NeveSSL's 180g Mixed Reef

[NeveSSL]

Thanks, guys! I got my game plan together for today. First, clean the glass. Then drain the tank. Then fill it up with the one brute of RO/DI water that I have made, then do that about 5 or 6 more times until the tank is full and I have one more brute full. This last part will not all happen today, but over the course of the week. :) I may actually make water 24/7 with a float valve to turn it off. I'll figure that out later today...

Brandon

 

[bknapp]

Why not just run the RO/DI tubing straight into the tank?

 

[NeveSSL]

I had thought about that, and may still do it. Originally, I didn't want to do that because I would have to go through the wall with the RO/DI. However, if my extra line that I have will fit, I'll go ahead and do that. That will also allow me to do my permanent plumbing today.

So, on another note... just had my first flood today. Apparently if you disconnect one of your return lines, the water goes all over your hardwood floors when you turn your pump on. T_T Needless to say, I was freaking out... lol My wife was actually the calm one. Thank God for the shop vac that was already in the room and lots of towels. :D On the bright side, I don't need to vaccum up the floor around the tank any more. Ha!

Brandon

 

[mixer911]

I had thought about that, and may still do it. Originally, I didn't want to do that because I would have to go through the wall with the RO/DI. However, if my extra line that I have will fit, I'll go ahead and do that. That will also allow me to do my permanent plumbing today.

So, on another note... just had my first flood today. Apparently if you disconnect one of your return lines, the water goes all over your hardwood floors when you turn your pump on. T_T Needless to say, I was freaking out... lol My wife was actually the calm one. Thank God for the shop vac that was already in the room and lots of towels. :D On the bright side, I don't need to vaccum up the floor around the tank any more. Ha!

Brandon

Lol...

I knew it was only a matter of time :D

 

[bknapp]

Won't be the last either.

 

[NeveSSL]

Lol...

I knew it was only a matter of time :D

So did I. :)

Brandon

 

[NeveSSL]

Won't be the last either.

I'm doing all I can try try and keep it one of the few. :D I've not been super successful, but I'm doing what I can... lol

Brandon

 

[bknapp]

I'm doing all I can try try and keep it one of the few. :D I've not been super successful, but I'm doing what I can... lol

Brandon

Personally I've quit trying and realized that as long as I'm running a reef tank I'm going to have wet floors. My better half doesn't like that so much.....

:what:

 

[NeveSSL]

I can't quit trying... wood floors are too expensive. :D

Got some more done today...

Cleaned the tank and drained it back down...

And started filling it back up...

Despite the way the sand looks, I did rinse all of it. It seemed like a neverending process, so it certainly wasn't perfectly clear, but it should work well. I think I've got about 160 lbs or so in there. I still need to put some egg crate on the right-hand side so the rocks don't sit directly onto the glass. The left side has cutting boards down. I thought I had enough to cover the whole tank, but apparently I do not.

I am tired, but this weekend has been full of great progress. Cannot thank Rick and his wife enough for coming over and hanging out all day yesterday. Good times and got tank stuff done! :)

Now to let the RO/DI do its thing. Let the waiting begin! :ranger:

Brandon

 

[schooleyosis]

Good progress man! Wish I were local to have been able to come over and play.

 

[NeveSSL]

Thanks, man! I'm mentally and physically exhausted... tomorrow is gonna hurt from all of that sand. Haha!

Hope you had a good trip!

Brandon

 

[schooleyosis]

Thanks man. Hope the sand cleansing went well. At least it's really nice outdoors

 

[NeveSSL]

It went as well as it could have. It was still rinsing sand and then heaving heavy buckets of it into the tank. :D

I've got the RO/DI going 24/7 right now to fill it up. I also may have a shipment of 50g of water coming from a very helpful fellow by the name of Nate. Once that gets here, I'll heat it up, mix it up, and plumb it together to get everything flowing. :) I'm hoping to be up and running by Sunday, but it may be sooner if I'm lucky.

Brandon

 

[schooleyosis]

Sweet.

 

[NeveSSL]

Annnnnd we have salt! It felt kind of strange dumping an entire box of salt into a single Brute (that was acting as a sump for the moment). Its clearing up as it mixes. I just went ahead and dumped all 4 bags in. I'll see what it reads on the refractometer tomorrow and adjust from there.

Clearing up (I didn't heat the water before adding the salt, so its cloudy from being cold):

Getting so, so close!

Brandon

 

[Rob.D]

Awesome!!! Almost time for fish and coral!!!

 

[NeveSSL]

I know, Rob! Its killing me! This thing has been 7 years in the making in my head... haha!

Brandon

 

[schooleyosis]

Awesome. Don't forget to have it up to temp as well before checking the salinity. Also a good time to make sure your heaters can keep up!

 

[Dowtish]

Glad to see this thing finally get wet Brandon! I know you have been jonesing for a tank for a loooong time. Being in a home of your own and being able to do it right is an awesome thing!

 

[NeveSSL]

Definitely, Ryan! I need to calibrate my refractometer, too. It was almost up to temp this morning and read about 1.025. I suspect I may have to take a little bit of water back out of it before its all said and done, but that's ok... no livestock, anyway.

I was going to plumb it into my sump and all that jazz, but with this cold snap, I think I'll wait. We may do our aquascaping, though. We'll play it by ear. :)

Here's a pic from this morning:

I need to order that 800w Titanium heater from Amazon. I will be travelling for work soon and almost have enough points to get a $100 gift card to Amazon, which will then promptly be used on reef equipment, maybe starting with that heater. Haha!

Brandon