The 210 Reef begins...

[lucky_snapper]

Step one Growing Rock...


So I am starting my 210 Reef tank build and I wanted to get a jump on things so I set up a rock farm.. Here is what I am starting with.. 50 gallon feed trough from tractor suppily, 2 250 watt metal halides one blue one white, marineland c-360 canister filter, 50 lbs of sand I bought from a guy for $10, and a couple of korola water guns that were freebies..

The first 2 pictures were taken with nothing but the Halides glowing.. it gave an errie blue hue to the pics..

When I bought the tank they guy who I got it from gave me a 35 gallon tote full of branch coral fragments and a few large pieces of dry live rock. I would say there is at least 50-75 lbs.. I really dont know if this is a good base rock to start with but I figure I would try to get a jump on the cycle and try to grow some live rock in the process. I do plan to go to the Gulfarium (mini-seaworld that also has a LFS) and buy a few pieces of rock that are full of coraline and cridders... I also wanted to do this because I have been trolling through the paper and getting automatic craigslist updates on my phone anytime someone lists a tank in my area for sale in hopes of getting some live rock with out having to pay "live rock" prices...

It is days like today that I am glad that I am not married because there is no way my wife would ever let me do this...

I set it up in a spare bed room closet..


In these two you can see all the branch pieces and even a few brain corals..

SO I am totally new to this so if anyone has any suggestions on how I can be successful at this please feel free to offer advise.. Tomorrow I will begin building the stand with a buddy of mine.. Pics will follow.. stay tuned..

 

[beckbrass]

So I'm guessing you are trying to just cook the rock you have so it cycles. It thats the case no need for lights. If your trying to keep coral alive or grow coraline then lights are good. But if all your doing is cooking it I'd save a few bucks and turn off the halides. Also nice looking rock

 

[lucky_snapper]

I am trying to cook some rock and grow alge so that is why the halides.. they might be a bit premature but I knew I was going to need some light and I got these pretty cheap so I wanted to test them out.. Now when I get some rock in there that does already have coraline I know I will need them.

 

[lucky_snapper]

So the build is coming along...

Here is the tank its self. A 210 Oceanic Reef Ready drilled and with overflows.
If you are wondering what the acetone is for the guy who had it before me painted the sides of the glass black and I want to be able to see my inhabitants so I am slowly taking it off.

The frame of the stand is now built according to the plans I found on RC. I plant to buy some mahogany sheet to skin it with and I want to inlay with black granite to surround the base of the tank with.

The sump has been completed. Its a 70 gallon that I had and I bought 1/4 plate for the baffles.. It was actually kind of fun building it..

One thing I did learn is that it is not always a good Idea to try to silicone glass baffels in at 2am after a few drinks with your buddies.. Its not perfect but as long as it holds water thats all that matters...

I picked up this skimmer from a guy on craigslist.. from what I have read here on RC it should be a good one.. Lifereef svs-240

I found this at lowes for half price it was on the clearance table because it was "missing pieces" just a clamp.. Yes I was cutting wood on the kitchen island.. I'm single so I can get away with that.. it was 100 degrees outside..

And finally here is a slightly better picture of the live rock farm I got going.. today was the first signs of life as a algae bloom appeared on some of the corals and rock.

I also picked up and installed a Spectra Pure 5 stage RO/DI System for $80 on ebay..

The build is progressing ever so slowly but this weekend I hope to put the tank up on the stand to test fit it and check for leaks....

 

[aleonn]

GL with the build!