150 Progression Build

[wav0718]

I have had a handful of fishtanks while growing up. Mainly with multicolored gravel and a few guppies and mollies. As an adult I was able to get more involved since it wasn't my parents money I was spending :xd: My interested was reignited when I came across the AGA aquascaping website. Here is a pic of my freshwater planted tank I had in 07.

After I lost my battle with BBA and after seeing the saltwater department at Exotic Aquarium in Sacramento I decided to start a nano reef. Here is a pic of my first saltwater aquarium.

29 Gallon Aquapod started March 2008

It didn't take long before I ungraded. I wasn't satisfied with the look of the aquapod so I decided to go with the 32 Gallon Solana.

32 Gallon Solana started April 2008

 

[wav0718]

60 gallon shallow reef started Jan 09

 

[wav0718]

And now my new 150 shallow reef that I will be setting up. I was able to get a pretty good deal on this 8 foot long frag tank. The stand was questionable, it was a little wobbly so I decided to build a new one. Here are a few pics.

I decided to use the old stand as a workbench

The frame

The skin

Took 5 guys to get the tank upstairs and I had to bring the stand up in sections.

I had to putty and paint the stand upstairs cause it wouldn't fit as one piece.

 

[Paul_N]

Nice work on the stand and i must say I like the look of the long shallow tank.

 

[revhtree]

Wow bro you have a serious green/wet thumb!

Your wood working skills are seriously top notch! Wish you lived close! LOL!

 

[wav0718]

updates

I didn't want to hang the 72" light fixture from the ceiling. I had my 48" hanging from the ceiling but I didn't like how the hanging wires were not straight since the studs were off. I was searching all over the internet for ideas on how to hang/mount the light using a hanging arm. I was going to use the current hanging arm kit but after reading the reviews I decided against it. I came across this shelving unit that ikea sells.

Here is what I did. After painting the bars black, I drilled two holes in the bars and used wood screws to screw it into the stand. I then drilled a single hole in the leg and placed it on top of the bar to act as a hanging arm.

I took apart the current usa orbit/sunpod hanging kit and used it in the hole I made on the hanging arm.

 

[Reefinginpasadena]

i like it looks really clean cant wait to see how it looks running!

 

[wav0718]

Thanks. I am in the process of adding water from my ro/di unit.. but at about 3 gallons an hour it is going to take a while

 

[stedfast82]

nice set up send pic's i want to see it up and runing

 

[gilmour01]

wow, looks great so far

 

[BriGuy31+]

Keep the updates coming. Great so far.

 

[wav0718]

Well It has been awhile. The tank is coming along nicely. Here are some updates...

Got my new bulbs in today.

 

[wav0718]

Plans for the furture.. Move the cal reactor under the stand, hide all the wires, get a rimless tank for top off water, hook up an external skimmer and maybe a custom light canopy.

 

[wav0718]

Well it has been a while. Here are some updates. I had to take all my fish out because of an ich outbreak. I am leaving the tank fish free for 3 months. Only one month to go. I also had an outbreak of green hair algae. I am suspecting it was due to my automatic fish feeder. I had it set to feed pellet and flake 4 times a day. I tried adding a nudi twich but both times my shrimps killed it. Anyone have any exp with them?

Here are some pics

Some FTS

Some top down shots