The 265gal Reef Build (and other associated nonsense)

[Sploke]

I will be documenting the transformation of my multi-tank in-wall build to a single 265gal in-wall reef. I will be breaking down all the FW tanks and combining my SW tanks into this one reef. I found a tank for sale locally, a 265gal reef setup complete with lights, LR, coral, and filtration, which I am buying part and parcel. The longer process will be 1) sorting through the equipment, LR and coral than I want and selling off the rest, and 2) breaking down and moving all the FW tanks.

There won't be too much to document just yet, I'm going on Sunday to start taking home the LR and corals.

For reference - here is the current state of the fish wall. As you can see, there have been some changes that ever really got finished. The face of the new tank is outlined in masking tape for reference.
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Behind the scenes...kind of a mess. "organized chaos" :D The only tank that will be staying is the plywood 200gal on the floor, which will be the sump for the 265. The stand will also come out an extra 6" from what is there, but it won't come all the way over to the wall the door is on.
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The stock tank where most of the liverock will end up while I'm shuffling things around.
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Man, I can't wait for this build to start.

[Haydn24]

Subscribed! Goodluck! :)

[rainbowcharmer]

I can't decide which is better - MTS or one GIANT tank... Either way, I'm watching this. :D

[Jody]

Sweet M8 cant wait to see it finished

[BettaFishMommy]

ooooohhhhh...... this is gonna be good! can't wait to see it all take shape!

[greech]

Sounds like my dream tank. Good for you!!! Can't wait to see more. Is the tank glass or acrylic?

[Sploke]

Tank is glass...not looking forward to carrying it, its gonna be heavvvvvvvy.

In other news, I went out and picked up all the LR and coral from the tank, plus the lights last night. I'll get some pics tonight now that the coral is happy in its new temporary home.

[The Zigman]

is this done yet?
Where are the pix??

Ha ha!!

[deutsche20V]

subscribed :thumbsup:

Good luck with everything!

[Sploke]

Gratuitous coral shots. I'll be keeping some of these but selling off most of it. Tub is filled almost to the brim with pretty high quality liverock.

Going out Monday after work to drain the tank and break in down in preparation for pickup.

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[rockhoe14er]

WOW!!!!! that coral looks amazing. It makes me really want to try a reef tank.

[NateTheFishGuy]

I can tell this is gonna be a great reef rank

[whyzee250]

hurry up! we are all waiting! haha!

[deutsche20V]

Would you be willing to frag & ship any of those zoanthids? :D

[Sploke]

Yes, I've shipped coral before, and the majority of what is in that tank is going to get sold, so if there's anything you're interested in send me a PM.

[Luke109]

I am so jelous!

[judgemax]

didn't you say somewhere, that the turtle tank, you are going to use as a sump?..or am i dreaming?

[Slappy*McFish]

I'm definitely interested in some of the mushrooms sometime within the next couple of weeks.

[user_name]

:drool: can't wait to see this finished!

[Liquid_Pyro]

This looks intense...goodluck

[Sploke]

Yeah JM, the 200gal turtle tank was converted into a SW tank, as it runs now, but yes I will be using it as the sump for this tank.

[deutsche20V]

Yes, I've shipped coral before, and the majority of what is in that tank is going to get sold, so if there's anything you're interested in send me a PM.

SWEET! PM sent :thumbsup:

[Arkangel77]

Nice - Interested in this !

[k.tran]

amazing build thread

[Lady G]

Awesome Sploke!!!

Wish I was ready to set mine up (going to be trying again), I'd LOVE to take some of those corals off your hands!!!

[Pharaoh]

I love my 265. They are the perfect dimension.

[the wizard]

This is going to be a fantastic reef I can tell already.

Are you finished setting it up yet? :grinyes:

[Sploke]

yeah all done but you can't see any pics :p

We got the tank home safe and sound (took 4 people to move it) but its in storage in teh shed until I can get the other tanks broken down and moved (buy my fish!). The liverock and livesand is in tubs in the basement with a super-sketchy network of hoses and powerheads and a skimmer to hopefully keep it all alive until I can get the tank moved in and set up.

