My 54G Mixed Reef (pic intense)
- Thread starter Avast Marine
- Start date
addicted_2_reef
New member
I have a question if I could?
Did you seal your overflow to the tank before or after painting(coating?) the back of it? what I'm getting at is if you "Painted" it before mounting the overflow are you afraid that it may start leaking? or is there something I'm missing?
-Brian
Did you seal your overflow to the tank before or after painting(coating?) the back of it? what I'm getting at is if you "Painted" it before mounting the overflow are you afraid that it may start leaking? or is there something I'm missing?
-Brian
Avast Marine
.Registered Member
I painted the back, then took a razor blade and scraped out where I wanted the overflow to rest. Then I used black silicone to stick it on. This was my alternitive to using black glass that cost twice as much, yet still having the blacked out look from the inside. When I first did it I was a little worried because the black was two differand shades, so you could see a square outline and then a crosshatch down the middle, but after the silicone cured for a week or so you can't tell the differance. BTW I have put some good force on that thing while hooking the bulkheads and threaded fittings up to it, add I couldn't get it off without breaking the tank I am quite sure.
Chris, I liked both but this gives me a little more flat surface area to place coral, and I moved everything back in the tank a little which made the light much more evenly disbursed. I think I like the first way better too, but this is growing on me.
fservillon
New member
awesome job with your tank. that will look great when it's filled in and grown out. keep the pics coming.
Avast Marine
.Registered Member
I have been working on this tank since January. Yes I drilled 4 holes in the tank for the closed loop, 1 slot for the overflow, 3 holes in the overflow for bulkheads(1 drain, 1emergency, 1whole tank skimmer drain (will go into more detail on this last one a little bit later) and 2 holes in the refugium.
Here are some pics
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/137885745/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/56/137885745_15762856aa_o.jpg" width="400" height="299" alt="readytodrill" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/137885744/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/50/137885744_9841197162_o.jpg" width="400" height="299" alt="slot" /></a>
<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@N00/131164002/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/44/131164002_7906e67c9c_o.jpg" width="400" height="299" alt="1prehole" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/131164003/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/51/131164003_e2ebf0c970_o.jpg" width="400" height="299" alt="1posthole" /></a>
Again ignore the baffles in the last pic.
:smokin:
Here are some pics
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/137885745/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/56/137885745_15762856aa_o.jpg" width="400" height="299" alt="readytodrill" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/137885744/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/50/137885744_9841197162_o.jpg" width="400" height="299" alt="slot" /></a>
<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@N00/131164002/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/44/131164002_7906e67c9c_o.jpg" width="400" height="299" alt="1prehole" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/131164003/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/51/131164003_e2ebf0c970_o.jpg" width="400" height="299" alt="1posthole" /></a>
Again ignore the baffles in the last pic.
:smokin:
Avast Marine
.Registered Member
While I am at it here are some of the stand build.
resawn wood to 1/8" thick
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/106484199/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/52/106484199_212380a25b_o.jpg" width="400" height="299" alt="resawn-wood" /></a>
glue bend
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/106484201/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/47/106484201_96bb5e1d4c_o.jpg" width="400" height="299" alt="glue-bend" /></a>
Frame construction
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/106484202/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/40/106484202_c5108afb83_o.jpg" width="400" height="299" alt="frame" /></a>
more
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/109283550/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/35/109283550_4b45e42729_o.jpg" width="400" height="299" alt="bracing" /></a>
test fit
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/106484204/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/37/106484204_cf2d9261a3_o.jpg" width="600" height="449" alt="under-corner-w" /></a>
and
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/109283554/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/36/109283554_fb7cfedba6_o.jpg" width="400" height="299" alt="framefront" /></a>
resawn wood to 1/8" thick
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/106484199/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/52/106484199_212380a25b_o.jpg" width="400" height="299" alt="resawn-wood" /></a>
glue bend
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/106484201/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/47/106484201_96bb5e1d4c_o.jpg" width="400" height="299" alt="glue-bend" /></a>
Frame construction
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/106484202/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/40/106484202_c5108afb83_o.jpg" width="400" height="299" alt="frame" /></a>
more
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/109283550/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/35/109283550_4b45e42729_o.jpg" width="400" height="299" alt="bracing" /></a>
test fit
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/106484204/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/37/106484204_cf2d9261a3_o.jpg" width="600" height="449" alt="under-corner-w" /></a>
and
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/109283554/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/36/109283554_fb7cfedba6_o.jpg" width="400" height="299" alt="framefront" /></a>
Avast Marine
.Registered Member
I actually really enjoy building curved objects. I built a 30 foot long 4 foot high curved wine rack that holds over 500 bottles of wine. After that it all seems pretty easy. I will post a pic of that project if I can find one (before digital camera).
Avast Marine
.Registered Member
This is half of it...
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/177264575/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/45/177264575_a1eb74691b_o.jpg" width="460" height="345" alt="winerack" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/177264575/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/45/177264575_a1eb74691b_o.jpg" width="460" height="345" alt="winerack" /></a>
Avast Marine
.Registered Member
From that angle it is a little hard to see the arc, but it rolls around a 18' radius. I wish I had a picture of the compass I made for this project 
.
.
