55g Mixed Fish/Reef build

[Hogie]

I figured I would start a log somewhere of what I have already done, and what I have done and will do over the course of my little reef.

I started with a 55 gallon I got off craigslist with canopy and stand. After adding a 20 gallon long sump, I realized the stand was not deep enough to hold the sump. After designing a new stand on paper, I realized I couldn't put it in my pooltable room like I had wanted and planned for.

Here is where it was going to go originally, on the original stand/canopy the day I got it.

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Here is the base part of the stand I built. This supports the main tank, and I will add a small shelf area in the back to hold a sump, and things on top (like a closed loop)

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Here I am clamping the front of the stand on to the frame so I can allow the glue to dry (and so I dont have to worry about the screws moving stuff around).

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[Hogie]

After getting all the sides on (except where I was going to insert the sump, and work on plumbing/etc), and gave everything a fine sand, I started painting it. Now, this is my first attempt at a "pretty" stand, and I think it turned out okay for that, but I did learn a lot on trim and such (I ended up having to get 2x2's to make my own outside corners as I messed up on the front fabrication... oh well, live and learn).

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After all the coats of paint were on it, and it was how I wanted it, we moved it into the main house. It was going into our front living room in a corner.

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Once I started getting sand, base rock and water into the tank, I realized how high I had made the stand, and ended up getting a ladder to help with the maintenance as I couldn't reach the bottom of the tank otherwise.

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[Hogie]

Got water added to the system, and base rocks in, then went looking for Live rock to add to start a cycle. I finally found some small tonga shelves I wanted to use at Neptune's Cove, so I bought them and brought them home and threw the cocktail shrimp into the tank with them to give them something to eat.

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Then that weekend, Steve-o decided to break down his tank and I was able to get this large Tonga leaf from him. It is about 18x8x4.

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After a couple days (well, a week really), the shrimp really started to foul the water.

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I removed them at this time and the water cleared up over 48 hours.

 

[Hogie]

The sump's silicon finally dried around the acrylic that I added to it for its baffles/dividers. I know it doesn't bond to acrylic, but it was this or get glass cut, and I rather do the cutting myself.

I put the sump under the tank, and lined up the return section and drilled a hole in the top shelf to allow a return pipe through.

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Finally filled up the whole sump as needed and started up the pumps.

Next came the light system. I had bought a 46.5" reflector from hellolights.com and had them rivet the MH moguls onto it. This allowed me to put 2x 46.5" VHO's and 2x 175W MH's inside the reflector together.

Unforunately, the old canopy wasn't tall enough for this (it had been made with 1"x6" boards for the sides), so I decided to build a new one just like the old design. I got some 1"x12" boards and built a new one over about 5 hours in our workshop.

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That was a test fit before I went to sanding/painting.

All while this was happening, the cycle had completed and I did a PWC to bring the nitrates down.

Ended up getting two of the false percula's from the fish gallery.

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[Hogie]

Finally got the canopy dried and the lights hung in it. This is a picture of the VHO only running.

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Here is a picture of the setup inside the canopy.

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I have added more ventilation since that picture.

And I think that will be all the catchup for tonight

 

[bimmerzs]

Coming together nicely......

Cheers,

 

[fejus]

Looks great!

 

[Hogie]

I'll get more of the story up tonight... Had to drive around the dfw area yesterday to pickup the live rock from Anna, and I didn't get home until late (not to mention that stuff is heavy, and I got tired of doing stuff after I got it re-curing).

I did notice that I am getting way more green/purple on my base rocks now than I did 2 days ago. I will even have updated shots of the rocks (before/after).