My 105 gal reef build

[putter]

http://s241.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/putter39/Well, it has been awhile since I first posted in the "introduce yourself" section and thought I should post a quick update. I am still waiting for all the equipment to show up:mad: , so far I have recieved most of the misc. stuff (heaters, test kits, nets, gloves cleaners....ETC.) but I am still waiting for the main tank, skimmer, return pump, stand, lights for the refugium and will still have to order the LED lights for the main tank after I get it set up. So far I have installed the RO/DI and have it filling 2 rubber maid containers, it is set up on a kent marine float system and I have all the piping in place for an auto top off system as well, a line for filling the tank with new SW after a water change.

Equipment list: 105 gallon acrylic tank with a 1.5" drain and two 3/4" return lines, acrylic stand, 20 acrylic passive flow refugium, ASM G1X in sump skimmer, GenX 6000 return pump, Mag drive 3500 pump (for the ATO system), Mag drive 3500 (to pump the SW to the main tank from storage) 3 heaters, an Auto Top Off system, 3 rubbermaid containers for RO/DI water storage and a 20 gallon aquarium that will be used for a hospital/quarantine tank. Also have all the test kits, salt etc. that will be needed to set this up. I hope to have the tank here by the end of this week and with luck be ordering my live rock and substrate next week. I will have some updated pics soon, and I will post the pics of the setup I have now, minus some new modifications.

[blainep]

Looking forward to seeing a picture of it !

[putter]

well my first attempt at photos on this site did not work to well, will have to research the site for a "how to" LOL

[putter]

Ok so with luck this works, and these are the first pics, will take more and upload so you can see some of the new stuff and progress.


http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/putter39/IMG_0015.jpg
Newly installed RO/DI unit

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/putter39/IMG_0014.jpg
New storage containers

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/putter39/IMG_0012.jpg
First shippment of goodies for the new SW setup

[blainep]

Looks like an RO unit and cans of water .

Edit : you must be adding pictures as I posted this. A second look shows more pictures.

[putter]

dead links, see below

[Slipstream]

Cool Cool, cant wait to see it :)

Oh, putter, ya see the little text box there under your pics?.. Just copy that, and paste it straight into here, thats it, dont need to do anything else.. here, ill show ya..

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/putter39/update%201/hospitaltank.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/putter39/update%201/refugium2.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/putter39/update%201/storagewater.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/putter39/update%201/storageRODIwater.jpg

[putter]

Had some of the options turned off, took a bit to discover what little box you were talking about, but I found it, the next set of pics will be better...thanks again slip

OH YEH, the skimmer showed up today as well, mind you the pump for it is broken, sure hope it won't take to long to replace it!! Only items left to show up now are the main tank and light for the refugium, oh and I guess a new skimmer pump :( Also purged the water lines that run from the storage containers to where the main tank will sit, and I am happy to report NO leaks (dances for joy) :)

[CACAdmin]

Sounds like things are starting to fall into place. Actually, it's neat that things are not arriving all at once. You have something new to look forward to every day.

[Slipstream]

Yah, im almost as excited as you are. :laugh:

[Melody]

Santa came to you early this year! :CokeSanta: Sometimes I think buying and receiving shipments is half the fun. Thanks for posting the pic's!

[putter]

Well the buying part is certainly fun, the recieving part is good as well, BUT the chasing down of lost or delayed shipments is NO fun at all....none, zero fun.

[Melody]

Absolutely! You go from :pompom: to http://members.linkopp.com/biz/workathome/images/icon_nopompom.gif in no time flat.

[putter]

Well the tank showed up! Got a few pics of the set up, was so excited I kind of forgot about the camera until it was mostly unpacked.
Introducing the new tank.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/putter39/newtank2.jpg

The back side
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/putter39/IMG_0026.jpg

The unpacked canopy
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/putter39/IMG_0023.jpg

The first squirts of water
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/putter39/IMG_0029.jpg

And the final resting place.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/putter39/IMG_0030.jpg

[putter]

Now all I need is some rock, sand and a couple months of being calm, (not looking forward to the long wait for the cycle). The rock will be, or should be here on Tuesday and the sand I hope will be here tomorrow! At least then I can try my hand at aquascaping.

[Melody]

Nice tank! Its great that you received it before Christmas. Now you can put fish store gift cards on your wish list.:wink:

[CACAdmin]

Very nice tank! :waycool: Looking forward to seeing your aquascaping. As for the long wait, that'll give you lots of time to plan the inhabitants (and save up money for them. :wink:

[Slipstream]

Nice tank, i envy you :spinny:

[putter]

Sand and rock showed up yesterday, the tank is now able to start it's cycle period, here are a few pics.

