inktomi
Aviator
Hello folks!
I wanted to post some photos of my progress so far on my 150 gallon tank - just in case I'm going way off towards the realm of assured flooding.. and.. well.. to keep a log of what I'm up to in the tank.
As of today, the tank is in the test-for-leaks phase, filled with tap water and running that way. I'm waiting on the my lights, and still need to get another vortech before I'm fully ready to add rock.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30998766@N03/3663909692/" title="Side view of 150g tank and stand by inktomi, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2577/3663909692_332fdb7160.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Side view of 150g tank and stand" /></a>
The tank is a 150g LeeMar diamond edge tank, eurobraced and starphire on three sides. It's got a 1.5" drain, and two 3/4" returns drilled through the overflow towards the back of the tank. The back is coated in a black epoxy coating, as is the bottom.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30998766@N03/3663910046/" title="Top view of 150g tank by inktomi, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3591/3663910046_07fa7c46e6.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Top view of 150g tank" /></a>
I really like the eurobracing - it really makes the tank look nice not having that big black band around the top and bottom.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30998766@N03/3663911022/" title="150g tank overflow detail by inktomi, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3384/3663911022_598be5c180.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="150g tank overflow detail" /></a>
The overflow doesn't seem too large, and doesn't take up too much of the tank. I like that it's in the middle rather than in a corner.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30998766@N03/3758692395/" title="40g tank by inktomi, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3498/3758692395_0bcf79b8a8.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="40g tank" /></a>
This is the tank that I'm replacing, a standard 40 gallon tank. It has a mix of SPS (mostly montipora sp.), LPS, and soft corals. I'm going to be continuing with a mixed tank in the 150 gallon.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30998766@N03/3759492584/" title="Interior of the stand by inktomi, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2561/3759492584_26269d5262.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Interior of the stand" /></a>
The interior of the stand was not sealed, so I bought some marine sealant that's made for boat decks and used that. It took a few days to dry fully, but water now beads up. I also went around all the seams with silicone - though in retrospect I should have done that after I used the sealant - it was hard to paint the sealant over the silicone.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30998766@N03/3759494076/" title="MSX MiniS cone skimmer by inktomi, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2558/3759494076_91390d52d6.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="MSX MiniS cone skimmer" /></a>
While I was assembling the items for this tank, MSX decided to sell their demo MiniS skimmer for a good discount - I jumped on the offer and now am a proud owner of a MiniS cone skimmer. Should be a pretty good skimmer for my tank, and didn't break the budget. One of the things I'm trying to do with this build is get very good parts, but also not rack up a few thousand in credit card debt. To that end, I've been slowly assembling parts for the past couple months. Of course, my car also decided that it wanted me to pour money into it - so I had a $1,700 car repair bill too. Damn car..
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30998766@N03/3758699353/" title="40g breeder sump by inktomi, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2485/3758699353_bc69f0c4a2.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="40g breeder sump" /></a>
In order to save money, I went with a 40 breeder that I already had for a sump. This allowed me to save the money I would have spent on a sump ($500+ probably) and use it for a Vortech. I also had a PanWorld 50PX pump that I could use as a return pump - so this part of the build was essentially free. Just had to buy some acrylic and a glass bit to drill the hole for the bulkhead.
I know the sump is a bit small, but I wanted to have room under the stand for other things, like the return pump, a Ca reactor, a phosban reactor, and an extra reactor for carbon if needed. Since the sump is small, my 50PX at about 500 gph should be fine for a return pump. I did have to turn the 1.5" drain valve way back though!
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30998766@N03/3758702511/" title="Backordered Powermodule by inktomi, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2435/3758702511_f111fec86c.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Backordered Powermodule" /></a>
Of course my lights are back ordered - so I should be getting them in another 1 to 5 weeks. I took this time to finish up my plumbing.. I also ordered the lights along with the hood, and got:
4 ATI Blue Plus
2 ATI Aquablue Special
1 Fiji Purple
1 GE 6500K Daylight
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30998766@N03/3759500814/" title="Main plumbing cluster by inktomi, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3519/3759500814_db98e2b6fe.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Main plumbing cluster" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30998766@N03/3759502012/" title="Return pump by inktomi, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2615/3759502012_8a6b0c8512.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Return pump" /></a>
I ordered almost all my plumbing from Savko. They're really a great supplier and waaaay cheaper than the local Lowe's or Home Depot. I did have to get a couple pieces that I didn't think about from Lowe's though. I added the two plugged tee fittings so that I can put in my reactors without having to change my plumbing in the future. They're angled up.. well... uhh.. so they don't leak? (no one has to know I glued them at the wrong angle!)
I used spaflex tubing to connect the pump to reduce vibration in the PVC piping, since this tank is going to be literally next to the sofa in the living room I wanted to cut down on noise as best I could.
