55 Reef on a Budget

[reefrubble]

you will have to go to the LFS, for a fix

 

[bklinefelter]

You need a tank??? I have a tank for sale!!! LOL

 

[meco65]

Maybe that is what is wrong with me I have 2 bata bowls,1- two gal. with guppie,1-three gal. SW with(royal gramma,and peppermint shrimp),3- ten gal QT tanks,1-twenty gal. QT just incase,2 fresh water ten gal. on a rod iron stand,1-twenty gal. salt water pic below, and a 55gal that im setting up will have a 55gal sump/refug-3gal refuge for pod prdution. that will be 14 tanks in all and still looking for that great deal.

And yes the tang will go in new setup.

 

[adnup]

Update-
I havent done anything to the tank lately, sorry. I plan to make the doors for the stand soon.

I made a bunch of DIY rock (sorry no pics) they are soaking the a river. Portland cement, paver sand & rock salt, they look pretty good. The cement I used is from home depot type I & II. I like this because its grey. The previous rocks I used portland type I and that was white and just too bright.

I also went and got some natural sea water and did a 20 gal water change(Its good to live in florida....sometimes.) The tank is looking great. Some Kenya tree frags are in there waiting to sent shipped out.

But thats it for now, hopefully the rock will cure within a month and I'll get the doors done :rollface:

 

[jerehmy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7396438#post7396438 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by meco65
Maybe that is what is wrong with me I have 2 bata bowls,1- two gal. with guppie,1-three gal. SW with(royal gramma,and peppermint shrimp),3- ten gal QT tanks,1-twenty gal. QT just incase,2 fresh water ten gal. on a rod iron stand,1-twenty gal. salt water pic below, and a 55gal that im setting up will have a 55gal sump/refug-3gal refuge for pod prdution. that will be 14 tanks in all and still looking for that great deal.


Thats my kind Affliction too, we need a group called FA
Fishaholics Anoymys! :lol: :lol:

I have 6 African cichlid tanks 1 reef tank and a new 50 tall on the way !

 

[meco65]

adnup- I was wondering what you used to face the stand with, it looks great.



jerehmy- I know they dont tell you how fun and rewarding this hobby can be. I just cant seem to quit buying tanks. I think im hooked.

 

[skype]

adnup,
who did you contact to get the top trim piece?

Kenny

 

[adnup]

Meco65 - I used Pine and Luan , to keep the costs down. I have to finish the doors soon!

skype - I called All-glass. You may reach All-Glass Aquarium Customer service by calling Mon-Fri, 8am-4pm, Central Standard Time (at 414) 421-9670.

 

[Blutowski]

Man, I had all but given up on a reef tank and was going to settle for a Cichlid tank until I could save up enough to start my dream reef tank. Please keep us updated as your project is truly inspiring.

 

[adnup]

Someone a ways back wanted to see the frag shelf in action. Here are some pics of my Kenya trees I'm selling. The frag cookies are alittle big but I already had them. Anyway here are the pics....

:rollface:

 

[vanceny]

adnup,

I see you don't have any 90's on your overflow, is there much noise in these while using the mag9.5? Also what size hole is that?

 

[adnup]

There is alittle noise, not enough to worry about. Its a 1 1/2" bulkhead

 

[Blutowski]

I've been frantically trying to find this thread. The stand pictures are awesome, I am going to use it for my new 75 reef. What is Luan and do you think this design will work for a 75.

 

[Shouse94]

awesome tank

 

[adnup]

Blutowski - Luan is an inexpensive veneer plywood. I get mine at HD in 2 x 4 sheets for @$4. Yes it should work for a 75.

Shouse94 - thanks - I've kinda stalled with my progress.

 

[bklinefelter]

Tank looks awesome. Are the doors done yet?

 

[adnup]

No, didnt start the doors yet.....vacation next week will give me time to do them...I hope!

Went out and got some NSW today. Did another 20% water change, the corals I have in there seem to be doing great!

 

[wrenchhead]

looks awesome so far.I was wondering,how do you determine where to put the holes and the box so that the water level is right.

 

[adnup]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7512224#post7512224 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wrenchhead
looks awesome so far.I was wondering,how do you determine where to put the holes and the box so that the water level is right.

Thanks!

As for the holes, I centered the drain in the overflow and just put the return alittle to the left of the overflow. The holes are a hole size down from the top of the glass(I think) or something close to that, to lessen the chance of the glass cracking.

The water level is controlled by the height of the overflow box. I set it 1/2" from the top of the glass. If i were to do it again I would do it more like 3/4" down. I just wanted to make sure the water level wasn't visible under the trim from the outside.

 

[adnup]

Here are some pics of some DIY rock I recently made. Yes earlier I said that I had some soaking in a river, its still there! But these rocks I think are better. This cement is grey which I like (I think) better than the white. I make an impression in a bed of sand, pour the mixture in and then cover with a layer of sand. The sand then sticks to the rock alittle giving it a lighter appearance. They are pretty light and the water runs right through them.

I made them with:
Portland type I & II cement from Home Depot
Diamond Crystal Pellets (salt) Home Depot
Paver sand and Pea gravel from Lowes
The ratio is 1 part cement, 2 parts paver sand, 2 parts pea gravel and 1 part rock salt.

Heres the pics