cilyjr's central coast California setup 40b to 120

cilyjr

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I've moved into my home after 2 years in an apartment and have got the ball rolling on my new system.
background: I had lived in New England for most of my life and had a 180 that i had built into the wall in a finished basement that had been running for roughly 10 years.

here is a link to that system info:

When I first got to California I set up a small 40b in an apartment as I wanted something to keep myself in this hobby, but being newly single (divorced after 13 years) I found myself not doing much with the system. Now I've met a great girl and we've moved in to our new home. For now I've kept the 40b as the display tank but am laying the ground work for a bigger display. I am thinking somewhere in the 75 to 120 gallon range as most of my existing equipment will support that. Some of my equipment (apex, 2x mp40, 2xhydra lights) came across the country with me but a new skimmer and calcium reactor was purchased new.

The 40 breeder lived as a stand alone for a few months here but I wanted a separate area for my sump and equipment, being in California and the weather is pretty temperate, I bought a 6x8 foot shed to house everything. it needed to be built, insulated, and electrical and plumbed. which was all fairly easy to do. electrical came down from the attic on an unused 15 amp circuit. the previous owners must have had an old sink near where I wanted my "fish shed" to be because there was a waste water line about 8 feet away that was capped so that was an easy tie in.

I likely won't change the display until fall and there will be built in cabinetry surrounding it so it will be a significant project. at least the behind the scenes is taken care of!
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cilyjr

cilyjr

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Getting ready to put in a new bigger display. I'm getting a 120. Likely from SC aquariums but I've got the local guys checking prices.

A quick sketch of what I'm hoping to do.
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Jedi1199

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I love the shed for your RO/DI system. I have been wondering how and where to set up mine once it arrives. I would definitely prefer to have it set up outside, but my options are limited due to placement of existing plumbing..

Thanks for sharing your build.

Cheers,
Steve
 
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cilyjr

cilyjr

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The shed houses all my equipment. Not just the RO. The weather rarely gets below 50° and rarely goes above 85° here. So a shed as long as it's pretty decently insulated can hold all your equipment
 
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cilyjr

cilyjr

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I'm planning on running my 2 Hydra 26s HDS with a hybrid t5 system that has 4 48 in t5 bulbs. I think that will be good anyone else think a 3rd hydra would be needed?
 

Jedi1199

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The shed houses all my equipment. Not just the RO. The weather rarely gets below 50° and rarely goes above 85° here. So a shed as long as it's pretty decently insulated can hold all your equipment
You're lucky... It gets very hot here in the summer and fairly cold in the winter.. I could "Probably" pull off a setup similar to yours, but as you said, it would have to be VERY well insulated...
 
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cilyjr

cilyjr

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You're lucky... It gets very hot here in the summer and fairly cold in the winter.. I could "Probably" pull off a setup similar to yours, but as you said, it would have to be VERY well insulated..
Pismo beach has to be the best weather in the entire country.
 

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What’s up buddy? Great to see you going big again. Keep the thread updated
 
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cilyjr

cilyjr

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What’s up buddy? Great to see you going big again. Keep the thread updated
Hey dude.
Yes living life out here on the west coast.
I thought about going back to a 180 but then I remembered how I used to get frustrated with all the extra things I had to do. Plus I don't want to run metal halide out here.

I'm going with an aquatic life hybrid unit which is 4 t5s and I'll run two hydra26 HDs in the middle of it.
 
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cilyjr

cilyjr

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Tank is being delivered tomorrow I'll post some pictures...
I've no idea how I'm gonna move it but once it's here I will disassemble the 40 gallon. Most of my corals will go into my frag system and the fish will go into a tub that I have temporarily plumbed into it
 
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cilyjr

cilyjr

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Tank showed up today.
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I got the basic frame of the stand made and
Took out the 40b.
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Oh and I got the light fixture put together. I realize now that it is too heavy to use brackets that attach to the wall. Unless they are an extremely heavy duty bracket I think I'm actually going to build a light wood frame around it and hang the entire thing from the ceiling. I guess it will truly be a floating canopy.
I guess I'm going to scroll around and look for examples of canopies that hang.

In the meantime all of my tanks inhabitants are in the fish room. I only had five fish so they're living in that 15 gallon black tub and the corals are in the frag tank
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cilyjr

cilyjr

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Got a lot done.The upper area of the stand will be closed. The lower inside will be skinned with reclaimed wood as well as the wall. That's what will hide the cables from the floating canopy as well. The out side will be skinned and trimmed and likely painted white.

I'm particularly happy with the canopy. It's 1/4 ply with corner mould.
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Jedi1199

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Hey I love the canopy!!! I Just ordered a pair of LED lights for my tank and because of where I intend to place the tank, I am concerned about the glare of the lights from where I sit. What you made looks ideal for what I need for my own setup!!
 

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