My 54G Mixed Reef (pic intense)

[Avast Marine]

Alright, here we go. It all started a year ago when the local Petco was remodeling their store. They put all tanks and stands at 50% off. There is no way I could turn away from a sale like that!!!! I had been reading and researching turning my 29g FOWLR into a reef tank, but already had some non compatable fish in there and am quite attached to them so this will be tank #2. The plan is for a mix of mainly softies, but trying to mix it up a little with lps, sps, and may be even a fish or two .
I have done a modest amount of work to this point and an insane amount of overthinking this project.
Right now I have the 54g corner main display. I cut a weir for external overflow into the top center on the right side 9" by 1" (thanks Stile2). I drilled 4 holes for 3/4" bulk heads all on the lower part of the tank to run a closed loop with OM squirt and a Panworld 50px-x using Paul's flow layout.
The overflow has 2 ea 1" drains and 1ea 3/4". I am using a restricted drain setup (thanks Herbie), so 1 drain is the main the second is the emergency, and the third is currently just capped for future use.
From the main tank the water is going to drain through the wall to a 30 gallon sump that is for equipment, dosing and waterchanges. From there the water goes through another restricted drain and back through the wall to the 28 gallon bowfront refugium that sits under the main tank. The curved glass of the 54 and the 28 are near identical. Return flow is provided by an Ehiem 1260.
This tank is going in the office of my new house. At this point we have just moved in and are still unpacking but I have managed to spend a considerable amount of time "Unpacking the Office".:rollface:
I will be building the tank into a set of built in book cases made from redwood and maple (I think). I need to have a shop in order to do alot of the woodwork so that will be the last thing to happen. I will be building the shop in about 2 months once we get a little more settled, and by that time I hope that the rock is curing and the tank is starting to develop a good bio base.
Lots more to follow including many, many pictures, and many, many questions. Thanks for dropping in, this should be a fun ride.

Dan.

Ok, one photo for now.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/109283555/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/55/109283555_fc3234961c_o.jpg" width="400" height="299" alt="testfit2" /></a>

 

[Avast Marine]

Overflow:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/137885743/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/45/137885743_34ed4ba2a0_o.jpg" width="400" height="299" alt="slot2" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/141118672/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/53/141118672_364f9d4e1f_o.jpg" width="600" height="802" alt="frontside" /></a>
You can also see the hole I put in the wall to run the plumbing through (yes it was a brick wall), and the bulkheads down low for the closed loop. The idea with Paul's flow is that water is shot down from the return, pushed forwards and crossing from the back to the front and then pushed up the front to be skimmed from the top.

I believe HD needs to put a plumbing order together, their inventory is getting pretty low:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/149632201/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/56/149632201_63e18cb014_o.jpg" width="600" height="449" alt="plumbing" /></a>

Back left is CL components:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/149632200/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/48/149632200_396f4ec71e_o.jpg" width="600" height="802" alt="cl" /></a>
And right side is return, emregency's, valves, etc:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/149632199/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/49/149632199_fd9171033c_o.jpg" width="600" height="802" alt="right" /></a>

I am water testing right now, and am getting about 1500gph of very random flow. I have a screw cap on my closed loop so I can just let it open enough to draw in some air to see where the water is going and with how much force.
I am getting a really good surface agitation from the setup so far:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/149632202/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/48/149632202_f95516e3a5_o.jpg" width="600" height="449" alt="surface" /></a>
And keep in mind that it is coming from 18" below the surface to cause that ripple.

 

[Blown 346]

Wow, that is going to be awesome. I want more pics.
Everytime I see another thread like this it makes me want to set up a 6th tank.

 

[Avast Marine]

Don't worry my tanks are not camera shy .

 

[Avast Marine]

I think that at this point I will leave the system running for a week and try not to fiddle with any thing to see what happens. One thing though, I have been using the same water for the test and haven't changed it out with fresh, so it is kind of cloudy. Any ideas? I was thinking just throwing in a cup of carbon or a little chlorine bleach. It's not really a big deal I just hate looking at it and don't want to bother draining it out and replacing just so I can look at clear water .

 

[chip721]

Wow nice. You're off to a very good start. Is that an OM Super Squirt on your CL and what pump are you using for it? Keep us posted with more pics. What's your favorite LFS in NOVA?

 

[Avast Marine]

It is a OM Squirt using a Panworld 50px-x @ 1100gph. I went out to Blue Ribbon Koi for the first time last week at it is without a doubt my new fav. I still go to Wally's and Vienna Wet Pets as well, but BRK has very high quality stuff that match online prices for the most part.

