My 900 gallon "dream" is coming to life!!

[tonto95]

I like the start of your build. I am glad you got the issues with the photo's corrected. I am waiting to see more of your system coming together.

 

[cane]

Nice

 

[NoStRaThOmAs]

I can see pics finally. Following

 

[Reef_Hobbyist]

Tank build completion schedule:

Today - level tank stand with shims, finish installing and plumbing 3 reactors - done!
Tue - finish installing two CL returns (waiting on a loc-line parts order)
Wed - rinse 320 lbs of sand
Thr - aquascaping 700 lbs of dry Pukani rock (its been curing in saltwater bins for over 2 months)
Fri/Sat - finish making saltwater and filling tank
Sun - test plumbing and pumps

I need a total of 900 gallons of saltwater. This is 400 gallons in storage tanks. I will make another 150 gallons in the sump. Then I will only need 350 gallons more!!!

 

[Reef_Hobbyist]

I like the start of your build. I am glad you got the issues with the photo's corrected. I am waiting to see more of your system coming together.

Thanks for following along and glad you like the build.

 

[Reef_Hobbyist]

Nice

Thanks

 

[Reef_Hobbyist]

I can see pics finally. Following

Yea sorry about that but I am using attachments now so no more Google Goofups....

 

[Reef_Hobbyist]

glad you got pics sorted out I actually joined reef2reef to follow your build

Wow I am honored. Welcome to R2R!!

 

[Reef_Hobbyist]

Great tank. Following along.

Thanks and coming from a rock star that means a l9t !!

 

[Reef_Hobbyist]

Got pics! [emoji6]

Hi Mike. Where in CT? I am originally from CT. Lived in several different towns over the years and relocated here to FL 3 years ago. I have to say I still do love CT but can't imagine ever moving back to those winters

 

[Mike in CT]

I'm in South Meriden. Your telling me you would rather have to more your grass in the winter instead of coming home to this?

I am getting less enthusiastic about CT as
I get older, so sometime in the future we could be neighbors.

 

[Reef_Hobbyist]

I'm in South Meriden. Your telling me you would rather have to more your grass in the winter instead of coming home to this?

I am getting less enthusiastic about CT as
I get older, so sometime in the future we could be neighbors.

Yikes... that brings back bad memories....

Those of us who finally had enough and relocated away from that nonsense all seem to agree on one thing.... we should have done it sooner.

 

[tonto95]

I live in Tennessee still get four seasons but it doesn't last as long

 

[Reef_Hobbyist]

Tank build completion schedule:

Mon - level tank stand with shims, finish installing and plumbing 3 reactors - done!
Tue - finish installing two CL returns (waiting on a loc-line parts order) - done!
Wed - rinse 320 lbs of sand - done! Took 4 hours of back breaking effort to get that stuff rinsed clean.... ugh!!
Thr - aquascaping 600 lbs of dry Pukani rock (its been curing in saltwater bins for over 2 months) - done! Thanks to my neighbors and new friends Brad and Amanda Beese from HOBE SOUND FRAGS!! Brad is the Michelangelo of rock stacking... It only took us 4 hours to bring the rock in, aquascape the tank and add the sand. Amazing!! And of course the more you look at it the more you think of ways to tweak it but for now, very happy with the outcome.
Fri - finish making saltwater and filling tank - done! It is now officially an aquarium!!
Sat- test plumbing and pumps - done ahead of schedule today! Everything is up and running.

More pics to follow....

What a project !!

 

[JaysLittleOcean]

It looks absolutely beautiful. I wish I had the time with work and family to maintain an aquarium this large. I wish you tons of thoughts on this. The Pukani Rock looks amazing in the current configuration.

 

[Reef_Hobbyist]

It looks absolutely beautiful. I wish I had the time with work and family to maintain an aquarium this large. I wish you tons of thoughts on this. The Pukani Rock looks amazing in the current configuration.

Thanks Jay, I appreciate that. What a project this has been. I probably put in several hundred hours on research, design and construction. Glad I live close to Ace Hardware, Lowes and Home Depot - I think I have boosted my local economy.

 

[JaysLittleOcean]

Thanks Jay, I appreciate that. What a project this has been. I probably put in several hundred hours on research, design and construction. Glad I live close to Ace Hardware, Lowes and Home Depot - I think I have boosted my local economy.

Your welcome. That statement may very well be true. It's amazing how much time and money we can put into this hobby. I came home from work one day really bummed. Just had one of those days that wouldn't stop. But I came home to a shipments of some of my very first SPS corals. My wife told me that was the happiest she has seen me in a long time, while I was ripping open the corals. She asked how much this happiness would cost her per month. I replied $650 on sale. She said I can only be REALLY happy twice a year. LOL

 

[Hobe Sound Frags]

It looks great!! We'll keep working on coming up with some ideas to tweak it like we had talked about. For now get that baby running!

 

[Reef_Hobbyist]

It looks great!! We'll keep working on coming up with some ideas to tweak it like we had talked about. For now get that baby running!

Thanks again for your help!! I had to adjust some of the nozzles at the bottom that were stirring up the sand a bit (made a little tool so I could reach down from the top and hook the end of the nozzle to give it a yank). I also added a couple more pieces of rock. The water cleared up nicely overnight. I put some carbon on it today and by tomorrow it will really be crystal clear. I will post a video later on.

Water test results are looking good.

Ammonia = 0
Nitrate = 5
Phosphate = 0.22

Unfortunately the water temp is running high with all the pumps going. I was hoping to mitigate that somewhat with the new A/C vents because I really don't want the chiller to be running too much. Will have to work on tweaking things to see if I can get the temp down.

 

[tonto95]

I like the progress of your set-up. Tings are coming together for you. Now waiting for the tank to cycle a little can be hard.