Dudester’s 450g corner in-wall and tank room – help with design

[Dudester]

I picked up some frags yesterday from the office tank after the meeting. I probably won't get much more from that tank for my home tank, since I don't want to duplicate the same livestock, but there are some sweet corals in that tank and I'd be a fool not to get some of them. Most of them will be shown in the following photos. I mounted most onto KZ frag plugs, which attach to weighted bases. They can be moved around the tank safely and without being blown around until a 'happy' spot is found, then the tops simply pull off of the bases for permanent mounting.

Here's a full tank shot, actinics only. I need to scrape the coralline off of the back.

And while we're in actinic mode, here is a cluster of new frags.

Acro turaki

birdsnest

milles (ORA rose and another one)

efflo

Lights all on. This ricordea is in my avatar and is the 2nd coral I ever purchased some 3 years ago. It only recently became happy in my tank since the change from the 30g cube.

more to follow ...

 

[Dudester]

I mentioned I've had some improved coloration recently. Here's what I mean. There's also been some growth, it seems .

Miyagi tort, 1/13/08

4/20/08

acro tenuis, 1/13/08

4/20/08

green slimer, 1/13/08

4/20/08

blue tip stag, 1/13/08

4/20/08

 

[gkarshens]

Nice growth! Good choice in frags too.

 

[Dudester]

cali tort, 1/13/08

4/20/08 - still not yet dark blue, but getting much better

Beneath the toadstool you can see a new gorgonian.

In the background is the Leng Sy cap, looking mighty fine.

I got this acro frag from Austin Aqua Farms a while ago. Here it was on 1/13/08

4/20/08, sorry, different angle, but the same angle is above with the gorgonian.

 

[Dudester]

Here's the Hawaiian flame wrasse. See if you can find him in these photos.

This is the achilles tang. Don't worry about the spots you see, that's stuff blowing around the tank as I did not turn off pumps for any of these photos. There is absolutely no ich and he's gaining weight nicely. His color is as black as black can be.

Here's the full tank, all lights on.

Right side.

 

[Dudester]

Whoops, I just realized I posted all of this stuff in the wrong thread. These pics don't belong here, they belong in my current tank thread. Sorry for the hijack of my own thread.

 

[Bax]

It's OK Dude! Nice pics anyway!

 

[Dudester]

Thanks for bearing with me Bax. Now back to this build ...

I spoke with the super and confirmed that the column adjacent to the overflow is not structural. He has already cut 6" away from that column, leaving me with 42" of the 48" on that side to play with. This changes things considerably for me, as now I'll be able to integrate dual external waveboxes and still increase the length of the overflow. The new side now looks like this.

The dimensions don't take into account the thickness of the acrylic used to construct the external overflow and waveboxes, but you get the idea.

 

[Oldtimer]

Looks very nice. Waveboxes and overflow are similar to what I'm doing, although I'm only going 5" deep on the box vs. 6". Just need to keep the overall length of the tank in check or I won't be able to fit it through my basement doorway.

 

[GSMguy]

Just found this,,, Mike your going to have to start taking fridays off so you can have a day to spend with your tank.


this one is going to be awesome

 

[Dudester]

Oldtimer - I'm going 6" for the wavebox due to the depth required for the overflow box. I'm going to use two 2" Hayward bulkheads in the overflow for the drains, which have a diameter of more than 4", so I wanted space to get my hand inside when necessary. I'll deal with the extra inch in the wavebox by using something to wedge the pump against. Plus, think of the overall increase in system volume that inch is gonna get me .

GSMguy - Where've you been, bro? Oh yeah, I know, setting up that fancy new rimless of yours. That's one sweet tank.

 

[Jar*Head]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12376743#post12376743 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dudester
Oldtimer - I'm going 6" for the wavebox due to the depth required for the overflow box. I'm going to use two 2" Hayward bulkheads in the overflow for the drains, which have a diameter of more than 4", so I wanted space to get my hand inside when necessary. I'll deal with the extra inch in the wavebox by using something to wedge the pump against. Plus, think of the overall increase in system volume that inch is gonna get me .

GSMguy - Where've you been, bro? Oh yeah, I know, setting up that fancy new rimless of yours. That's one sweet tank.

Mike, that extra inch will give you plenty of room to work with the wavebox. All you need is a small piece of PVC and it will take care of the pump from sliding back and forth...

 

[GSMguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12376743#post12376743 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dudester

GSMguy - Where've you been, bro? Oh yeah, I know, setting up that fancy new rimless of yours. That's one sweet tank.

i have been busy with the semester ending and my girlfriend graduating, and my new tank, and my dad getting married for the 3rd time.

thanks for the compliment, i will have a video and some pictures of the tank in my thread later.
it is still a couple weeks away from seeing saltwater i think.

 

[tbone28]

Mike, need I ask if Tom Hudson is making your tank again?
Looks like it's going to be a NICE tank!

 

[Oldtimer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12376743#post12376743 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dudester
Oldtimer - Plus, think of the overall increase in system volume that inch is gonna get me

Normally, probably not much, but with the insane width of your tank, that's probably another 100 gallons! :eek1: :lol:

 

[Dudester]

Terry - No, you need not ask, it's a given .

Oldtimer - I'll take every gallon I can get.

 

[jnarowe]

You are lucky the Super is helping you out! :thumbsup:

 

[bleedingthought]

Man, this tank is going to be so sweet!

 

[Jar*Head]

Bleedingthought, the tank going to be top notch. It is going to be every reefers wet dream.

Mike, I got some info back on the Ocean Geotronic.

 

[jnarowe]

love those units. too bad they don't come in bigger sizes!