Jeremy Blaze
Former Reef Addict
Tagging along! Love the budget idea!
Taboo 210 Build
- Thread starter rking77573
- Start date
rking77573
New member
Todays Photos
Todays Photos
Here are some photos of todays small bit of work. All that really happened today is a good bit of head scratching and a lot of cursing. However, my intended layout is under the tank minus the calcium reactor. The 2 pumps will need to be secured with some threaded rods and nuts so that they will be easily removable once the tank is in place and I need to dry fit all of the plumbing as well. Please forgive my horrible camera skills, I just cant seem to get that yellow out of my pictures. The first of these pictures are top down shots because my kids were still eating at the table and I didn't want to move it for the pictures.
This one is of my emergency overflow and part of the RO/DI unit.
This one is The Canister Filter and space for the calcium reactor to be added in to the system when its needed. (I doubt I will need it for a while but you never know!)
This one is of the pumps in their general location. I need to re mount them with nuts/bolts and/or rods so that they will be easily removable with a socket wrench later.
This one is a top down of the skimmer. The thing is so large that you can hardly see around it into the sump.
This one is a very very very bad shot of the refugium. You cant see the entire thing right now because I have a 2x12 screwed down over it from a previous pump location Idea that went awry.
Last but not least.... This one is a full shot from the rear of the stand so you can possibly picture how these other bad photos tie together. Tomorrow I will try to get a good picture of it all from the rfront.
Tomorrow we will be putting the decking on top of the stand for the tank, and then the tank itself. After I hope to get the majority of the plumbing done so I can start cycling water after I cover this thing up and IF I get really ambitious, I may go ahead and add the dedicated circuit and wire my electrical panel for the tank as well.
Todays Photos
Here are some photos of todays small bit of work. All that really happened today is a good bit of head scratching and a lot of cursing. However, my intended layout is under the tank minus the calcium reactor. The 2 pumps will need to be secured with some threaded rods and nuts so that they will be easily removable once the tank is in place and I need to dry fit all of the plumbing as well. Please forgive my horrible camera skills, I just cant seem to get that yellow out of my pictures. The first of these pictures are top down shots because my kids were still eating at the table and I didn't want to move it for the pictures.
This one is of my emergency overflow and part of the RO/DI unit.
This one is The Canister Filter and space for the calcium reactor to be added in to the system when its needed. (I doubt I will need it for a while but you never know!)
This one is of the pumps in their general location. I need to re mount them with nuts/bolts and/or rods so that they will be easily removable with a socket wrench later.
This one is a top down of the skimmer. The thing is so large that you can hardly see around it into the sump.
This one is a very very very bad shot of the refugium. You cant see the entire thing right now because I have a 2x12 screwed down over it from a previous pump location Idea that went awry.
Last but not least.... This one is a full shot from the rear of the stand so you can possibly picture how these other bad photos tie together. Tomorrow I will try to get a good picture of it all from the rfront.
Tomorrow we will be putting the decking on top of the stand for the tank, and then the tank itself. After I hope to get the majority of the plumbing done so I can start cycling water after I cover this thing up and IF I get really ambitious, I may go ahead and add the dedicated circuit and wire my electrical panel for the tank as well.
Re: Construction Photos
Re: Construction Photos
Re: Construction Photos
Looks like this stand will hold a LOCOMOTIVE!<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11153184#post11153184 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rking77573
Just thought I'd post a few construction photos from today. Tomorrow will be a slow day for the tank project, but hopefully we will get a bit done on Sunday before the weekend is over.
rking77573
New member
Good question. The tanks that I grabbed were from their reef system where they sold frags and fish etc, so I don't think there was any copper used in that particular system. I asked before I grabbed them and they obviously said no but it was something I had to think about anyway. We got the plumbing run and the tank on the stand today and filled with water, but I ran into a problem with my "wishful thinking" pump mount location. By placing the pumps on a joist above the equipment area I inadvertently placed them too high above the water line in the sump and they cannot be primed. I will have to relocate them now before I can start circulating water. Tomorrow I will post some pictures of the tank going in and the system setup underneath the stand. It makes for an interesting project when you try to fit all the necessary equipment in such a small space if you actually intend to access all the parts.
rking77573
New member
More Pictures
More Pictures
Ok I know I promised more pictures a couple of days ago but I'm a lazy person at heart and I just blew it off the past couple of days. Here are a couple of shots of the tank going up on the base of the wall on Sunday and a few shots of the equipment underneath.