First attempt at aquascaping.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/putter39/noobscaper.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/putter39/noobscaperend.jpg

140LBS of rock.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/putter39/140LBSofrock.jpg

Another 70 lbs in the box.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/putter39/moredamrock.jpg

skimmer/sump.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/putter39/IMG_0019-1.jpg

[putter]

Also ordered the LED light yesterday, hoping to get it today, it is the solaris I4 48". Going to have to hack up the canopy to make it work but from what I have read so far it sounds like it will be an awsum light.

[CACAdmin]

It's fun to watch it all come together. (enjoying this vicariously without actually having to do the work). Wow, lots of rock... I pity the poor guy who delivered it. He was probably wondering what the heck you had ordered.:laugh:

Sounds like interesting lighting. And LEDs consume so much less power.

[CACAdmin]

Just a thought: Could you post pics of the alterations you make to the canopy to make the LED fixture work? With the interest in LEDs, it might be helpful to others thinking of going to that type of fixture.

[putter]

Sure I can do that, I am most likely going to get a glass shop to hack the holes in it as I have never tried to cut acrylic before and would hate to have a beginers mess up on something like that. Most likely won't be much to it at all, just cut a hole in the top to allow the led's to shine to the tank while the actual fixture sits on top of the canopy, at any rate I will certainly take some pics and post them as I progress with the project. The rock was flown to me from Vancouver, the lady at the airport was a bit inquisative as to what "live rock" was.

[putter]

Quick update, the LED light arrived, but one of the power supplies is not working, so now I am waiting for a replacement before I start the mod to the canopy.

[putter]

Just a few more pics.

unpacking the fixture and parts.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/putter39/IMG_0003.jpg

what was inside the box
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/putter39/IMG_0005.jpg

a couple shots of the half that works.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/putter39/IMG_0016-1.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/putter39/IMG_0017.jpg

[grumpystiltskin]

Very nice looking tank :yes:
Those led,s have amazing amounts of light. Looks like some big $ spent on this setup.
I can already see its going to be a beautiful tank.

[CACAdmin]

It's interesting that the LED fixture has two power supplies given that LEDs use so little power. Is that so that you can control which lights are on?

[Slipstream]

Love the bottom right of the tank, looks like a big gaping mouth. :yes:

[putter]

Not real sure why they need 2 power supplies. Will see if I can dig up a reason for this.

[putter]

Still not sure why 2 power supplies are required, but the replacement showed up for my system...here are a couple shots of the lunar lights...I have them set high on blue for my viewing pleasure, when I get critters I will dim them more.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/putter39/IMG_0022.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/putter39/IMG_0023-1.jpg

I have managed to mount the light to the canopy, and I did take a couple pics, but did it with my treo, and will have to wait to d/l them next time I am at the office, will post then.

[Slipstream]

looks pretty cool, i cant wait too see it finished. with livestock in it :yes:

[CACAdmin]

Looking good! :yes: I'm impressed that you didn't have to wait long for the replacement power supply (especially at this time of year).

[Wiedertäufer]

It's interesting that the LED fixture has two power supplies given that LEDs use so little power.

Actually I think that fixture uses ultra-high output LEDs and probably takes close to 400 watts of power, maybe a bit less. It is awesome lighting though that is way out of my budget. It's like having a 400 watt metal halide lamp covering the whole lank-- things are going to grow great under it. It probably also has all sorts of settings where you can simulate the rising sun and whatnot.

Awesome fixture. Amazing tank. This is one fabulously luxurious project-- I'm certainly impressed. Once the rocks get covered with coralline algae and turn all purple, it's going to look amazing.

[ellner357]

Very impresive looking so far. I do look forward to seeing it with some critters in there! Must be tough having to wait.

[putter]

Actualy I'm not finding it to difficult yet, the waiting I mean. It is not as bad as the wait was for the main tank to get here! At least now I can mess with things a bit each day to ensure the setup is done as completly as my wisdom can make it, you know, mess with the ATO level switches, added another sponge to the return pump intake...things like that. If I am correct with my water testing, I may be able to add a small cleaner crew soon, and maybe my firts fishes, according to what I have read and been told, as soon as my ammonia and nitrite levels zero out then my cycle is done. Ammonia has been zero for a few days now but the nitrites are still up there a bit...comming down slowly but still readable...so no stock yet.

