Rural Montana Reef

[Gjedde]

11-6-25 FTS

2/1/25 FTS

Current livestock: Fish
Clown pair
Longnose hawkfish
chocolate tang
Dusky wrasse
Pintail fairy wrasse
Blue star leopard wrasse
Yellow flanked fairy wrasse
Citron clown goby
Bicolor blenny
Starry blenny in sump
Yellowtail damsel
Spotted Mandarin


Tank- glass cages 60x20x24
Lighting-3 noopsyches with aquatic life hybrid t5
Flow- jebao slw30x2 (will likely add one more pump
Return- jebao mdp
Sump- diy baffle kit for 60 breeder
Skimmer- reef octopus 202s

This will be going in our home that we are in the process of building. Hvac is going in this week. Basement is going to be unfinished for now. Hoping to have the wall/stand finished and plumbing ready by the time the tank is finished!
Tank and wall is mapped out by the plywood. Rodi water and mixing station will be under the stairs.

 

[FUNGI]

might have been cheaper to get sleeve-less Tee's.......LOL just j/k.
Looks like itsgonna be a nice build....dont forget proper venting....

 

[Sdoutreefer]

Looks like it'll be a nice build! Following

 

[Gjedde]

might have been cheaper to get sleeve-less Tee's.......LOL just j/k.
Looks like itsgonna be a nice build....dont forget proper venting....

Looks like our ducted heat pump will help with that. But we will have to see just how much moisture it puts out.

 

[Gjedde]

Got some work done on the stand today. Baffles for the sump come in tomorrow. Hopefully will get some better pictures in tomorrow.

 

[FUNGI]

Look good.

 

[Gjedde]

Just have a couple more 2x6’ to tie things together as well as one more strip of plywood and the frame of the stand will be done.
Using multiple strips of plywood because that is the size we had lying around from when we were putting the roof on the house.
Once this is done ill start waterproofing the sump area. To help with humidity under the tank ill also add a fan to vent out to the heat pump ducting .

 

[Gjedde]

Also recieved a diy sump kit today from jaxracks for a 60 breeder. Let me know what you think on the layout. Return chamber is 8” wide, cryptic refugium will be 17” wide, and skimmer chamber is 13.5 wide. Three filter socks and 1” bulkhead inlets. All in i think i am 215$ in on the sump and i couldnt be happier.

 

[Gjedde]

Although, when i say i couldnt be happier, not necessarily true. Just finished out a really fun mule deer hunt in central montana. Lucked out before the nasty weather hit! 3 mile hike out, i was toast!

 

[Gjedde]

Finished with the main construction of the tank. Going to home depot tomorrow to get all i need to paint the inside of the tank, and have a Formica skin being shipped to me from lowes. Its about to start to get fun. And the tank should be 4-8 weeks out now.

 

[Gjedde]

Figure the tank might be cycled around the time the house is completed!

 

[Gjedde]

Started priming the stand today and got the side on the stand as well.
Plan on slapping a formica sheet on the side of it.
https://www.homedepot.com/pep/FORMI...i4nax7C6ptG9V3kq4_FuEGfzZxXLWe-RoCTHMQAvD_BwECurious if many on this forum have done this on a stand and if they have any tips on applying it.

 

[Gjedde]

Sump is in, lights positioned(will adjust them a bit, they aren't super even at the moment. Have to slap some formica on one side but other than that i cant do anything until the tank arrives. Only moderately terrified of bringing it down the stairs.

 

[Flameback Pair]

Hey Lucas it's Mitch Powers here, the guy who sold you the Red Sea. I changed my username. I would like to see your tank once set up. Congratulations on the new house!! I have a Glass Cages tank coming too.

 

[Gjedde]

Hey Lucas it's Mitch Powers here, the guy who sold you the Red Sea. I changed my username. I would like to see your tank once set up. Congratulations on the new house!! I have a Glass Cages tank coming too.

You bet mitch. Ordered the tank in late October, so with the estimated 8-12 weeks i am expecting ab email some time in the next month. Perfect timing as ive got everything other than the mixing station set up!

 

[Flameback Pair]

Lucas, if you have anxiety about moving your tank I would suggest getting those suction cups with handles that are designed to move heavy glass things. I bought four and they were $25 a piece. The website description claims they one can hold 600 pounds. Just something to think about.

 

[Gjedde]

Lucas, if you have anxiety about moving your tank I would suggest getting those suction cups with handles that are designed to move heavy glass things. I bought four and they were $25 a piece. The website description claims they one can hold 600 pounds. Just something to think about.

Maybe i could rent em off of you. Might buy an extra two as well. Nervous about the 90 degree turn at the bottom of the stairs.

 

[Flameback Pair]

Just ordered them last week, should be here December 27 according to tracking. You are happy to borrow them no charge.
Wow you've been waiting since October? Long time. When I talked to you on the phone you said you're picking up the tank in Missoula. I'm having mine delivered at the ranch, my nephew has his forklift here.

 

[Gjedde]

Missoula or spokane. Saves a couple hundred bucks.

 

[Flameback Pair]

Let me know when you need the cups and I'll bring them to you.