coyote97
New member
After spending numerous hours reading, re-reading, and re-re-reading many of the threads on this site, I've decided that the best way to ask questions and get answers would be to provide an inside look at the trials and tribulations of a new reefer. So, I'm starting my own build thread. As I mentioned in a previous thread, I've had this aquarium for many years and had many different fresh and brackish water fish. It was time to move into saltwater. Of course, that decision wasn't made official until AFTER I finished building a new stand and canopy for the 22 year old 70 gallon tank. We've decided that the best location for the tank is in our poker room. Some of you might call it your dining room, but we don't eat in there without cards in the air!
So after all the reading, it's time to get building! This is where I stand in the build process.
1. Stand and canopy: Oak plywood and oak hardwood, stained cherry. There are two doors in the front of the stand. 20.5" WD x 18" H. There are two deep drawers in the stand. (They look and work great, but take up headroom inside the stand that I didn't know I was going to need) With the drawers closed there is only about 21.5" from floor to drawer bottom. The stand is finished other than adding hardware and making any modifications for plumbing, fans, etc. I've got a couple poor quality pics on photobucket, but I have to figure out how to reduce their size to post here.
2. The tank: It is a 70G glass (Not sure if it is tempered) and it is undrilled. 48" x 18" x 18"? After reading about Bean Animal's overflow system, I want to attempt to drill this tank so if it's tempered, a new tank is in my future!
3. Skimmer: I purchased a used Euro-Reef CS-100? from Reef Developer on this board. It has a Sedra 3500 pump.
I have some old equipment such as a heater, Magnum 770 canister filter, and fluorescent light fixture, but none of it will be used on this build.
In order to get started, I need some advice about plumbing and sumps. Like I stated above, I want to go with Bean's overflow. Because of the size of the front doors on my stand, I am going to have to build a sump / refugium in two pieces. I was able to manuever a 24 wide x12 deep x12 tall cardboard box into the cabinet. I think a slightly deeper (13") sump would fit. I'm thinking a separate refugium would probably be the best way to do it, but maybe I should put my skimmer in the separate tank? The second tank could be as big as 18 wide X 15 deep X 18 tall. I would need it to be much shorter in order to get the skimmer in if I wanted to do that while it was in the cabinet. I've been to Melev's site as well as read many build threads, but I would still like some comments from the peanut gallery. Mainly, which should be the separate part the refugium or the skimmer? Then how should they be plumbed? How should the remaining sump be sectioned off? How tall should the baffles be?
I'll stop there for my first post of the build. I'm sure I will have many more questions along the way. I know that those of you that follow builds need pictures like a a druggie needs his fix, so I will make sure to post many pictures once I get a new camera and learn the ins and outs of posting.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and ideas.
Dennis
So after all the reading, it's time to get building! This is where I stand in the build process.
1. Stand and canopy: Oak plywood and oak hardwood, stained cherry. There are two doors in the front of the stand. 20.5" WD x 18" H. There are two deep drawers in the stand. (They look and work great, but take up headroom inside the stand that I didn't know I was going to need) With the drawers closed there is only about 21.5" from floor to drawer bottom. The stand is finished other than adding hardware and making any modifications for plumbing, fans, etc. I've got a couple poor quality pics on photobucket, but I have to figure out how to reduce their size to post here.
2. The tank: It is a 70G glass (Not sure if it is tempered) and it is undrilled. 48" x 18" x 18"? After reading about Bean Animal's overflow system, I want to attempt to drill this tank so if it's tempered, a new tank is in my future!
3. Skimmer: I purchased a used Euro-Reef CS-100? from Reef Developer on this board. It has a Sedra 3500 pump.
I have some old equipment such as a heater, Magnum 770 canister filter, and fluorescent light fixture, but none of it will be used on this build.
In order to get started, I need some advice about plumbing and sumps. Like I stated above, I want to go with Bean's overflow. Because of the size of the front doors on my stand, I am going to have to build a sump / refugium in two pieces. I was able to manuever a 24 wide x12 deep x12 tall cardboard box into the cabinet. I think a slightly deeper (13") sump would fit. I'm thinking a separate refugium would probably be the best way to do it, but maybe I should put my skimmer in the separate tank? The second tank could be as big as 18 wide X 15 deep X 18 tall. I would need it to be much shorter in order to get the skimmer in if I wanted to do that while it was in the cabinet. I've been to Melev's site as well as read many build threads, but I would still like some comments from the peanut gallery. Mainly, which should be the separate part the refugium or the skimmer? Then how should they be plumbed? How should the remaining sump be sectioned off? How tall should the baffles be?
I'll stop there for my first post of the build. I'm sure I will have many more questions along the way. I know that those of you that follow builds need pictures like a a druggie needs his fix, so I will make sure to post many pictures once I get a new camera and learn the ins and outs of posting.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and ideas.
Dennis