Hi guys. This is my first forum post and i thought it would be a nice way to document my tank build and evolution. So lets get on with the build.
I started renovation on an old farm house, built in the late 1800's, back in July of 2013. From the beginning i thought it would be the perfect time to build my dream tank. With no hesitation from my future wife, i began to plan for the tank and room for the equipment. In October i placed the order for my tank. I ordered from Pimped Out Aquariums in Baltimore MD. The tank is 66x30x30 with an external overflow, and drilled for supply lines for a closed loop system.
(ignore the incorrect height dimension)
In February after giving thought to building my own sump system, i also added a sump and refugium to the order. I didn't want to take a chance on something this large failing due to my own fault, so i left it to the professionals.
I wanted a sump made for the large skimmer i was planning and possibly to hold a few reactors,, heaters, probes. etc. , but i didn't want to include the refugium in the sump itself, so i had a separate tank made to be used as a refugium or even as another tank for holding fish or corals. I thought this lent it to more flexibility down the road as the tank matures and it's needs change. Here are the tanks completed
These are acrylic and the main display is glass. I should have the tanks on hand by the end of the month.
While waiting on the tank I've been getting other things ready for the tank, along with the whole house. I built a steal frame for the tank and had it powder coated.
Here it is in place and a mess.
I made the top and bottom out of 3/4" plywood, and also put a 2" lip around the bottom to create a pan to hold some water if something drips. I painted the with epoxy paint first and then covered them with epoxy shield to make them last as long as possible.
Over the course of time I've been acquiring some gear also so i'll give you a run down of what I've got going on so far.
I started renovation on an old farm house, built in the late 1800's, back in July of 2013. From the beginning i thought it would be the perfect time to build my dream tank. With no hesitation from my future wife, i began to plan for the tank and room for the equipment. In October i placed the order for my tank. I ordered from Pimped Out Aquariums in Baltimore MD. The tank is 66x30x30 with an external overflow, and drilled for supply lines for a closed loop system.
(ignore the incorrect height dimension)
In February after giving thought to building my own sump system, i also added a sump and refugium to the order. I didn't want to take a chance on something this large failing due to my own fault, so i left it to the professionals.
I wanted a sump made for the large skimmer i was planning and possibly to hold a few reactors,, heaters, probes. etc. , but i didn't want to include the refugium in the sump itself, so i had a separate tank made to be used as a refugium or even as another tank for holding fish or corals. I thought this lent it to more flexibility down the road as the tank matures and it's needs change. Here are the tanks completed
These are acrylic and the main display is glass. I should have the tanks on hand by the end of the month.
While waiting on the tank I've been getting other things ready for the tank, along with the whole house. I built a steal frame for the tank and had it powder coated.
Here it is in place and a mess.
I made the top and bottom out of 3/4" plywood, and also put a 2" lip around the bottom to create a pan to hold some water if something drips. I painted the with epoxy paint first and then covered them with epoxy shield to make them last as long as possible.
Over the course of time I've been acquiring some gear also so i'll give you a run down of what I've got going on so far.
- I had one radion G2 already so i ordered two more to give me a total of 3 radion G2's, but on monday i ordered the puck upgrades to the regular G3's and i plan on using the G2 pucks for a DIY led fixture for added punch. My goal is 5 total radions on the main tank and one for the refugium tank.
- Skimmer - I went with a ReefDynamics INS300 skimmer. After watching some youtube vidoes with Jeff Macare i felt it was a good product i wanted to give a try on my reef and ordered one. I had it in about 2.5 weeks and it looks like a great product, well built, and can't wait to actually turn it on.
- Circulation pump - snapper dart will be used on the closed loop run through two sea swirls
- I have one BRS media reactor from a previous tank.
- 100lbs of Aquamax dry reef rock that i got for a great deal from Marien Depot back in december i believe right around $1.00 per lb.
- I currently have a DA Reefkeeper but i'm thinking about switching to an Apex.