From Watching to Reefing...

[CardPlayerV]

Hi Everyone, I hope this is the correct place to start a thread on my tank build so here goes.
I have been is the forum just looking and learning for a little while now so now its time to 'branch out'.
As I am clearly a newbie, any pointers or comments would be greatly appreciated.

These are the chronicles of my new build.

I am moving from tropical aquariums to marine reefing now. The Plan is to start two new tanks within the next few months. One MRWLR and the other FOWLR.

The first is a full DIY project where I built the aquarium (130 Gal) and stand 8020 T-Slot.
The initial gear planned for the tank are as follows:

1 x Maxspect Gyre XF-230 Circulation Pump
2 x Ecotech Marine MP10 Circulation pump
1 x Custom Sump (Melevs)
1 x RO Regal 200INT 8" Protein Skimmer
1 x RO Varios-6 Return Pump
1 x Tunze Osmolator ATO​

During the next month I need to decide on the lights to be used. Additionally I am considering using a lower spec return pump but using two so that there will be a bit or redundancy. I have already built the return manifold to accommodate this in either case.

As we all know this is a hobby which goes slowly so I hope you all will bear with me while I progress along with the plan and continue to point me in the right direction.

Below are a few pics of the progress so far

The tank start:
Cutting

Siliconing

Whew!.!.!

What a sticky mess....
My family said 'you sure you know what you are doing?'

 

[Flippers4pups]

Awesome! Looks very good!

Welcome to reef2reef! Ask any questions you have. We'll do our best to answer them!

Glad you joined us!

 

[ndrwater]

I like the start!!! Great job!! Keep the updates coming..
Only one minor suggestion. You may want to consider MP40's instead of the MP10's. On a 130 gallon tank, the 10's just might be undersized. I have (2) 40's on one of my 120 glon tanks and they work well.

 

[CardPlayerV]

My Response came a few days later.

"At least it tests ok. look see? No leaks

So next I moved on to the stand.

Front and back

Then...
Sides and even a top too

Soon we will have a real setup....

 

[CardPlayerV]

I like the start!!! Great job!! Keep the updates coming..
Only one minor suggestion. You may want to consider MP40's instead of the MP10's. On a 130 gallon tank, the 10's just might be undersized. I have (2) 40's on one of my 120 glon tanks and they work well.

Noted: I wasnt sure that I would need that much flow as I expected that the gyre would do the 'heavy lifting' but thanks

 

[CardPlayerV]

Awesome! Looks very good!

Welcome to reef2reef! Ask any questions you have. We'll do our best to answer them!

Glad you joined us!

Thanks for the offer. I do have a couple of questions.
1. Is there a way to edit the size of the shots after I paste them into the thread or must this be done beforehand?
2. IS there a way to stop all the pics from duplicating when I post them?

 

[Flippers4pups]

It does depend on rock structures and your aquascape. Mp 10's could be used as supplemental flow to create chaotic flow, but you may need quite a few of them along with the gyre.

@ndrwater is correct mp40's would be a better fit.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Thanks for the offer. I do have a couple of questions.
1. Is there a way to edit the size of the shots after I paste them into the thread or must this be done beforehand?
2. IS there a way to stop all the pics from duplicating when I post them?

Needs to be done before hand.

I found it was my internet speed at times that caused duplicates to happen because I was hitting the "post reply" button repeatedly.

 

[CardPlayerV]

Overflow by Ghost..
All ready

And the return manifold all from 1 1/4" pvc

 

[CardPlayerV]

It does depend on rock structures and your aquascape. Mp 10's could be used as supplemental flow to create chaotic flow, but you may need quite a few of them along with the gyre.

@ndrwater is correct mp40's would be a better fit.

Gotcha. I will make the amendments as only the gyre has been bought so far. My initial aquascape will be somewhat bulky as I got most of the rock from a beach collection trip. Instead of collecting shells on the beach I took rock.

 

[CardPlayerV]

I say 'initial', since after my collection trip I looked at what several real tanks look like on the forum and had a change of heart on using that set of rock. I would prefer an aquascape with more caves and places to swim between and through the rockwork. Something a bit more natural looking.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Gotcha. I will make the amendments as only the gyre has been bought so far. My initial aquascape will be somewhat bulky as I got most of the rock from a beach collection trip. Instead of collecting shells on the beach I took rock.

A word of caution with beach collected rock, as it may have soaked contaminants from shoreline. It may or may not be a problem water chemistry wise down the road. It's a unknown that most of us would avoid using. Just saying.

 

[Devaji]

any updates on this? I am thinking of a 80/20 stand

 

[vetteguy53081]

 

[CardPlayerV]

any updates on this? I am thinking of a 80/20 stand

Its a life time later and my only excuse is, I got busy with life and Tanking instead of recording. Much has happened and there have been growth, developments and even deaths.
let me take a look back and chronicle the steps

 

[CardPlayerV]

A whole lot has happened from Tank Stand framing on Dec 18 2018

To T-Slot stand installation on Jan 21 2019

We moved on to parts selection and assembly

And then to tank retesting for leaks

 

[CardPlayerV]

That was the easy part!!

But right after all that was the real work and I gotta say, this manifold....

Turned into nothing but ‘Manifold-Madness’!!

 

[CardPlayerV]

But at last it worked out after much ado and redo.
When they tell you to use unions they are 1000% correct, what they didn't say is that one should also use NPT 'screw' fittings as much as you can. Because once its glued, its set in STONE!!

 

[CardPlayerV]

Anyhow after quite a few months and quite a bit of a hunt to find helpers we got the lifting crew ready. Lifters, suction cups, sponges, everything. All ready!

May 13 2019 quite a rocky start. But at least there is sand….

 

[CardPlayerV]

Anyhow, the first fishy friend come along by July 13
Jumper – he’s a Royal Gramma
Sir Spikely :- my Yellow Coris Wrasse

and they were follow shortly after by the clowns, making up Sir Spikely and the Clowns band