JHill 58 Gallon Build - New to Hobby

jhill

New member
Hey guys,

I haven't been on this forum long but the advice I have read and received has been great. The time has finally come to start the build thread since I feel like I am finally starting to make progress. I have not had a fish tank since I was in Jr. High (long time) and this will be my first SW tank. Please give me as much advise as possible since I walking into unknown territory.

If you read the other threads I started this is kinda like a trial tank to see if I enjoy the hobby as much as I think I will. If I do, when I move next year I will try and to a large in the wall system. Now lets get to the build.

I went with an Oceanic 58 Center Reef Ready tank that I picked up from City Pets because where I am putting the tank I am limited to a 36" tank. Couldn't find a stand that I liked so I decided to build my own out of Maple and then stain it to match the cabinets in the house. So let the fun begin.

Started by building the structure part of the stand out of treat 2x4s
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51844339@N06/8546350339/


Then added some posts made from 2 2x4s screwed together and put a piece of maple plywood on the bottom. Felt I should caulk the heads of the screws so nothing is exposed to the SW just in case.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51844339@N06/8547449096/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51844339@N06/8546352477/


I had to test out the tank to make sure the stand would support the tank and with something in it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51844339@N06/8546353199/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51844339@N06/8546351021/


Now it is time to add the skin on the cabinet along with the trim.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51844339@N06/8546358677/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51844339@N06/8547455094/


Almost done with that but started working on the canopy also.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51844339@N06/8547456772/


Here it is finally built but I don't like building doors so I ordered those. They will be in tomorrow.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51844339@N06/8546361063/


Just put the stain on it yesterday and put it in the house. I had to raise the TV which is why you see the 2 holes in the wall.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51844339@N06/8546356887/


And the finished product minus the doors.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51844339@N06/8546356011/


So far I like the hobbie. Ha ha. I love playing with wood and building stuff if you haven't noticed.

I have some more progress that I will try to post tonight. It seems like it is not going to be a fast process getting this up and running but I am having a good time with it so far.

Can someone tell me how to post the photos so they automaticly pop up. I hate clicking on links.
 
Its weird how you think it will only take about a couple of weeks to get a tank up and running. Boy was I wrong. With work and trying to get everything set up it is taking forever. Time for an update.

Stand and Canopy are finished.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51844339@N06/8604931060/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51844339@N06/8604929976/


Started dividing up the sump into 4 different areas.
1 - Skimmer area
2 - Refugium
3 - Return pump
4 - RO/DI water for ATO

http://www.flickr.com/photos/51844339@N06/8603829037/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51844339@N06/8603828133/


Working on the QT also. I have the AquaClear which came with Foam, Carbon, and BioMax pelets. Do I use all of those for the QT?
In order to cycle the tank, do I fill with Saltwater, Turn on the AquaClear, throw in a frozen shrimp, and wait for Ammonia to spike and then come back down? Sorry for the beginer questions.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51844339@N06/8603828133/
 
the stand is very well done, very pretty wood/stain combo, you should be able to post the pictures direct on here without having to click a link by clicking the mountain symbol at the top of the reply window, then entering the URL of the picture you want to add. or add tags on either side of the links.


in your sump design, you have one baffle in there that goes all the way up to the top of the tank? what are you doing with that section?
 
8547449096_11cc4ee107.jpg

8546352477_3c5b979bbb.jpg

8546353199_84d3b114d9.jpg

8546351021_f24d741475.jpg

8547455094_9cce3ef27f.jpg

8546358677_e8a71779f5.jpg

8547456772_2fcf1dca55.jpg

8546361063_3d1e1f974c.jpg

8546356887_4a5983f9d8.jpg

8546356011_1bc2c2f84d.jpg
 
the stand is very well done, very pretty wood/stain combo, you should be able to post the pictures direct on here without having to click a link by clicking the mountain symbol at the top of the reply window, then entering the URL of the picture you want to add. or add tags on either side of the links.


in your sump design, you have one baffle in there that goes all the way up to the top of the tank? what are you doing with that section?[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the tip. Now all of the updates people wont have to click on the links. Tons better!!!

The section with the tall baffle is to hold the ATO water. I thought about having a seperate container but then thought everything would be safer inside 1 tank. The house is wood floors and I do not want to risk something overflowing.
 
Just my two cents, I would put the ato in a separate container as you don't want the saltwater to mix at all with because if u go ba do corals it will stress them. But still love your tank
 
Looks good. You might not want a tv over the tank due to salt creep.

I am kinda stuck with the TV location. Selling the house next year so hopefully there aren't any issues before then. Whenever I sell a house with TVs on the walls the buyer always wants the TVs to stay. New TVs for me next year. Ha ha.
 
Just my two cents, I would put the ato in a separate container as you don't want the saltwater to mix at all with because if u go ba do corals it will stress them. But still love your tank

I didn't see the difference between putting it in one container or having it separate. The only thing that could go wrong is the seal that I did fail. I hope I did a good job and the pressure shouldn't be that much either.

Let's say the seal did fail. Max that compartment can hold is around 8 gallons. Total system volume is around 75 Gallons (58DT + 17 Sump). How much would that hurt the salinity?
 
10% :)

When the ATO level gets low, or is full, it will put an a lot of pressure on that wall as the sump water / ATO water attempts to equalize that area. You will definitely be testing that seal as the pressure will go back and forth depending on which water level is higher.
 
The height of the water would be max 17" which isn't that much pressure......I hope. I am taking it slow and won't be getting any coral for at least a few months. If it does fail hopefully the fish will be ok.
 
i think your fine with the pressure, it wont even be the pressure of the entire sump pressing on the wall, at most, when the ATO reservoir is empty, the only pressure will be from the next chamber of the tank. your good, nice design.
 
I'm not really worried about the seams and pressure but what will happen to your ato water if your sump overflows ?
 
I'm not really worried about the seams and pressure but what will happen to your ato water if your sump overflows ?


Btw these are just things to think about that's all.

Thanks for bringing all this up. Makes me feel better talking through this to make sure everything is covered.

I am using a 30 gallon sump (38 gallon tank - 8 gallon ATO) which should give me plenty of extra room for the reverse siphon space. And if for some reason the water kept coming up then it would flow into the ATO water and fill that space. Then I would dump the ATO water and refill with fresh.
 
Got the BRS RO/DI unit installed in the garage and started filling up the QT tank. After months of planning there is finally water in a tank.:dance:
8607480101_d141b57c15.jpg

8607478849_246df8700e.jpg
 
Back
Top