[Sploke]

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[leocom2000]

This gave me an idea:rofl:. My bathtub would make a good reef....:rofl:.
Can't wait to see the pics of your tank.

[Que]

WALL 2.0.

WALL 1.0 was epic... I can only imagine....

Q

[Cheech]

Wow! Looking great Sploke

[Amphiprion]

Agreed. Everything looks good so far. Those tubs made me think of something that has crossed my mind in the past--setting up something along those lines while including mangroves.

[Lady G]

SPAAALOKE!!! Are you purposely trying to torture me?! Anything new yet???

[Sploke]

No, gathering up the last of the FW fish this afternoon to bring to the fish store, then I'll complete breaking down all the tanks hopefully this weekend.

[Lady G]

YAY!!!!

So, ya gonna take a sledge hammer to the wall!?! That would be FUN!!! LMAO :D

[Sploke]

Got all the tanks shut down yesterday. I now officially have no FW tanks running in the house. The LFS took all the fish I had left...I thought. I had all the tanks drained and was in the process of cleaning out the sump and I kept seeing little flits of movement. I got all the lava rock out and found 3 khuli loaches, a colony of shrimp and a tiger nerite snail. Luckily my parents' house is close so they got some free additions to their 55 community.

Anyway, pics of progress so far.
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So G, yes, basically. The next step is to tear off all the sheetrock and get the 150 out of there, then tear out all the framing. I'm effectively rebuilding from scratch. There is some mold on the back of the existing sheetrock, and I am getting a lot of cracking on the seams. After I built the framing, I screwed the sheetrock directly onto the framing holding up the tanks. As its settled slightly, its caused a lot of cracking along the seams. This time around, I'm going to frame out the wall and the window, then frame the stand for the tank separately.

[Sploke]

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[Lady G]

Awwww, no picks of ya tearin it down? Did you have fun!?!

[Sploke]

Lol yeah...fun....sheetrock dust and paint chips everywhere. I tell you what, it came down a lot faster than it went up lol.

[Haydn24]

Getting close!!! Goodluck, can't wait :)

[Lady G]

Lol yeah...fun....sheetrock dust and paint chips everywhere. I tell you what, it came down a lot faster than it went up lol.
HAHA, yeah I'm sure the clean up wasn't too fun! But ya gotta admit, tearing down, and destructing things....theres always a bit of fun to that!! Just makes ya go RAAAAAARRRRR!!!

[Sploke]

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Next step is to start drawing out the framing for the new wall, get the lumber and frame it up.

[Lady G]

WOOOO-WOOOO!!!! What fun!

[deutsche20V]

awesome progress :thumbsup:

[Ramphonic]

wow looks like alot of work..

[Sploke]

Some coral pics....until I can make some more progress on important stuff :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/sploke/corals/IMG_8447800x600.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/sploke/corals/IMG_8149-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/sploke/corals/IMG_8715.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/sploke/corals/IMG_8716.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/sploke/corals/IMG_8717.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/sploke/corals/IMG_8719.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/sploke/corals/IMG_8720.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/sploke/corals/IMG_8722.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/sploke/corals/IMG_8724.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/sploke/corals/IMG_8725.jpg

[deutsche20V]

Beautiful! :drool:

[the wizard]

I am so envious of you. Those are some great colonies and I can't wait to see them in the tank all set up.

[Lady G]

AWESOME!
SPLOKE, SPLOKE, SPLOKE, SPLOKE!!!! You go Sploke!!!

(shhh, don't tell anyone...but your kinda my idol)!!!

[Sploke]

aw shucks... http://www.gemsivad.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/emoticon_blush.gif

[Turtlesocks]

Any updates? :D

[Sploke]

I had the week between xmas and new years off, so we got a fair amount done at home, although a lot of it was spent dealing with tank issues.