 

[Avast Marine]

This is kind of the idea I have for the cabnetry around the tank. The shelves will basically be a built-in for my office. I also want to try to incorperate a floating canopy.

 

[Avast Marine]

OK, it has been a little bit, but I have been pretty busy working on some stuff for the new set up.

Decided on a plan for electrical.

2ea 15amp circuits
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/166182148/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/57/166182148_7d98a5b606_o.jpg" width="600" height="449" alt="2circuit" /></a>

Dj strip hardwired
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/166182157/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/53/166182157_d057e0f619_o.jpg" width="600" height="449" alt="wire1" /></a>
2nd strip hardwired to Neptune DC8 acting as a switch relay
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/166182158/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/49/166182158_fa97a28369_o.jpg" width="600" height="449" alt="wired" /></a>
Paint and fan with gfci protection and convienence plugs on front.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/166182159/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/59/166182159_4704b47a13_o.jpg" width="600" height="449" alt="withfan" /></a>
Finished product
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/166182155/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/55/166182155_8085447c6d_o.jpg" width="600" height="449" alt="final" /></a>

 

[Avast Marine]

I built some shelving for my fish room, tiled the floor and put in a floor drain this past weekend as well. I will post some pics when I get home from work.

 

[Avast Marine]

I guess now is as good as any time to run down a equipment list.

Skimmer: CSS125 w/genx 2400 nw custom diffuser and gate valve mod
Lighting: 175 MH 2x 65 pc
Return Pump: Ehiem 1260
CL Pump: Panworld 100px-x on OM squirt
Calcium Reactor: Geo 8x12
Controller: ACjr, dc8, dc4, serial port
Phosphate Control: Kent Reactor
Top Off: Oceanus

 

[chrismunn]

tag along

 

[Avast Marine]

Alright so now that the equipment room is pretty much done I am starting to work on the tank room. I won't be able to build all the book shelving and built ins until my shop is finished being built later this summer, but I wanted to go ahead and get the tank running sooner than later so I am just doing the prep work now so that I don't have to move the running tank down the road when serious finish crpentry begins.

First order of buisiness is to route out some of the hardwood floor to make a nice tile surround border.

First I built a circle jigand routed the outline.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/169282020/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/65/169282020_60fbefcc1c_o.jpg" width="600" height="449" alt="1" /></a>

Then I freehanded the rest. (Broke 2 bits on flooring nails in the process).

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/169282021/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/58/169282021_1c26233ea6_o.jpg" width="600" height="449" alt="2" /></a>

Used the same circle jig to set the tile with.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/169282023/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/70/169282023_bcc68fd6c4_o.jpg" width="600" height="449" alt="3" /></a>

In this picture you can see where I ripped the paneling off the wall so that I can put up 1/2" ply for the backer board for the built ins.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/169282024/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/52/169282024_02d3884e23_o.jpg" width="600" height="449" alt="4" /></a>

Here the ply is up and shower pan liner is installed to keep the water easy to clean up when I disconnect my pumps.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/169282026/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/60/169282026_01d0530565_o.jpg" width="600" height="449" alt="5" /></a>

I also painted the stand and tightend up all my plumbing just to make it look a little nicer. Next I need to paint the ply backer board and finish setting some mosaic marble that I ordered into the tile band. After that the tank can be washed down and set in it's final resting spot!

 

[ek9vboi]

wow, your nuts! good work and doing it right the 1st time. good job... subscribed.

 

[chrismunn]

kool

 

[Avast Marine]

Yesterday I finished painting the stand, painted the ply backerboard, moved the tank into place and am currently filling it with water, woot!
I will post some pics tonight.
This project started 6 months ago and it is nice to finally be at this stage.

 

[MAreefer1]

woa.that nice so far...the floor tiles are nice.!

 

[Avast Marine]

Thanks, that pic was actually prior to cleaning thinset but I will for sure post one of the final product.

 

[Chihuahua6]

That's the same size tank I am trying to find used. I want it for a freshwater planted tank though. Yours looks great so far. I have to say though, seeing the hardwood floor routed out made me cringe. I hope you plan on keeping that tank for a long time. It does look nice.

 

[Avast Marine]

You should hae seen the cringe my wife gave me when I told her what I was planning. Now that it is done though she really likes it. BTW I left a big enough footprint for the 92 corner if I decide to upgrade, but I think I will be happy with this size for quite some time.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7596426#post7596426 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Chihuahua6
I have to say though, seeing the hardwood floor routed out made me cringe. I hope you plan on keeping that tank for a long time. It does look nice.