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OF2F's New Tank: Round 3

36K views 189 replies 17 participants last post by  onefish2fish 
#1 ·
Well, Im at it all over again. For those of you just joining us feel free to catch up:

Round 1
http://www.tropicalfishkeeping.com/...fish2fishs-bowfront-salt-tank-progress-17236/

Round 2
http://www.tropicalfishkeeping.com/...videos/onefish2fishs-new-one-round-2-a-20611/

and Round 3 is here! stay for the fight, im hoping for a knockout! :lol:

Well.. after a few personal ups and downs over the last year or so i decided im not fully happy without a tank. To be more specific, a saltwater tank.
The tank is something i do have, which is a 40 breeder, but over the course of however long it takes me, just about all equipment will need to be purchased ( more like re-purchased :roll: ) all the way down to the refractometer.
The plan is to set up the 40 breeder with a 40 breeder sump ( already built back home just have to go back and pick it up ) leaving me with about 80 gallons of tank volume. ( i say "about" because the sump isnt full to the rim. ) i am also hoping i can dig out one of my old skimmers to use on this tank as well as that would save me a great deal in itself. im not even sure if i still have any of them.
this isnt going to be the fastest of builds, so i hope i didnt ruin anyones lunch by not having a bunch of progress to show.
A big part of the plan i cant decide on yet is if i want to have most, if not all my flow come from the return pump and loc-line setup or invest some cash into a wireless vortech mp10. either setup would have a "clean look" IMO but those vortechs arnt cheap and i think the end result i would like 2 of them which just cracks the piggy bank even more. i guess i could always start with one.
In the next month i should be ordering a few things for this tank. I think my first 3 purchases are going to be a 700gph glassholes kit, AWI RO/DI, and 80lbs marco rock that will come dry and need time to establish itself. the dry rock process alone is going to put this tank on hold for awhile, but this will allow me to get working on the stand and save some money for this project. i warned you it would be slow. :-(
 
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#2 ·
Looking forward to seeing the build!

80lbs of Marcos rock is going to be a lot for a 40g breeder. I've got 40lbs of the same rock in mine and feel its a good amount. If you are looking to have rock for the sump and extra pieces to play with maybe 80 is what you want.
 
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#3 ·
i do understand 80lbs of this rock will be alot, i want options as to what pieces i can use and having extra never hurts. its also great rock that can be sold or given away to another reefer.
i do not like to keep rock in my sumps as this to me is just as bad as having a sump full of bioballs. there just isnt enough flow down there to keep them clean. i would only put maybe 2-3 pieces if any, and this is so i can rotate them weekly to bi-weekly back up to the display full of pods.
 
#4 ·
i started on the canopy first. i only got the frame work done so far. i chose to do the canopy before the stand because last tank i built a temporary canopy and never got around to building the actual one unitl a much later date.

the frame is constructed from simple wood balusters.



everything seems to be cat approved :lol:


a few quick light paint coats to help seal it. once its fully built the entire canopy will be painted as a whole.



i plan to cover the top and back piece with 1/2'' plastic mesh. the front and sides will most likely be 1/2'' ply painted black.



now im still on the fence with filling the insides up with a retrofit T5 or a 6x39 nova extreme pro t5 unit. i enjoyed the 6x48 icecap retrofits on my last tank, however im alittle upset icecap is no longer with us. i may just go with the pre built unit and call it a day.
 
#7 ·
i am glad i am going to be on for round 3...and i would go with the retrofit man...you know you can do better than the competition for cheaper and all us folks at home can use an experienced reefers insight from the ground up..
still have not decided what way i want to go yet. im leaning for a pre-made fixture. if you wish to see about retrofits, i believe i share about it in my last tank build.
 
#10 ·
alittle wood


alittle stand construction


i glued on some spacers on the canopy, this is because i plan to have the sides as well as the front overhang the plastic trim around the tank. i also decided to use a piece of ply on the top so if my cat ever does get up there it will support the weight.


after everythings constructed i plan on using this as my primer
 
#11 ·




i used caulk on all the seams to help seal moisture out, on the inside on the stand where the sump goes i will also do this



a closer shot of the sump currently sitting on the stand. not the cleanest looking, but highly functionable as well as it also being a 40 breeder to double my systems tank volume. (just about, it doesnt get filled to the very top )

 
#14 ·
i have added the plastic mesh across the back of my canopy. im glad i went with ply on the top. the plastic mesh would have held the weight of my cat, but i feel better now, besides plenty of nice air flow will happen with an open back.



didnt rotate the photo, but i installed x2 childrens plastic locks on the acess door aswell.

 
#18 ·
It's looking good. I'm excited to see what you do with this. I've been thinking of setting up a 40g breeder myself. Hopefully watching you will give me some ideas.

Do you plan on putting cabinet doors on this stand like you did with the last one, or just leave it open? Either way, very nice.
 
#21 ·
small set back however the company fixed this by sending a replacement,



and another set of packages arrived



what is it, what is it!



:-D



awesome quality rock



step one, smash rock into a million pieces,



step two, construct eggcrate



zip tie



zip tie



pond foam!



sing it with me, zip tie, zip tie, pond foam! zip tie, zip tie, pond foam! :cool:



everyone loves playdoh



this only works when you use purple



and thats a glass hole



back wall dirty



top shot of the newly installed overflow



cut out to accept the new overflow





i originally was going to use these clips on my foam wall but they struggled to support the weight



so i shaved the back side with a razor and choose to just silicon it into place



moving along to plumbing



the bottom piece of pipe displays what i rigged up as my 1 1/2'' Y fitting since hardware stores do not carry them and i want my drain to split to either side of my sump



this is just a shot i took with the rock wall on the bottom of the glass, maybe this will spark some interest of you bare bottom sandless reefers and get your ideas flowing



cutting no corners, i filled my tank with some fiji water :lol:



i did get a chance to add alittle sand, however no pictures of that yet. i guess im just waiting for a RO/DI unit to be able to fill'r up
 
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