I decided to repaint the area that will be behind the wall since there were some mildew issues from water spillage and moisture. I picked up some Zinsser bathroom primer to redo the section - I did all three walls and the ceiling. I covered the 200gal with a dropcloth, but being the wintertime all the doors and windows were closed. That was on Sunday night, 12/26. I woke up on Monday and looked at the tank, I found it to be very cloudy with two fish gasping at the surface against the overflow screen, the puffer and a female tomato clown.

I netted both fish out in a hurry and dropped them in the biocube upstairs as a holding tank. I couldn't locate the other three fish in the tank (I found them later after the tank cleared up and I could start moving rocks around, they were most likely all dead at this point). I cranked up the skimmer, set up a HOB running carbon and did a water change and started making RO water to mix more SW. I went back up to check on the other fish, the tomato clown was dead but the puffer was looking ok...then I realized when I turned the light on that the biocube was clouding up too, so I pulled the puffer out of there and put it in one of the 30gal rubbermaid holding bins that is keeping LR/LS for the new tank.

By Wed morning my main tank, the 55 reef, had started clouding up too. I set up a spare canister running carbon on that and did a few water changes. By wed night I lost one clownfish and probably the royal gramma (still haven't found it). The other clown was obviously distressed, so I netted it out and put it in the now-clear biocube (after three 80% water changes and running carbon for three days). About the same time, the holding system downstairs had also started clouding up, so I moved the puffer into the biocube with the clown. There was some initial aggression, but they seem to be fine now.

I'm still running carbon and purigen on the 200gal, the 55, and the holding system. I spent pretty much all day Mon-Thurs either transferring RO, mixing SW, messing with filters or skimmers, or hauling buckets for water changes. I believe the puffer and the one ocellaris clown are the only two fish that survived.

On the upside, whatever toxin got into the tanks, it did not seem to have any effect on invertebrates. All the corals, even the SPS, never looked stressed. The snails and hermits were unaffected, as were the other organisms in the rock and sand bed. I'm thankful for small favors because if that stuff took a dive at the same time, I would have nothing left but a big stinky mess. I'm still skimming like crazy on the 200gal and the holding system (skimming very wet and taking off about 5gal per day of cloudy tea-colored skimmate, and very very foamy).

On the actual progress side, I was able to get the stand for the new tank finished and in place. I was also able to get the crate built around the new tank in preparation for moving it. I'll have to get Liz to take some pics of this, as it is going to be quite a spectacle. The tank is currently on cinderblocks inside a 2x4 crate with foam blocks, just inside the shed doors about 1000' from the house. I'm going to pick the tank up with the forks on the tractor and drive it down to the house. The tank has to go in through the bulkhead and it takes four people to carry it safely; the door is too narrow to fit two people side by side carrying the tank. So, the tank will be placed on the lip of the bulkhead stairs and strapped to the tractor. It will basically slide down the stairs, being controlled by the tractor. Once at the bottom, it will be moved on furniture dollies across the basement next to the stand, so the only real lifting will be off the dollies and onto the stand.

I have some pictures of the stand and area around the tank, I'll post them when I get home tonight.

[Cheech]

That's strange... Aren't inverts usually more sensitive to water toxins than fish are?

Good to hear the damage wasn't as bad as it could have been!

Looking forward to updated pics.

[avatar]

Here are some pics of the new stand. Its getting pretty exciting there is actual progress. Were hoping to get some friends over to help lift the tank onto the stand on Sunday :dance: Then we can start filling it up and moving in the sand, rock, coral and the two fish we have left :( and begin building the wall.

So the VERY crucial question left to answer now is what color should the wall be painted ?????

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The tank in its crate ready to be driven down to the house
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[Que]

Black.

Q

PS: Your week sounds much more hectic than I would ever want. Better you than me. I think I would have hurt myself trying to break something out of frustration. I'm glad you were able to limit the casualties.

[BettaFishMommy]

i also vote black for the wall, it'll look great with that tile flooring.

can't wait to see this all set up!

[reefyoyo1000]

I had the week between xmas and new years off, so we got a fair amount done at home, although a lot of it was spent dealing with tank issues.

