So it begins - SCA 120G build

[Benoit Martin]

Sorry about your leaks. At least your aquascape came out fantastic!

Thank you, I really like it and I'm glad you approve [emoji16]

 

[Benoit Martin]

After spending way too much time trying to figure out how to tighten the bulk heads through the way too small openings I made for them, I decided to cut the pipes, move the tank, cut a bigger opening in the sand and reset everything.
Needless to say it took longer than just giving a quarter turn to the bullhead nuts but this was the right thing to do for the long term.

I also took this opportunity to silicone the bottom of my stand to make sure it holds water better in case of small leaks and to finally install the panel for all my electrical equipment. I wanted to make sure they were completely isolated from the sump and possible leaking/splashing.

I'm ready to re-attach the plumbing and do another water test. Really hoping to get that done in the next day or two. I'm very anxious about it... Will the rest of the plumbing be good?

 

[Benoit Martin]

Tonight I reattached all the plumbing and did a water test of the overflow box, main drain, emergency drain and return line. All looks good so far and I am super excited that I'll finally be able to start putting water in.

Tomorrow I am stabilizing my rocks with acrylic rods before placing then in the tank and then said the sand.

If all goes well, I'll start filling up the water. I don't have enough room to make a water station to accommodate for 100G of water so I'll be making my RODI water as I go. I have the BRS 150G/day RODI but that will still take me a while as I have to do it 5G at a time. That's gonna be fun.

Hopefully I can start the cycle before the weekend is over.

 

[Benoit Martin]

Rocks are in, sand is in, water is dripping in.
I'm so excited, can hardly wait.

On to setting up the QT next so I can purchase my first 2 fish and have them quarantined the mandatory 4 weeks. Tank should be cycle by then.

 

[homebrewdude]

Any plans on how you skin the stand?

 

[Benoit Martin]

Any plans on how you skin the stand?

I still need to put much thought into that one. I thought that I'd have plenty of time while the tank is cycling.

Right now I'm thinking 1/2 inch birch plywood painted white. I'll have removable panel on each side held by magnets and 2 doors in the front. Probably done type of molding out base board along the top and bottom to look more finished.

Even though I have pretty much all the required told, I've never built anything that actually needed to look nice so I have to figure out how to approach it. That'll be keeping me busy for the next few weeks

 

[Benoit Martin]

The long cycling/waiting period is finally over and I was able to add done live stock over the weekend.

I started simple with a cleaner shrimp and 2 clowns.

Now I need to figure out my feeding and water change routines. I've been spilling water everywhere with my way too short siphon tube and fish is "running" after the food when I forget to turn off the wave pumps. The learning never ends...