[putter]

well I bought a couple LPS today, open brain coral, got them into the tank and will have fish and cleaner crew on Tuesday if all goes well. Here is a couple pics.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/putter39/IMG_0014-1.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/putter39/IMG_0013.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/putter39/IMG_0017-1.jpg

Oh and here are a couple shots of the hood retro if you will, turned out to be a fairly simple job, I just cut a template from light plywood and then copied it to the hood, used a jigsaw to cut the holes after I had drilled all corners to make cutting them easier with the saw. I then placed the hood on the light, which was on its back on a bench, lined up the slots of the light evenly on either side of the holes that were now cut in the hood, marked them, drilled 6 small holes along the marked line, then used small hex head bolts to slide into the track on the light and through the holes drilled in the hood, installed nuts, tightened lightly and POOF job complete, took about 2.5 hours total. Pics of the hood to follow next post.

[putter]

Here I have the holes cut in the hood, sorry about the lack of pics...kind of got carried away with the project and forgot about the camera.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/putter39/Photo_122407_001.jpg

And here I have just finished bolting the hood to the light fixture, again using small hex head bolts that I was able to slide into the slots in the fixture that are meant for the legs provided.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/putter39/Photo_122407_002.jpg

Feel free to ask any questions you might have, I will do my best to answer them:smile:

[CACAdmin]

Great job on the hood. I also like your brain corals...especially the color of the first one.

[putter]

ordered my first couple of fish, they should arrive on Wed, the order will include my cleaning crew as well, 60 snails, one clown and one magnificent rabbitfish. Sure hope all make it alive. :)

[Slipstream]

Cant wait or the pics :) GL on the new fishies. :notworthy:

[ellner357]

I'm so jealous@!:wideeyed:

[putter]

Well I have my first 2 fishes, a orceleous clown and a fox face lo, also 44 snails of various kinds. Both fish seem to be doing fine, the rabbit fish is grazing on the hair algae in the tank and Nemo is darting back and forth, he appears to be playing in the current. :laugh:

[Slipstream]

he appears to be playing in the current. :laugh:

ahaha.. yah, i love clowns, they got some of the best characters for fish i have ever seen.

[CACAdmin]

Congrats on the new additions to the tank. Looking forward to pics once they've settled in.

[putter]

So far 4 snails and one fish have perished :confused: the clown is doing fine and the rest of the snails seem fine. A few pics.

The foxface that didn't make it
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/putter39/IMG_0001.jpg

The clown that did.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/putter39/IMG_0014-2.jpg

And the 2 corals.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/putter39/IMG_0016-3.jpg

[ellner357]

Sorry to hear that. What happened to kill them?

[CACAdmin]

So sorry to hear about your losses.

[putter]

Sorry, been busy here lately, the fox face died of stress I think, probably didn't like the flight here. I have since gotten a magnificent fox face and another clown, all are in the DT and doing fine so far, mind you the fox face has popeye but I am hoping that will go away soon.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/putter39/IMG_0003-4.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/putter39/IMG_0001-2.jpg

and a few new corals..
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/putter39/IMG_0009.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/putter39/IMG_0013-1.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/putter39/IMG_0012-2.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/putter39/IMG_0011.jpg
and that is up to date, maybe some more corals in the near future, will post when I get more.

[Slipstream]

Looking good so far :)

[CACAdmin]

The tank is looking good. Glad to hear the newest additions are doing ok with the exception of the fox face having popeye. I don't know too much about the condition. Are you doing anything to treat it? Or will it resolve itself on its own?

[putter]

soaking mysis in garlic extract, seems that is about all that can be done for the poor fish. He has only been eating mysis for 2 days now, there was plenty of hair algae in the tank to keep him feed up for the first few days, today was his first garlic treatment, will continue with it for the next week or so and see if it helps any.

[Pamelajo]

Love your coral and your fish.
Fingers crossed for the fox face.

[putter]

Been awhile since I have posted, tank is doing fine, the fox face made it ok and to date the only loss is one fish and one coral. I now have 5 fish, 14 corals, 2 shrimp, 3 emerald crabs and the regular host of snails. Here are a few recent photos.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/putter39/PIC_0023.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/putter39/PIC_0010.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/putter39/PIC_0045.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/putter39/104.jpg

[Melody]

I'd call that a success alright - very pretty. Everybody loses a fish occasionally so I'd say you're doing a fantastic job. :yes: Those active clowns say a lot about how content they are in there.

[CACAdmin]

Looks great. Glad to hear the foxface made it ok, too. Thanks for posting an update. Look forward to seeing how it progresses.

[Pamelajo]

Looks good.

[Shelley]

Very pretty tank and fish!