SaraB's 268 Gallon Build¦ Try #3!

[SaraB]

Very nice Sara :thumbsup:

Are there corals on the back rocks? If not, are you going to add any corals to the back rocks? Are you planning on scraping the back wall again?

If you look really hard at the shelves on the left, you can see the frag plugs at least. Each of the large shelves on the left have 3 LE Chalice frags on them. The top left one has a pink watermelon and a bubblegum monter somewhat visible. The medium shelf on the top right has 2 chalices on it which is a monster mash and the alien eye. They #1 need some more light and #2 some more time to grow. I was thinking of adding some ReefBrite LED stips down the back to get them some more light. The back of the tank is inset to be flush to the wall in the fishroom, so the lumenarc's can't spread that far into the wall unfortunatley.

I'd love to try and scrape the back wall, but my arms are too darn short! I might have to contact James to get some longer acrylic scraping sticks and try it again as my current ones just can do the job very easily.

Sara those ledges on the back wall are pretty cool, I can't recall ever seen those in any other tanks. And ditto on Mark's question about adding corals to those ledges. I also like the big cave, nice concept

Those shelves are built by gooch from The Alternative Reef. I got all of mine through Bill at Midwest Saltwater. I have 2 larges on the left and a medium one on the right side of the back wall. They have the suregrip magnets and can stick with the 3/4" acrylic.

http://www.midwestsaltwater.com/Mag.../index.html?osCsid=f4cmp9ibnauro5uc5l4vv0rsj0

 

[mpoletti]

If you have access to the back wall from behind, I just use one of those scrapers attached to a mag float that is designated for cleaning the back wall and corners

 

[SaraB]

If you have access to the back wall from behind, I just use one of those scrapers attached to a mag float that is designated for cleaning the back wall and corners

I've got some access, but not enough as that 4 foot liong overflow box takes up the majority along with all the plumbing and reef shelves. I also have a 2' section that does not have any access as that section is behind another wall. Good thinking though!

Maybe I can hire a monkey to scrape the back wall!

 

[SaraB]

On Wednesday the cube got plumbed, thanks to Gary! :bounce1:

Added a little base of sand to set the liverock into last night:

And then turned on the flow!

We'll see what I come up with for aquascaping this weekend! :crazy1:

 

[glparr]

Hooray!!! We've cut and glued a lot of pipe in the past few months. I have to say, for a couple of rookies we did quite well. Very few mistakes and, as of this morning, no leaks or joints we're concerned about. The piping is well designed/layed out, in our opinion , with enough valves and unions that you can cut off water and dismantle pipes anywhere that would be necessary. I'm very excited about the system and it isn't even mine.

Sara has a massive main display, a cube that is going to look great, a large frag tank, and a tap that can run system water to a tray/bucket on a workbench for fragging. The water change system is to die for.

After Sara has a chance to get things cleaned up and organized (it's been an ongoing mess) I'll create a photo tour of the system.

During the time we've been working on the system, with delays while either Sara or I were traveling, the water quality had deteriorated quite a bit and cyano, bubble algae, and other irritants had gotten a foothold in the system. Sara has been working diligently in recent weeks to snap the water into shape and it's paying off in a big way.

I've seen a lot of systems around the country and this one is shaping up to be in the top tier.

Gary

 

[pookstreet]

Gary, Sara got you plumbing her tanks, taking photos, doing this and that. Just curious, what exactly does SHE do??? :lol2:

 

[glparr]

When it comes to plumbing, she works as much as I do. It's been a team effort. No slackers in that operation.

As for the photos . . . I'll handle that end of the operation.

 

[Dejavu]

On Wednesday the cube got plumbed, thanks to Gary! :bounce1:

Added a little base of sand to set the liverock into last night:

And then turned on the flow!

We'll see what I come up with for aquascaping this weekend! :crazy1:

:thumbsup:

 

[mpoletti]

I really like these cubes, nice and clean :thumbsup:

 

[SaraB]

Gary, Sara got you plumbing her tanks, taking photos, doing this and that. Just curious, what exactly does SHE do??? :lol2:

I guess based on my first post in this thread, you would think I would never plumb ... things have changed!

When it comes to plumbing, she works as much as I do. It's been a team effort. No slackers in that operation.

As for the photos . . . I'll handle that end of the operation.

Thanks for sticking up for me Gary. I've actually come a long way from watching some of my systems be plumbed to actually participating in the plumbing. I even know the part names and can pick out what I need to get the job done too!


Maybe some day when I'm done with the systems I'll actually try and use my camera ... but until that day comes or something freezes over, I'll leave that task to Gary!:wildone:

 

[SaraB]

Hooray!!! We've cut and glued a lot of pipe in the past few months. I have to say, for a couple of rookies we did quite well. Very few mistakes and, as of this morning, no leaks or joints we're concerned about. The piping is well designed/layed out, in our opinion , with enough valves and unions that you can cut off water and dismantle pipes anywhere that would be necessary. I'm very excited about the system and it isn't even mine.

Sara has a massive main display, a cube that is going to look great, a large frag tank, and a tap that can run system water to a tray/bucket on a workbench for fragging. The water change system is to die for.

After Sara has a chance to get things cleaned up and organized (it's been an ongoing mess) I'll create a photo tour of the system.

During the time we've been working on the system, with delays while either Sara or I were traveling, the water quality had deteriorated quite a bit and cyano, bubble algae, and other irritants had gotten a foothold in the system. Sara has been working diligently in recent weeks to snap the water into shape and it's paying off in a big way.

I've seen a lot of systems around the country and this one is shaping up to be in the top tier.

Gary

Thanks Gary, I really appreciate all the help you have given me and the kind words about my tanks ... it's come a long way and after the years of working on the big tank, I can't wait for it to be completed and be able to enjoy! We'll crack open that bottle of wine real soon with our spouses and sit and look at the tank rather than working on it!

 

[SaraB]

:thumbsup:

I really like these cubes, nice and clean :thumbsup:

Thanks Brian and Mark!

 

[DanW]

Very nice Sara. A new blank canvas for you to play with, looking forward to see what you'll create.

 

[Andrew Henry]

I've never really been a fan of cubes, but I REALLY like yours! It looks great and I'm sure once you get the rock in there it'll look awesome.

Andrew

 

[erics3000]

Super cool.

 

[SaraB]

Thanks Guys! Hopefully the rock will go in tomorrow!

 

[SaraB]

Here's a quick pic of another water project that demands my duties as well. They are doing what they do best ... looking for a meal:

 

[Dejavu]

Nice Sara! I have always wanted a koi pond, but the big pond in my backyard is enough work.

 

[SaraB]

I'm not a huge fan of aquascaping, so here's the first shot at it from last night. I had one medium reef shelf left over that I wanted to use. I figure it will look better with chalices grown over it, but right now it sorta sticks out in my opinion. I can't move it to the back wall due to the overflow, so it has to be on the sides.

A topdown as well:

 

[PauChi]

Hey Sara,

When are you heading to Toronto? It's been a while since we last spoke ... last year I think.

It's Paul from Toronto !!

Paul