RocketEngineer launches again.

w8lifts · Nov 13, 2022

Had to double check this wasn’t my boss lol, he was a “rocket engineer” as he calls it, (we are structures engineering dept) married, new house around same time lol. Anyways best of luck!

RocketEngineer · Nov 13, 2022

Yeah, no. I’m not boss material. My first job out of college was designing payloads for small sub-orbital rockets. Thanks.

RocketEngineer · Nov 19, 2022

Not the greatest picture but you can see the dust has settled. The sand is still mostly along the front glass so I will need to continue shifting that around now that I can see. Most of the salt is in (back can only handle so much at once) so the next small step is getting the power strips mounted where they should be and get the heaters in.

RocketEngineer · Nov 20, 2022

Salinity has been archived. Bacteria has been added. We are off to the races.

hhaase · Nov 24, 2022

Let the fun begin!

hollow6210 · Nov 25, 2022

Rocket, just curious why you used the eggcrate under the rock? Looks great. Glad to see you back.

RocketEngineer · Nov 25, 2022

hollow6210 said:
Rocket, just curious why you used the eggcrate under the rock? Looks great. Glad to see you back.

I use it for two reasons:
1) it keeps the sharp points of the rock from sitting on the glass (which makes me nervous)
2) it helps stabilize the rocks when the sand goes in so they don’t move.

I’m going to need more sand for sure. The goal was a 1” bed but the 60#s isn’t enough.

skyrne_isk · Nov 25, 2022

nereefpat said:
You're the guy with the 2x4 stand that everyone uses, I assume?

Welcome.

He’s a legend. Absolutely used it to build my first stand. Nice to see him here.

RocketEngineer · Dec 10, 2022

This is the view from the sectional. I love that I can see the full length of this tank. Bacteria is in, ATO container is modified to accept the pump, electrical enclosure arrived and assembled. Small steps. Next step on the livestock from is a pair of Treasure Chests from Tampa Bay Saltware; one of rubble, one of live sand.

RocketEngineer · Dec 12, 2022

It took some modifications of my water container to get the pump to fit but the ATO is now up and running. Sorry for the mess, sump has gathered the sand dust.

Gumbies R Us · Dec 12, 2022

RocketEngineer said:
It took some modifications of my water container to get the pump to fit but the ATO is now up and running. Sorry for the mess, sump has gathered the sand dust.

Messy or not its great progress on the tank!!

RocketEngineer · Dec 12, 2022

Gumbies R Us said:
Messy or not its great progress on the tank!!

I may move things around once I get situated. Once I like the positioning, I will wire tie just about everything.

Eric R. · Apr 2, 2023

Happy to see the status of the new build! Any updates? Did you get the TBS rubble and sand? If so, how did you like it?

RocketEngineer · Dec 26, 2024

Well folks, it’s been two years without an update but it’s finally back on track, somewhat. A number of events have taken priority. November 2022 I lost my job and starting the new one was draining. In the summer of 2023, I realized my ATO container wasn’t big enough to go a full week between refills. I ordered a custom one from Melev’s Reef which took a while to receive but is amazing. Not long after I got that all set up and working, in early November of 2023, and again in January 2024, my knee got so bad I could barely walk, let alone maintain the tank. As there was still nothing in it, I shut everything off and left it. I spent 7 months on crutches. Maintaining an aquarium isn’t really possible when just standing is difficult.

Talking with my wife over the summer, she has agreed to help me with the basics like topping off the ATO bin. With her help and encouragement I’ve restated the tank.

The two big equipment updates are new lights, (2) Radion XR15s, and the Tunze pumps connected to my Apex controller are now in the tank.