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Guest
This adventure started 3-4 weeks ago with buying a tank stand from a guy on CL for our fresh water upgrade we were planning on doing and it turned out he is an avid reefer and introduced us to this very addictive world. Thanks Todd 
. Since then we have returned all the upgraded fresh water stuff we had already purchased and have started collecting the bit and pieces of equipment we will need for not only our first SW tank but our first reef tank ever. We have a limited amount of space in our home so we are restricted to a 36" wide unit so we went tall to hopefully make it more dramatic in the small foot print. A bigger tank will come when a new home comes.
The tank: 70 gal AGA 36"w x 15"d x 30"t We realize this will offer up some additional challenges but with all the friendly advice we have already been given and all the reading I think we will be ok.
Sump: 30 gal long AGA with a skimmer section/fuge center section and return section
Lighting: for now... 2 ea 53w T5HO with a standard ballast and 4 ea 110w VHO with an icecap 660. I hope I can fit it all under the hood. I will be upgrading to having 6 total T5HO's in all with reflectors and LED white and blues for daybreak/sunset and moon lighting. This will happen as the budget allows.
Skimmer: Euro-Reef with a Sedra 3500 pump mesh modded by Mark. This will also be an upgrade area once we can get a SWC160.
Return Pump: Right now it's a Rio 2500 but this will also be something we will upgrade very soon.
Powerheads: So for we only have one K2 but I am supposed to be getting 2 K3's and 2 K4's if they ever free up.
I have had the tank drilled for a dual overflow and a single return at work (I fortunately work for a glass shop). I am planning on using a Herbie style drain with 3/4" sched 80 pipe. All the plumbing will be sched 8- as the wife doesn't want to see white pipes everywhere since this is sitting right in our dining room. I am currently building my all glass overflow. It's not quite a coast to coast as we do not want to see into the overflow from the sides. The plumbing parts are purchased and I'm almost ready to piece it together.
I finally finished (for the second time) the stand today. It has been a long learning lesson in wood finishing. Thanks to all those who have helped on here and on the phone for the last few week. Yes, that's right, it took me 3 1/2 weeks to strip and refinish the stand alone. But it's finally the tone we want it.
This is primarily going to be a softy tank with zoos, mushrooms and several other things we have seen and like so far. There will also be an assortment of critters for a clean up crew and swimmers of course. We know going slow is the key to this being a success and we plan on being thorough on that. Let thing cycle and add things slowly as well as only get LR and sand/coral from known sources of good, clean systems.
That's about all for now... so on with the show and we appreciate all your comments and advice in advance.
Eric & Becca
I had to modify these rails to fit the tank. Router work... uhgh!!!
The first attempt at a finish (way to golden for us)
Mismatch color from stand to hood (golden again)
The sump with the skimmer
We couldn't take it anymore. We had to set it in it's future home to see what it is going to look like. Wow it's big in this little space. and the finish it finally what we want...
A side shot just for the heck of it
Close up... ohhhhh pretty wood!!!
The stand in the right color
A back shot just for the heck of it again
Starting the overflow
. Since then we have returned all the upgraded fresh water stuff we had already purchased and have started collecting the bit and pieces of equipment we will need for not only our first SW tank but our first reef tank ever. We have a limited amount of space in our home so we are restricted to a 36" wide unit so we went tall to hopefully make it more dramatic in the small foot print. A bigger tank will come when a new home comes. The tank: 70 gal AGA 36"w x 15"d x 30"t We realize this will offer up some additional challenges but with all the friendly advice we have already been given and all the reading I think we will be ok.
Sump: 30 gal long AGA with a skimmer section/fuge center section and return section
Lighting: for now... 2 ea 53w T5HO with a standard ballast and 4 ea 110w VHO with an icecap 660. I hope I can fit it all under the hood
. I will be upgrading to having 6 total T5HO's in all with reflectors and LED white and blues for daybreak/sunset and moon lighting. This will happen as the budget allows.Skimmer: Euro-Reef with a Sedra 3500 pump mesh modded by Mark. This will also be an upgrade area once we can get a SWC160.
Return Pump: Right now it's a Rio 2500 but this will also be something we will upgrade very soon.
Powerheads: So for we only have one K2 but I am supposed to be getting 2 K3's and 2 K4's if they ever free up.
I have had the tank drilled for a dual overflow and a single return at work (I fortunately work for a glass shop). I am planning on using a Herbie style drain with 3/4" sched 80 pipe. All the plumbing will be sched 8- as the wife doesn't want to see white pipes everywhere since this is sitting right in our dining room. I am currently building my all glass overflow. It's not quite a coast to coast as we do not want to see into the overflow from the sides. The plumbing parts are purchased and I'm almost ready to piece it together.
I finally finished (for the second time) the stand today. It has been a long learning lesson in wood finishing. Thanks to all those who have helped on here and on the phone for the last few week. Yes, that's right, it took me 3 1/2 weeks to strip and refinish the stand alone. But it's finally the tone we want it.
This is primarily going to be a softy tank with zoos, mushrooms and several other things we have seen and like so far. There will also be an assortment of critters for a clean up crew and swimmers of course. We know going slow is the key to this being a success and we plan on being thorough on that. Let thing cycle and add things slowly as well as only get LR and sand/coral from known sources of good, clean systems.
That's about all for now... so on with the show and we appreciate all your comments and advice in advance.
Eric & Becca
I had to modify these rails to fit the tank. Router work... uhgh!!!
The first attempt at a finish (way to golden for us)
Mismatch color from stand to hood (golden again)
The sump with the skimmer
We couldn't take it anymore. We had to set it in it's future home to see what it is going to look like. Wow it's big in this little space. and the finish it finally what we want...
A side shot just for the heck of it
Close up... ohhhhh pretty wood!!!
The stand in the right color
A back shot just for the heck of it again
Starting the overflow
