JDAntunes Deep Blue 75G Rimless

[jdantunes]

At last!!!

It has been two years and two months since I started a mixed nano reef inside a 14 gallons Biocube but now is time for me to start my long waited upgrade tank... and this time is for real! :dance:

Well everyone, let me start saying that I don't live in FMAS area but I've been hanging out in this forum for the last couple of years and just love it.

I have meet some of you (in person and in the forums) and I'm planning to meet more of you when I go to future events offered by FMAS.

I have to say that I have received lots of guidance from members of this club and I will appreciate that you guys will keep providing your value opinions and good advise during the building of my new tank.

I have chosen a Deep Blue 75 Gallon Rimless Tank for my upgrade. The dimensions of tank are 48" X 18" X 20". Big center overflow with a 1" Drain hole and 3/4" return hole. I have to mention the tank is not completely rimless because it has the bottom black rim.

Here's a picture of it

The tank came with overflow kit, which I'm NOT going to be using. I order from Premium Aquatics new heavy duty bulkheads, 1" Overflow Box Standpipe Silencer and lockline fittings for my returns.

Right now, I'm in the process of finish the building of my stand. It has 32" inches of height. I didn't want a taller stand because the tank is going to located next of our dinning room table. The stand has doors in all three sides and I'm planning to install a removable back panel. The stand is all wood, planning to stain it walnut color and I'm using white formica for the interior.

Here's some pictures...

I have bought some of the equipment that I'll be using:

* Main lights is an Elos Planet II fixture (2 X 150W MH + 4 X 39W T5's)
* 30" Trigger Systems Ruby ELITE Sump
* I'll be plumbing externally an EHEIM 1260 Water Pump - 635 gph
* And I'm using a 16" 1 X 24W Power Compact Daylight Finnex Fixture for my refugium.

I'm going to order an APEX Aquacontroller lite this weekend to take advantage of the 4th of July sale in Aquacave.com.

Also I'm planning to get an

* Reef Octopus Extreme XS 160 Protein Skimmer and
* One Vortech MP40 or two MP10's (haven't decided)

Jonathan :beachbum:

 

[M_55G]

Your build is coming out very nice. Were did you get the tank from? Good luck with the build.

 

[reefsahoy]

your stand is really nice! did you build it personally? love the fact that there is no middle upright so you can access the sump and anything else without obstruction. also love the fact you can open the sides. mine is like that and i love the stand for ease of use. gl in your build!

 

[AquamanE]

Awesome start. Ill be sticking around to watch this one. Thnaks for sharing, and glad you like FMAS.

 

[coralrookie]

About time. Good luck.

 

[jdantunes]

Thanks you for all the replies. I'll try to keep updating this thread as much as I can.

I order the tank from a LFS, they were able to get it here in about a week.

I'm very involve with the design of my stand but I don't have the experience or the tools to build it, so I paid a professional carpenter to do it for me. I was in need of a custom because I'm really NOT attracted to any of the current commercial models and also I wanted the stand to match my existing furniture.

Here are some of the pictures of the stand now stained...

My daughter is getting very exited in taking this in to our home...

While my stand is getting finish, I build my aquascape using dry rock, zip ties and 3/8" nylon rod and nuts.

This is how they look when I started...

And soon after...

I'm very pleased in how they looked...

Soon after I finished. I rinse the rocks and place them in a plastic tub with RO/DI water. I'll be reading phosphates using my Hanna checker during the next couple of weeks.

 

[Jgoal55]

Looks awesome. Congrats!

 

[rbredding]

love it... I wouldn't worry about the bottom trim.. I dont really think it's smart to leave the bottom edges of an aquarium exposed..

it's gonna be sexy for sure!!

 

[nivram]

Both stand and aquascape seem to be coming out really nice. By the way PM sent.

 

[chrismck97]

looking good

 

[Crazy fish eye]

Very thought out build. Looks great.

 

[jdantunes]

Latest update!

Been working on the finals details before adding water to the tank.

I first installed a dedicated 20 Amp circuit in the wall behind the tank. I also install a CAT5 outlet so I can connect my Aqua Controller to the network.

Installation was not easy as I imagine because I had a cross beam that won't let me fish down my wires, so I open a hole in the wall pass the wires through the beam and finally got the wires down.

After patching the wall and painting, I got the stand in place. Place the tank on top and tint the back glass with the blackest tint I could find... (It's really BLACK).

Later I hanged my Elos Aqua Planet II on top of the tank and my system started to looked just as I always pictured.

Next day, I started to play with my sump\refugium installation. I'm using a 30" Trigger Systems Ruby ELITE Sump, I'll be plumbing externally an EHEIM 1260 Water Pump - 635 gph and using a 16" 1 X 24W Power Compact Daylight Finnex Fixture for my refugium.

My tank has a 1" overflow drain which I'll split to drain into my refugium and into a sock in the skimmer area. The amount of flow that will drain in to the refugium will be dial with a gate valve.

My pump will be plumb external using a pair of true unions ball valves. My tank return line is 3/4". Here's the fittings and valves I'll use...

Next I installed a 1" bulkhead in my sump return chamber. Marked the position of the hole to be...

Making sure to get the center of the circle...

And after this extremely stressful situation break open a cold one and CHILLAX!!! :beer:

 

[jdantunes]

Now main pump plumbing time!!! In the suction side I'll be using a 1" strainer, 1" bulkhead, 1" ball valve and reduce to 3/4" with a male adapter. This way I'll ensure that my system will be ready for future expansion. (Thanks for the tip MRX66699!)

Here's in the sump...

Now that I have the pump plumbing out of the way...let see how I'll plumb my drain and return lines...

Stay tune for future updates... :wavehand:

 

[NOVAcane]

Beautiful setup!!! Can't wait to see it filled!

 

[mrx66699]

looking good............ I see you use the small filter socks let me know if you want some more I have 3 or 4 that I cant use never opened

 

[jdantunes]

Beautiful setup!!! Can't wait to see it filled!

Thank you. But I'll tell you the wait is going to be long. I'm going to cycle out this tank for 90 days after is filled. Just be patient...

Also how is your tank cycling so far? You haven't post any updates.

looking good............ I see you use the small filter socks let me know if you want some more I have 3 or 4 that I cant use never opened

Thanks. Let me know how much you want for them.

 

[mrx66699]

Thank you. But I'll tell you the wait is going to be long. I'm going to cycle out this tank for 90 days after is filled. Just be patient...

Also how is your tank cycling so far? You haven't post any updates.



Thanks. Let me know how much you want for them.

let me see how many I have so can tell you a total

 

[leslie hempel]

looking good..

 

[nitroreef]

looking good

 

[Coastie5685]

Niiiiiiiice. Coming out clean man.