new to the forum and a new custom tank

[KYnewbee42103]

Ok back again! Whew I am on the home stretch adding fish slowly and addressing post build issues. I still have to add fans to my canopy before installing the doors. I gotta get that done before these lights burn my retinas out. I also found out my cabinet for the sump is so airtight that it builds up heat and humidity really bad, so I have to install a few fans and some venting below. You know the usual stuff before its all dialed in then I can put a face-plate on the control panel to hide the wires and pretty up all the wiring in the sump area too... last but not least we will be adding LED lighting to the control board and sump area as well.

 

[JumboShrimp]

This is not nearly to the scale or expert level of what you are doing, but as a flattering compliment, you absolutely were the inspiration for the new rock structure in the office tank! Best wishes along the home stretch of your amazing build!

 

[KYnewbee42103]

This is not nearly to the scale or expert level of what you are doing, but as a flattering compliment, you absolutely were the inspiration for the new rock structure in the office tank! Best wishes along the home stretch of your amazing build!

Thanks so much! I think it looks fantastic buddy & did a great job. I wish I had a tank in my office it would certainly relieve some stress through the day

I know alot of people have asked me about a DIY on the insert. so I finally took the time to post a thread on it. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/building-custom-dry-rock-and-fiberglass-insert.835315/

Thanks again for the kind words.

 

[Oberst Hajj]

When you get everything buttoned up and cleaned up, please post a pic showing the whole kitchen and tank. I need to see how the overall room looks. This is so unique.

 

[KYnewbee42103]

When you get everything buttoned up and cleaned up, please post a pic showing the whole kitchen and tank. I need to see how the overall room looks. This is so unique.

I am going to try and post a video if I can

 

[flyfisher2]

Bienvenido! Beautiful build... Success!

 

[KYnewbee42103]

Sorry Guys been out on the boat with the holiday weekend and working. Oh and cut my finger to the bone working on the vinyl wrap for the canopy. So long story but I basically got in a hurry and made a stupid mistake, so I had to go get some stitches. I guess snitches aren't the only ones who get stitches. So there's that, and all the other things in life that get in the way of this hobby.

I have installed the canopy fans and doors with gas shocks and that helped with the James Cameron avatar seeing blue syndrome and my kitchen not looking like a tanning bed room lol.

I am also awaiting the final install on a 55watt pentair UV sterilizer so I haven't finished the pretty work underneath shrink wrapping wires or the control panel face plate as i only want to measure twice and cut once after its 100% complete. I am gonna post some nasty photos of the BLOOD part of the sweat and tears that went into this build. I am Also not tech savvy but gonna try to post a quick video too.


https://youtu.be/e5mrTYDyh7I

 

[KYnewbee42103]

Bienvenido! Beautiful build... Success!

Thank you

 

[Oberst Hajj]

Ouch!

 

[KYnewbee42103]

I guess I have been so busy I have completely forgotten about posting the ongoing progress and struggle to dial in the aesthetics of my tank. I have since done a little cosmetic work on the sump added LEDs and started almost finished wrapping and hiding wires etc in the sump. Now the control panel is still a work in progress as I have to try and work to pay for this obsession too lol!!!

Here are a few snap shots of progress. I have started adding corals with LPS and a few shrooms including a sunkist bounce ricordea and working my way up the par values and frags toward SPS at the top. Man Oh Man its very expensive for Frags. I can remeber years ago buying huge specimens for half of these exotic frags pricing, but I digress its always cool to see growth and progress.

I had a little outbreak of ich which was very scary as I have grown so attached to my tangs not sure who, what, were, it came from but I had a gigantic pentair UV installed which either knocked it out or down so low that the fish are now no longer at risk. It has been a while since it was installed on a very low setting which is effective for ich but probably not much else although the water is also crystal clear now.... added bonus I guess.

 

[KYnewbee42103]

P.S. the wad of tubes by the ATO are my Dosing tubes. I am waiting on a custom set of dosing containers I ordered, I will also be spraying the ball valve handles orange instead of the red to match the color theme I have going. I guess im just OCD when it comes to my sump, hate wires and stuff hanging everywhere.

