[Scorpa]

Well Here is my New tank build. I posted all of this into the equipment section but I feel better copying it into its rightful spot in the Reef Building section. Now seeming as we've put close to two grand into this upgrade so far, were going to try to slow it down because of family issues and supporting three houses. But anyhow, here is my new thread continued into its rightfull thread.
Oh boy, what a lengthy two days.
First comes first. I had to remove my freshwater setup from the spot we plan to put the new RSM(RedSeaMax250) in. I drained it and transfered 2 fish upstairs(one jumped out of my upstairs tank and died) and I brought one to the fish store. This tank upgrade could have been a lot easier but we ran into a few problems. We had a room with two tanks in it. We would have normaly just moved out our saltwater setup but the RSM was too high to fit where it was because theres a thermostat there. So were swapping the freshwater tank with the saltwater tank and putting the freshwater one where the saltwater one was. Complicating things. Oh well, heres what the spot looked like after i moved everything and *before* I vacumed.



Now this is the old saltwater setup below.


Putting the stand together. That was a pain. Atleast we followed the instructions though


We finished the stand the next morning.


Then we went to the LFS and picked up our better half.


It wasnt peaceful getting the tank onto the stand and leaving 6 inches from the wall, but we managed.


Inside the light, aka starting to insert the bulbs.


Six light. And two built in fans on each side of the hood as you can see in the picture and two other fans located in the back.


Reeses, our chocolate lab. lol.



Putting in the bulbs.


Moonlights.


The fixture rippin.


So after we fixed all that up, we made a trip to home Depot and bought some eggcrate, 1/2 inch pvc pipe, some screen, and pvc connecters. To build a plenum, its a filter you insert under the sand that works like a septic tank.


Just the basics of it. and its placement in the tank.


Cutting the eggcrate to fit over the pvc pipe.


Drilling holes in the pvc pipe to allow the airbubbles to escape. The more holes the better.


Some of our other hobbies


My scuba diving BC. What the hell might as well take pictures of it all if im already in the garage.


After the holes were drilled we threw it back into the tank to see how it looked. We made sure to get all the scraps off of it from drilling.


We used tie wraps to first put the eggcrate on the pvc.
We then coverd the entire fixture with the screen(its plastic screen) and folded the ends in, using *strong* fishing line to keep it together. And put it where we wanted it in our tank.


Then we filled her up with some sand(not livesand).


Top opened, so we can install the goodies in the back


Ripping the light after we set everything up.


Seeming as we already went out to buy eggcrate I decided to make my own magnetic frag shelf. To do this I just cut out a rectangular peice of eggcrate and glued it to a cheap sinking magnet i bought from walmart, aka wally world . As for the plugs, I bought those out of a dr. Foster & Smith catalog but you can buy those at most fish stores or even make your own. You can even use better quality magnets aswell. It would be more stable if i made it with two magnets, one on each side, but I guess I can't turn back now. It came out nice in my opinion though


I will keep post pictures as my tank progresses

Now if only my boss were a member of this forum? Then she wouldn't wonder why im tired at work!

[Scorpa]

We filled it up yesturday and heres an updated picture, quickly before i go to work!


Soon im going to transfer the rock from my old 29 gallon tank and just leave my corals in it on a frag shelf im planning on building out of pvc and eggcrate/glass. Im thinking about turning that into a frag tank. But for the mean time its gonna have to be one!

[dfurbee]

I bet you are excited about such a bigger tank!

[Scorpa]

Indeed I am! haha, my mother doesn't share the same feelings though! I'm more excited about turning the other tank into a frag tank at the moment though because thats going to come before the new tanks cycled. Hopefully in the next few weeks, me and my father can assemble a shelf out of pvc and get a nice peice of glass and eggcrate for the shelfs . I'm not too sure if this tank will stay though, I think we're already pushing the limit !

[Scorpa]

I set the heater as close to 78.8 degree F as I could eye it. It made my tank go all the way up to 87 degrees. So I turned it all the way down, to like 69 degrees. and its 83.4 degrees with the light off. I think I'm going to give it to the fish store and buy another one so I dont have to deal with the shipping and returning and stuff.

[Scorpa]

I think we're going to put our cured rock into the tank and leave it for a week or two and then move in the livestock(coral) because this electric bill is gonna be rediculous with two tanks running.

[Scorpa]

I hear there should not be much of a problem with cycling aslong as I put all liverock in.

[Scorpa]

There is a picture of our DIY frag shelf plans for our 29 gallon setup.

