Susan's Grand Adventure--125 Reef Build
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mmw64
Valuable Member
Nice job Susan!final rock scape. Hubby wanted center rock...centered.... Came home and asked where the rest of the rock was.... Told him that is full enough. Used all but 2 pcs plus the shelf pcs I got. Will add some live rock in but might have to trade rocks as it is pretty tall already
biospira came today. Sand tomorrow. Making tons of water starting today
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Susan Edwards
5000 Club Member
thanks @mmw64 Do you have a build I could visit?
To all who visit, post your build threads so I can return the favor and visit
To all who visit, post your build threads so I can return the favor and visit
Samina
Valuable Member
Unfortunately I don’t have a build thread. I had started my tank over a year ago and hadn’t discovered R2R until about 6 months ago. But I read on the forums as a guest for a while before I joined.
I’m waiting until I buy a house in a couple of years to finally buy a nice big tank. Until then, I’ll have to live vicariously through you all that are upgrading and such!!
I’m waiting until I buy a house in a couple of years to finally buy a nice big tank. Until then, I’ll have to live vicariously through you all that are upgrading and such!!
mmw64
Valuable Member
No Susan. I have never even posted a picture. I guess you could say I'm "tech challenged". Thank goodness for my Grandson!
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Susan Edwards
5000 Club Member
@Samina you don't have to start at the beginning to have a build thread. Just start one and then post some history like when you started. I view mine almost like a journal. I just spew my thoughts to the world at large ;Smuggrin. Builds are places to just talk about your tank, whatever stage you are at and share you love of reefing with those who visit.
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Susan Edwards
5000 Club Member
Tank is definitely cycling. No ammonia. Will add more to bump it up again once the other number come down!
ordered lights today from marine depot. They have a 15% off one item (highest you order) with code president. Could not pass up to save on my lights even though those were budgeted for next month. Saved 73 bucks which almost pays for 2 brackets (need the xtra wide ones). I've ordered 4 of those for extra support and to make it look nice. If I don't need, can return one (amazon). Lights are: https://www.marinedepot.com/Current...-Current_USA-CU04226-FILTFILD-CU04228-vi.html
Very excited. All that's left is to get 1 more eflux pump (controlled by this lighting system), a spare return pump (jebao), and doser. No rush on those. I think I'll use my daughter's tunze ato that came iwth her tank and buy another ato for her tank or just add manually. No rush there either. March will buy the first batch of fish for the qt tank. By may, should have some fish in.
ordered lights today from marine depot. They have a 15% off one item (highest you order) with code president. Could not pass up to save on my lights even though those were budgeted for next month. Saved 73 bucks which almost pays for 2 brackets (need the xtra wide ones). I've ordered 4 of those for extra support and to make it look nice. If I don't need, can return one (amazon). Lights are: https://www.marinedepot.com/Current...-Current_USA-CU04226-FILTFILD-CU04228-vi.html
Very excited. All that's left is to get 1 more eflux pump (controlled by this lighting system), a spare return pump (jebao), and doser. No rush on those. I think I'll use my daughter's tunze ato that came iwth her tank and buy another ato for her tank or just add manually. No rush there either. March will buy the first batch of fish for the qt tank. By may, should have some fish in.
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Susan Edwards
5000 Club Member
More progress today. Got most of the electrical done. Had everything unplugged for a couple hours. Hope it didn't kill good bacteria....
Ran the wiring channel along top of right side of cabinet for cords in that area. hubby attached the "wall" to separate wet and dry sides. Mounted 1 power strip and routed more channels on either side for controller wire and plugs. Looks neat and professional. Next weekend (promised him a day for his gardening tomorrow) we'll mount the controls for the eflux wavemakers and the lighting controller which won't be here until Tue. Ordered more of that wire channel as well. We'll had another piece of board across back but not all the way up as the plumbing is in the way--a nice 3/4 back wall. Channel will go there for additional stuff in sump area being routed to right side of stand. Also going to mount another power strip, this one with rotating plugs for power bricks and for future needs.
Very pleased. Still have 1 noisy durso, and 1 that I wish had more flow Not bad enough that we can't live with it but will continue trying to adjust. Also received the light brackets today. Was worried they wouldn't work for my tank--rimmed. had to get the extra wide ones. Ordered 4 but I think 3 will more than do it so will send one back. Lights arrive Tuesday. Won't be using them except maybe an hour or 2 in the evening just to play or see my tank. Don't want algae before my time!
Wasn't going to order them until March but Marine depot had a 15% off any one item so that saved 73 bucks! Had to order now.
Tomorrow is tank maintenance in other tank. Waiting for part for the 45 gal coral qt tank. By end of next weekend, all should be up and going and maybe tank cycled to add the goby and damsel. Need to dose more ammonia and see how fast it falls to zero. Not sure if I need for nitrites to come down first though
amm: 0
Nitrite: still at 5
Nitrate: up to 20
Right side of stand. Hubby going to replace the small piece at the bottom with a slightly bigger piece to go all the way from one channel to the other without a gap
Left side above sump. Cord you can see will be added into channel when we mount the controller and plugs on right side of stand next weekend. Manifold not complete yet. 3 more balls.