I decided to repaint the area that will be behind the wall since there were some mildew issues from water spillage and moisture. I picked up some Zinsser bathroom primer to redo the section - I did all three walls and the ceiling. I covered the 200gal with a dropcloth, but being the wintertime all the doors and windows were closed. That was on Sunday night, 12/26. I woke up on Monday and looked at the tank, I found it to be very cloudy with two fish gasping at the surface against the overflow screen, the puffer and a female tomato clown.

I netted both fish out in a hurry and dropped them in the biocube upstairs as a holding tank. I couldn't locate the other three fish in the tank (I found them later after the tank cleared up and I could start moving rocks around, they were most likely all dead at this point). I cranked up the skimmer, set up a HOB running carbon and did a water change and started making RO water to mix more SW. I went back up to check on the other fish, the tomato clown was dead but the puffer was looking ok...then I realized when I turned the light on that the biocube was clouding up too, so I pulled the puffer out of there and put it in one of the 30gal rubbermaid holding bins that is keeping LR/LS for the new tank.

By Wed morning my main tank, the 55 reef, had started clouding up too. I set up a spare canister running carbon on that and did a few water changes. By wed night I lost one clownfish and probably the royal gramma (still haven't found it). The other clown was obviously distressed, so I netted it out and put it in the now-clear biocube (after three 80% water changes and running carbon for three days). About the same time, the holding system downstairs had also started clouding up, so I moved the puffer into the biocube with the clown. There was some initial aggression, but they seem to be fine now.

I'm still running carbon and purigen on the 200gal, the 55, and the holding system. I spent pretty much all day Mon-Thurs either transferring RO, mixing SW, messing with filters or skimmers, or hauling buckets for water changes. I believe the puffer and the one ocellaris clown are the only two fish that survived.

On the upside, whatever toxin got into the tanks, it did not seem to have any effect on invertebrates. All the corals, even the SPS, never looked stressed. The snails and hermits were unaffected, as were the other organisms in the rock and sand bed. I'm thankful for small favors because if that stuff took a dive at the same time, I would have nothing left but a big stinky mess. I'm still skimming like crazy on the 200gal and the holding system (skimming very wet and taking off about 5gal per day of cloudy tea-colored skimmate, and very very foamy).

On the actual progress side, I was able to get the stand for the new tank finished and in place. I was also able to get the crate built around the new tank in preparation for moving it. I'll have to get Liz to take some pics of this, as it is going to be quite a spectacle. The tank is currently on cinderblocks inside a 2x4 crate with foam blocks, just inside the shed doors about 1000' from the house. I'm going to pick the tank up with the forks on the tractor and drive it down to the house. The tank has to go in through the bulkhead and it takes four people to carry it safely; the door is too narrow to fit two people side by side carrying the tank. So, the tank will be placed on the lip of the bulkhead stairs and strapped to the tractor. It will basically slide down the stairs, being controlled by the tractor. Once at the bottom, it will be moved on furniture dollies across the basement next to the stand, so the only real lifting will be off the dollies and onto the stand.

I have some pictures of the stand and area around the tank, I'll post them when I get home tonight.
why did it get clouldy:confused:how much are the zoas give me the size and price
$50 at the max more than that is total:bs:

[Turtlesocks]

DARK bluuuuuuue! :D

[avatar]

We actually had it dark blue before, and since its a basement it was really dark down there and it was a little overwhelming. Since then the one window in the room now has a deck over it so its even more of a problem....................while I really liked the dark blue Im thinking something a little lighter this time around.

[Slappy*McFish]

In that case, this color...maybe?

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[Ace25]

That is really almost an impossible call to make until the tank is running. Whatever color you pick, short of black or white, is not going to look the same color when the aquarium lighting is running.

I wish I had an original sample of the color when I picked it, but the color on paper vs the color once painted on an aquarium and put under different lighting had very different looks. The color I picked was called "Deep Ocean Blue" when I bought it, and it looked a deep blue w/ touch of green but when placed under a 10k light it looked completely different, and using a different ballast also changed the color significantly, still using the same bulb.

