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Double or Nothing... AJ's 405-Gallon Reef Savvy Upgrade
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- Thread starter Stylo328
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Stylo328
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A few updates. The second L1 arrived and is plumbed in. I have to do some tweaking to the bean animal in the ghost overflows. With both pumps, I cannot run them over 40% without some challenges. I'm thinking it's the second "open" drain that needs some work. Thank God for the emergency drains!
I found a few scratches on the front panel and on one side. A local tank builder is coming to polish the glass today. I've seen his work and am optimistic. I pray it turns out well.
Was thinking, and please chime in, with three MP40s on the back wall and the two L1s, do I really need to install the MP60s on the sides? I have them, but the tank looks so clean without them. I guess I could always add them later. But that would require modifying the rear skirts.
I'll post some pics of the "polishing" later. Have a great day all.
I found a few scratches on the front panel and on one side. A local tank builder is coming to polish the glass today. I've seen his work and am optimistic. I pray it turns out well.
Was thinking, and please chime in, with three MP40s on the back wall and the two L1s, do I really need to install the MP60s on the sides? I have them, but the tank looks so clean without them. I guess I could always add them later. But that would require modifying the rear skirts.
I'll post some pics of the "polishing" later. Have a great day all.
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Stylo328
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Today saw plenty of tank activity. Pedro (vividclearglass.com) arrived at 10:30 to polish out several scratches that I discovered on the front and side panes. I was surprised to find how much the MP40s the previous owner had on the side panes had marred the glass.
To prepare I drained all the freshwater last night, relying on the shop vac to collect what the siphon left behind. By the time Pedro arrived, the tank was dry and ready.
Here are a few photos of the scratches (difficult to capture) and the polishing process.
And the final product, scratch free!
The polishing process does create some distortion when viewed at an extreme angle, but the absence of the scratches is well worth it!
I have to recognize Pedro. He quoted me a price based on a two-hour job. When he arrived and evaluated the tank, he identified far more scratches than my wife and I had found. He was here working for over seven hours and the final price was consistent with the quote. A great guy and his attention to detail was incredible!
To prepare I drained all the freshwater last night, relying on the shop vac to collect what the siphon left behind. By the time Pedro arrived, the tank was dry and ready.
Here are a few photos of the scratches (difficult to capture) and the polishing process.
And the final product, scratch free!
The polishing process does create some distortion when viewed at an extreme angle, but the absence of the scratches is well worth it!
I have to recognize Pedro. He quoted me a price based on a two-hour job. When he arrived and evaluated the tank, he identified far more scratches than my wife and I had found. He was here working for over seven hours and the final price was consistent with the quote. A great guy and his attention to detail was incredible!
Ljaus
Valuable Member
Today saw plenty of tank activity. Pedro (vividclearglass.com) arrived at 10:30 to polish out several scratches that I discovered on the front and side panes. I was surprised to find how much the MP40s the previous owner had on the side panes had marred the glass.
To prepare I drained all the freshwater last night, relying on the shop vac to collect what the siphon left behind. By the time Pedro arrived, the tank was dry and ready.
Here are a few photos of the scratches (difficult to capture) and the polishing process.
And the final product, scratch free!
The polishing process does create some distortion when viewed at an extreme angle, but the absence of the scratches is well worth it!
I have to recognize Pedro. He quoted me a price based on a two-hour job. When he arrived and evaluated the tank, he identified far more scratches than my wife and I had found. He was here working for over seven hours and the final price was consistent with the quote. A great guy and his attention to detail was incredible!
What a great guy!
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Stylo328
Active Member
He really is.
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Stylo328
Active Member
Happy Sunday.
Huge update although the pictures may not show it. Yesterday saw us installing all of the Apex modules, the Reeflink, and the Tunze ATO (using it to control the solenoid for the RO feed line along with a float valve for redundancy). I spent a lot of time wiring to keep things as clean as possible. I'm not entirely finished with wire management, I'll upload some photos once done.
The more important update is that the 187 has been moved! It all started on Friday when I took the light mounts off of the wall and had the texture guy come and repair the holes left behind. Then yesterday a few friends came to help get the move done. We drained the 187 down, leaving about four inches of water in it. Then we SLOWLY inched it along to its new resting spot about eight feet away. It was nerve wrecking as we left all of the rocks and corals in place. It was hard labor, but we were successful with zero issues! Not even an accidental frag. I had 200 gallons of NSW circulating in the garage and used almost all of it to refill the tank.
Here are a few photos from the move.
At this point, I got behind the 405 and painted the drywall repair from the previous day and connected the Apex and Reeflink to the network. My wife and I then slid the 405 into place (Have to give props to my wife. Sliding that beast was no joke...). Then I sat down and started programming the Apex via Fusion. I was at it till almost two a.m. Lol
This is how we are looking today with the 405 in its new home.
And the 187, doing just fine after an almost 100% water change.
Thanks.
Huge update although the pictures may not show it. Yesterday saw us installing all of the Apex modules, the Reeflink, and the Tunze ATO (using it to control the solenoid for the RO feed line along with a float valve for redundancy). I spent a lot of time wiring to keep things as clean as possible. I'm not entirely finished with wire management, I'll upload some photos once done.
The more important update is that the 187 has been moved! It all started on Friday when I took the light mounts off of the wall and had the texture guy come and repair the holes left behind. Then yesterday a few friends came to help get the move done. We drained the 187 down, leaving about four inches of water in it. Then we SLOWLY inched it along to its new resting spot about eight feet away. It was nerve wrecking as we left all of the rocks and corals in place. It was hard labor, but we were successful with zero issues! Not even an accidental frag. I had 200 gallons of NSW circulating in the garage and used almost all of it to refill the tank.
Here are a few photos from the move.
At this point, I got behind the 405 and painted the drywall repair from the previous day and connected the Apex and Reeflink to the network. My wife and I then slid the 405 into place (Have to give props to my wife. Sliding that beast was no joke...). Then I sat down and started programming the Apex via Fusion. I was at it till almost two a.m. Lol
This is how we are looking today with the 405 in its new home.
And the 187, doing just fine after an almost 100% water change.
Thanks.
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Stylo328
Active Member
Thanks bud!
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Stylo328
Active Member
Thank you very much!
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Stylo328
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Thanks!
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Stylo328
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Took my first stab at a portion of he aquascape. These are two of the three rocks that will be added to the existing rock in the 187. I am looking for a nice open feel to the scape.
Don't mind the fish food in the pic. I was testing the automatic feeder and forgot I had filled it. Lol
Don't mind the fish food in the pic. I was testing the automatic feeder and forgot I had filled it. Lol
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Stylo328
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Lol. Wasn't intended to be, but in hindsight, maybe a little.
john.m.cole3
cyclOps
I just finished readingthrough your whole build and I have to say this tank has turned out awesome. Did you ever get your water line to go above the trim? what was the problem running the vectras over 40%? Did you play around with the heights of the stand pipes in the outer box to resolve that issue? Looking forward to seeing this thing filled up and rockin!
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Stylo328
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wootfollowing... im just gonna say this... Will be waiting for when you put life in it
Thanks for following along. Hopefully it will be filled with rock and coral on Saturday!
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Stylo328
Active Member
Thank you very much!
I redid the plumbing inside the overflows. Hopefully it will remedy the challenge with having to keep the Vectras at 40%. We will know tomorrow night!
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