Susan's Grand Adventure--125 Reef Build

[Susan Edwards]

Didn't spend that! Nor would have. I was looking for something waterproof and maybe salt proof. This is what I used
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001001LUC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s03?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I wanted something high gloss as that is easier to wipe down. The wood inside was painted but could have used another coat and was pretty rough to the touch. And no paint under the top or under the bottom. As my hubby is going to add more bracing to the bottom for the sump, we flipped the stand last night so I could paint that

 

[count krunk]

good good! Yeah the stuff I was talking about is very heavy as well due to all the copper in it.

 

[revhtree]

Nice planning so far!

 

[Susan Edwards]

Thanks @revhtree ! Pukani just arrived. Time to go see what they sent.

 

[Susan Edwards]

Now I'm getting somewhere! The pukani I got today was nice pukani--one rock mostly solid but the rest were prime so I'm pleased. The 40 coming next week I won't need all but that's fine as I can have some back up. I have plenty for the sump in use to xfer over. When that last batch gets here I can really play. Right now the back corners are rock free. Not sure if I want rock to take some of that space or not. Might make note of a couple of pieces and hose rocks off and toss them all into a brute can this weekend to soak--just outside tap water and no heater--just to get dust and loose bits off

Am hopeful that we will get tank onto stand this weekend!

 

[Susan Edwards]

Stalled.... Last weekend, I'd hoped to get tank on stand. Nope. We decided to paint the bottom of stand in case water spilled on floor and leaked under. Wood was raw. It was also very DRY. Took 3 coats of paint. First coat soaked right in so you could barely tell it had been painted! So could not flip stand over and proceed.

Last shippment of rocks arrives Wed. Was supposed to be here today, then Thur, and now, Wed...

Ordered all the plumbing stuff except unions and ball valves from BRS. Also ordered some good power strips for the electrical side. 1 type has rotating outlets so I can use the big blocks and not have to have wasted outlets. Rest of plumbing and the other outlets, with individual switches, will be here on Friday. Will order BRS tomorrow.

Thur and Friday will be play with rocks and come up with a rockscape.

Thinking of drilling a hole in the center piece of pukani rock for a swim thru--gsp around it.

Scape is just playing around, not anywhere near final. The rock in question is almost an arrowhead shape. I added the top rock.

 

[Bronc]

I used Flexseal on the inside of my stand to coat and waterproof it and it works great. It has a smooth finish that isn’t tacky. I then put a layer of toolbox drawer liner on top of that to line the bottom and my shelves. I love the way it turned out.

 

[Susan Edwards]

thanks @Bronc I used a marine paint. Will look at the tool box drawer liners for the electrical side. Sump fits into a boot mat that is 2 inches tall to catch spills or leaks.

 

[Susan Edwards]

Received my last batch of rocks today from amazon. Nice pieces! So here is an arrangement. My goal was for lots of terraces to step corals up. Tank is only 18 wide with 2 overflows so this was a challenge. Also aimed for lots of crevices, swim thrus etc. A few bigger ones for tangs. Will have 2 " clear all around and trying for 3" in front. Center pc will have gsp and palm cloves with a leather or other show piece on top. Thinking of drilling a hole in center for a swim thru

Tried to follow flow of returns as well. Was a bit frustrating with the limitations. What do you think?

 

[Bronc]

That looks awesome!

 

[Susan Edwards]

PROGRESS!!! And OH--MY--GOD.....

Stand drilled for the tank and sump mat and sump put back into the stand. Next came the task of putting the tank onto the stand. This was the fun <not> part. It was to heavy for the 2 of us to lift and I couldn't have lifted it as high as it needed to go, so I tried calling friends. No answer. Kids are 1 and 2 hrs away. No help there. Suggested I ask a couple neighbors. Hubby, being a typical man, said no. He could do it with his cherry picker. Me: No way. That makes me too nervous. Him: It's fine. I know just what to do.

Did I believe him? Yeah, he's an engineer but holy cr** my heart was in my throat.

Step 1: dig the dang thing out of the ched and get it into house
Step 2: get it down the step into the living room
Step 3: put tank back on the dollys AND lift each end to put 2 2x4's cut to size. This so the legs of the CP'er could slide under.
Step 4: Go to home depot for a cheap pc of plywood
Step 5: Cut and make notches for the strap tie down he plans to use
Step 6: Hook it up and start cranking
Step 7: Me: keep tank from swinging and smacking into stand.
Step 8: Get it high enough. Put the 2x4's, double stacked (2 per side) onto the stand to lower the stand onto (to get the straps out after tank down)
Step 9: Him: "Oh no, I just thought of something horrible! The feet of the cherry picker will keep us from lowering tank onto the stand.
Step 10: Me: Well move the stand as close as we can
Step 11: Him: "Okay, push your endas I lower until you're on the 2x4's. Got my corner on the stand
Step 12: He shoves his corner over as he lowers SLOWLY.
Repeat step 12 until tank is on the 2x4's
Step 13: Lower completely, remove strapping/tie downs
Step 14: Remove 1 2x4 on one side
Step 15: Remove both 2x4's on other side--get your fingers out!!!! (me to him)
Step 16: Remove last 2x4--him lifting, me yanking out
Voila! Tank now on stand!

