"Embarking the Journey" Reef Build by Clayton

[scottedontknow]

Omg congrats!!! My wife and I are about to celebrate our sons first birthday, time flys I feel like he was just born yesterday [emoji30][emoji30][emoji30][emoji30][emoji30]

 

[Clayton Jessup]

Omg congrats!!! My wife and I are about to celebrate our sons first birthday, time flys I feel like he was just born yesterday [emoji30][emoji30][emoji30][emoji30][emoji30]

Thank you very much scottdontknow , I completely agree just a few weeks earlier we celebrated my oldest sons 3yr B-day!! Wow does time truly fly when you have kids. And I can still remember when he was born as well just like yesterday as well . It's crazy and you got to enjoy them while they are so young at the same time !!! [emoji39][emoji12][emoji13][emoji14]

 

[Idoc]

So Happy 4th of July to everyone I hope you all have a great Holiday. [emoji95][emoji525][emoji894][emoji488][emoji312][emoji313]!!!

As promised here come some more pictures

Sump change:

I decided to remove my white painted bottom of the sump and replace it with a blue bottom and I absolutely love the blue, and the splash of color it brings to the inside of the stand

Here it is with skimmer inside , I was trying to match the Tunze Blue.

So from here I decide to start trying to get all the plumbing figures out .. here is the rough lay out of my ideas with all the fitting and pipe in place . I used 1 in Sch. 80 pipe with white Sch. 40 fittings. I also decided to paint my Gate Valves and ball valve blue to match the rest of the blue color theme .

Plumbing layout and set up :

From here it was time to add some air circulation to the inside of my stand by using 120mm computer fans x 2 and of course in blue to go with the rest of the blue theme.

Then when the stand has no light on :

Final touches soon to come let me all know what you all think please

I really like that blue theme! That's a lot of work painting ball valve handles, lol.

 

[Idoc]

Coming along nicely! I never thought about painting my sump walls...i like that! Awesome frag tank...i hope to get one going some day.

 

[Clayton Jessup]

I really like that blue theme! That's a lot of work painting ball valve handles, lol.

Thank you very much , on the complement on the blue paint. When I set my mind to something I'm usually like it all to match or be close to matching , hints why I did the extra work to paint the handles lol [emoji23] it all fin in this hobby .

 

[Clayton Jessup]

Coming along nicely! I never thought about painting my sump walls...i like that! Awesome frag tank...i hope to get one going some day.

Thank you once again Idoc , for another compliment on my build. Thank you for the kinda words on the frag tank as well. When I painted the sump walls it helped brighten up the sump quite a bit , it helps me see it more in the stand to see if there is build up or junk piling up like detritus etc. The paint is all white on all the sides of the sump and then bottom of the sump is painted blue to go with my whole theme . So a little slash of color into the sump. My dream is to have both systems running one day ... that's the goal

 

[choss]

Just cruising through your build. I love that you are rolling up your sleeves and doing a ton of work here to achieve what looks like a well thought out custom build. Congrats on the baby. I had two and it set my tank build back about 17 years

 

[Clayton Jessup]

Just cruising through your build. I love that you are rolling up your sleeves and doing a ton of work here to achieve what looks like a well thought out custom build. Congrats on the baby. I had two and it set my tank build back about 17 years

Thank you very much for the compliment choss . I will humbly accept it! I was not aiming for custom but more along the lines of a unique build. Still a lot more work and equipment to be done and buy. So still a slow progress but thank you again choss!

 

[Clayton Jessup]

So sorry about the long delay on my updates , I just got back this last week from Houston TX ( Katy) from being sent out with my National Guard Unit for helping with the hurricane relief. So still trying to get back into the swing of things all over again. So here are a few more updates on the "Embarking the Journey "

So after the plumbing was lined up (dry fitted) and ready to get glued it was time to get a fresh coat of paint on my stand after all the modifications that I did lol

I decided on keeping the stand black on the outside and painting all white on the inside , to help make it a little easier to see inside when performing maintenance and etc..

Then I decided to paint the control panel two colors of course to go with my theme of blue

Then the final project completed :

Last pictures are with my stand light turned on to truly show the colors in the bow white stand

 

[Clayton Jessup]

Thank you all for keeping update on my build thread. I know it’s been awhile from my last post. Things have been crazy , and things are starting to take a change for the better [emoji12] !! I am hoping you all don’t have to wait to much longer tell the tank gets wet[emoji97][emoji98].

So it’s all pretty much up to date on a lot of aspects to my build. There are a few more things ( DIY ) or items I got to help me out for this build.

I want to give a shout out to the Daily Reefing YouTube channel for having a subscriber contest. For the fact that I actually won some items. Here is what I won a Free Ecotech Marine ReefLink , and a APEX display mounting bracket by LeRusso Design very very nice quality.

Once again a thanks out to Daily Reefing YouTube Channel you all should subscribe.

I decided to make some changes to the DT with drilling a 3/4in hole on the back panel , to create a easy Water Change drain, for about 50% of my tank volume. I drilled the hole about half way down the top of my DT , put a bulk head and strainer , attached to a ball valve to help close it when not in use. Hopefully it actually helps me perform my maintenance easier.