Egg crate cover for fuge section. Need to add light
Ran the wiring channel along top of right side of cabinet for cords in that area. hubby attached the "wall" to separate wet and dry sides. Mounted 1 power strip and routed more channels on either side for controller wire and plugs. Looks neat and professional. Next weekend (promised him a day for his gardening tomorrow) we'll mount the controls for the eflux wavemakers and the lighting controller which won't be here until Tue. Ordered more of that wire channel as well. We'll had another piece of board across back but not all the way up as the plumbing is in the way--a nice 3/4 back wall. Channel will go there for additional stuff in sump area being routed to right side of stand. Also going to mount another power strip, this one with rotating plugs for power bricks and for future needs.
Very pleased. Still have 1 noisy durso, and 1 that I wish had more flow Not bad enough that we can't live with it but will continue trying to adjust. Also received the light brackets today. Was worried they wouldn't work for my tank--rimmed. had to get the extra wide ones. Ordered 4 but I think 3 will more than do it so will send one back. Lights arrive Tuesday. Won't be using them except maybe an hour or 2 in the evening just to play or see my tank. Don't want algae before my time!
Wasn't going to order them until March but Marine depot had a 15% off any one item so that saved 73 bucks! Had to order now.
Tomorrow is tank maintenance in other tank. Waiting for part for the 45 gal coral qt tank. By end of next weekend, all should be up and going and maybe tank cycled to add the goby and damsel. Need to dose more ammonia and see how fast it falls to zero. Not sure if I need for nitrites to come down first though
amm: 0
Nitrite: still at 5
Nitrate: up to 20
Right side of stand. Hubby going to replace the small piece at the bottom with a slightly bigger piece to go all the way from one channel to the other without a gap
Left side above sump. Cord you can see will be added into channel when we mount the controller and plugs on right side of stand next weekend. Manifold not complete yet. 3 more balls.
Egg crate cover for fuge section. Need to add light
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Susan Edwards
5000 Club Member
Not @Broadfield incredible <g> but neat, tidy and as safe as electronics and saltwater can be. Tank should be complete next weekend!
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Susan Edwards
5000 Club Member
oh, a trick for anyone using this wire slot stuff--It's next to impossible to snap a long length of it together so my hubby cut each section into 10 inch lengths or there abouts (the top piece). If you can slide it closed, it's great, but snapping and getting all the fingers inside, not so much
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Susan Edwards
5000 Club Member
Second side of electrical cabinet started. have to wait for next weekend now but everything planned out. Gonna look so neat and awesome in there! And be totally safe as can be from saltwater spray
Lights arrive tomorrow. So dang excited...
Lights arrive tomorrow. So dang excited...
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Susan Edwards
5000 Club Member
Let there be.....
LIGHTS!!!!!
Now I have to figure out how to use them and find out whether they should be lower. Will prob. add a couple pcs of liverock to the left side from a tank I'll be taking down. Plan to ask on the forums
Have tons of flow. Might not need a 3rd eflux unless it is to go behind one of the rock islands. Have 3 in there now. 2 efluxs only at 40-50 % power.
LIGHTS!!!!!
Now I have to figure out how to use them and find out whether they should be lower. Will prob. add a couple pcs of liverock to the left side from a tank I'll be taking down. Plan to ask on the forums
Have tons of flow. Might not need a 3rd eflux unless it is to go behind one of the rock islands. Have 3 in there now. 2 efluxs only at 40-50 % power.
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Susan Edwards
5000 Club Member
My hubby is not a fan of the shimmer.... Anyone know how to reduce it? Cut back on flow? He may just have to learn to deal...
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Susan Edwards
5000 Club Member
lol's @Deep Reef Considering I am not going to put out double or triple the cost for new lights, you got it. Thanks @1WildBill Looking forward to seeing your build. Have you started one?
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Susan Edwards
5000 Club Member
You should. I have one on another site as well. I copy and paste from here to there as this site is far more active
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Susan Edwards
5000 Club Member
whoopee!!! Electrical side of cabinet is now officially finished! In fact everything is now done except 2 things:
Finishing the manifold
Adding a shelf along back for the doser which I don't need yet.
My hubby did a great job routing wires and attaching everything. To avoid holes in stand sides, we cut plywood, painted it and attached those. Everything is mounted to the thicker wood. anything that needed to be double-stick taped, had a plastic (forget what it is called) sheet cut and screwed to the wood so it's easy to pull off and remove sticky. Loop controller is on a hinge and he drilled a small hole for the sensor for the controller if I don't need to see what what I'm doing (hitting a weather pattern or lights on or off). Very pleased. Now for some fish and corals!
looking inside right side of stand. Back wall is hinged on either side as it is open top and bottom for cord and plumbing access
looking in with controller swung out and back wall
Left side
back. doser pump shelf and extra power strip for future
Right side. Gray hub for lights is behind the controller. On same plate as the blue hub. controller flat against side wall
Finishing the manifold
Adding a shelf along back for the doser which I don't need yet.
My hubby did a great job routing wires and attaching everything. To avoid holes in stand sides, we cut plywood, painted it and attached those. Everything is mounted to the thicker wood. anything that needed to be double-stick taped, had a plastic (forget what it is called) sheet cut and screwed to the wood so it's easy to pull off and remove sticky. Loop controller is on a hinge and he drilled a small hole for the sensor for the controller if I don't need to see what what I'm doing (hitting a weather pattern or lights on or off). Very pleased. Now for some fish and corals!
looking inside right side of stand. Back wall is hinged on either side as it is open top and bottom for cord and plumbing access
looking in with controller swung out and back wall
Left side
back. doser pump shelf and extra power strip for future
Right side. Gray hub for lights is behind the controller. On same plate as the blue hub. controller flat against side wall
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