Materials
12 pvc elbows
A 26" by 6" peice of Eggcrate
A 26" by 6" peice of glass(frosted so algea build up isn't quite as visible and rounded corners so I don't get cutt up)
108" of pvc pipe, 1/2 inch

I am considering drilling the tank for a sump/fuge. I got this idea from my lfs, thats how the tanks are setup, except with all glass and no eggcrate. I am using the eggcrate for frag plugs and will put those on the upper shelf closer to the light. My original light in the tank was a retrofit PC setup and the ballest burnt out on it. I am planning on getting a new ballest and running two< T5s on it. I should be getting a a new heater for the RSM this week. I'm considering purchasing two titanium heaters for it instead to help prevent any accidents. The new light for the 29g should be fixed up in the next few weeks and the frag shelf should be finished within the next few weeks(not sure if I'll have the glass by then) I'm also getting a DIY denitrator for the RSM, a friend is making me it, this shall allow me to add lots of fishies if i can keep up the feeding .Once I have the light and shelf for my 29g I'm planning on moving all the rock out and putting it into the RSM and then the fun begins .

Pictures will be posted as we progress!

[jeanne]

Hi Dan and John thought I would check to see what you are doing. Wow I don't think I could help at all. How exciting that you are fragging! much down the road for me as I'm still dealing with algae. Loved all your pictures though! Jeanne

[Scorpa]

I'll throw on some more pictures as soon as we finish the shelf, thanks for the props though

[jeanne]

Youre welcome. You deserve the props! I'll look forward to more pictures. Jeanne

[Scorpa]

We have started to slow down with the costs of everything. We have come to the conclusion that a chiller is necessary for this enclosed setup to function properly. We are looking into an Inline like 1/15hp chiller. We are also planning to throw in a UV sterolizer inline with that and possibly our canister filter aswell. We are planning to go away to Niagra Falls, in Canada for a week in 2 weeks so we are trying to hold off another week or so without purchasing it just yet. As for the frag tank setup, this idea has been posponed untill after we finish the 65g setup. We have also gotten an idea to place a mirror behind the frist glass shelf

[Scorpa]

Well we got our inline chiller inserted onto our tank and its working great. Also I HAD to move the majority of the coral from the 29 gallon tank a few days ago because the tempurature his like 95.4 degrees F! At 86 degrees I believe a bacteria grows inside your corals and litterly eats them alive, so I couldnt amagine what 95 degrees does! But anyways i moved most everything but the fish and a few dying frags, I tried to clean all the caulerpa off the frags as best as I could. I will try to post a few pictures of everthing sometime when I get a chance, it looks like everythings doing alright in my 65g, my beautiful green star pylop rock wont come out though

Anyhow, just checking in and posting so you'll know I'm still alive ;-)

[Scorpa]

Full Tank Shot(65g RSM)


Green tiped Toadstool , Enjoying the chiller!


Bubbly Bubble and Ricordia Combo Frag


My beloved Green Star Polyp rock which is not opening


Finger Coral Frag in the 29 gallon tank. See how its going the hole inside it, I was thinking I could cutt right through the middle of it? Anyone else think thats a good idea? Current tempurature in that tank is 83.4 degrees F.


My newest little trail ripper 49cc engine Soon to have a proformance power pipe and HP Air filter and V-stack


Niagra Falls, Canada. Just pictures from when we went away on vacation.

Horseshoe Falls, Canadian Side.


American side's Falls.


Bridesvail Fall. (It's on the American Side)


Behind the falls on some tourist attraction thing.


The top of the horseshoe falls, Amagine jumping into a barrel and going over this


Maid of the Mist attraction, They take you in a boat up close to the falls (you get wet!)


Level Six rapids. These are Illegal to go through, If it wasn't self explanitory

[BLKBRDTA]

Fantastic pictures Boomba, its always a great thing to have variety! Those Niagra Falls pics are stunning!! And thats a cool little moped you got there! Thank you for sharing!

The RSM 250 looks great too, nice base rock!

[Scorpa]

Thank you The flat pieces of rock on top were actully dry rock i bought off a shelf at the LFS, but the rest is all liverock. Today we moved around all the rock seeming as it was raining all day around here because of hurricane Bill. I'll take a picture of the new setup when the lights come on tomarrow.

p.s. I did not take the niagra falls pictures my mother did :P

[Scorpa]

Were hoping to get some fishies in there before the upcoming thanksgiving seeming as we will have guests over and that should give it a fair amount of time to cycle. I see tons of bristle worms and little creepy crawly bugs in there already. But it's going to be a long wait!

[Scorpa]

Here is the picture I said I would take of the new rockwork.


And again all of this rockwork is setup so there is no rocks touching the back walls. This should help out with the cleaning and such.

[jeanne]

Hi There I'm back! What fabulous pictures! Wow I really do have to get on the ball. Am pretty sure your star polyps will return give them some time. Oh and youre so lucky to still have your mom! Lost mine 12 years ago and I still miss her. Jeanne

[Scorpa]

Aw thats sad, we can share

[jeanne]

Why Thank you! Thats so nice of you. Jeanne

[Scorpa]

Looking to add more pictures this weekend if i get the chance, took down the 29g tank last weekend. Nothing but coral in the RSM250 but its looking good and slowly filling up

[jeanne]

Can't wait to see new pics! Patience will be rewarded! jeanne