Tank of Dreams

[Mikey-D]

"If You Will Build It, They Will Come"

Hello Everyone,

My names Mike and I'm starting my offical first true tank. I tried before and without proper research and patience I failed, lol. Currently deployed and with access to time and you guys I have begun my build. Wont be home till October so for now it's just research and ordering the items after I have completed the build on paper. I will say this has helped so much and I absolutely recommend putting your design on paper. The overall outcome will be a 40b Mixed Reef with Sump and ATO. I will keep this build thread going from start to finish, any suggestions or questions are always welcomed. I will do a complete build list as well for any of those this may help along the line when i get home and sort everything out.

Attached is the madness that sits in my living room waiting for me. And no thats not even all of it yet, lol.

 

[Zach B]

Welcome Mike! Looks like it's gonna be a killer setup

 

[BAMatter]

Enjoy the building process!

 

[Mikey-D]

Updates:

Lighting
- 36" T5/LED hybrid. The bulbs will be Coral, Super Blue, Fiji Pink and Gen ii. The LED will be (2) V3 Noopsyche 140w.

RO/DI
- I am going to build a mixing station. 5 stage Premuim Plus with Water Saver. 100 gpd.

Rock/Sand
- I will going with Tampa Bay Saltwater Ocean Rock and using Argonalite Sand

Dosing:
- I am doing the Triton method and using the Bubble Magus dosing system.

 

[Mikey-D]

The madness continues!!

 

[Mikey-D]

Update: Got the 75!!!!!!

 

[Mikey-D]

Big Updates:

Well I am finally home and progress has begun right away. The tank is not perfect, but it's my first and i'm more than happy to get this going. I can appreciate and care for this, I know one day I'll snatch up one of the really nice ones.

So far:
For the stand I widened the opening to easier access to the sump and gear and also layered down a coat of killz and built a platform.

On the Agenda: start the sump build

 

[HBtank]

Nice, I love that pile of gear! I assume the top trim had bracing, is that being replaced?

 

[Mikey-D]

Nice, I love that pile of gear! I assume the top trim had bracing, is that being replaced?

It did, but it was super brittle. I started off trying to pry it off slowly and it just chipped off everywhere. So now I'm looking at euro bracing or doing the ol submariner trick and tie two post on either end with a string placed across, fill the tank and see if it starts to bow out.

 

[Mikey-D]

Update: sump build has started

Got the skimmer and bio reactor plumbed in. The tank has been scratched and was too far gone for repair, lots of deep scratches in the front veiwing panel and I just couldn't stand the look of everything and it be ruined of viewing pleasure (the whole reason we do this right!).

Any way after debate and a some nudging I went with the 75 IM ext. I am super stoked and can't wait to have this all plumbed in together

 

[Mikey-D]

Update: Lighting

Got the Aquatic Life T5 hybrid all put together!!

I matched it with the Noo-psyche K7 Pro III and the bulbs are 39w Coral Lights - superblue, coral light, Fiji purple and new generation in that order from front to back. I may play with bulb placement later on but this is my starting order.

Now I just gotta build a canopy for the dang thing. May hang it from the cieling until I can get one built.

 

[Mikey-D]

Update: return pump plumbed

Took this pile of stuff and created a one off return screen and got it all plumbed in

 

[NoohpyT]

Looking good so far!

 

[Mikey-D]

Update: DIY Controller Board Built

I started today and getting all my controllers installed in my cabinet with built in slide outs to store the extra wire(birds nest) and keep everything clean looking. It's got some rough edges but I'm happy with the outcome so far. Still gotta a few more odds and ends to place in there but it's a great start and starting to look like what I had planned from the beginning.

 

[Mikey-D]

Update: RO/DI station.

Well it's not exactly what I wanted but when you get a chance to grab one cheap you make do. This will hold my RO/DI that is going to supply my initial fill up and countless fill ups for my ATO. I have a 55 gallon brute that will mix the salt as I need it and is currently curing my rocks.

 

[Mikey-D]

Updates: Plumbing

Got the return and drain lines all hard plumbed. The UV is also plumbed in with valves inline so this can be maintained and won't be running until the tank is a few months old. Yes they are clamped now btw it was just the photo I took at the time.

Agenda: plumb the emergency line. Double check the fittings. Got to build the aquascape and mix up some salt water.

 

[WirelessMike]

Great stuff! Love the build

 

[Mikey-D]

Update: Drain Pipes Plumbed and RO/DI
Plumbed with Salt Mixing station(saving up for the Norwesco).

Had to create some interesting bends to get it all fitted.... Lots of wiggles and tugs to get it all fitted nicely in place.

Agenda: Clean up wires for RO/DI station. Start the aquascape, buy salt and get this tank wet. Set up controllers.

 

[Mikey-D]

Major Update:

WE HAVE ROCK AND SAND!!!

 

[Mikey-D]

Update: mixing saltwater!!!!!

We are used this mixture.

Red Sea Coral Pro. Aim for 34ppt.

At 35 gallons water we calculated this at 132.489 liters times that by 34 giving us 4,504.626g converted to 4.504626kg and multiplied that by 2.2 to convert to pounds which equaled 9.9101772 lbs which we rounded up to 10 pounds of salt per 35G of RO/DI water.