Well brief intro, i always said id do a build thread but i also always said id never use ball valves and flex pipe....
So my dad always wanted a saltwater tank i always kept FW discus and rays. so prior to joining the Army the wife bought me a 29 Biocube, cool sand rock damsels few snails and crabs done! boy what little did i know. took me months to learn about evaporation, at least i used Walmart water to fill it.
back from training 9 months later tanks still alive, well bearly, my domino damsel attacked anything that moved, cyano everywhere. the solution? a bigger tank....
Then the worst happened i was injured during a company PT test wether i would be able to walk again was in the air, so during my time on the sofa 18months to be exact i took to learning and reading and i met a great guy in a local forum who has mentored me and helped my with my tank as well as personally he's on here as BUDMAN so if you see him make sure you tell him he's awesome.
we moved house in 2014 so i could get around easier great time for a new tank...
My 120G SPS dominate tank this was my learning tank got an Apex Controller, auto top, started dosing, bought non API test kits and introduced myself to Ecotechs line of products. The tank got full quickly so within a year i wanted to do my dream build the 6ft 210, this leaked on me twice, livestock was a total loss and i sold my coral to try recoup something but having Leng SY montipora and other high end SPS i pretty much gave it away to save it. i gave up, i was done, my house was destroyed we have to move out while contractors repaired the damage and replace all the floors....
Dealing with all my issues mental and physical my tank was always there i guess it didn't give up on me why give up on it? but i had lost so much and couldn't afford to start again, then i found PayPal credit and SCAquariums black Friday special..
A 150G 3 sided Starfire eurobraced aquarium, this was going to be my Phoenix.. everything i said i would do, rise from the ashes and rebuild.
My new but old sand was in a tote in the yard, my rock was still in tank water but in an unheated garage in the Alabama heat and now cold. time to clean scrub and bring it back to useable.i knew the tank dimensions and wanted to actually scape my reef rather than the old rock pile.
i used epoxy didn't work, i tried to drill and use driveway markers i settled happily using a combination of driveway markers and great stuff pond and stone foam.
i got an idea from a build thread about pre drilling rock for frag plugs, great idea i always had stuff falling.
Tank arrived had to drive an hour to get it from shipping depo all looks great....
Build a stand? Can't be too hard theres a bunch of youtube video right? time to find power tools..
Doors or open? i have kids so doors seems the best choice but i wanted to keep it clean and try stop my self from making do and throwing it together and "making it work"
Electrical sorted, time for paint.
I was going to skin it with plywood but i wanted a seamless look but i didn't leave the top so the sides wouldn't stick out further than the tank. so i just used filler on the joints and painted over, not perfect but I'm not skilled with woodworking either, I'm more of a chainsaw and duct tape guy.
Tanks in and level, Water test done, time for rock and sand.
Lightbulb moment, rather tan mixed in brute cans and shell in and pump, i bought 2 25ft sections of ice maker line and hooked directly to my RODI unit..
Salt Added, dosing Microbacter 7 along with ghost feeding, i met the Brightwell Aquatic guys at a local frag swap winning a door prize of their products. I will continue to use the liquid foods and additives and will continue to do so on this build. i recommend their products and used them with great success on my ULN 120.
My Regular build progression dropbox from the guys at Bulk Reef Supply, they must hate when we start new tanks, i seem to order every other day.
Sump in, i upgraded from my Stock Synergy Reef SS34 to a custom synergy that was built but never used which i picked up in a trade love their products i use their fallout shelter just wish i could afford one of their full custom sumps, maybe one day.
Got Everything glued together and started installing my equipment.
Never had a Refugium but i went with the SB Sprite Fuge they come highly recommend. i also invested in 3 1 inch plates of Marinepure to supplement the loss of LR. my daughter managed to help me unpack 2 boxes so we will call it rubble lol.
Installed the BRS screen kit, wife was concerned about dog hair in the tank.
flush mounted the apex head unit, i kinda messed up the hole so i cut a pice of vinyl and make it look good its different and i kinda like it.
still have to figure out how to add pictures, they will be coming.
