"Embarking the Journey" Reef Build by Clayton

[Clayton Jessup]

Does anyone have any recommendations for sumps that they have owned and liked/loved as a upgrade from a DIY one ?

 

[cycled123]

Congrats on the new job!

 

[Clayton Jessup]

Congrats on the new job!

Thank you very much cycled123 !

 

[Clayton Jessup]

Hey ,

I wanted to apologize for my delay on any updates. I have been picking up quite a bit of shifts as a PRN LVN @ the new job . So that’s really why I have had the build on the back burner a bit.

But all in all I really feel that I have a serious case of REEFERITIS ! I only say that due to the thoughts that I have had in not getting a new sump anymore but yet ordering rock , and some other last items I may need to get my tank wet sooner then expected.

I am currently thinking to make due with my DIY 20L sump . Instead of building something new or ordering something new. After all this is my 1st ever Saltwater/Reef build ! I am trying not to break the bank either on my first Journey into Reefing.

So with all this being said I am looking at ordering anywhere from 40-55lbs of the BRS Pukani Rock ! I have always loved the way Pukani rock looks when it’s in a mature Reef tank . Any tips from any of you on curing the rock ? I am currently thinking of doing bleach / water rinse prior to starting the curing / cycling process . Like how BRS did on one video.

I’ll be keep you all up to date once I start ordering some items I feel I need to get before starting the tank . Thank you all again for following along with me on my Journey! I hope you all have a Good Friday and Weekend !!

Keep a look out on my thread / build for updates ! Thank you all again for your support you all have showed me on this journey ! Have a good one !

 

[Clayton Jessup]

So finally go to ordering some items , just got word my package shipped out today can’t wait tell this tank starts progressing more and more ...

Package should be in by next week can’t wait, hurry up Tuesday get here already. Keep a every out to see what’s on its way.

Tank you all for keeping along my Journey, into this world or Reef keeping ..

 

[Clayton Jessup]

Sorry about the delay on updates, I have been a little busy ! Work family , home , etc ..

But my package [emoji403] finally should up this last week , with 40lbs of BRS Pukani Rock !!! So exciting to finally get my tank going !!! Sorry I apologize for not taking pictures of the rock by it’s self . I only have pictures of the rocks in the tank ..

So for 40lbs of rock I got to large stones of Pukani.. take a look [emoji102]

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Pictures of the rock and some ways I am thinking of aquascaping the rocks in my tank , what do you all think [emoji848]?

I already have the rock soaking in 2g bleach to 25g of water in a Brute trash can in my garage trying to clean the rock before I start the curing process

I also have something else coming soon as well!!! [emoji12][emoji1303]

 

[Clayton Jessup]

So as promised another update ... my ABS 1/8th thick sheet came in for my bottom panel! To make it a Bare Bottom tank ! I am super excited for this !! I ordered from a company called TAP Plastics , who cut the sheet to the size I need for my tank ! I will be siliconing it to the bottom panel of glass . The ABS sheet will serve two purposes 1) Protect the bottom tempered glass panel from the rocks. 2) To have a place where I can anchor the rocks and have corals encrust to the ABS.

Hopefully I can order some aquarium silicone soon to get it in place !

Let me know what you all think about a Bare Bottom idea or Sand idea ?

Thank you all for following me on my Journey into the Reef world ..

Have a great day !

 

[Janci]

This sheet will go inside the tank or on the outside?
For me, despite loving the look of sand, bare bottom it is.

 

[Clayton Jessup]

This sheet will go inside the tank or on the outside?
For me, despite loving the look of sand, bare bottom it is.

The ABS sheet will go in the inside of the tank kinda like so ..

It’s just laying in place right now but it will be siliconed on the inside of the bottom panel..

Is this a little more clear @Janci ?

 

[najer]

I like sand but loving that idea.

 

[Clayton Jessup]

I like sand but loving that idea.

Thank you @najer , this is my 1st tank and I wanted to try it B.B. , I’ll see if I like it in the long haul ..

 

[najer]

Each to their own, I'll be interested to see this progress, way better than just glass.

 

[Clayton Jessup]

Each to their own, I'll be interested to see this progress, way better than just glass.

Agreed on to each their own ! @najer I am dying to see how my tank will mature once it’s all established. But agreed that the ABS is better then just glass !

 

[Clayton Jessup]

I got my Black vinyl 1/2in tubing from BRS , and I plumbed the manifold pretty simply set up but prefer the black tubing over the clear tubing any day. Here are some pics ..

Front view when opening the cabinet doors ..

View from inside the stand .. I am loving the black tubing against my white paint inside the stand..

That’s the only update for now , but did place a order for my Black silicone to come in for my ABS board .. then I’ll silicone it into place , in the tank. So please stay on the look out for more updates .. thank you again for following along in my Journey into this side of the hobby of Reef keeping! Thank you have a great day and happy Reefing ..

 

[samnaz]

seriously impressive work for your very first reef tank. your skills as well as your enthusiasm is inspiring. thank you for sharing with us.

 

[haanstang]

Your build is looking awesome Clayton. I haven’t been keeping up to date on your build so I had some reading to do. I’m as excited for your build as I am mine.
Keep it coming bud

 

[Clayton Jessup]

As promised , I am back with another update on my build . This one is on my ABS sheet install. My ASI silicon came in and I was able to install into my aquarium yesterday! I was super excited to see this piece get into my aquarium as well ! Here are some pictures of it as well !!

Silicone :

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The other extension/Y cables splits that came in the box, I am going to use on my lighting to reduce both my T5 banks into one outlet on my Powerbar 5.1 , then as well to reduce both my heaters to one outlet on my Powerbar 5.1 as well.

So back to the ABS sheet install .. preparation cleaned with H2O and alcohol and installed masking tape to help remove the silicone overspill ..

Installation..

Cleaned sheet as well with alcohol and water as well ..

I had to use my nursing books to apply weight to the ABS Sheet , so that it would not come back up and stop that silicone from curing to it ..

This is after 24hrs ...

Over all I am very pleased with the ABS sheet install . I’ll waiting for 7 days to wait for it to fully cure . I am also waiting 7 days due to the fact that my 40lbs of Pukani is currently in FW . I am trying to get rid of the bleach /water mix that I had the rock in for 2-3wks. So I am currently doing daily WC on my rock trash can .. which it’s about 30g that I changing every day on the brute trash can. And I am going to continue doing that for another 5-7 days . Then from there I think I’ll put the rock in my tank and start the cycling process for my tank !! I am getting super close !!

Thank you all for following along with me on this journey, please stay on the look out for any new updates that will be around the corner for me ! Thank you again and happy Reefing to you all !

 

[Clayton Jessup]

seriously impressive work for your very first reef tank. your skills as well as your enthusiasm is inspiring. thank you for sharing with us.

Thank you so much @samnaz that truly means a lot to me to read that comment on my thread. I am trying my best on this 1st build so thank you again so much !

 

[Idoc]

Looking good, Clayton. Wht did you choose to use an ABS bottom rather than just paint the outside bottom of the tank black? It looks good, though!

 

[Idoc]

Btw... an idea for your Profilux... the P4 will control the different light channels in terms of when to turn on/off, % of each color, etc.... so, you can save yourself an extra outlet on your 5.1 bar by actually plugging your lights directly into a wall outlet. I use those same outlet splitters and put directly into a wall outlet freeing up a 5.1 outlet!