[AMS]

this is how i spent most of my weekend. moving my operation into a new space, and it was a mess. so far, this is where i'm at....




this is most of the main life support/holding system....i still need to add the coral systems, which are currently being made.



view walking in the door. the back wall is basically going to be the live rock bin (lights to be added over it this week), bagging/packing area and a 200gal R/O reservoir. wall with the shelves and light fixture up against it is where the coral holding tanks will be, and those shelves are going into the office.



view toward the front door



1/2 of the fish holding system....total volume of the FHS is about 220 gal



system filtration system...still need to add a compartment for chem media and auto top-off


this wall is going to have the refrig/freezer for foods and one of my guys built some shelves (i think you can see those in the shot of the front door) which are going to be painted. these will be for dry goods/equipment.

[e_baer]

this may be a dumb question, but im guessing you are sarting a lfs?

[AMS]

here's the total fish holding system



the 300 gal live rock bin.

there is still a ton of work to do. we have to have the building hook up a utility sink and rework the electrical so that we're not overworking the circuits (that's why there are extension cords going everywhere.

we also have to have them take the door off so we can get the polypropylene water storage container in. i also need to install brackets from the rafters to hang the lighting systems, and that will not be fun.

we should be done w/in 3 weeks, and it should look very tidy and organized. i am doing something crazy by having the fish, coral and livestock systems running off 1 filtration system. the filtration is so good that we will have no problem maintaining perfect water quality, and if a fish does require medication,its holding tank can be cut off from the main system and medicated.

it looks pretty sloppy right now, but when it comes together, it will be pretty sweet.

[AMS]

Originally Posted by e_baer

this may be a dumb question, but im guessing you are sarting a lfs?

well, yes and no. we are a reef aquarium design, installation and service company. this space is technically open to the public, but is not designed to have random walk-in traffic. its more of a space for design and storage, and is mainly warehouse space with an office.

this is actually my 4th year in business, but the first 3 years were in a much smaller space. i've hired some people, grown it pretty well, so now we need new space.

not trying to SPAM this site up or drum up business, but its kind of exciting to see it coming together. its fun.

[e_baer]

wow, congrats on the upgrade!

[AMS]

Originally Posted by e_baer

wow, congrats on the upgrade!

yeah, it will be pretty cool. it will be a lot easier than the old space b/c we are a lot closer to about 90% of our clients.

i'm really anxious to see how this works with the coral/fish/live rock being integrated. that refugium is 120 gallons, and by having the live rock hooked up to that, we can ensure that no matter how long we have rock in stock, it will be totally infused with microflora/fauna. the refugium is loaded with amphipods, copepods, annelid worms and mysis shrimp, and by running the LR system through that, we can keep it looking good.

there are 2 resident tangs, snails, sea urchins and hermit crabs in the LR system, so we can load it up with supplents but keep it from becoming covered w/ algae.

i still have to hook the CA+ and phosphate liquid reactors. what i ended up doing this weekend was plumbing all the systems in while one of my guys built shelves, and then filling the system with (gasp) tap water. we can hook up the R/O-DI unit until we have a sink and the water storage container is physically IN the shop.

its tough to get this stuff done b/c we are so busy during the week with services/consultations.

[e_baer]

I can imagine,

well, good luck with algae problems since you are using tap water

[cplklegg]

Wow, wish I was living nearby to help ya get everything going, looks like fun. Best of luck to ya.

[ncdiablo]

Very impressive AMS. I wish I was closer because it would have been fun to lend a helping hand. Keep up the good work.

[AMS]

Originally Posted by cplklegg

Wow, wish I was living nearby to help ya get everything going, looks like fun. Best of luck to ya.

Originally Posted by ncdiablo

Very impressive AMS. I wish I was closer because it would have been fun to lend a helping hand. Keep up the good work.

so, are you guys saying you would work pro bono?

also, i purposely ommited the picture of the pile of empty beer bottles.

[mtfabel]

If I lived near by I would gladly volunteer my time to help a fellow reefer out. Besides there is nothing better than playing with someone elses toys.

[ncdiablo]

I would gladly work to help friends out and do often enough. Beer is plenty good payment for doing fun "work' things with friends. Doing aquarium stuff would be so fun I wouldn't even need a payment of beer but would accept the beer none the less

[AMS]

Originally Posted by ncdiablo

I would gladly work to help friends out and do often enough. Beer is plenty good payment for doing fun "work' things with friends. Doing aquarium stuff would be so fun I wouldn't even need a payment of beer but would accept the beer none the less

i don't know if its a good thing or a bad thing, but there is a liquor store in the strip mall next door. it makes it way too convenient to spice up the weekend projects in the shop.....i'm sure that my plumbing would have turned out a little better had it not be for the pacifico clara and sierra nevada pale ale.

[lilsalty]

Regardless the booz i think it looks great and hope all goes well you you and your co.

[SweeTang22]

looks good. i visit chicago on a regular basis. where abouts is this location. is it by the shedd aquarium by any chance??

[AMS]

Originally Posted by SweeTang22

looks good. i visit chicago on a regular basis. where abouts is this location. is it by the shedd aquarium by any chance??

thanks....its near the intersection of milwaukee and dundee in wheeling, just off I-294. once its done, you're more than welcome to stop in....just PM me ahead of time so i can make sure somebody is there (we do service, so theres a chance nobody wll be around if its during the week.)

[aquasalt]

I just have to add that your setup looks very impressive! It's got to be great seeing it all come together. The insurance on your place must be through the roof! No wonder this stuff is so expensive. Best of luck to you!

[SweeTang22]

Originally Posted by AMS

thanks....its near the intersection of milwaukee and dundee in wheeling, just off I-294. once its done, you're more than welcome to stop in....just PM me ahead of time so i can make sure somebody is there (we do service, so theres a chance nobody wll be around if its during the week.)

k will do!