I understand this is for your wall, not the aquarium, but I still think the color you see on the sample sheet vs what the actual color will look like once the aquarium lighting is running the in room is going to be a lot different.

Just look at the background colors, pay no attention to the tank. Same bulb, different ballast, same color background.

No water/light, just room light. Wish I had a better pic.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2137/2547264784_47e6bbac56.jpg

10k @ 250w
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3109/2581646895_6f6eb4663f.jpg

10k @ 375w
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3288/2670441670_5be6ea0fbc.jpg

[Sploke]

Yeah Ace its amazing how much the color can change. I picked out background colors for cloth backgrounds on all the tanks that used to be in the fishwall, it always surprised me how they never really looked how I expected them to look once hung on the wall. Besides, with SPS-level lighting (eventually) over the tank, even if we go fairly light on the wall its going to look a lot darker than it really is because your eyes would adjust to the light level looking at the tank.

[avatar]

we were talking about a gray for the wall, we want the tank to be the focus of the wall, not the wall color so we want to go with something that will fade into the background a little when the lights are on. Possibly with some type of intresting finish on it......although I am totally doubting my abilities on that front.

I think we will go with fabric for the back of the tank because the maintenance will have to take place from behind the tank so we need to be able to see into the tank. It really makes cleaning a lot easier when you can see what you are up to.

[BettaFishMommy]

i have fabric backgrounds on both my 55's (granted they are only 1/5 the size of your tank) and i love them! so easy to work around for tank maintenance, and if you get bored of one colour it's very easy to switch it out (or if the fabric needs washing - a very likely need with sw!). i used sticky back velcro to attach them to the tank - one long strip all the way across the top rim, and a small piece on each bottom corner. i put the loop part of the velcro on the fabric and the hook part on the tank - means the velcro won't stick to itself or anything else when washing the fabric.

[Arkangel77]

AMAZING :clap:

[biggie357]

have you considered a medium beige for the wall colour? I've been painting houses for a few years and Ive found with awkward lighting situations (like a super bright fish tank in the middle of the focus wall) or dark spaces/bad lighting for the layout, a "builders beige" type shade still changes when your eyes are adjusted to different light levels/areas, but not nearly as much as other colors, and to me it seems to blend a lot better when presented with that major light level change in the center.

only thing is matching any wall colour to that floor... hmm... ill leave it to you ;)
beautiful tank though! send some corals up to snowy old Canada :)

edit: took another long look at the tank and area, and if i were planning this space for a client, i would be running a black fabric background and a medium-light beige. the black will definitly help to blend with the tiles, and the beige will darken just enough (when the tank lights are on) to match the tank and tile. just another thought!

[Sploke]

Tank is in place! I had a few guys from my local reef club come over tonight plus a few other friends, and we got it into the basement.

You can sort of see it loaded on the front of the tractor here, carrying it down from the shed to the house:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/sploke/fish/IMG_8754.jpg

And in place on the stand:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/sploke/fish/IMG_8757.jpg

[Que]

The job is half done now.Cool.

Q

[The Zigman]

got fish in it yet??

[avatar]

Its so exciting to have it in place! Matt and I were picking out potential fish last night, which is always one of the most fun parts. Now we just have to get that pesky wall up, and you know water in the tank :)

[Inglorious]

Incredible looking build, can't wait to see more progress.

[Lady G]

AWESOME!!!!

[avatar]

Well we are starting to fill it up! WOOHOO :dance:
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Matt putting the guard for the pump in the sump.
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[rockhoe14er]

Great work.

[Sploke]

Tank is filling, got about 60% of the plumbing done last night...its coming along.

[Sploke]

A few pics of the future inhabitants of the tank:

I didn't even know I had this guy...I'm guessing it came in on some LR from TBS and has been hiding out since.
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Black clown
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Scooter dragonet
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6-lined wrasse
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Getting the eggcrate along the bottom in place
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aaand drumroll please.....A TANK FULL OF MUD!
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So now, I let the skimmer and sponge filter run and try to let the silt settle out and clear up. I put in a layer of base rock in, then the sand, so there's a solid base to start scaping on once the water is cleared up.

