curts' 300 gallon StarPhire Glass (96X30X24)

[curt.smith]

Hi all I just want to throw out a HUGE thank you to all who helped me move this monster into the house. I also want to thank Franks Tanks for the sweet Stand, Donnie P of True Blue Aquatics for helping me part this thing out and for the plate rock. Also want to thank MY LFS Mid-Cities Aquariums
and all others in the club for the odds and ends I have picked up for it.
Ok so here it goes.
I have been in reefing for all about 1 year, (hands on) and have read everything I could get my hands on over the past 20 years. (being in the Active ARMY and always deployed and moving from base to base there was realy no way to set up a reef for any long period of time) As I am Retired/wounded I have all the time now Game On.
I have met most of you all threw meetings, online and the sorts, and threw the club I started my 140 Gallon hotel tank set up about 6 monthe ago and everything is great but all of the fish are out growing the spaces, so I picked up a 240 gallon used off of ebay (WHAT A MISTAKE) IT LEAKED. (Thank you for picking it up you know who you are,hope it works for you). I needed gone to make room for the brand new 300 gallon Starphire glass that was on its way. So Sunday at 3:00 pm. It is at the house and waiting to get it in side. Here are the pics of the build process so far there will be text inbetween explaining the steps and my humble thoughts so here we go...........
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[bmonroe1951]

Tagging along. Good luck Curt and thank you for fighting for our freedom!

 

[curt.smith]

page 2
[attachment=2]4-1.jpg[/attachment].
I took a sheet of 1/2in plywood and cut for the returns/drains in the corners and covered the stand and screwed 2x4s every 7 inches for support and to hang items inside the sump cabnet
[attachment=1]6-1.jpg[/attachment].
Then I screwed a 3/4 in plywood to the 1/2 in sheet (I like over kill ) and it is a flat bottom tank as well, I just have visions of screws going from the sump light threw the 1/2in ply and into the tank bottom . with the 1/2 +3/4+ 2x4 = 3 1/4 in I am not going to have that problem and it will distrubute the weaight well.
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and there we go just add a nice sheet of (Pink Panther insulating R30 Foam) and we are ready for the tank.

 

[curt.smith]

ok now comes the fun post
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thank you all for helping me move it in there were 13 guys here to help get ER off the truck and in place .
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can you find Waldo

it took about 20 minutes to get it in and set.

 

[curt.smith]

here is the set up picts
[attachment=2]9-1.jpg[/attachment].

the little mermaid, for size comparison
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next post is all about the light setup

 

[curt.smith]

here are the light fixtures and pendents. I made custom. I went for the industrial look Cable and lock system with as slider rod hanger so i can move the lights around and add as needed .
[attachment=2]12-1.jpg[/attachment]
here is a better shot of the cables and locks
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here is a nice shot of the rod hanger
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stay tuned next we will be adding the pluming and cabnet lay out in a few weeks thanks for looking

curt

 

[vegasr]

Great stuff so far. This is going to be an awesome setup. Look forward to seeing this progress.

 

[kpc01]

looking good so far...I like being able to slide the lights. Are they going to be open or will you have a canopy to enclose them? The only thing I'd be worried about is if you enclosed it and then there might be a rust concern but even that would be long term..


keep up the pics!

 

[washingtond]

I replied to your PM.

What are you plans for this tank, in other words what livestock, equipment etc are you going to be using? I found when building our tanks it was best to have a overall plan and if you post it here we can comment and prevent making some of the mistakes that we have made over the years. That would be my suggestion.

You have done a great job so far.

 

[Josh]

Looking good. Glad to see it didn't shatter on the way in. Subscribed to build!

 

[Heath]

Woot woot. Now you just have to wait for the silicone to fully cure.

 

[BrianG]

That's a beast! Can't wait to see some fish in that bad boy!

 

[bmonroe1951]

Any updates???

 

[curt.smith]

yes all i have an update i just ordered the Apex System with all the trimmings and a Sony laptop to link to net and Iphone (with app for that) 2 Ecotech Marine MP60WES Marine wireless power heads and a Aqua UV 80 Watt 2 inch w/ Wiper UV Sterilizer a 2 camera / nanny cam set up with IP address so i can feed real time video to web site along with apex readings. 1000 watt heater and all the loc line goodies and a ton of extras stand by for the pictures as it arrives i will add to post thanks all for looking [smilie=clapping.gif] [smilie=rofl.gif] [smilie=rofl.gif]

 

[bmonroe1951]

Omg! This is going to be awesome. Can't wait!

 

[Guest]

Did you order an aquacontroller 3 pro or apex. The are two different controllers. Aquacontroller 3 pro is old controller they use to make. Apex is controller they make now. If they sold you an aquacontroller 3 return it and get an apex


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[matt_longview]

@curt.smith wrote:

Daaaaaaang!!!

You might as well have just said, "I just did everything that Matt wishes he could do if he had unlimited budget."

 

[curt.smith]

it is a NEW APEX controller, shipping arrives wed the 6th pictures to follow

Neptune Systems Apex Aquarium Controller System
1 x Apex Base Unit
1 x Apex Display Module w/ 10' AquaBus Cable
2 x Energy Bar 8 Module
1 x Energy Bar 4 Module
1 x Socket expantion module
5 x 6' AquaBus Cable
1 x Ethernet Cable
2 x Temperature Probe
2 x Lab Grade pH probe
1 x Lab Grade ORP probe
1 x Neptune Lab Grade Conductivity Probe PRECOND
1 x Neptune Oxyguard Dissolved Oxygen Probe
1x Neptune PM1 pH module, I/O Expansion NEP-PM1
1x Neptune PM2 Conductivity, Temp, I/O Expansion NEP-PM2
1x Neptune PM3 Disolved Oxygen, Temperature, I/O Expansion
1x Neptune Systems Apex Wireless Expansion Expansion Module (WXM) for 2X MP60's wes
1x I/O Expansion module
1 x Owner's Manual
1 x pH 7.0 Calibration Fluid
1 x pH 10.0 Calibration Fluid
2 x DJ switch boxes with 18 outlets
thanks for looking



thanks

 

[Deanb]

@curt.smith wrote:

Thats going to be a sweet system!!! Nice

 

[Servo]

Your set up looks like it is going to be a monster! I hope the Tyree fire engine monti I sold you at the frag swap takes over your branch rock! I can't wait to see the rock.