150g upgrade - 200g total water volume

[wav0718]

- Background -
My first tank was a 29g aquapod. I guess I should of done more research because a month later after seeing the 32g solana, I upgraded. 9 months after that I bought a 60g frag tank and decided it would be better used as a shallow reef display tank. Here is a pic of my current setup.

A year later and it is time for another upgrade.

- Tank Specs -
** 150g Tank (96" x 30" x 13") with custom made stand; 60g sump. I will be converting my current 60g tank into a sump
** Lighting -- Current USA 72 Inch Outer Orbit 3X150W 8x39W T5
** Skimmer -- Planning on a Royal Exclusiv Vertex Omega skimmer (hopefully it will be released soon)
** Controller -- AquaController Jr
** Flow -- Vortech MP 40w, 2x Tunze 6101 with aquasurf controller, 2x seaswirls return.

Possible light combo
- 150W 20000K Radium MH x3
- KZ Fiji Purple x2
- AquaBlue Special x2
- ATI Blue + x4

 

[wav0718]

The stand that came with the tank was questionable. I decided to use it as a workbench. It worked perfectly for this.

I decided to build a stronger stand using the DIY Stands Template and Calculator thread.

The frame

The skin

It took 5 guys to get the tank upstairs and I had to assemble, sand and paint the stand upstairs.

 

[wav0718]

I didn't want to hang the 72" light fixture from the ceiling. I had my 48" hanging from the ceiling but I didn't like how the hanging wires were not straight since the studs were off. I was searching all over the internet for ideas on how to hang/mount the light using a hanging arm. I was going to use the current hanging arm kit but after reading the reviews I decided against it. I came across this shelving unit that ikea sells.

Here is what I did. After painting the bars black, I drilled two holes in the bars and used wood screws to screw it into the stand. I then drilled a single hole in the leg and placed it on top of the bar to act as a hanging arm.

I took apart the current usa orbit/sunpod hanging kit and used it in the hole I made on the hanging arm.

 

[Hurdicuss]

Very slick, I dig it! :thumbsup: Great work so far, keep it up it looks great.

 

[Reeftanks6]

Looking good. Never saw a tank like that before. Tagging along.

 

[strout]

First class job.

 

[mpoletti]

Good stuff Wes

 

[MrineLfRlz]

very nice job on the stand and i really like the long shallow tank im sticking around for sure!

 

[kenhuang6269]

Looking good can't wait untill it's up and running. Keep up the good work

 

[turtleman9100]

i really, really like your setup. nice.......

 

[wav0718]

Thanks for all the comments. It has been awhile. Here are some updates. I got my lights bulbs in today.

Here are some tank shots

Plans for the furture.. Move the cal reactor under the stand, hide all the wires, get a rimless tank for top off water, hook up an external skimmer and maybe a custom light canopy.

 

[wav0718]

Some updates.

I hooked up an automatic fish feeder that fed my fish 4 times daily with flake and pellet. Big mistake. I am now going through a green hair algae outbreak. I also have been recklessly adding a bunch of fish to my system without quarantining first. Well, you guessed it, I caught ICH. So, I had to remove everything out of the system to get my fish out. Here are some pics after a few months of recovery. I am still siphoning out the hair algae with each water change. I tried to add a nudi but both times my shrimps killed it. Anyone have any input/experience with them?

 

[wav0718]

Some closeups

 

[iamjoefox]

i really like the shallow dimensions.