Let the plumbing act commence....

This week I'll clean tank as best as I can. Maybe try to fill with hose to test for leaks and organize plumbing . Maybe get some plain white to do some trial runs.

Pics of today's little show.

@don_chuwish Paper removed from sump ;Cat
Getting set up. Ignore trashed living room.... Hmmm, going to have to figure way to keep sun off tank....

Tank on stand!

Stapping off and 2x4's out. Wish it looked shiny and new but hey, it's used....

Sump on top of a boot mat that fits exactly the width!

plywood cut out for the job

Sump to one side, electrical to the other. Oops, forgot to paint the front edged..

 

[don_chuwish]

Wow, actually makes me glad I stuck with 4x2x2 120G!!

 

[Susan Edwards]

lol's @don_chuwish I actually wish I'd held out for a 24 wide tank but still wanted 6' min. Told my hubby in 3 years or so if we still like doing this, we might want to upgrade <eg>

 

[Susan Edwards]

hoping to get plumbing started this weekend. Have granddaughter's 3rd b'day party on Sat. Looking for ways to get the glass clean on the tank. Splotchy and cloudy. any ideas? Tried vinegar, vinegar and water and used my flipper to get rid of crud. I'm sure water will hide it but it bugs me...

 

[Susan Edwards]

Woo Hoo!!! Plumbing nearly complete!!!!
Leak test: In progress!!!!

Great progress today. Drain line plumbing done. One side has temp. fittings as I didn't order any blue 90 degree elbows, just 45's. To fit, we need 2 blue 90's. So just have to get those changed out. Return line also done except down to the pump--will have pump next weekend. Need some flexible tubing to go from pump to pvc. Or just hard plumb it with a union. Also have to finish the manifold. Husband is running it behind the return line pvc. It'll point down I think. Hubby is in charge of plumbing....

Also filled the tank just before the weirs. Will let it sit overnight and drain tomorrow. Used reg. tap water. No leaks. Will also see with the sunlight if the tank is clear with that white cloudiness. Will drain tomorrow and start moving my rocks inside. And order pumps and powerheads and sand. Order all ready to go. Just hit buy! Prob. Wed. or Thur. to get a sat delivery. Next weekend, finish plumbing and get electrical side done. Pieces all done and painted except a bottom back pc if we add it. Looks like I'm ahead of cycle time--well before my birthday end of month and a month earlier than I'd planned.

So my thoughts on buying used: Not as good as I'd hoped. Paid 450.
1) I didn't realize the stand was 4 foot tall until we got there to check it out. For a short person, no good. plus had more water damage than I wanted to deal with. So to the dump. Kept the canopy.
1a) Canopy--jury still out. Needs some work. No top so can't mount lights inside and would have another 5 inches of reaching. Prob. will not keep and get one that opens in front and can mount lights inside.
2) Sump it came with was a DIY. I'd have had to removed all baffles and do a redo. But worse, too wide to fit the stand I ordered. And too tall. Unable to remove skimmer. Sold for 40 bucks on craigslist
3) Skimmer so far seems good. It came with set up
4) Tank itself. Don't mind it looking used--bracings are all scratched. That's livable. We'll eventually put a canopy on it. Maybe not the one that came with it. But the cloudiness of glass bothers me. Can't seem to clean off. Tried all combos of vinegar/baking soda/bartenders friend/catsup/salt/pepsi--haven't tried coke yet. Will see how it looks in daylight with water in the tank. Also, the silicone seals are ragged. Still good sealing but doesn't look as nice.

So my plan: Give it a year or so. If I am not happy, two choices: replace with another tank exactly the same and just do a switch. With planning, shouldn't be too bad. Plumbing and stand remains the same. Choice 2: upgrade to a slightly larger tank. New tank, new stand, maybe same sump or maybe new. But for now, am committed to this one for at least a year if not 2.

Pics of plumbing and tank with water <whoooooo hoooooo).

White fittings are temp. Right side drain goes behind tank stand

oops. Need blue sharpie. Hubby used tape and markers for rest....

return piping ready. Second T faces back for the manifold which will go behind the return line and be over the refugium section of sump

right side of stand will be closed off for electrical and controllers.

 

[Susan Edwards]

Rockscape in! Another box checked off. Might be a few changes if I add some live rock. Not clear on if live rock needs to go into the display or just the sump to be beneficial, esp. the coraline algae. Here are pics. Getting excited. And scared to death to test plumbing and figure out drains and returns! Didn't leave a lot of room in front of overflows as I won't be needing to keep those scraped. Will test a couple things in case algae gets bad like the algae scrappers or kitchen scrubbers with a long handle. Think I achieved lots of terraces and coral placement as well as needs for fish.

 

[Brynn]

Excited to follow a fellow female hobbiest.

 

[Bronc]

I think the scape looks awesome! Now to fill it up with lots of coral-ly goodness!

 

[Susan Edwards]

got that right @Bronc Going to pull those images into coral draw and do a coral planning map and go online and get an idea of what I want and where to put it. too bad there isn't a coral planning software like for landscapers... And thanks

 

[Susan Edwards]

@Brynn do you have a build thread?