[the wizard]

Looking great can't wait to see finished project.

[goalieman59]

looks good, i cannot wait to see what it is going to look like.

[Que]

Why are you getting the tank going before the wall is up? Are you worried at all about gypsum dust or spackel getting in the tank? I've never done a job on this scale and I'm a worry wart so I'm maybe over thinking this project.

Q

[avatar]

Que- We are going to cover the tank when we drywall, its just easier got get all the plumbing running, rock and coral in before the wall is up, its how we did it last time. On the up side the tank is no longer muddy! Hopefully we will rock scape and add coral tomorrow night.

The tank a little less cloudy.......

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Our new addition, we picked him out tonight!!!

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Better quality pics when I can actually see him from the side :)

[BettaFishMommy]

(BFM sings 'i can see clearly now.........') lol.

lookin' good :) can't wait to see the wall back up, tank stocked, and looking wonderful!

[Sploke]

Why are you getting the tank going before the wall is up? Are you worried at all about gypsum dust or spackel getting in the tank? I've never done a job on this scale and I'm a worry wart so I'm maybe over thinking this project.

Q

Q, whay we did last time was taped garbage bags to the back of the sheetrock before we hung it up to seal off the tank from the front of the wall. Then once the drywall is done, I can pull it off from behind.

Well, I had to shift some of the sand around last night which immediately clouded up the tank again, but this morning it was looking decent, clearing up a lot faster. We picked up the copperband butterfly that Liz posted above, plus a second black clown and a purple firefish. Hopefully tonight the rest of the base rock will start going in :D

[avatar]

A few pics of the fish in their new home, the clowns were begging for food pretty much the instant they were put in the tank.

Next step finish the plumbing and set up the lights, then add coral!!!

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[Lab_Rat]

Nice fish!

[Sploke]

Yep, base rock is in and we're officially down to only one holding tub for the coral right now...its coming along slowly.

[R.A.W.]

Wow ... now I want a reef tank.

The tank didn't look that big until someone stood by it ... it's a monster.

It'll be soooo beautiful when everything is in it. Like looking at a reef bed.

Good luck!!!

[Sploke]

Made a lot of progress in the past few days...

Working on the plumbing
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/sploke/fish/IMG_9064800x600.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/sploke/fish/IMG_9065800x600.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/sploke/fish/IMG_9066800x600.jpg

Getting full...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/sploke/fish/IMG_9078800x600.jpg

Base rock in!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/sploke/fish/IMG_9093800x600.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/sploke/fish/IMG_9095800x600.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/sploke/fish/IMG_9163800x600.jpg

LET THERE BE LIGHT!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/sploke/fish/IMG_9167800x600.jpg

Coral in
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/sploke/fish/IMG_9176800x600.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/sploke/fish/IMG_9178800x600.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/sploke/fish/IMG_9179800x600.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/sploke/fish/IMG_9180800x600.jpg

Fun with aquascaping
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/sploke/fish/IMG_9171800x600.jpg

A few inhabitants
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/sploke/fish/IMG_9098.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/sploke/fish/IMG_9106800x600.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/sploke/fish/IMG_9129800x600.jpg

I have to make up one more batch of saltwater, then I'll have enough to connect up the sump and start that running. I have a bunch of coral and LR leftover, hopefully that will get sold or traded soon.

[247Plants]

AWESOME!

[Mgamer20o0]

thats one sweet tank even for being salty.

[Inka4040]

Lookin good, duuuude! Can't wait to see the wall come back up around it.

[Slappy*McFish]

That's coming along GREAT, guys. I'm feeling a bit jealous. ;)

[teigan666]

any updates???

[Que]

Wowee!

[Sploke]

I'll tell ya, its a good thing I've got long arms...even with 4-5" of sand across the bottom, I'm still up to my armpits reaching stuff on the sand bed. Deep tank.

