My 150 Build

[JMN68]

It took two years to get to this point. The wife and I moved into our very first home and like a madman, I start the renovation. I still have the bathroom and some minor finishing work before it will be complete. Since I have slowed down with the renovation, I dedided to start my tank build.

Two months ago, I reinforced the floor with 2x8's on 12x12 poured concrete pillars to make sure it will hold 2000 lbs. The tank was picked up at the LFS three weeks ago, stand and hood was built right after that. The sump 60x16x18 was purchased from craigslist (a steal for $80.00) last week.

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I had broken three reef tanks seven years ago and just kept the live rocks (Why I don't know but it came in handy). They were cooked last week in 95 + degrees weather for 6 days). This morning I decide to make this tnak look good so I aquascaped. It took me half an hour using pieces of rock that I would not even think about using (thank you to all members with their tips and hints).

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BTW any suggestions and tips will be great appreciated. I will update when the tank is up and plumbed.

 

[Pearson]

I like that aquascape. Tagging along for updates.

Are you going to leave enough room behind it so you can clean the glass?

 

[cu0ngsayz]

And here I thought I couldn't post up my 150 build when it starts. Hahah thought it was 180+ only. I love that scape though.

 

[JMN68]

I like that aquascape. Tagging along for updates.

Are you going to leave enough room behind it so you can clean the glass?

Yes, there will just enough room. The other reason is so I can have flow and no build up of detritus behind the rocks and the back of the tank.

I will be drilling the rocks and epoxy it in its place tomorrow. The hard part is keeping all the pieces in their perspective place.

 

[JMN68]

It has been a busy week but I have manged to bolt the fame of the hood inot the corner ceiling, put the tank on the stand. With the stand being in the house for more than a week, I am finding that the I now have to add shims to level out the stand (maybe the weight of tank is to blame...?).

<a href="http://s585.photobucket.com/user/JMN68/media/EmptyTank.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss297/JMN68/EmptyTank.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo EmptyTank.jpg"/></a>

The aquascape build was a combination use of fiberglass rods and 1/2 drilled pvc pipe (thank you to all contributors in the DYI section).

<a href="http://s585.photobucket.com/user/JMN68/media/FiberglassRodsII.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss297/JMN68/FiberglassRodsII.jpg" border="0" alt="Fiberglass rods 1 photo FiberglassRodsII.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s585.photobucket.com/user/JMN68/media/FiberglassRods.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss297/JMN68/FiberglassRods.jpg" border="0" alt="Fiberglass set in epoxy photo FiberglassRods.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s585.photobucket.com/user/JMN68/media/PVCPipe.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss297/JMN68/PVCPipe.jpg" border="0" alt="PVC pipe photo PVCPipe.jpg"/></a>

This is the final product and plumbing is next.

<a href="http://s585.photobucket.com/user/JMN68/media/dc06dcc6-58fb-4b51-ac81-06782ed0d5ac.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss297/JMN68/dc06dcc6-58fb-4b51-ac81-06782ed0d5ac.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo dc06dcc6-58fb-4b51-ac81-06782ed0d5ac.jpg"/></a>

 

[thereefcanada]

Looking really good, I can't wait to see what it looks like when the stand and canopy is skinned.

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

Excellent job on the stand and canopy. That aquascape is off the hook. But where is the sump going to go?

 

[MikeL1987]

Im feelin that aquascaping, subscribed!

 

[JMN68]

Excellent job on the stand and canopy. That aquascape is off the hook. But where is the sump going to go?

I am plumbing everything to the outside of the house. I will post pics of the small insulated storage shed that will house the sump, chiller, calcium reactor and all the other equipment pieces. This will make things easy with water changes and I don't have to worry about spilling saltwater on the hardwood floor.