My 1st attempt

Score!

I went to my local Petsmart, to pick up stuff for my dog and walked through the aquarium aisle. I found 3 - 15# bags of CaribSea Aragonite, Special/Select Grade, for $11.99 each!!

I bought them out, only bags left :dance:

The cashier said, "We don't get too many Salt Water people come in here so, we marked everything down, so we can sell, to make room"

001-5.jpg
 
Last edited:
I still need to run out and see if there is an adapter, for the shower head outlet. Hopefully, they make such a thing.

Is it 1/2" threaded? If that is the case all you have to do is 1/2" Thread to Slip, 1/2" to 1/4" reducer (slip), then RO/DI.
 
It probably won't work and you might have already tried but... try using the adapter they give you or a hose or outdoor spicket. The other idea would be going to Home Depot and getting a fitting that will fit your shower faucet line on one end and 1/4 poly tubing on the other. That they should have for sure, especially now that summer is afoot and they have stuff for swamp coolers. Either way though they will have that in the plumbing section.
 
Nice job so far. Might want to ditch that via aqua pump, it's loud or was to me. Ran Eheim pumps since and love them.
 
Thanks for all the advice all.

Yes, I did find that adapter at Home Depot. One that fit the shower pipe thread and goes to 1/4" outlet.

On the Eheim pump...For right now, to get everything going, I went with the Via but have heard that Eheim is like the "Cadillac" of pumps. I may upgrade down the road, if it's too loud.

Now...another piece to the puzzle, has arrived:

002-2.jpg


I can finally do some plumbing work and get the glass cut for the sump!
 
This is the part, I can honestly say, I am most worried about. SUMP DESIGN :worried2: Here is the room, I have in my sump:

sump2.jpg


A friend of mine, who has been doing reefs for a few years now, suggested that I raise up the skimmer. I have had the glass cut and the skimmer will now be at 9", you can sort of see the stand at the bottom. Recommended height for the NW 150 is between 8"-10" I split the difference.

I have begun siliconing the panels in place. Looking at this picture, it will run left to right: Skimmer, Fuge, pump.

<a href="http://s426.photobucket.com/albums/pp348/taps8833/?action=view&current=sump3.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i426.photobucket.com/albums/pp348/taps8833/sump3.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
 
It came out better than I thought...was a learning experience!

The flow comes 2" from the bottom, skimmer side, will flow over the fuge & Miracle Mud and up to the top, 9". Under, 2" from bottom and over again 9", to the pump.

002-3.jpg
 
The time has come, a new beginning for me,

The tank finished filling last night, added the final mix of salt and got the Pukani the way I like it (well for now:fun4: ) I was going to go with, 2 smaller sections but, with all the great looking pieces I got, it was hard not to use most of them. I think it looks good and so does the wife. Lots of caves and archways for future inhabitants. I even added in some flat spots for coral. Some lower, some higher. All at least 2" away from the glass.... yes, I remembered.

I spent most of the night, not sleeping. I was worried about leaks and overflowing but, nothing happened!

Let me say, there was no better feeling than, turning that power switch on and seeing everything work.

Thanks to everyone, who has helped me get this far! Now my adventure REALLY begins!

Will get pics posted soon.
 
I know most of you have already gone through this process (some more than once) but I'm proud to get this tank cycling! Not much to show, with no lighting yet and still a tad cloudy but, here she is:

rock1-1.jpg



Love the Pukani live rock:

rock2.jpg



Lots of places to call home:

rock3-1.jpg



The sump:

018-1.jpg



Have a safe Memorial Day all!!
 
Last edited:
The tank is on it's 3rd week of cycling. It cleared up nicely and everything has been running fine (knock on wood) I added 1 Hydor Koralia 1050, to the right side (not visible) The little sand mound on the bottom left, is just from the 1050. I wanted to go with the 1400 and glad I didn't. The 1050 moves the perfect amount of water. In the future, I will add a smaller one, to the left side but so far, no dead spots visible.

I got around to doing the drywall repair, between opening up our pool and yardwork. Finally got it all cut, up and mudded. Will be headed to Home Depot today or tomorrow to get the framing for it.

032.jpg


I really wanted to go the LED route but, not in the budget, at this time. Have decided going with this: http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store...es/sunlight-supply-tek-light-t5-fixtures.html I will get the 48", 6 bulb fixture and suspend it from the ceiling.
 
Last edited:
Score!

I went to my local Petsmart, to pick up stuff for my dog and walked through the aquarium aisle. I found 3 - 15# bags of CaribSea Aragonite, Special/Select Grade, for $11.99 each!!

I bought them out, only bags left :dance:

The cashier said, "We don't get too many Salt Water people come in here so, we marked everything down, so we can sell, to make room"

001-5.jpg
is this fine grade? if so please try to use something else as it will give you problems later on.
 
Faisal:
No, it's larger in diameter than sugar sized. When I did my rinse in the Pillow case/Bucket a LOT of the finer grains, floated out. I haven't seen any sand storms in my tank. That was one thing I was concerned about.

Reefman:
I have had it running, since starting the cycle (just so I can get it broken in) I did have to add an elbow, so the water flows down. It was just a bit noisy but has been doing good so far. Once the cycle is done, I can get it dialed in, bubble wise. I like the fact that, it has a plug, that you can use the supplied tube, so that it drains into a collection container (instead of removing the entire top housing, to clean-dump). I will more than likely use that down the road. As for the sump itself, I was most worried about this part. I wanted to have plenty of room, in case of a power outtage and having water all over my floor. I have the dividers cut at 9" (this skimmer works best between 8"-10" of water...I went 9") So that leaves plenty of room, in case something happens. When I took that picture, I had just added more RO/DI, due to evaporation, so it looks a little full.
 
Drywall done, sanded and painted:

t1.jpg



Framing primed and up. Need to fill in nail holes and paint the last coat of white:

t2.jpg


View when walking into the house, from the front door:

021.jpg
 
I love the in wall look! Its turned out great and super clean in design. Loving your build and will continue to follow to see your progress. For a newbie like me, this is a great learning vehicle!
 
I'm into week 4 of the cycle. Here's where I stand at the moment:

Ammonia: 0.25
Nitrite: 0.2
Nitrate: 50H-10L
Alk: Normal
PH: 8.0

I've been keeping the tank a little warmer than normal: 80.0* on the nose.

One thing that has me baffled is, my salinity. I have been checking it regularly (everyday) and it has been between 1.025-1.026. Today, I checked it and was at 1.028. Tested 30 minutes later and again 1.028. Maybe all the salt that I added, when filling is finally getting dissolved? Although, I did make sure that I mixed well before adding. But going on 4 weeks? Odd.

I have added RO/DI water, for top offs, with no salt added. For some reason today, I got a jump.

I'm still waiting on some sort of algae or brown spots to appear...none :sad1:

Although, My white Pukani LR, is getting a little brown on top (just a little). Maybe it's finally kicking in?
 
I love the in wall look! Its turned out great and super clean in design. Loving your build and will continue to follow to see your progress. For a newbie like me, this is a great learning vehicle!

Hey GX2,

I'm also a newbie but, have gotten some great advice from here and from friends that keep reefs. They assure me to be patient....which I am (or at least trying to be) I come from the freshwater / Cichlid side. I'm glad that it's summertime out, and not cold..I would staring at the tank 12 hrs a day, waiting for something to happen, with the cycle:crazy1:

I have outdoor work to do too now so, I'm occupied, for the time being!
 
Back
Top