Gem's 46 gal reef build. Suggestions welcome

gem

Totally over it
Actually...more than just suggestions.... HEEEEELLLLP! LOL Just kidding.

Just a disclaimer before I post any pictures. My set up is pretty neandrothal/mickey mouse. It also is very visable at the side of my tank. I don't mind that part so much because it's not like I throw parties or have alot of people over to my house. The tank is for my enjoyment anyway. What was important to me was functionality. As for design.....well.....if this gets all kinds of negative comments....I blame Kyle.....it was his idea. If this seems like it's brilliant and will work great.....well it was still Kyles idea and all credit goes to him. I trusted Kyle because I've seen him do some pretty strange things with plumbing at AL and they seemed to work great.
So, a little description, it's a 46 gal plexi tank that I picke dup at a garage sale for $10. Still in plastic never used. Ok...so I have to brag about that deal. LOL I didn't have a stand, so I kind of made one out of a solid wood kitchen cart. I bought a used 10 gal sump and overflow and removed all the bioballs and chucked them. I got a used CPR bakpak 2 skimmer that needed some parts which I got from Ameka. An 18 gal rubbermaid to run live rock and a remote DSB ( the reason for this was I was complaining to kyle that my sump just wasn't big enough to run LR, have my heater in it, and hanging the CPR off it just wasn't going to work....and then where would the return pump go. So....we came up with drilling a hole in the side of the sump and installing a bulk head. So water goes from tank to overflow, into smaller chamber of sump through a sock, out the bulkhead from the larger chamber, gravity fed through pvc to the 18 gal rubbermaid tub where there will be LR and about 20 lbs of LS, then mag 5 return pump and back into the tank. The skimmer wouldn't work either on the sump or the rubbermaid, where I originally wanted to run it, so it hangs on the back of the tank. How the overflow and the bakpak fit on there is beyond me, but they do. Rio 600 venturi running the bakpak. 100 watt jaeger heater in the bakpak (no biobale).
I like the jaeger heater, but I wanted the heater in the 10 gal sump......this one is just tooooooo long. I contemplated going back and getting two 75 watt stealths......but that's just too much $ and too many plugs. I also don't want it in the tank. So, I'll try it in the bakpak and see how that works out. I have a Maxijet 1200 attached to the overflow box. (an aqualifter was suggested recently, so I may switch in the future) then one more maxijet for water movement.
I posed a pic of the set up in my gallery....like I said....it's neandrothal/mickey mouse but (hopefully) functional. I tested it in the backyard and had it running for like 4 hours with FW and it seemed to work just great. So, let me know what you think.
here's a link
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/14509046_gal2.JPG
 
That's not mad scientist at all... Looks sweet. I'd be sure the tank is level and evenly supported. Keep coming with the pictures.
 
Kevin...thanks......It was ripped apart at another forum and I had a couple people tell me I shoulda this and I shoulda that. I was basically told that the design and theory would cause more trouble than good. Well.....I considered what was said and got all bummed and almost scrapped it all and Kyle reassured me that he wasn't a complete nitwit. LOL It's a good thing I trust him. Hehehe Especially after last night watching him gluing overflow tubs to pvc and figuring out he screwed up. LOL
He had me and the owner laughing at him.

Pete.....I'll post more pics soon. I'm hoping to get things started this weekend. Didn't think I wouldhave the $ but someone here offered me free RO...which saves me quite a bit. I bought salt last night at AL.

Anyone know anything about using playsand instead of LS? I had a well respected aquarist (who also writes sometimes for TFH) tell me I can use it. I'm a little hesitant because of the silicates.
 
Unless it's Southdown (which is impossible to get) I'd wait for a freebie. People give / sell cheap all the time on tank breakdowns.
 
Looks good to me, Just make good and sure the stand can support the wieght when its full. Other than that it looks good to me.
I would wait for LS too, play sand scares me and its not as white as argonite.
 
Thanks for the playsand info. I made a trip down to YR this morning and caught John there packing up to go to LA. I asked him about the playsand. People on the East coast had suggested it, and what they get is Southdown. Which, John did tell me about and that it was literally impossible to get here. He warned me not to use playsand for a couple reasons....one silcates (which is what I had worried about) and two it's sharp. He said stick with aragonite based sand also.....so that's what I'll do.
I also went over to AL after that and bugged Kyle. Dane was there with his soccer ball sized knee and crutches. And I accidentally met Buzbottom there too. LOL That was pretty cool. I got my 1 gal of saltwater for my water change water on my Pico and since I was there got 13 gal of RO.
I figured $7 bucks wouldn't kill me. Man financially I'm in the wrong dang hobby. LOL
So....as far as live sand....anyone up to donations? I told Dane to tell his Dad if they need extra help over there on the weekend "Will work for LR"! No paycheck needed. Hey...who knows....that might pan out. :D
 
Well...thanks much to Mark...I have water running through my system now!!! You're the best Mark!
I'm getting ready to put salt in there and see if I can't get the SG right. I have no sand in the tank at this point. I'll add sand once the chemistry is right and then hopefully sometime next week, at least a few pieces of LR.
Thanks again for your help!!!
 
Ok...setback....sprung a leak in my overflow hose. Is there an all night LFS in Rocklin???? I need hose!!!!! LOL Half my system is now sitting but at least some water is flowing in the tank itself. Off to AL tomorrow....Unless I find something at Ace Hardware that's better than the cruddy spa hose I used!
 
Very true. I guess I could have gone there. I got the spa/vacuum hose at Ace. I don't remember if HD had anything different than Ace. But. I'll check today.
 
I ended up with vinyl tubing. No more leaks!
Got my SG at 1.025 and got my sand in and ready for LR....which I'm picking up a bit tonight from Matt. Now I just need to resolve one more issue with the return.
 
Wow....Really big thanks to Matt!!! I got some LR from him last night and the tank is well on it's way. I plan to add some more in the near future, but with what he gave me is really going to give me a great start. Thanks BIG TIME, Matt!!!
I'm going to scape it a bit tonight. It was late last night so I just kind of plopped it in the tank. I'll post some pics later.
 
umm, are you SURE that stand will support 300+ pounds? I'd sure hate for you to find out that it won't the hard way...

other than that, nice work and good luck!
 
Initial set up can be both rewarding and very frustrating, so use the forum as your crutch. There is a lot of knowledge and experience that folks are more than happy to share.

Welcome to the fray!

As for the stand, please be oh so careful. If she goes a rockin', it will be a bad day for everyone. :( Its amazing how much a gallon of water weighs.
 
Yes, I made absolutely sure it would hold the weight. It's solid wood and quite sturdy. I do plan in the future of either buying or building another stand for it, but that will be a while. (As well as a pain moving the tank).
But yes, I am completely wure it will hold the weight. No wobbles no creaking. I tested it previously as well.

and it's actually closer to 500 lbs.
 
current stats....I truly didn't expect a reading of anything yet....but

amonia - .50
PH 7.8
Nitrite .25
Nitrate 5.0
SG 1.025
KH 8


My ph seems a bit low, doesn't it?
 
Back
Top