 

[Goaway]

Very unique and gorgeous tank. Welcome to r2r as well
Glad I viewed this build. I love those fish.

 

[terraincognita]

I guess I have been so busy I have completely forgotten about posting the ongoing progress and struggle to dial in the aesthetics of my tank. I have since done a little cosmetic work on the sump added LEDs and started almost finished wrapping and hiding wires etc in the sump. Now the control panel is still a work in progress as I have to try and work to pay for this obsession too lol!!!

Here are a few snap shots of progress. I have started adding corals with LPS and a few shrooms including a sunkist bounce ricordea and working my way up the par values and frags toward SPS at the top. Man Oh Man its very expensive for Frags. I can remeber years ago buying huge specimens for half of these exotic frags pricing, but I digress its always cool to see growth and progress.

I had a little outbreak of ich which was very scary as I have grown so attached to my tangs not sure who, what, were, it came from but I had a gigantic pentair UV installed which either knocked it out or down so low that the fish are now no longer at risk. It has been a while since it was installed on a very low setting which is effective for ich but probably not much else although the water is also crystal clear now.... added bonus I guess.

Looks awesome man.

very cool build.

Love to see it.

 

[KYnewbee42103]

Very unique and gorgeous tank. Welcome to r2r as well
Glad I viewed this build. I love those fish.

Thank you so much Mibu everyone here is super helpful and polite best forum ive ever been on!

 

[KYnewbee42103]

Looks awesome man.

very cool build.

Love to see it.

Thanks so much I will try to be better about posting in the future so difficult to juggle work and hobbies lol

 

[Goaway]

I am in awe with the coral placement. I have issues setting frags under 10" of the water line. Nice work!

 

[KYnewbee42103]

I am in awe with the coral placement. I have issues setting frags under 10" of the water line. Nice work!

lol if youve ever played that game with the claw that tries to grab stuffed animals at a chuck e chesse then your getting close to how difficult it is to super glue these frags on with grabber tongs on a ladder 7' feet off the ground. Thanks its a two person job lots of to your right no your other right now back now down now twist lol.

 

[Oberst Hajj]

Sorry to hear about the ich, but at least you got it under control quickly. The sump is looking really tidy already and the plumbing parts on the UV are interesting. I've not seen anything like that before.

 

[KYnewbee42103]

So Quick Update I am still putting off the Control board Face plate as I am trying to talk a local company with a CNC machines into helping me with the cutouts for the cabinet. I want it to be as clean as the rest of my build. I guess I am just OCD when it comes to my tank. This probably why my maintenance guys love me so much, with weekly water changes, skimmer dump, glass scraping, and sock replacements twice a week lol.

I have started with LPS and softies down low and I am working my way to the top. I am taking my time to get the rarest colors and specimens I can. I mean why spend this much and then Half butt on my corals. Shout out to Top Shelf Aquatics and Jason Fox!!!

I am slowly working my way up to the sticks on top. I also just added two small AI Nero 3's to the top to make sure my flow was not lacking for the acros and SPS im starting soon. I started with a very cheap Acro bird of paradise to make sure my Parameters are in check.

I have started to dose small amounts of Tropic Marine KH+Ca and also a product from Red Sea called NOPOX which helped with a small Phosphate spike I had from adding more fish and corals. Also I like to keep my tangs fed, fat and healthy as they probably didn't ask to be scooped up from the other side of the world and thrown into a glass cage for my enjoyment.

I think the least I can do is keep them happy, My Tank cleaners crack up because they think with a 4' deep tank and the ability for the fish to swim non stop with the island overflow that my fish must have the healthiest swim bladders and Environment in this town lol.

I have attatched a few photos of progress and coral placement I used an orange filter in a few photos I cant see that it really shows off colors of my bounce or blow torch or orange torch but they are beautiful in person. to be continued.............

 

[KYnewbee42103]

Ok sump is finally up to my standards I have replaced the fans and painted components in Neptune orange with an automotive acrylic and two part clear for durability. Even my schedule 40 bulkhead knobs that only come in red lol!!

So I now have a sump that is as pretty as it is effective in keeping things clean. I painted my dosing lids and even my Quantum Nyos work horse of a skimmer lid.