[the wizard]

I'll tell ya, its a good thing I've got long arms...even with 4-5" of sand across the bottom, I'm still up to my armpits reaching stuff on the sand bed. Deep tank.

If it is too much to handle, you could always send it this way. I would "force" myself to deal with it just to help make life easier for a fellow aquarist.

(I'm just helpful like that.) :)

[Sploke]

aw what a guy, you'll be my first call if I decide its just too much :p:

[Lady G]

Ooooh SPloke.....it is looking WONDERFUL!!!!

[Sploke]

Just finished the ATS build that is intended to be the sole filtration on this tank:

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2578553#post2578553

[avatar]

Got the wall framed out today!!!

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[NB_Aquatics]

Coming along great! That's an awesome setup you got there.

[SafaditM3]

It's looking awesome, I can't wait to see it done!

[Lady G]

Sploke you are doing such a wonderful job!!!

[Pharaoh]

Looking good!

[Sploke]

Thanks guys...we got all the sheetrock hung and the first coat of mud done last night...I'll grab the pics tonight and post them up.

[Sploke]

Drywall is hung, these pics are after the first coat of mud Sunday night, and I was able to sand and get the second coat of mud on last night....getting there!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/sploke/fish/IMG_9233.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/sploke/fish/IMG_9234.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/sploke/fish/IMG_9235.jpg


So that bulkhead fitting under the right side corner I thought I had taken care of....yeah not so much. It started leaking like a sieve when I hooked up the return pump. I thought I was screwed, since I couldn't get access to the nut to get it tighter OR to take it off. Finally I came up with this little jobby to take care of it. I heated the end of a piece of 2" PVC with a torch to soften it up, then forced it over a spare bulkhead nut, and ran it under cold water until it hardened. I was able to get it locked onto the nut under the tank, get the old bulkhead out, clean the area out, and get a new one in there. No more leaks!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/sploke/fish/IMG_9236.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/sploke/fish/IMG_9237.jpg

The sump is running on the tank now too, I first hooked up the Quiet One 9000 for a return pump, but ironically, it was super loud. It might need an impeller or something, but in any case, since my koi pond filter is shut down for the winter, I grabbed the Oceanrunner 6500 off that and I'm using that as a return pump. Dead silent running submerged, very happy with it so far.

[greech]

That's some impressive engineering there sploke :).

[Sploke]

lol thanks, it took me a while to get there but I thought it was a pretty ingenious solution.

[Sploke]

Drywall is done, wall is painted...heading to home depot soon to pick up the trip to finish around the window. It's painted a light gray, but we're not very happy with it, looking for a little more contrast with the rest of the room, so I think we're going to go a shade darker.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/sploke/fish/IMG_9238.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/sploke/fish/IMG_9239.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/sploke/fish/IMG_9240.jpg

[rockhoe14er]

wow. One of these days i'm going to do a similar project when i get a house.

[avatar]

Finished wall photos!!!

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[WeedCali]

DANG! thats super nice!

:thumbsup:

[greech]

DANG!:thumbsup:

^That about sums it up!

[rainbowcharmer]

Loooooooooove it!

[Cheech]

Really nice Sploke!

Came out great. Love the rock work as well!

[leocom2000]

I like it!

[Ace25]

Awesome! The wall came out great. I like the color.. kind of neutral so it pulls your eyes right to the tank. The molding looks great framing the tank as well... gives you a place to set the beer down while enjoying the tank. ;)

[cockroach]

Holy Mother! That is awesome. Nicely done.

[Slappy*McFish]

Very cool

[felixpaws]

That should keep you satisfied with your tank volume for...wait, what time is it? Nice tank! Looks awesome!

[user_name]

awesome!

[RNeiswander]

Bumpdate


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[Sploke]

Unfortunately this tank was a casualty of divorce. It is still in place but empty. At some point I'm supposed to get it back, so we will see.

[GBBryant]

too bad... The pictures still look freakin great.