100 Gallon Rimless Cadlights as Covid Therapy

[headdr]

I have a 300 gallon glass cages peninsula in my basement but given all the time I have been spending at home I started thinking about a tank in my home office. Recently have come to the realization that I will never be going back to working in my office building 5 days a week. So I pulled the trigger on a used rimless Cadlights 100 gallon with a black lacquer piano finish stand. Tank was in great shape and stand had a few chunks missing. Sump was not included but I already had a spare trigger crystal sump in the attic. I decided to toss the metric plumbing and start over with english fittings. I have already spent more $ on plumbing than I paid for the tank. First thing was to drill out the existing holes with a 1" and 1.75" diamond bit. Already had these sizes in the tool box.

 

[headdr]

I'm thinking about using twin return pumps, one on each side for redundancy. Being me, I gotta find a way to upgrade the design. To reduce some bends and turns I want to run the returns straight down. This will allow me to tie into a manifold. This also frees up one of the existing holes for a bean animal overflow. So I got my template laid out and started drilling.

 

[headdr]

Warning wear safety glasses and ear muffs. Shoes are optional. Given the necessary water flow I got very wet, but it was a nice day.

 

[headdr]

I actually haven't put the tank on the stand yet, but this is what it looked like at its previous home.

 

[headdr]

Got the tank cleaned and some plumbing already delivered. $150 for first plumbing parts order and $40 on second order. I have now spent more on plumbing than I did on tank. Also got $50 in restoration of the stand.

 

[headdr]

Fresh coat of lacquer on the stand frame and doors.

 

[headdr]

Fit check of Trigger Crystal 36 sump.

 

[count krunk]

Sounds like you got a great deal on the tank then! What are the plans for this one since you also have a 300g?

 

[headdr]

Originally it was a kitchen tank, but being over a basement that fell thru, haha. So going to do an office tank, now that I am working from home. Maybe a clown breeder/grow out tank. Been playing with making my own rock and aquascaping. Want to make a bonsai tree looking rock structure.

 

[headdr]

Got a fresh coat of lacquer on the stand and used some cerium oxide to polish the glass. Has some etching around the water line.

 

[headdr]

Started plumbing on the bean animal. I added 2 half inch holes to get the third overflow. Also got a straight shot to both return nozzles instead of the "y" that comes stock.

 

[JulioReefer]

Very nice. Lots of work goin in on this one. Staying tuned in on this one. Trying to build a big system myself over time.

 

[headdr]

Fit checking plumbing under cabinet. I bought some black pipe to go with the grey schedule 80 unions. It's coming together, but found a mistake. When drilling the glass I didn't leave enough room on the back wall for the bulkhead nut. The stand opening has a bit of a lip. Will have to cut away 1/4 inch of stand top. Nothing load bearing, just a pain.

 

[headdr]

Got a bunch of unions and twice as many .5 inch bulkhead's as I needed. Any suggestions on manifold versus, x2 redundant return pumps?

 

[headdr]

Got a delivery of an icecap gyre, reef octopus regal 150-int and varios-2 return pump. Skimmer also uses a varios-2 pump, so got some redundancy.

 

[headdr]

Starting my aquascape. Bonding my first 2 pieces. First gathering ingredients.

 

[headdr]

Using mixture of glue and aragonite to hold parts together.

 

[headdr]

Once glue setup, time to pour dry mixture of aragonite and Portland cement into gap.

 

[headdr]

Use spray bottle to add moisture.

 

[headdr]

Pulled out my old 4 foot power compact Odyssey lights from the attic. Didn't expect them to work. Think I'm going to run a fowlr for a little while before buying a LED light. Just realized I have 11 replacement bulbs for this light. Might see how the softies do with it for a while.