*d2mini's new 200g Reeftastic Build*

[milonedp]

d2mini great build!

Sorry if I missed it but what size is the PVC that you are using for the overflows? and do you drop them into filter socks? mind taking a picture looking down at the sump?

 

[d2mini]

Same as the original bean animal design. 1" bulkheads to 1.5" plumbing. I have the main siphon and the open channel flowing into one filter sock at the sump. I'll take a pic soon.


Sitting at the Tampa airport right now waiting to board on the same plane that has about 200lbs of goodies on it in cargo... Fresh as can be! Pics as soon as we get back to Houston and unload!

 

[BigAl2007]

Sitting at the Tampa airport right now waiting to board on the same plane that has about 200lbs of goodies on it in cargo... Fresh as can be! Pics as soon as we get back to Houston and unload!

Christmas in August!! Jingle Bells all the day long!!

Cant' wait to see the updates and pics!! AWESOME!!!!!

 

[pkane11384]

I can't wait to see part one of 'The Package.' Hurry back!!!

 

[Snakebyt]

Can't wait to see the new rock and all the life on it

Sent from my HTC ThunderBolt using Tapatalk 2

 

[milonedp]

TBS is awesome I've used them for two different builds, my next will be dry rock but that is nothing against TBS if you are doing live rock they are the best.

Looking forward to seeing that rock in the tank.

 

[Bdial]

This is a great build! I love how neat and organized your filtration set up is. I'm super jealous but at least I know how I'll do move fish room when I build my next home. Great build. I'll be following.

 

[keeder]

Tagging Along

Tagging Along

Along for the ride...

 

[d2mini]

So some of you already know, but for those that don't, I had the distinct privilege of being personally invited by Richard of legendary Tampa Bay Saltwater to visit him for a couple days and go out on the boat to help him harvest all my new rock for this build! Who could pass that up?! So I grabbed another local reefer buddy and we hopped on a Southwest flight direct to Tampa Bay International Airport. We had a FANTASTIC trip. Richard was an amazing host. We had a blast, even if we did get a little green out in the gulf with all that constant up/down. :bounce3: But no one chummed!
The only bummer was the water was not clear that day especially with the cloud cover we had, so I couldn't see much. Was hoping to be able to see Richard down there collecting while I was up top snorkeling but I could only see about 5-10' in front of me at the surface. Didn't even get to see the giant Jew Fish, but Rick heard him barking. But it was still an awesome experience. We got to go out on the boat watch Richard do his thing, did a little snorkeling around the boat, and then brought everything up and into the barrels of saltwater. Then we brought everything back to his house and holding facility. Got a cool little tour, got to meet some lobsters he's had for 15 years as well as couple other neat creatures. Had some awesome cuban sandwiches for lunch! And a nice home cooked meal for dinner! Nearly passed out in front of the TV after all that before heading back to the hotel to crash. The next day everything got packed up and we brought it all to Southwest Freight and got all our stuff loaded up on the same plane that took us home. Our stuff was waiting for us when we drove up to the Freight office in Houston. I can't thank Richard enough. He really went out of his way and truly gave a couple reef nerds from Houston the experience of a lifetime. Woohoo! Thanks again, Richard!!! :wave:

Trying to go through all my pics so here's a few to start...

He're we are at the Marina, about 6:15 in the freakin morning.

Putting the boat in

Rick (the other local reefer who went with me) and Richard from TBS

Here we are starting out... the bay was smooth as glass.

Looking back at the marina as it disappears.

 

[d2mini]

Lots of Sargassum was floating out there so Rick was harvesting it and putting it in a barrel. A little extra stuff to take home.

6 miles out, now out of the bay and into the Gulf, this is Richard dropping.... anchor. :lol2:

Throwing out bouys and nets for the rock collection.

And here's just some of the bouys that were floating out there

And that's it for now!
More to come later as I process more pics...

 

[sirreal63]

That's awesome!!! Very jealous here, it will be great once it is home and in the tank.

 

[shaggss]

you lucky bugger! awesome!

 

[d2mini]

That's awesome!!! Very jealous here, it will be great once it is home and in the tank.

As I said above, it is home! The rock came home on our same flight, in cargo. :beer:

 

[sirreal63]

I meant the whole package, I now it usually comes in two shipments, did you get it all at once?

 

[d2mini]

Oh sorry, ya we still split it up a bit. I had gotten most of the sand earlier. Got a little more this trip with the rock. Critters and all that other stuff will come next week.

 

[liverock]

Had a blast!

Had a blast!

I had a blast with you guys....and the slave labor on the boat was even better LOL

those rock bags are pretty heavy....now you know!

sea ya
Richard TBS
www.tbsaltwater.com :spin1::spin1::spin1:

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

where's the rest of the story and pics, did you snap any of them bringing the rock up? how about packing it for the flight?

 

[d2mini]

soon, yes and yes.

 

[drummereef]

Amazing documentary. :thumbsup: Can't wait to see the rest of the story.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

That definitely was a treat to have TBS invite you over to scuba with them, or as he says, have "free labor". And see your rock come straight from the ocean, that must have been awesome. I'm waiting to see the process of how you packed it to get it on the plane.

and of course now that you have it, how you're going to scape your tank with it.