Putting together my "future" 75 AGA RR (progress)
- Thread starter JerseyWendy
- Start date
JerseyWendy
Premium Member
Thank you, FleeVT.
Nope, the mechanism we bought was too weak to hold those heavy side doors, so we ended up using regular hinges instead.
They weren't magnets. I'll try and explain. Have you ever seen a sink with a drop out veneer right below it? Under that drop out veneer is usually a cabinet. Anyway, this mechanism consists of 2 parts. The first part is a metal brace, in the shape of an "V" sideways. The second part is a piece that'll pop into this sideway "V" and looks in it. But like I said, we unfortunately couldn't use it because of the weight of the doors. Oh, and those mechanisms were only $0.87 each, so I didn't "waste" too much money.
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Wendy
JerseyWendy
Premium Member
This morning I finished applying the molding on the canopy. The only thing left to do is sand it thoroughly and slap on 2-3 coats of stain/poly.
Front View:
View from the top:
Side View:
With the front open:
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Wendy
Front View:
View from the top:
Side View:
With the front open:
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Wendy
Travis L. Stevens
Active member
Wendy, I've followed along and skimmed through most posts, and have yet to read in depth (I'm really slacking). I recommend leaving the plexi shield off. It will hinder light penetration greatly. You're better off taking a damp rag and cleaning the bulbs on occassion. FWIW, I would go ahead an put a top piece of wood on the canopy, if it is still possible, and adding fans to the back of the canopy for air movement. It will help keep the tank cooler and increase the life on the bulbs and ballasts. Of course, you'll still need to change your bulbs on a regular basis, but it will help prevent overheating.
JerseyWendy
Premium Member
Canopy is now finished, only very few touch ups here and there:
Got my RO/DI unit this week, picked up 110lbs. of sand (THANK YOU so much TFJ Pet Center for a GREAT price and for putting up with me
), got lots of Reef Crystals, and some other stuff from an online order (THANK YOU Dr. Foster & Smith).
The only things I need to get started are the light bulbs and live rock. Hopefully it'll warm up really soon so that I can put my tarantulas up for sale because with that money I'll be getting the LR.
Yesterday my husband and I spent 2 hours at Lowe's, buying as much stuff as we could to do some plumbing. I had printed out the list of all the components needed for a Durso, and I'm hopeful we got it all. I had also brought along my return pump and the bulkhead for the return hole, and hopefully we matched everything up. It remains to be seen.
Happy weekend and Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone. We're off to Atlantic City in a little while. Will I strike it rich? Doubtful - very doubtful, especially since I only play the penny slots.
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Wendy
Got my RO/DI unit this week, picked up 110lbs. of sand (THANK YOU so much TFJ Pet Center for a GREAT price and for putting up with me
), got lots of Reef Crystals, and some other stuff from an online order (THANK YOU Dr. Foster & Smith).The only things I need to get started are the light bulbs and live rock. Hopefully it'll warm up really soon so that I can put my tarantulas up for sale because with that money I'll be getting the LR.
Yesterday my husband and I spent 2 hours at Lowe's, buying as much stuff as we could to do some plumbing. I had printed out the list of all the components needed for a Durso, and I'm hopeful we got it all. I had also brought along my return pump and the bulkhead for the return hole, and hopefully we matched everything up. It remains to be seen.
Happy weekend and Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone. We're off to Atlantic City in a little while. Will I strike it rich? Doubtful - very doubtful, especially since I only play the penny slots.
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Wendy
JerseyWendy
Premium Member
Here it is
Here it is
We finally placed the stand and tank in its final location.
All morning I've been 'playing' with plumbing supplies, keeping my fingers crossed that the Durso will fit into the overflow. It does.
I also learned my first lesson about leaving a brand spanking new R/O-D/I unit running all night. Woke up the next morning to find the dining room rather wet. :eek2:
Anyway, I filled a 32 gallon container with R/O water, added a powerhead and a heater and mixed in Reef Crystals today. Saturday I'm planning on picking up some live rock, hopefully Kaelini.
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Wendy
Here it is
We finally placed the stand and tank in its final location.
All morning I've been 'playing' with plumbing supplies, keeping my fingers crossed that the Durso will fit into the overflow. It does.
I also learned my first lesson about leaving a brand spanking new R/O-D/I unit running all night. Woke up the next morning to find the dining room rather wet. :eek2:
Anyway, I filled a 32 gallon container with R/O water, added a powerhead and a heater and mixed in Reef Crystals today. Saturday I'm planning on picking up some live rock, hopefully Kaelini.
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Wendy
Travis L. Stevens
Active member
Very nice progression. In a few short weeks, you seem to have learned about as much as most reefers.
JerseyWendy
Premium Member
Thanks a bunch, Travis.
Nah - I haven't learned half as much, believe me. To tell you the truth, the closer I'm getting, the more nervous I feel. I'm so afraid to do something wrong, it's not even funny. I could have never done this without all you great people. ---
Wendy
sgallagher7
Member
Looks great wendy. I have the same tank and sump size, as well as the lighting. Still waiting for the stand to be delivered. Your beating me by a month. Reading your updates are great.
JerseyWendy
Premium Member
Got Rock?
Got Rock?
Thank you both very much.
Finally the update I've been waiting to post.
We drove to Medford this afternoon and picked up about 130 lbs. of rock. It's mostly Premium Fiji, but we also picked up some Pukani and Hawaian Rock.
