[Raymond3457]

Hey all. This is my first salt water tank and thought I would share my building with you. Actually I was proded into sharing my build!!!!!!! LOL!!!! Ok the first pic is of the whole tank, you can see the SCWD and the plumbing for it so far and the overflow box. The fuge under the stand. 2nd pic is just closer on the SCWD and overflow. (not all plumb in yet!) The 3rd pic is the sump/fuge. I have the light for the fuge and return pump and the skimmer pumps just sitting in there. I will take more pics when I get the plumbing with the skimmer and Phosban 150 in. Any comment will be greatly appreciated!!!!!

[RyanG]

This has been moved to the current forum.

[RyanG]

Wow, looks great so far!

[Raymond3457]

Thanks, it has been great so far. All three of my sons have really gotten into the whole thing! In fact they have enough fish and coral picked out I think I need a 300gal tank!!!! LOL!

[chexwebson]

Nice setup....How big is the tank you are using for the sump?

[Raymond3457]

I think it will hold about 15-18gals.

[chappers]

that is a very nice setup, i have been considering doing a simalir filter system myself as i am having what seem to be bacterial problems and wonder if it could indeed be my filtertration, was it as hard as it looks??

[for2nato]

i have the same sump set up and running in my 75gal corner tank and it was a piece of cake to get running.

[Raymond3457]

No, so far been pretty easy. I have gotten alot of help from people on here!!!! I will take more pics as soon as I get my skimmer and phosban up and running.

[Manuelonski]

Very nice!! What is the light on the sump for??

[Raymond3457]

The light on the sump is for the refugium part of the filtation system. the center section will be where I will have live sand and live rock. Also will have a macro algea. From all the resherch I have done a refugium is the way to go! As well with a skimmer and and some mechincal filter media on the drain to the sump plus I will have a phosban 150 and I will probaly use some activated carbon either in bags going to the third section or in a chamber like the phosban chamber. I belive this will be pretty good filtering. The fuge part provides nutriants for all the living things in your tank. You run the light cycle oppesit of the lights in your tank. Although I have heard that some people have there light on all the time. I will find out what works best for me and go from there.

[Raymond3457]

Ok, now I have my skimmer in place and my Phosban 150. All plumbing is completed. Let me know what you think and if I need to change anything. Ok, off to get my background. Think I will get black!

[RyanG]

Two threads have been merged

[Beeker325]

This is a neat setup. How far along are you now? The pics are great and explain so much, very quickly. I would be cool if everyone had pics of there setup online. I am working to have pictures up of my own tank. The last stage I'm curious about, there looks to be several pipes exiting the sump. does this go to another stage of filtering?
Nice job on the tank. Keep it up.

[Raymond3457]

Thanks beeker. The pipes out of the sump are. in the first section there is a 1" return line from the tank and all the stuff for the skimmer. the second section will be the fuge so no stuff coming out of there but does have the light. the 3rd section has the main return that goes to the wave maker. then has a second line that goes to the Phosban and then returns to the tank. I am now waiting on my next couple of paydays to get a ro/di and start getting live rock and salt. LOL, single dad with three boys so I have to wait on next couple of paydays!!!!

[Brians125]

Hey ray nice set up i dig it....But do take your time with cycleing the tank im sure you know that....Your live rock and sand bed will take 6/8 week's to cycle..Buy every test kit you can think of before you order rock and sand and leave the light's off while cycleing this will save you time and $$$$...After cycleing for 4/5 week's buy your supplement of your choice. I use C-Ballance its a 2 part Calcium and buffer...Very good stuff...I use it on my 125 reef......
BTW dont forget to do a test run on your tank with just fresh water..After tank run's 20 min or so unplug your pump and see if your refugium over fill's...If it does keep your return line's near the top of the water...this will stop back flow..If every thing goes good plug your pump back in and add your salt while your tank is running...Watch your water it will rise as you add salt/sand/rock.....Sorry im blabbing but i have spent alot of money on screw up's,Fish,Rock,Coral's... .Just thinking of you and where i was 8 year's ago...If you ever need help feel free to e-mail me at ......golittleb@aol.com
Best of luck to you and your tank..
Brian Check this out .....WetWebMedia.com

[Raymond3457]

Thanks Brian, And hey I like the babbling!!! I have lerned so much from everybody on here! I will take all the tips I can get!

[Brians125]

Hey Ray how's your tank doing????????We havent heard from you in awhile hope every thing is going good
G/L Brian

[Raymond3457]

Man!!!! I have got my ro/di up and running, filled tank with water checked all plumbing and just one little leak. Added salt and just letting things pump. I simulated a power loss and sump did not over fill, in fact I think I need to raise the level a little bit. Check valves doing there job!!! I modified the "U" tube with a fitting coming out of the top and a Tom's aqua lifter pump to start and restart the siphion. I learned alot about the skimmer just by playing with it and changing the settings on the discharge and got it working really good! I think!!! LOL!!! I dont have any probloms with air bubbles at from the skimmer, in fact I don't even get any in the fuge section at all!! Any way needless to say I am soooooo darn excited!!!!!!!!!! My next step in to pick out live sand and live rock. But I will put a question about live sand in anouther post. I will post more pics soon and if any one would like I will take some of the mod to the "U" tube.

Thanks to everyone for the encourgement and help!!!!!!!!!

[c-c]

Raymond,
Truely an inspiration. Thanks for the pics. You can tell that there was an electrician's skill in that arrangement, it's very neat, precise, and handsome. Phenomenal job!
c-c

[Raymond3457]

Hey thanks C-C. I'm trying!!! I am getting ready to order sand and rock!!! Man I can't wait!

[boombadan]

nice

Dan

[Raymond3457]

Ok all, I have finally added Live rock and sand!!! This is about 50lbs of Figi rock and 50lbs of Live sand. My boys and I aquascaped for quite awhile making plenty of caves and good hidding spots and still trying to make it look interesting to us. It was really cool with the 4 of us just hanging out and messing with the tank. Let me know what you all think! Any ideas or tips will be welcomed!!

Come on baby cycle!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL!!!!!!!!

[WorkinMan]

Hey fellow Sparky! Looks good. I'm just starting up my first tank as well. I like what you did with the LR to make the arch. I may have to try the same....

[Raymond3457]

Ya the arches turned out really cool. I kind of just sat back and let my boys go to it!