I wanted to post some photos of my progress so far on my 150 gallon tank - just in case I'm going way off towards the realm of assured flooding.. and.. well.. to keep a log of what I'm up to in the tank.
As of today, the tank is in the test-for-leaks phase, filled with tap water and running that way. I'm waiting on the my lights, and still need to get another vortech before I'm fully ready to add rock.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30998766@N03/3663909692/" title="Side view of 150g tank and stand by inktomi, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2577/3663909692_332fdb7160.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Side view of 150g tank and stand" /></a>
The tank is a 150g LeeMar diamond edge tank, eurobraced and starphire on three sides. It's got a 1.5" drain, and two 3/4" returns drilled through the overflow towards the back of the tank. The back is coated in a black epoxy coating, as is the bottom.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30998766@N03/3663910046/" title="Top view of 150g tank by inktomi, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3591/3663910046_07fa7c46e6.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Top view of 150g tank" /></a>
I really like the eurobracing - it really makes the tank look nice not having that big black band around the top and bottom.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30998766@N03/3663911022/" title="150g tank overflow detail by inktomi, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3384/3663911022_598be5c180.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="150g tank overflow detail" /></a>
The overflow doesn't seem too large, and doesn't take up too much of the tank. I like that it's in the middle rather than in a corner.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30998766@N03/3758692395/" title="40g tank by inktomi, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3498/3758692395_0bcf79b8a8.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="40g tank" /></a>
This is the tank that I'm replacing, a standard 40 gallon tank. It has a mix of SPS (mostly montipora sp.), LPS, and soft corals. I'm going to be continuing with a mixed tank in the 150 gallon.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30998766@N03/3759492584/" title="Interior of the stand by inktomi, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2561/3759492584_26269d5262.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Interior of the stand" /></a>
The interior of the stand was not sealed, so I bought some marine sealant that's made for boat decks and used that. It took a few days to dry fully, but water now beads up. I also went around all the seams with silicone - though in retrospect I should have done that after I used the sealant - it was hard to paint the sealant over the silicone.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30998766@N03/3759494076/" title="MSX MiniS cone skimmer by inktomi, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2558/3759494076_91390d52d6.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="MSX MiniS cone skimmer" /></a>
While I was assembling the items for this tank, MSX decided to sell their demo MiniS skimmer for a good discount - I jumped on the offer and now am a proud owner of a MiniS cone skimmer. Should be a pretty good skimmer for my tank, and didn't break the budget. One of the things I'm trying to do with this build is get very good parts, but also not rack up a few thousand in credit card debt. To that end, I've been slowly assembling parts for the past couple months. Of course, my car also decided that it wanted me to pour money into it - so I had a $1,700 car repair bill too. Damn car..
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30998766@N03/3758699353/" title="40g breeder sump by inktomi, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2485/3758699353_bc69f0c4a2.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="40g breeder sump" /></a>
In order to save money, I went with a 40 breeder that I already had for a sump. This allowed me to save the money I would have spent on a sump ($500+ probably) and use it for a Vortech. I also had a PanWorld 50PX pump that I could use as a return pump - so this part of the build was essentially free. Just had to buy some acrylic and a glass bit to drill the hole for the bulkhead.
I know the sump is a bit small, but I wanted to have room under the stand for other things, like the return pump, a Ca reactor, a phosban reactor, and an extra reactor for carbon if needed. Since the sump is small, my 50PX at about 500 gph should be fine for a return pump. I did have to turn the 1.5" drain valve way back though!
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30998766@N03/3758702511/" title="Backordered Powermodule by inktomi, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2435/3758702511_f111fec86c.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Backordered Powermodule" /></a>
Of course my lights are back ordered - so I should be getting them in another 1 to 5 weeks. I took this time to finish up my plumbing.. I also ordered the lights along with the hood, and got:
4 ATI Blue Plus
2 ATI Aquablue Special
1 Fiji Purple
1 GE 6500K Daylight
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30998766@N03/3759500814/" title="Main plumbing cluster by inktomi, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3519/3759500814_db98e2b6fe.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Main plumbing cluster" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30998766@N03/3759502012/" title="Return pump by inktomi, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2615/3759502012_8a6b0c8512.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Return pump" /></a>
I ordered almost all my plumbing from Savko. They're really a great supplier and waaaay cheaper than the local Lowe's or Home Depot. I did have to get a couple pieces that I didn't think about from Lowe's though. I added the two plugged tee fittings so that I can put in my reactors without having to change my plumbing in the future. They're angled up.. well... uhh.. so they don't leak? (no one has to know I glued them at the wrong angle!)
I used spaflex tubing to connect the pump to reduce vibration in the PVC piping, since this tank is going to be literally next to the sofa in the living room I wanted to cut down on noise as best I could.
You have a great start. Put it together already!