When we got home I scrubbed, dipped, scrubbed and dipped - then handed it to my husband, who placed in the display tank, which we were filling up with the saltwater I had prepared in the 32 gallon trash can. Of course it didn't fill the tank, but I'm already in the process of collecting more R/O water so that hopefully by tomorrow evening the entire tank is filled and I can fire up the skimmer.
I also think I have LOTS of more scrubbing to do. I'll do that by individually taking out the pieces and scrubbing them in a separate container.
Gees - I am amazed how my hands feel after "playing" with saltwater all afternoon.
Here are some pictures:
All the rock smells really kind of fresh, not disgusting or foul or anything like that.
I'm running 2 Hydor Koralias #4 with it right now and have the heater set at 75 degrees. Got quite some circulation going on in there.
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Wendy
Got Rock?
Thank you both very much.
Finally the update I've been waiting to post.
We drove to Medford this afternoon and picked up about 130 lbs. of rock. It's mostly Premium Fiji, but we also picked up some Pukani and Hawaian Rock.
When we got home I scrubbed, dipped, scrubbed and dipped - then handed it to my husband, who placed in the display tank, which we were filling up with the saltwater I had prepared in the 32 gallon trash can. Of course it didn't fill the tank, but I'm already in the process of collecting more R/O water so that hopefully by tomorrow evening the entire tank is filled and I can fire up the skimmer.
I also think I have LOTS of more scrubbing to do. I'll do that by individually taking out the pieces and scrubbing them in a separate container.
Gees - I am amazed how my hands feel after "playing" with saltwater all afternoon.
Here are some pictures:
All the rock smells really kind of fresh, not disgusting or foul or anything like that.
I'm running 2 Hydor Koralias #4 with it right now and have the heater set at 75 degrees. Got quite some circulation going on in there.
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Wendy
sgallagher7
Member
Looks like you are going bare bottom. Any reason why?
JerseyWendy
Premium Member
I'm not going bare bottom.
Since part of the LR is only pre-cured I figured it will be so much easier to do water changes without the sand in place. Additionally it'll be easier to arrange it and landscape with it without the sand so that I can still see what I'm doing without any sandstorms clouding my view.
I've read through this thread numerous times, and would like to try and save any possible "good" hitchhikers.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=165224
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Wendy
sgallagher7
Member
Thanks for the link. I understand the sand thing now. To save the good hitchikers, which I hope I get also, are you doing daily waterchanges to reduce ammonia spikes?
JerseyWendy
Premium Member
Well for now I'm still filling up the tank completely. I should be done by late afternoon.
I've rotated every single rock this morning already and have taken each one out and inspected it carefully. I even put my nose in it - and one of them had "that" stench. I immediately found the culprit (don't know what it used to be) and removed it.
By tomorrow morning I should have another 32 gallon of fresh saltwater made and will do my first water change. I'll probably do a partial water changes every day for the first week, depending on my readings.
If I'm not mistaken doing it this way will significantly prolong the "break in" and curing period, but I'm a patient person and really hope something will pop up somewhere and live and thrive.
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Wendy
sgallagher7
Member
Sounds like a good plan. I think you have learned as well as I from all the reading, that patients pays off. How much scrubbing did you have to do on pre-cured rock? I was planning on getting un-cured to increase the chance of having good things attached to the rock. R u using just a stiff bristtle cleaning brush?
JerseyWendy
Premium Member
I used a soft-bristled toothbrush, and I didn't have to go crazy on it either. To be honest, I didn't want to go too crazy with that brush. Now the bucket we used for the dipping contained saltwater with a salinity of 1.030, and we left the pieces in there for about 10-15 minutes. IF there were any bristle worms and/or mantis shrimp they were hopefully driven out.
I've raised the water temperature to 79 degrees also because I've read that dead stuff will not decompose very quickly in too cold of water but the process will speed up with higher temps.
Here are 2 pictures of my first attempt at rock-scaping.
Very murky - but no odor (yet).
Can't wait to start the skimmer.
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Wendy
sgallagher7
Member
looking great. Thanks for the advise on the dipping. The higher salinity will flush out the shrimp but not hurt the other "goodies" on the rock? I never thought of that. I was planning on throwing it all in the tank, but your way sounds much better.
JerseyWendy
Premium Member
Thank you, SGallagher7.
Here we are 3 days into the rock thingy. I rearranged (of course), and ended up adding the sand.
My readings on Tuesday were as follows, before doing a partial water change:
Salinity: 1.025
Temp.: 79
PH: 8.0
Ammonia: off the chart :eek2:
Nitrite: 0.6
Nitrate: 0.5
I'm running 2 Hydor Koralias #4, and boy is there some turbulence.
The skimmer is still breaking in, I guess, because it hasn't produced any skimmate yet.
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Wendy
Here we are 3 days into the rock thingy. I rearranged (of course), and ended up adding the sand.
My readings on Tuesday were as follows, before doing a partial water change:
Salinity: 1.025
Temp.: 79
PH: 8.0
Ammonia: off the chart :eek2:
Nitrite: 0.6
Nitrate: 0.5
I'm running 2 Hydor Koralias #4, and boy is there some turbulence.
The skimmer is still breaking in, I guess, because it hasn't produced any skimmate yet.
---
Wendy
