New Setup

[dzones]

With the tank and stand setup and ready to go I initially used a temporary sump that I already had in storage (49g breeder), so I could get the ball rolling and start the cycle, get live rock etc.
I ended up getting 40-45 lbs of live rock from Florida Live Rock. They have a heck of a deal - $119 bucks shipped for 40-45. I got it after a 2 day ship:
This is how it was right after opening and removing newspaper etc:
12)

and a couple after I placed it in a wider container for easier viewing:
12b)

12c)

I was pretty happy with it. I added 28lbs of rock from Fishy Business to get things started up.

 

[dzones]

I decided on a bead board front of the stand to match the rest of my store counters. I like it better than the doors because now I don't have to worry about kids or people just opening up and looking underneath. We all know how inquisitive kids can be.
I still need to do the finish work on the stand but I am waiting until all the rock and main livestock are in so less water splash after the fact.
The 2nd pic is with the initial 28lbs of rock from Fishy Business:
13)

13b)

 

[dzones]

Next was setting up the RO/DI.
After having so many tanks over the years and always having to fiddle with them underneath the tank in such a confined space I decided the only thing going under the tank this time was gonna be storage. So I plumbed the tank to the sump that is located in that little cubbyhole room to the left of the tank (looking from rear). Here is a diagram/photo of the setup of the RO/DI and fish "cubbyhole" room.
RO/DI in kitchenette:
14)

14b)RO/DI Plumbing to topoff container

 

[dzones]

And the temporary sump.
I have been hunting for a suitable sump since I started this project and had yet to come up with one so I decided I would use my 40 breeder as a temp start for cycling and general water cleanup.
15)

 

[techdiver]

You mentioned getting coral munching fish in another thread. Are you getting a Picasso Trigger?

Sent via Tapatalk from Android 4G.

 

[dzones]

no not quite that extreme, more along the lines of a butterfly and a blueface or imperator angel.
I will be sticking with mushrooms, leathers and gsp etc, the noxious mucus corals that most fish avoid.

 

[SNAKEMANVET]

I see another xenia tank in the makeing lol.

 

[SNAKEMANVET]

I see another xenia tank in the makeing lol.

 

[dzones]

I see another xenia tank in the makeing lol.

don't start with those David!


......why ya got some?
lol

 

[dzones]

Ok so out went the temporary sump and now we are on to a more suitable one. I originally had planned for a baffled tank sump but the skimmer setup is a pig for space and made it hard to work with many setups I saw.
Same went for the acrylic ones I saw. Most had a limited style of options and space to work with.
So I just went with a 50 gallon rubbermaid from Lowes. 20 bucks and I had the room for all my equipment and the height I wanted it to be.
As you can see in the pic I made a frame for the tub out of pvc to stop the tub from bowing out with the weight of the water.
16)

I acquired the Quiet One 9000 in a trade from SNAKEMANVET a year or so ago. It is new but it had a noise issue that was just not comfortable in a home setting. No Problem in my store though.
The outlet is 1 1/2" but the incoming for the tank is just 1" so I reduced the 1 1/2 to 1 and branched it off, reduced again down to 3/4" so I could plumb the skimmer in and have a "future" outlet as well.
I will probably tie in the UV sterilizer from there later on to save another pump's electricity.
I would of used the 9000 as a return pump only but the tank only has 2x 1" drains drilled which I thought was odd.
Make 2 drain holes the same size as the 2 incoming is unusual. Usually you would make the drains larger.
So I plumbed the 2x 1" drains to a single 1 1/2" return pipe:
16b)

 

[Nanodoc]

that's amazing ingenuity at work, everything looks so neat and organized .
It is funny that the "quiet" one is too noisy!
Keep the pics coming.

 

[dzones]

that's amazing ingenuity at work, everything looks so neat and organized .
It is funny that the "quiet" one is too noisy!
Keep the pics coming.

Thanks! I never really thought of myself as organized as far as my tank was concerned but nice to think someone thinks so :rollface:

I will have more up tonight or tomorrow.

 

[dzones]

Added another 37lbs of rock from Fishy Business so now I have a total of about 110lbs. Algae bloom had started by the time I got this pic.
I am fairly certain I will be adding a little more rock to bridge 2 of the 3 islands together and get a little more height.
17)

 

[dzones]

Found an Aquafuge 2 in storage so thought I would make use of it as a Pod home since I won't have a full blown refugium this time.
Hung it on the back of the tank.
Had a lot of microbubbles going back in tank with the initial setup so a pvc elbow and a piece of reactor sponge took care of that (can see it in 2nd pic)
18)

Bought a few macro algae's to have some tang food and have a place for the pods to hang out. **Note to self - DO NOT use the magfloat for glass on that acrylic aquafuge lol**
18B)

 

[Reefdiver77]

I got to see Dave's setup today and was very impressed. It is going to really be a beauty when he gets it fully up and going.

 

[dzones]

I got to see Dave's setup today and was very impressed. It is going to really be a beauty when he gets it fully up and going.

Thanks!