And a Few shots of the equipment underneath the tank...
One shot of the tank as seen from the family room.
And a shot of the single eductor that I ended up going with on the far side of the tank. This little thing is very impressive. With a Blueline 40HDX and this single eductor I get a strong current to within 5 inches of the far side of this 7 foot tank. As a disclaimer I'm really pretty easily impressed but this sure blew my mind.
More Pictures
Ok I know I promised more pictures a couple of days ago but I'm a lazy person at heart and I just blew it off the past couple of days. Here are a couple of shots of the tank going up on the base of the wall on Sunday and a few shots of the equipment underneath.
And a Few shots of the equipment underneath the tank...
One shot of the tank as seen from the family room.
And a shot of the single eductor that I ended up going with on the far side of the tank. This little thing is very impressive. With a Blueline 40HDX and this single eductor I get a strong current to within 5 inches of the far side of this 7 foot tank. As a disclaimer I'm really pretty easily impressed but this sure blew my mind.
rking77573
New member
Updated Pics
Updated Pics
Ok, I have the tank area drywalled, textured, and painted so I figured I had better post a couple of pics of it real quick before I get myself in trouble with friends who haven't been able to come by and see it yet. There isn't a lot to this update. It merely shows the tank with sheetrock and paint on it. Now I have to make my plans for the doors/trim and light rack etc.
Updated Pics
Ok, I have the tank area drywalled, textured, and painted so I figured I had better post a couple of pics of it real quick before I get myself in trouble with friends who haven't been able to come by and see it yet. There isn't a lot to this update. It merely shows the tank with sheetrock and paint on it. Now I have to make my plans for the doors/trim and light rack etc.
gary faulkner
New member
Looking good. I also believe in a good deal whenever possible.
Your right when you say that you can save a bundle on slightly used equipment.
Your right when you say that you can save a bundle on slightly used equipment.
rking77573
New member
Belated Update
Belated Update
Ok its been a long time since I've updated but basically it boils down to my evil computer. The thing overheats in about 2 1/2 minutes from startup so its been pure hell just getting online, not to mention uploading pictures. I've got an oscillating fan blowing through the open case right now in order to keep it running and I will replace it next week, but in the meantime I have more pictures!
The first couple of shots are of the wall with trim installed:
and ...
And then I have some shots of it painted as well. The white painted side is in the family room, and the Dark one is on the kitchen/dining side. I'll happily take all the criticism in the world for the color selections because my wife picked them and as long as shes happy with the paint, I can keep plugging away at my project.
First the Family side.
Then the other.
Now for my pricing update. I will be purchasing my lights next week for a mid Feb delivery and that will complete the projects necessities. Now obviously I'll be putting in a controller and calcium reactor as well, but I dont consider either of these to be an absolute necessity so they won't be considered in the pricing.
Tank: FREE (gotta love it)
Sump: $5
Refugium: $5
Bulkheads: $25.98
Koralias: $129.98
Rockwork: $44
Skimmer/collection container/blueline 55 $200
Blueline 40x $100
Canister Filter $50
RO/DI $75
Various Plumbing not already in my garage $93.26
Trim Material not on jobsite $32.18
Paint $28.12
Cabinet Hardware $27.61
Total so far $816.13
Belated Update
Ok its been a long time since I've updated but basically it boils down to my evil computer. The thing overheats in about 2 1/2 minutes from startup so its been pure hell just getting online, not to mention uploading pictures. I've got an oscillating fan blowing through the open case right now in order to keep it running and I will replace it next week, but in the meantime I have more pictures!
The first couple of shots are of the wall with trim installed:
and ...
And then I have some shots of it painted as well. The white painted side is in the family room, and the Dark one is on the kitchen/dining side. I'll happily take all the criticism in the world for the color selections because my wife picked them and as long as shes happy with the paint, I can keep plugging away at my project.
First the Family side.
Then the other.
