Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
I am going insane waiting.
I look at other build threads and it feels like other reefers place some orders, do some plumbing, and bing bang boom they are pouring water into the tank.
This is my chain of events that has to happen, in reverse chronological order. Read this list as <item> "but before that, I have to..." <next item>
Fill tank, but before that I have to...
Aquascape quickly before the bacteria on the rock I've been curing for 6 months dies off, but before that...
Put in sand and rock
Plumb water (water-changing and ATO) to sump tank to floor drain or laundry sink
Test plumbing with 200+ gallons of water
Plumb a bean animal and plumb DT to sump tank
Mount tank on stand
Assemble stand & level
Move water changing station back into place, mount RO/DI on wall
Patch and paint walls, install PVC base molding (requires moving everything including water changing station and laundry sink)
Install new half-walls around tank area (this will close off existing doorway, leaving only smaller entrance)
Move any large items that will be hard to maneuver through the new smaller doorway, e.g. workbench, QT stand, dehumidifer
Move 6' tank into the fishroom
Electrical: install two new circuits and place new GFI outlets strategically; replace ceiling light fixture with track lighting
Demolition 2: remove existing door and open up walls and new doorway area, remove existing drywall from fishroom
Demolition 1: jackhammer slab floor to create a sump pit and drain with sump pump plumbed to house waste line
Get city permits for basement renovation
Repair window well outside the fishroom window (2' below grade), which floods during heavy rains
Other things I can do while waiting:
- Finish plumbing and test water mixing station
- Finish building and water-testing sump (done, but I can upgrade some more using existing bulkheads)
- Research and purchaselights, wavemakers, and controllers
- Set up Q-tank andget additives, conditioners, andtest kits/monitors/probes (calibrate or update reagents for ones I already have)
When this is all done I'll be too exhausted and broke to bother with fish or corals. An expensive Live Rock Only tank!
Not pictured is my pride and joy, the 5-foot long floor drain. Also, there's a small freezer under the table for food. Track lights above can be re-angled to wherever I need light for a task, including the sump. Still need to set up the control board which will go next to tank, lower right of this photo, and organize those messy shelves above the water mixing station.Now that the tank is up and running, I have to turn out the lights and wait. Time to organize the fish room. Also, need to move the media and contents of a QT running in the other room to the QT here. THinking about using the one
Thanks! It was a lot of work. Rewarding by itself but nice to get recognition from fellow reefers.Love the aquascape and build man. Good work!
My two Kasa power strips are working out great so far and my reef is all voice activated. I’m not as thrilled with the Inkbird but it’s fine. I use tunze’s stock controller for my wave maker. I’ll post pics when I have the cord management problem solved.Looking good. I’m suprised the rock from the bins didn’t have any signs of life. Your scape is looking great. You don’t need an apex to have a killer reef. I bought one for dosing and testing while Im traveling this winter, but dreading the rewire job and re work of the fire hazard wiring of mine.. lol.