600 Gallon Gem Tang broodstock system

[Twitchy]

Link to my 460 gallon display/frag system build thread


Hello Again Reef2Reef as some of you have seen, I have been poking around the breeding forum as of late asking some fun questions.
The GF and I have also been watching for a used large system to come along, that fits the aesthetic of our garage, was cheap, and should enable us to grow out a gem tang broodstock.

Meet Burtha she is a 8x4x30" monster. We might have drained most of the savings getting her, but one new trailer, a heck of a weekend, and a road trip to New York later. we finally have her home, along with about 500Lbs of rock, sand, and a bunch of accessories. Stay tuned, as this should be a fun journey.

Working her out of the trailer

 

[Smarkow]

Do it!!!!

first comment/follow gets a free baby gem tang???

 

[Smarkow]

So out of curiousity, how do you plan on handling the settlement issue? Going off the yellow tang model?

 

[Leo_ian]

people from same forum get free tang?
people under the age of 21 get free tang?
;Shamefullyembarrased

 

[Leo_ian]

when this is successful hybrids?

 

[Twitchy]

First little update: I started building the stand this past weekend, while making use of the scrap metal I got from work. I also washed all 200lbs of sand last week, just in time for me to start thinking of going bare bottom for this setup.

The girlfriend got an awesome action shot while I was working.

not bad for a start, only a few more legs to go before adding gussets, and additional bracing

Note to self always wear sunscreen, or sleeves when welding for 5+ hours, or you will get the strangest sunburn. my left arm, and right knee is very upset with me today.

 

[Twitchy]

So out of curiousity, how do you plan on handling the settlement issue? Going off the yellow tang model?

yep, I plan to work off of the recent successes of yellow tangs, purple tangs, and pacific blue tangs using Parvocalanus Crassirostris copepods. unfortunately that's still a ways out... first step is raising a broodstock, and getting them spawning. once that happens the real fun starts.

 

[Smarkow]

First little update: I started building the stand this past weekend, while making use of the scrap metal I got from work. I also washed all 200lbs of sand last week, just in time for me to start thinking of going bare bottom for this setup.

The girlfriend got an awesome action shot while I was working.

not bad for a start, only a few more legs to go before adding gussets, and additional bracing

Note to self always wear sunscreen, or sleeves when welding for 5+ hours, or you will get the strangest sunburn. my left arm, and right knee is very upset with me today.

Never knew welding could give you a sunburn. About the only sunburn one can get in these covid times :/
Wild

 

[i_declare_bankruptcy]

Never knew welding could give you a sunburn. About the only sunburn one can get in these covid times :/
Wild

I remember when I was a kid helping my friend weld gussets into the frame on my rusty old jeep. Did it in a tank top. Next day I had an incredibly painful tank top sunburn... embarrassing to say the least

Coincidentally that was also the day I learned rolling around in a tank top under the jeep on fiberglass shavings from the muffler we gutted was a bad idea.

Anyways, really excited about this build

 

[Twitchy]

Update time! Finished the stand this weekend, and we got the tank up onto the stand. I'm starting to get excited. I plan to plumb the tank drain I installed next, so that she can get a wash down. I also started cycling the rocks so that they will be ready when the time comes.

Moving the tank into position.

All in place.

 

[Twitchy]

Little mini update. Tank has been cleaned, and polished. looking back, It wasn't as bad as polishing the 275... mostly because I could just sit inside of this one. I have a reeflo on order for the return pump, and going to order the rest of my bulkheads today. Still don't have a sump lined up. Used 6ft tanks seem to be in short supply locally. I might end up having to buy a new tank for the sump build.

All filled with water, Letting her settle for a few days.

As per the agreement with the girlfriend, she got to go for a swim

 

[Twitchy]

Update time: I cleaned up the UV unit I got with the tank, and deleted the wipers. Looking at the condition of the wipers, I would never want to use them with a marine setup.

Sump time!!! I had a hard time finding a used 6ft tank for my sump (125,150,180, ETC) so I made a decision to go a different route. for $320 at a local tractor supply, I got one of those cool caged tanks! and It's new, so I don't have to worry about what used to be in it.

step one cut it up!!!!

Time to pull out some scrap lexan, and turn it into my new sump

Next up is water testing the sump, drilling my return pump bulkhead, and it looks like I now need to order new impellers for the ASM G6 skimmer, they are swollen on both pumps... That bums me out a little, as they aren't cheap, and I was already not super fond using this skimmer, mostly due to size, and power draw. I figure I will try it out, and decide if its a good fit later once I'm up and running.

 

[drstardust]

Exciting!

 

[TriggerFinger]

Very cool! Following this one for sure!

 

[McPuff]

Wow, great work on the DIY sump! Looking forward to seeing it completed.

 

[Smarkow]

Really impressive work. Just wondering if you have a technical background, or are just a *really* enthusiastic hobbyist?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Coming along nicely. Everything very similar to my construction. Fortunately my stand was already assembled.

 

[FLReefer101]

Awesome build so far. This build prompts a question that I’ve noticed often with some doing a diy steal stand. Why not build the frame with aluminum? If you are build it out of steal the saltwater will rust the stand. Even if it’s power coated or painted it finds its way in. I’m an aluminum contractor and do a lot of aluminum fabrication I’m currently researching a supplier in order to start making custom stand like the 80/20 extrusion as well as aluminum welded stands. Aluminum last and holds up better than steal and can support the weight of these aquariums. So my question is do people prefer steal over aluminum because of cost or the believe it’s not strong enough to support the aquarium?

 

[Twitchy]

Really impressive work. Just wondering if you have a technical background, or are just a *really* enthusiastic hobbyist?

A bit of both? I come from an engineering, and controls background, and have always had that maker drive. Reefing has always been the side hobby. I hope to someday to combine both into something special.

Awesome build so far. This build prompts a question that I’ve noticed often with some doing a diy steal stand. Why not build the frame with aluminum? If you are build it out of steal the saltwater will rust the stand. Even if it’s power coated or painted it finds its way in. I’m an aluminum contractor and do a lot of aluminum fabrication I’m currently researching a supplier in order to start making custom stand like the 80/20 extrusion as well as aluminum welded stands. Aluminum last and holds up better than steal and can support the weight of these aquariums. So my question is do people prefer steal over aluminum because of cost or the believe it’s not strong enough to support the aquarium?

Thanks! That is an interesting question, I think for most large builds steel is just a cheaper route. A few hundred bucks to a local welder, and you could have a basic square tube stand.
I personally love aluminum 80/20 stands. The display tank in my main build thread is on a 80/20 stand I designed. I was even pricing this one out in 80/20... The reason I personally went steel on this one is the material was free scrap from work that I had laying around the garage, and it allowed me to hone my TIG welding skills. (It's also why the stand has such a silly color scheme. )

 

[h2so4hurts]

Sump idea is genius.