600 gal display/900+ gal build thread in the Chicago 'burbs.

[wmilas]

Water is in the tank! By setting up the filter loop first then slowly filling the tank I have almost no sandstorm and my filter loop will (hopefully) start filtering out the main tank water as it mixes. The tank water as it filled turned a very light green and it was starting to cycle itself. Ammonia is greater than 0 but less than 0.25.

The start of my ac3 pro wiring. Yes its a mess

Filter bag and probes floating in sump:

Look ma, its a waterfall:

 

[victor90]

Wade
Is your tank only going to be T5 and no metal halides

 

[wmilas]

Yes. I have room to park 3 MH fixtures if I need to, but based on other tanks (Like mcliffy's and a bunch of the German and other European tanks) I don't think its going to be an issue. I'm more worried about burning teh corals to be frank. Each Stealth has 3 banks so I can stagger them on and off. I'm planning on the UV and blue to come on at sunrise and sunset. Then the more redder and lighter blue an hour later, then the more daylight bulbs last. Basically the tank will start out near 20K, slowly phase over to 16k, end up around 12-14k, then reverse back to night fall.

The AC3 pro has tables for yearly variations and I'm using it to do the phasing.

I've never had T5's before so this will be a first. However I've seen some T5's tanks I'm trying to emulate the obtained some colors that were totally unreal

 

[Oldtimer]

Great work. Can't wait to see more. I've been on the fence with lighting. I like the shimmer of the MH's, but the T5's are tempting. I may just stay with the tried and true MH + T5 combo, but I have a few months to figure it out. Get those lights mounted already!! :lol:

 

[erics3000]

NICE...ditto on the skimmer in sump....

 

[mcliffy2]

I fired up the ATB over at Doug Lehman's tonight (who built the sump for it), we poured a cup of skimmer nog in it, and it was damn impressive. I won't get a chance to plumb it into my tank til next week, but I'm very stoked to get it running.

 

[wmilas]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14005221#post14005221 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by erics3000
NICE...ditto on the skimmer in sump....

Especially when you consider that sump is 175 gallons

 

[wmilas]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14005133#post14005133 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Oldtimer
Get those lights mounted already!! :lol:

I'm working on it I'm hoping to get a chance to run over to Menards this weekend/next week and start figuring out which rails I can find off the shelf that will work. The only thing I can think of are pocket door rails, and closet door rails.

 

[Robb in Austin]

Check out Glassreef's build thread, if you haven't already.
He used sliding closet door rollers on square aluminum rails.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1482007&perpage=25&pagenumber=3

 

[wmilas]

Yea those door rollers look nice. I'll use something like that. The Stealths come with steel cable for hanging already set up. I'm just trying to decide if I want to make a mechanism to lower and raise the stealths along with sliding them out, or having them stay a fixed position.

 

[wmilas]

I just about removed the tip of the long finger on my right hand. I was using the Magnavore 8 for the first time and even though I KNEW to keep it 18 inches apart. Well somehow it ended up NOT 18 inches apart. It accelerated so fast and twisted my hand around. I let go and bam.. It caught the tip of one finger. It hurts worse than a hammer blow to the thumb. Son of a...

Moral of the story, this thing is more dangerous than my tablesaw. It took me 15 minutes to separate the damn thing too.

 

[stunreefer]

Awesome! Water in the tank! :thumbsup:

So sorry to hear bout your finger, man that sucks... enjoy the fact it was only the tip, cuz your right those things are weapons.

Merry Xmas... the egg nog mixed with (fill in the blank) should help

 

[victor90]

Wade,

I was climbing a ladder and forgot to keep them apart, my fingers were in pain. Took awhile to get them apart especially with no help

 

[Crazy One]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14014951#post14014951 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ATB USA
Wade,

I was climbing a ladder and forgot to keep them apart, my fingers were in pain. Took awhile to get them apart especially with no help

OUCH!!! That not good at all.

 

[EBOLII]

As in crushing injury or cutting injury? I am curious?

 

[wmilas]

Crushing. Tip of my finger is all purple from being bruised. Hope I don't lose the fingernail . It'll grow back, its just a pain in the ***.

 

[EBOLII]

Well glad there is no loss that can't grow back....so everything is looking good. Is the bathroom finished? I would like to see it, as well as finished bar details....I am upto date on the posted thread

 

[megaspoot]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14017139#post14017139 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wmilas
Crushing. Tip of my finger is all purple from being bruised. Hope I don't lose the fingernail . It'll grow back, its just a pain in the ***.

The one time I lost a nail, it took 2 months to come back properly. If you have blood pooling under your nail, make sure you have it drained, otherwise it will collect there and force the nail off.

 

[Ed Reef]

Sorry to hear about that - I had a similar experience but with Vortech pump as I took off the wet/ dry side for general cleaning and bamb....my finger was caught in between....

 

[wmilas]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14020311#post14020311 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by EBOLII
Well glad there is no loss that can't grow back....so everything is looking good. Is the bathroom finished? I would like to see it, as well as finished bar details....I am upto date on the posted thread

The bathroom is 95% done. I still have to hang the mirror and install the lights and put the outer cover on the exhaust vent. I'll post a pict when its done.

The bar still needs ALOT of work. I'm going to have a giant bronzed reverse etched mirror made to cover the back wall. I had it quoted at two different places and am pretty shocked at the price. So I'm saving my pennies for that. Also still have a lot of lighting to do.

I've been spending most of my time on teh tank. After I get the lights up, the electrical done, and a few more things done I'll switch back to the basement. I'm just trying to get the tank to a place where I can cycle it properly and start quarantining fish as I add the cleanup crew.

Oh and my wife has a zillion projects for me in the rest of the house