Jarobs Tank Build!!!

[Jarob]

Well I'm finally setting up my 40g tank tomorrow so I thought I would show some progress. The past few days I've been building a canopy and a metal halide system with my dad while Schplitter was drilling my tank and making the stand/sump for me. The MH system is a 2 - 250w Iwasaki 6500k DIY setup using two Advance ballasts.



The two ballasts after being wired in the box before its sealed.

The finished ballast

LIGHT! (and no, thats not the reflector its staying in, the light is just resting in it to see if it works)

The tank before I hardcore polish it and paint it, and the incomplete canopy

The skimmer

The Iwasaki 6500k's

The ballasts before anything was done to them

As of right now, everything is finished except the cover for the wood on the stand. The canopy was a great success, it looks amazing with the built-in reflector and the whole canopy flips up for easy access. I tested it out with both bulbs turned on in the finished canopy, just forgot to take a picture. Currently the tank and EVERYTHING of mine besides this computer and my bed is loaded in a truck as I move tomorrow. I will take pictures of it being set up and when the waters in it tomorrow.

Also in the mail are some blue LED's which will be placed in the canopy and my first RO/DI system.

 

[Reeferhead]

Nice work! That's a lot of light for a 40 gallon! 12.5 watts/gallon of 65k, that's nuts! What's your plan for cooling? Keep up the pics.

 

[Jarob]

Im installing a 10" fan in the middle, and the back is open, also the canopy is slanted towards the front allowing the heat to flow out the open back better. If it comes down to it a chiller will be purchased. I plan on making it an SPS dominated tank so lots of light in necessary, Im just taking it to the next step

 

[StupidsReef]

WOW. Nice job. I really like the canopy. That is alot of light though. I think the fan blowing in the back of the canopy will be enough flow to help reduce some of the heat. But keep in mind U will have alot of evaporation due to your lights. You might want to invest in a top-off system or plan on topping it off every night. If you want I can show U a top-off system that doesn't take up to much room at all and works great. Just let me know. 5 gallon bucket, float switch, maxi-jet and a lid and your set.

 

[Jarob]

Yea, shoot me a PM with how to do it, that would be great

 

[SSTG]

Good job jarob.

 

[Reggae Fish]

Looks nice. Like stupid said, invest in a auto top off or you're going to have some serious swings in salinity if you forget even one days top off.

 

[StupidsReef]

Top-Off set up
Ok this will be a bit long for a PM but bare with me. If U have any Questions just ask. Here is a list of things you need to buy.

Top off system this is there link.

http://autotopoff.com/index.html

I suggest this one here. Its the best for the bang the one I have and IM LON2 & Rich1972 we all have the same set up that I referring to U.

http://autotopoff.com/products/DS1/index.htm

Then if U already have a Maxi-Jet or U can get one cheaper than this
http://autotopoff.com/products/FT70/index.htm
Then buy this too. But if U have an extra maxi-Jet or can get one cheaper than this then use it. I had an extra Maxi-Jet so I used it. This guy is really really good to deal with I highly recommend him and this product works wonderfully.

Ok the next thing U need is one of these:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produ...&pc=1&N=0&Nty=1

You don't have to buy it from Fosters&smith, almost every LSF carries these. It's cheaper to get one from MS (Marine Solutions) Or TWP or GW(gateway). Again these work flawlessly!!
Now the next thing U need to get is a 5 gallon bucket w/lid. The best way here is to buy a bucket of salt like Oceanic or Corallife. This is because there bucket is a 7 gallon bucket instead of a 5 gallon. But H.D or Lowes or True value hardware stores all have 5 gallon buckets.

Ok once U have the float valve in your hand, find a drill bit that is a little bit smaller than the end of the valve and drill a hole in the bucket about 3 inches from the top of the bucket. The float valve should be a little bit tight, But if it's really tough to fit it through, then drill the hole again. We drilled our where we had to thread the float valve through the hole. I suggest using some PLUMBERS PUDDY on the outside of the bucket. Before U screw the white nut on take some plumbers putty and smear it around the hole and stem of the valve. Be careful NOT to over tighten. This is all plastic and U can very easily over tighten!! Once done it should look like this:

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a381/Tatttoo/130-3023_IMG.jpg

U can get all the tubing needed @ any hardware store. Lowes & H.D both care the veinal tubing need as well as the 1/4 tube which is the same thing that ice makers in your ice box uses. All of these tubes are really cheap too

Ok the top off is rather simple too. It will come with instructions on what to do just follow them. Once hooked up it should look like this:

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a381/Tatttoo/129-2950_IMG.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a381/Tatttoo/129-2958_IMG.jpg

After all hooked up this works flawless. But keep in mind this. If you start seeing those little white dots all over your tank and sump that stick to the glass and just about anything?? This is from GOOD Calcium levels and is a good sign, However this will also get into the hood/cover of the top-off unit that's in the water. They can/will cause it to get stuck and either empty the bucket or not fill your sump. However this is a very very very simple & easy thing to fix and will happen to any top-off system U buy. But with this one U just unplug it take off the sump, set it in a bucket/sink whatever and fill it with water+bleach+vinegar and let it sit or swirl it around or dunk it in & out. Or you can take a toothbrush/pipe cleaner and help buy brushing inside the hood/cover.

any questions just ask.

 

[Jarob]

Alright more pictures! Moved into my very first own place yesterday, a 2000sq ft town home with 3 of my friends, 4bdrm, 5 bath. Unloaded everything at about 4 and worked on setting up my tank until about 9, everything is still in boxes besides the tank . Tanks been running now for awhile, fish are going in later today if it tests correctly (half of it is previous water +LR + LS).


Picture of the tank from my bedroom door

The lighting system inside the canopy, gonna install a fan later today if I get to it

Tank with the hood on it finally!

Sump running

Tank with the lights on. Going to load all the LR in today (picture makes it look brighter than it really is, Camera Phone...)

I will update again when the rocks are in and everything. Thanks!

 

[Schplitter]

Don't forget to drill the small hole on your Durso.

BK

 

[Jarob]

I did... it should still bubble a little at the end of the overflow pipe shouldnt it?

 

[Schplitter]

Yeah that's good. As long as you don't hear a annoying gurgling sound from the top you got the correct size...

Any sump problems?

BK

 

[Jarob]

none