So my dad always wanted a saltwater tank i always kept FW discus and rays. so prior to joining the Army the wife bought me a 29 Biocube, cool sand rock damsels few snails and crabs done! boy what little did i know. took me months to learn about evaporation, at least i used Walmart water to fill it.
back from training 9 months later tanks still alive, well bearly, my domino damsel attacked anything that moved, cyano everywhere. the solution? a bigger tank....
Then the worst happened i was injured during a company PT test wether i would be able to walk again was in the air, so during my time on the sofa 18months to be exact i took to learning and reading and i met a great guy in a local forum who has mentored me and helped my with my tank as well as personally he's on here as BUDMAN so if you see him make sure you tell him he's awesome.
we moved house in 2014 so i could get around easier great time for a new tank...
My 120G SPS dominate tank this was my learning tank got an Apex Controller, auto top, started dosing, bought non API test kits and introduced myself to Ecotechs line of products. The tank got full quickly so within a year i wanted to do my dream build the 6ft 210, this leaked on me twice, livestock was a total loss and i sold my coral to try recoup something but having Leng SY montipora and other high end SPS i pretty much gave it away to save it. i gave up, i was done, my house was destroyed we have to move out while contractors repaired the damage and replace all the floors....
Dealing with all my issues mental and physical my tank was always there i guess it didn't give up on me why give up on it? but i had lost so much and couldn't afford to start again, then i found PayPal credit and SCAquariums black Friday special..
A 150G 3 sided Starfire eurobraced aquarium, this was going to be my Phoenix.. everything i said i would do, rise from the ashes and rebuild.
My new but old sand was in a tote in the yard, my rock was still in tank water but in an unheated garage in the Alabama heat and now cold. time to clean scrub and bring it back to useable.i knew the tank dimensions and wanted to actually scape my reef rather than the old rock pile.
i used epoxy didn't work, i tried to drill and use driveway markers i settled happily using a combination of driveway markers and great stuff pond and stone foam.
i got an idea from a build thread about pre drilling rock for frag plugs, great idea i always had stuff falling.
Tank arrived had to drive an hour to get it from shipping depo all looks great....
Build a stand? Can't be too hard theres a bunch of youtube video right? time to find power tools..
Doors or open? i have kids so doors seems the best choice but i wanted to keep it clean and try stop my self from making do and throwing it together and "making it work"
Electrical sorted, time for paint.
I was going to skin it with plywood but i wanted a seamless look but i didn't leave the top so the sides wouldn't stick out further than the tank. so i just used filler on the joints and painted over, not perfect but I'm not skilled with woodworking either, I'm more of a chainsaw and duct tape guy.
Tanks in and level, Water test done, time for rock and sand.
Lightbulb moment, rather tan mixed in brute cans and shell in and pump, i bought 2 25ft sections of ice maker line and hooked directly to my RODI unit..
Salt Added, dosing Microbacter 7 along with ghost feeding, i met the Brightwell Aquatic guys at a local frag swap winning a door prize of their products. I will continue to use the liquid foods and additives and will continue to do so on this build. i recommend their products and used them with great success on my ULN 120.
My Regular build progression dropbox from the guys at Bulk Reef Supply, they must hate when we start new tanks, i seem to order every other day.
Sump in, i upgraded from my Stock Synergy Reef SS34 to a custom synergy that was built but never used which i picked up in a trade love their products i use their fallout shelter just wish i could afford one of their full custom sumps, maybe one day.
Got Everything glued together and started installing my equipment.
Never had a Refugium but i went with the SB Sprite Fuge they come highly recommend. i also invested in 3 1 inch plates of Marinepure to supplement the loss of LR. my daughter managed to help me unpack 2 boxes so we will call it rubble lol.
Installed the BRS screen kit, wife was concerned about dog hair in the tank.
flush mounted the apex head unit, i kinda messed up the hole so i cut a pice of vinyl and make it look good its different and i kinda like it.
still have to figure out how to add pictures, they will be coming.
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