Strainer is below the overflow [emoji12]

Next little project that I did is very simple as well. I had tons of Biological media left over from my Planted tank, so I decided why not put some to use. I used some left over light diffuser that I had or (egg create ) and made my self a little media box to hold some of my left over Marine Pure.

In total it holds about 24 of the 2 inch Marine Pure Spheres. I hoping that’s enough Bio Filtration for my tank if not I can always make a larger media basket to hold more of the spheres.

I know it’s not a huge update but it’s something , as far as seeing some forward progress of my build and my journey. My last little bit of information...

Is that something is on ORDER ... and hopefully it is in by next week Monday or Tuesday.....

When it comes in I’ll keep you all updated [emoji12][emoji13]

 

[Idoc]

Im glad to see it coming along nicely! You've inspired me to get back to updating my build thread!

 

[Clayton Jessup]

Im glad to see it coming along nicely! You've inspired me to get back to updating my build thread!

Thank you very much Idoc , I am a huge believer if any of post help another reefer then I am al, for it [emoji12][emoji39][emoji13]

 

[choss]

Hmmm...could it be an Apex coming?

 

[Clayton Jessup]

Hmmm...could it be an Apex coming?

Man choss I truly wish I had been waiting for a Apex .!!!! Lol [emoji23] maybe one day soon. As is I am still deciding it I want to go APEX or GHL ..

My order actually came in by Saturday, huge surprise to myself! I got it actually very quick!

Here is the new update [emoji39][emoji12]...

Lighting is finally underway [emoji362][emoji363]...

AquaticLife T5/Hybrid 48in

My wife ordered it on Thursday last week and we received it by Saturday from Marineandreef.com Extremely fast & very please [emoji12]!

Assembly of the lighting [emoji374][emoji1009][emoji373]...

Bulbs [emoji362][emoji362]..

ATI Coral Plus & ATI Actinic

Test Run on top of the tank ( In the Home , tanks location ) in the center of the home.

Suspended from the wall using wall brackets from Lowes ... only due to the fact that my ceiling is 10ft hight. And my wife does not want it hanging from the ceiling . Still not sure if I going to stick with the brackets , may do another idea not to sure yet.. any way here it is .

What I am planning ?

I am planning on going with TWO Ecotech Marine Radion XR15PRO ‘s G4’s one on each side of my center brace of my tank . I am thinking this setup when fully done will be a very solid lighting choice to have above my tank. As well I am wanting to take advantage of the free ReefLink that I won.

But I have also played with the idea of Kessil A360w ‘s a pair as well ..

Which route do you all think I should go Ecotech , Kessil , Aquaillumination... Open to suggestions.

Let me know what you all think as well ... if you like it .

Thank you all for following me in my Journey as well . Have a good one [emoji121]️[emoji12]

 

[choss]

That is a sweet looking delivery! I love it. I might have changed my lighting plans if I had considered this unit. I personally would go Kessil. I run a 360 and I can't say enough good things about the shimmer it provides. Would do well with the T5. Initially I had some issues growing SPS but I attribute this mostly to the fact that I run a single unit over a 40 cube. Of course since I have been ignoring my tank for my new build, the corals have been growing like crazy including some SPS. Good luck - I don't think there is a bad decision to be made based on the lights you are considering.

 

[justingraham]

To hang ur lights I recomend gas pipe from Home Depot u should clear coat them first so no metal gets in the tank but after that they look amazing

 

[Clayton Jessup]

That is a sweet looking delivery! I love it. I might have changed my lighting plans if I had considered this unit. I personally would go Kessil. I run a 360 and I can't say enough good things about the shimmer it provides. Would do well with the T5. Initially I had some issues growing SPS but I attribute this mostly to the fact that I run a single unit over a 40 cube. Of course since I have been ignoring my tank for my new build, the corals have been growing like crazy including some SPS. Good luck - I don't think there is a bad decision to be made based on the lights you are considering.

Thank you very much choss I am really considering a Kessil set up do to the fact that I am coming from a MH HQI fixture that I had over my planted aquarium. So that mostly y I am considering a Kessil set up.

 

[Clayton Jessup]

To hang ur lights I recomend gas pipe from Home Depot u should clear coat them first so no metal gets in the tank but after that they look amazing

I looked at that style of gas pipe to hang my fixture . But I decided on a wall bracket and I added a shelf to it as well just today I will be painting the shelf right now it’s just the raw wood color. But right now my wife and I are pleased with it . But thank you for the advice justingraham

Update pictures :

 

[Clayton Jessup]

Wanted to update the little project that I did . I painted the shelf that holds my light the same color as my stand black lol .. just wanted to up date you all ..

Still deciding on lights ( LEDs ) thinking [emoji848] a lot on Kessils , from a pair of A360w ‘s or a single AP700 ..

What do you all think I should go with?

 

[Clayton Jessup]

I am doing some small updates to the electronic section of my stand , I added a little something to hopefully make it nicer for the Control. When ever I am able to order that lol . I’ll be posting pictures of the changes soon .