Complex beginner build

[MrDellimore]

Thanks I just checked for deflection is all directions and the glass is super flat. I have a 1" glass euro bracing on the top and an 8" wide horizontal brace so maybe that is what is keeping the glass from bowing at all.

Thanks again for the advice I will monitor the deflection for the rest of the week while i prepare the aquascape

 

[Why-Me]

Dude, such an amazing build, I enjoying watching your thread already, keep us updated!!
Love it!

 

[AbjectMaelstroM]

Superb work.

 

[oceanslide]

Wow just read through this whole thread, amazing work! Can't wait to see more

 

[MrDellimore]

It has been a while, but i have spent a lot of time planning filtration and working taking my time to make an aquascape around the pole. I am not the best artist, but this is what I came up with:

 

[MrDellimore]

I did a ton of work to plan for my filtration. I didn't want to put the sump under the stand and try to build something around a pole again. So I knocked down the wall to the boiler room. It was a cinderblock wall that really took some doing!

My handy painter

Poured some self leveling cement, added 1/8" thick rubber, and got a 75G tank from Petco.

Tedious work but hopefully maintains the motif of the stand.

My lady was really not happy about all the mess and walls that went missing so i did my best to get it back up within the weekend. I made a little lounge chill area between the tank and the sump in preparation to admire and chill with the fishies!

After visiting a LFS I got some advice to test the glass by running the powerheads to make sure that this crazy build will hold water while it is moving around. So for my next step I plan to add some tap water and run pumps.

If I feel confident with the integrity of the tank I will finally start my cycle!!!! This have been such a longgggg process and I am really excited actually to finally start reefing soon!

 

[mcdrichj]

I was about to start bugging you for an update, looks like I don't have to!!! If you plan on drilling any holes in the sump just be warned that some of those tanks have tempered glass on all sides. I absolutely love you rock work in the tank! I will give one recommendation depending on your tap water quality and maybe fill the tank with RODI water Just to make sure that you don't have any copper or undesirable minerals leach into the rocks then you can just mix the salt in and start cycling!!!

 

[MrDellimore]

Yea I was jus going to use the tap to test if the tank holds while having the powerheads turned on and also to wash off the rocks from all the construction. I setup an RODI, and had it fill a 55G drum.

I also thought that the tap water could work as a way to rinse off all the rocks, but if what you're saying is that it will leech into the rocks I guess I should/will use the RODI water the flow/rinse through the system.

The water in Brooklyn NY is pretty good so I image this might be overkill. The TDS meter reads 0 most of the time.

 

[mcdrichj]

I would say if your are just using it to wash and rinse and the quality is really good I wouldnt worry about it and just use tap especially if you have to wash out a bunch of construction debris. I'm sure you could obtain a water quality report if you were really interested. If you had low quality well water it would be more of an issue.

 

[Magellan]

I am so glad this worked!! What a project. Can’t wait to see it with some corals!

 

[MrDellimore]

I am so glad this worked!! What a project. Can’t wait to see it with some corals!

You and me both! I am planning on using Dr. Tims to cycle and then adding 2 clowns to get started. Some people tell me I should cycle for at least 6 weeks, but I also see a lot of success stories with Dr Tims.

 

[Irishman]

Man you’ve come a long way in this build since I first saw you’re thread. You should be proud of yourself and your accomplishment.

 

[MrDellimore]

Man you’ve come a long way in this build since I first saw you’re thread. You should be proud of yourself and your accomplishment.

Thanks so much man! It feels like I have so much further to go before I can really start reefinggggggg !

 

[Tuffyyyyy]

I love that you came on here and, for your first tank, not only built a beast, but built something most of us on here couldn't even dream of. I think you're officially a legend haha. I just hope you don't go through all of this effort and fill it with GSP & Xenia lol.

 

[mcdrichj]

I love that you came on here and, for your first tank, not only built a beast, but built something most of us on here couldn't even dream of. I think you're officially a legend haha. I just hope you don't go through all of this effort and fill it with GSP & Xenia lol.

Nothing about this build says he likes to do anything easy. Im guessing he has the same mindset for the livestock. I'm sure he is searching the forums right now to find other things that are "impossible" just so he can do it, just like the tank he built.

 

[eggplantparrot]

holy crap...

 

[Oliver d]

Wow this is a great build for a first reef tank

 

[kaifish]

Brother that's what it's all about. Awesome build thread can't wait to see it full of coral and fish

 

[BeejReef]

What kind of home do you live in that has three boilers and a utility room of that size?

Really amazing build! You've invested more in 90 degree clamps and silicone that I have in my lights.. lol.
You'll have something that is truly one of a kind though... as will whoever buys your house one day

 

[Magellan]

You and me both! I am planning on using Dr. Tims to cycle and then adding 2 clowns to get started. Some people tell me I should cycle for at least 6 weeks, but I also see a lot of success stories with Dr Tims.

i used Dr Tim’s, without anything else but live sand and some dry rock my tank was cycled in about 2 weeks...at least, that’s when my LFS told me my water was ready for fish. (But much smaller system than yours!).