Now for my pricing update. I will be purchasing my lights next week for a mid Feb delivery and that will complete the projects necessities. Now obviously I'll be putting in a controller and calcium reactor as well, but I dont consider either of these to be an absolute necessity so they won't be considered in the pricing.
Tank: FREE (gotta love it)
Sump: $5
Refugium: $5
Bulkheads: $25.98
Koralias: $129.98
Rockwork: $44
Skimmer/collection container/blueline 55 $200
Blueline 40x $100
Canister Filter $50
RO/DI $75
Various Plumbing not already in my garage $93.26
Trim Material not on jobsite $32.18
Paint $28.12
Cabinet Hardware $27.61
Total so far $816.13
rking77573
New member
A bargain indeed.
A bargain indeed.
It is truly a bargain, but I've got the advantage of being in the homebuilding business. That allows me access to leftover materials on occasion, and anything that I don't know how to do for myself, I can tap the experience of a contractor and learn how to do it. It has allowed me to get everything done at bargain basement prices as long as I'm willing to wait and shop around for exceptional deals on used equipment. I'm anticipating another 600.00 or so for lighting so we should be right around the 1500.00 mark when all is said and done. Of course, I will also be adding calcium reactor and controller etc but since I don't consider them to be essentials for starting a reef, I won't include them in the price.
A bargain indeed.
It is truly a bargain, but I've got the advantage of being in the homebuilding business. That allows me access to leftover materials on occasion, and anything that I don't know how to do for myself, I can tap the experience of a contractor and learn how to do it. It has allowed me to get everything done at bargain basement prices as long as I'm willing to wait and shop around for exceptional deals on used equipment. I'm anticipating another 600.00 or so for lighting so we should be right around the 1500.00 mark when all is said and done. Of course, I will also be adding calcium reactor and controller etc but since I don't consider them to be essentials for starting a reef, I won't include them in the price.
invincible569
New member
I just noticed you're from Houston, TX. Great build. Can you build my next home? 
rking77573
New member
I'd love to!
rking77573
New member
Lights
Lights
Ok, I'm expecting delivery of my lights and hanging system in a couple of hours so I thought I'd give a quick price update. I'll update pictures later on this evening when they get here and I get them installed and of course over the weekend I'll put in a few corals that I have sitting in a friends system.
Tank: FREE (gotta love it)
Sump: $5
Refugium: $5
Bulkheads: $25.98
Koralias: $129.98
Rockwork: $44
Skimmer/collection container/blueline 55 $200
Blueline 40x $100
Canister Filter $50
RO/DI $75
Various Plumbing not already in my garage $93.26
Trim Material not on jobsite $32.18
Paint $28.12
Cabinet Hardware $27.61
Lights/hangers $625.90
Total Cost $1442.03 for the essentials.
Lights
Ok, I'm expecting delivery of my lights and hanging system in a couple of hours so I thought I'd give a quick price update. I'll update pictures later on this evening when they get here and I get them installed and of course over the weekend I'll put in a few corals that I have sitting in a friends system.
Tank: FREE (gotta love it)
Sump: $5
Refugium: $5
Bulkheads: $25.98
Koralias: $129.98
Rockwork: $44
Skimmer/collection container/blueline 55 $200
Blueline 40x $100
Canister Filter $50
RO/DI $75
Various Plumbing not already in my garage $93.26
Trim Material not on jobsite $32.18
Paint $28.12
Cabinet Hardware $27.61
Lights/hangers $625.90
Total Cost $1442.03 for the essentials.
rking77573
New member
It's been a long time since I've updated on here. To date a few of my ideas didn't work out as well as I had planned but thats within my original expectations. First of all, If I had thought about it, I would have questioned how my pumps would prime themselves from above the sump. Obviously they were relocated so the tank would actually work as planned. Second... DIY rock with portland cement is evil stuff IMHO. I had problems galore until I finally took it out. I also ended up replacing the skimmer with one more appropriately sized to the system with another used PM skimmer that I picked up locally at a great price. After running the system for nearly 2 years, I decided to increase my sump size while building a proper sump with some baffles to get rid of the micro bubbles that were driving me crazy. Here are some more current pictures of the system today. Again, please excuse the poor photo quality. Any pictures that are even approaching decent quality were obviously taken by my wife and not me.
Similar threads
