oh, Downhill, heres a slightly better pic of the SPS I was asking about: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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