Avast Marine
.Registered Member
1st water test:
Temp: 78.7
Ph: 8.42
SG: 1.025
NO2: 0.00
No3: 50ppm
NH3: .5mg/l
CA: 370
Alk: 11.5 dkh
CU: 0.00
PO4: 0.1
Mg: 1260
Temp: 78.7
Ph: 8.42
SG: 1.025
NO2: 0.00
No3: 50ppm
NH3: .5mg/l
CA: 370
Alk: 11.5 dkh
CU: 0.00
PO4: 0.1
Mg: 1260
Avast Marine
.Registered Member
After I add the 30# of PA crude tomarrow to the fuge I plan to add a handfull of silversides, some hatched brine shrimp, and start phyto dosing to push the cycle.
Here is my tentitive clean up crew that I expect to get next Thursday if all goes as planned with the cycle this weekend.
2 Extra Large Peppermint Shrimp
12 Snail Turbo
6 Nerite Snail
12 Snail Cerith
50 Nassarius Snail
3 Fighting Conch
3 Sea Cucumber
All coming from Reeftopia.com for $120 shipping included. Pretty good price if you ask me.
I was considering adding 2 of their Lettuce Nudibranch but think the turbos will probably outcompete them.
This may be a little heavy on the crew but, I will throw a few guy's into my 29FOWLR if it is. I have a chocolate chip star in that tank that loves little snails :eek2: .
Here is my tentitive clean up crew that I expect to get next Thursday if all goes as planned with the cycle this weekend.
2 Extra Large Peppermint Shrimp
12 Snail Turbo
6 Nerite Snail
12 Snail Cerith
50 Nassarius Snail
3 Fighting Conch
3 Sea Cucumber
All coming from Reeftopia.com for $120 shipping included. Pretty good price if you ask me.
I was considering adding 2 of their Lettuce Nudibranch but think the turbos will probably outcompete them.
This may be a little heavy on the crew but, I will throw a few guy's into my 29FOWLR if it is. I have a chocolate chip star in that tank that loves little snails :eek2: .
Avast Marine
.Registered Member
My rock pool crude delivery got delayed a day so it will be here Friday. I will be sure to take a pic of that stuff (it is really ugly, in a good way). I didn't take any pics last time because I just wanted to get it in the tank so I could check out the rest of the live rock order.
Have I mentioned yet that I love my Neptune AC jr?!!!!
Have I mentioned yet that I love my Neptune AC jr?!!!!
Avast Marine
.Registered Member
Thanks 11fishes.
Avast Marine
.Registered Member
Got the tile finished up.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/178620048/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/77/178620048_08575565cd_o.jpg" width="600" height="449" alt="tile2" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/178620047/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/57/178620047_b3f7e0f616_o.jpg" width="600" height="802" alt="tile1" /></a>
I am pretty happy with the way it turned out.
My crude delivery from PA got pushed back a full week
.
I decided to push the cycle anyway and will deal with the cloud when it comes.
This is the 4 oz of food I had laying around.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/178620045/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/53/178620045_dd18548d48_o.jpg" width="600" height="449" alt="themix" /></a>
And this is what it looks like in the display.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/178620042/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/65/178620042_5b6b60d1b5_o.jpg" width="600" height="449" alt="display" /></a>
and the fuge.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/178620044/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/75/178620044_31c15fa380_o.jpg" width="600" height="449" alt="fuge" /></a>
Basically destroyed any chemistry balance the tank had in it's very young life. I believe by the end of the weekend I will have HA, cyno, Bubble, phos, No2, No3, NH4, diatom blooms and more. Time to put away the test kits and let nature run it's course. I plan to run the lighting full on 24/7 to encourage the bloom, and set the heater for 82. After 1 hour I still am amazed by how much the tank clouded from this much food!
It is still my plan to have the full cleanup crew arrive next Friday, along with the crude. I hope the are hungry when the get here my tank is going to be a mess!
Before any discussion on this gets out of hand, I do not plan to add any livestock besides snails to the tank until the water is PRISTINE!
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/178620048/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/77/178620048_08575565cd_o.jpg" width="600" height="449" alt="tile2" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/178620047/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/57/178620047_b3f7e0f616_o.jpg" width="600" height="802" alt="tile1" /></a>
I am pretty happy with the way it turned out.
My crude delivery from PA got pushed back a full week
.I decided to push the cycle anyway and will deal with the cloud when it comes.
This is the 4 oz of food I had laying around.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/178620045/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/53/178620045_dd18548d48_o.jpg" width="600" height="449" alt="themix" /></a>
And this is what it looks like in the display.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/178620042/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/65/178620042_5b6b60d1b5_o.jpg" width="600" height="449" alt="display" /></a>
and the fuge.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/178620044/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/75/178620044_31c15fa380_o.jpg" width="600" height="449" alt="fuge" /></a>
Basically destroyed any chemistry balance the tank had in it's very young life. I believe by the end of the weekend I will have HA, cyno, Bubble, phos, No2, No3, NH4, diatom blooms and more. Time to put away the test kits and let nature run it's course. I plan to run the lighting full on 24/7 to encourage the bloom, and set the heater for 82. After 1 hour I still am amazed by how much the tank clouded from this much food!
It is still my plan to have the full cleanup crew arrive next Friday, along with the crude. I hope the are hungry when the get here my tank is going to be a mess!
Before any discussion on this gets out of hand, I do not plan to add any livestock besides snails to the tank until the water is PRISTINE!
NCreefwannabe
New member
holy god, thats all food at the bottom??????????? lol yea, its safe to say you did more than push the cycle lol. Your cleanup crew will likely be still eating food in the tank before anything else lol.
Pico Keeper
Premium Member
You could have done the whole shrimp cycling thing, no?
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