200G IM EXT (First tank ever)

[vittpsu21]

Vitt, I would move it out for better access. I would also ditch the Rug. I can see the headroom is going to a bit of a challenge. I would consider IM for my planned upgrade but really want an 8 ft. Tank. They make a solid product with good value.

Yeah maybe I’ll just have to figure out how to get it a few inches out like I originally wanted! Yeah the headroom was always going to be tighter than I wanted in this spot because of the vent that runs above sadly. We just got back today so gonna have to see about how I will even move this out, I originally wanted 7”

 

[vittpsu21]

You win some, you lose some, and I am married so carpets had to happen but much smaller ones. Plan is to remove the left bookshelf for more room also. Still need to move it out a few inches when I can find someone to assist, but I think I am likely to do the plumbing tomorrow!

 

[UncommonSense]

You win some, you lose some, and I am married so carpets had to happen but much smaller ones. Plan is to remove the left bookshelf for more room also. Still need to move it out a few inches when I can find someone to assist, but I think I am likely to do the plumbing tomorrow!

Great progress!

You might be able to scoot it with a beefy ratchet strap via the bottom of stand, assuming you have something sturdy to anchor to, and the stand can handle that!

Plumbing is always fun! Do you have a pretty solid idea of how you’re going about it?

 

[vittpsu21]

Great progress!

You might be able to scoot it with a beefy ratchet strap via the bottom of stand, assuming you have something sturdy to anchor to, and the stand can handle that!

Plumbing is always fun! Do you have a pretty solid idea of how you’re going about it?

One of my requirements with this was to get the preplumbed kit, so they ship everything you need with all the fittings already done! All I have to do is watch the video for it and make sure I attach stuff properly thank god! The stuff they send seems pretty straight forward though tbh and videos all over. I think I will need to move it out the few inches first before I start though

 

[vittpsu21]

 

[Grallster]

Great progress!

You might be able to scoot it with a beefy ratchet strap via the bottom of stand, assuming you have something sturdy to anchor to, and the stand can handle that!

Plumbing is always fun! Do you have a pretty solid idea of how you’re going about it?

If you have the APS stand, I would not do this. You’re likely to pull the stand off of the base and possibly scratch your floor.

 

[vittpsu21]

Great progress!

You might be able to scoot it with a beefy ratchet strap via the bottom of stand, assuming you have something sturdy to anchor to, and the stand can handle that!

Plumbing is always fun! Do you have a pretty solid idea of how you’re going about it?

If you have the APS stand, I would not do this. You’re likely to pull the stand off of the base and possibly scratch your floor.

Yeah I think with this stand I’ll have to move the base just up and over

 

[W31Olds]

just move your bookshelves, get a long breaker bar and using a piece of wood to protect your trim pry at the base to move a bit then do the same on the other side. Repeat back and forth until you get it where you want it

 

[hatfielj]

Well... after 10 years of back and forth and young kids... I was finally able to get the OK and order my tank! I went back and forth a lot from Glass Cages and IM but ultimately landed on the thing that made the most sense for me in my current state! The 200G EXT! It finally arrived the other day! We leave for vacation at the end of July and I am very much hoping to have this monster inside by then, however, I am thinking I am likely going to need to hire someone to move it in as it is wayyyyyy heavier then I thought it would be even empty!

The stand is up, the sump is underneath, the plumbing is waiting in the garage for the tank to be in place! All that to say that below is the list of things that have been ordered and have either arrived or are on their way:

220lbs Marco Dry Rock
2x MP40's (I might get another)
Instant Ocean salt
CaribSea Special Grade (8 bags 20lbs per bag, 2 more that should be on the way but might be lost)
RODI System from BRS that I have since debugged with help from other R2R members and just need to get a replacement canister for something broken in transit
All the testing equipment, Hanna where I could and the by hands elsewhere
Return pump that came with the build (Mighty Jet DC XL)
RFS Sump
2x JAGER 200W Heaters
2x Heater Controllers
Doctor Tims Cycle + Ghost feeding
Flipper EDGE Max

Still to order:

Live rock from my LFS, my plan is to aquascape with the dead rock and then add some of this either in the spot that will be my refug or in the display tank as I can fit/justify
Lights (I honestly have no clue still at this point, its just so much to take in as a 1st time reefer).
Keto (or some other material for the refug) and refug light, but neither in until I have a need for them but have them standing by and ready
Copepods (plan to use as soon as cycle ends)
Skimmer (again no idea, haven't done much research here!)

I have never had a saltwater tank before and honestly haven't had a tank in general since I was probably 10 years old! So this is going to be quite the learning experience as well as a very good time I hope! I am absolutely open to feedback or opinions if you see me going sideways somewhere or have some good suggestions for me! I plan to order the lights soon to have them out of the way, even though I may not need them for some time, but I would love to get this thing moved in and wet before we left for vacation on the 24th of July! Worth noting that at some point I would very much like to add a controller, dos, and autofeeder, but for now I need to put the money where it is better spent up front!

You get the patience of the decade award for this build! You waited 10 years to get your first tank??? And then you went with a beast like this!? Wow. I'm impressed.

 

[Grallster]

These stands have 12 leveling feet with hard, spiked bottoms. Your wife will definitely be upset with what that would do to your nice wood floors!

 

[vittpsu21]

You get the patience of the decade award for this build! You waited 10 years to get your first tank??? And then you went with a beast like this!? Wow. I'm impressed.

haha, I did go big on my first for sure, I also though did not want to go small and replace and go through all the hassle many times over. What she doesn't know is I am also gonna get a QT tank, but thats gonna be a surprise when the time comes :P

 

[vittpsu21]

These stands have 12 leveling feet with hard, spiked bottoms. Your wife will definitely be upset with what that would do to your nice wood floors!

yeah part of me for ease was just gonna keep it at the 3.5 inches, but honestly even before they moved it I had read online in a lot of places how people always regret not leaving enough space between the wall and the overflow. As is they pushed it the point where the overflow is basically against the wall and the 3.5 inchs is just to the back of the tank

 

[Anna K]

Following along! I just love the IM EXT stands. They just look so professional and sleek.

 

[vittpsu21]

Alright well we are officially 9.5 inches from the wall and feeling better about it. Turns out having a 18 year old son has its benefits we did open the sump and plumbing and found the related videos, it all seems straight forward outside of these weird circular things that I can’t find in any documentation. The white adapters are for the ATO

 

[vittpsu21]

 

[vittpsu21]

 

[W31Olds]

Just make sure it's level first.

 

[vittpsu21]

Just make sure it's level first.

Yeah thankfully the feet on the stand made that part pretty easy but that was for sure the first thing I checked!

 

[Grallster]

Awesome!! You will be much happier with it further from the wall!
Even though I did not get the sump and plumbing kit with my tank, I do believe that those black things are either dosing tubing or wire keepers.
FYI. You can check out my own 200EXT build thread above

 

[vittpsu21]

Awesome!! You will be much happier with it further from the wall!
Even though I did not get the sump and plumbing kit with my tank, I do believe that those black things are either dosing tubing or wire keepers.
FYI. You can check out my own 200EXT build thread above

oh wire keepers might make some sense actually, they have tracks on both sides