40g Breeder

[reacclimating 2 the hobby]

Love your stand! I’m drawing up a plan myself for a stand and wanted to go tongue and grove for a shiplap look myself! I may have missed a post but what did you use for the top of your stand? It almost looks like a faux concrete countertop

Thank you! The top was just a 2" thick piece of pine that I used a gray wash stain on and finished with an epoxy.

 

[Deiblerj]

Thank you! The top was just a 2" thick piece of pine that I used a gray wash stain on and finished with an epoxy.

Sweet, great job with it! Mind me asking what the total cost was (rough estimate) for the lumber?

 

[reacclimating 2 the hobby]

Sweet, great job with it! Mind me asking what the total cost was (rough estimate) for the lumber?

For the top or the whole stand? I do wood working for a hobby and had the materials laying around, but i could figure it out.

4ft pine slab - $25
2×4 - $25-$35
Tongue and groove - $100
Epoxy - $40
Stain - $10

 

[reacclimating 2 the hobby]

Live rock and some base rock doing its thing... bit of a spike!

 

[reacclimating 2 the hobby]

Added some Dr Tim's after a water change on Friday. Today we're right around a 2, slightly higher, on Ammonia. It's all I'm currently testing until end if this week when I'll move everything into the tank to continue the cycle.

 

[reacclimating 2 the hobby]

Slowly but surely...

 

[reacclimating 2 the hobby]

Starboard arrived today and was siliconed to the bottom of the tank. Got my light hung from the ceiling and slowly working on the control center. Hopefully finish the cycle within the tank after tomorrow.

 

[reacclimating 2 the hobby]

In its spot...

 

[reacclimating 2 the hobby]

Thoughts on first round of scape?

Anyone ever have bad luck with pumps on back wall?

 

[reacclimating 2 the hobby]

Very happy to see this although I did increase the water volume by moving the rock from my 44gal brute to the system itself.

Two mp10's have managed to move any debris from the bottom of the tank into the sump. I'm finding my velcro mounting plan for the control center isn't the best method. Being slightly ocd and uncreative is a huge issue within itself when mounting the controls.

My internet has taken nearly two weeks when it should've been here in 3 days. Apex awaits.

Slowly introducing lights. Only the t5 is on about 2-3 hours a day. Pods and plankton coming next week. Eventually going to plumb my return through the uv sterilizer.

Bean animal finally dialed in better then I've ever had it. No noise except the old mp10. New wet side on order. Kind of disappointed that I'll need to drop another $250 for an extra eb832 energy bar. I guess some equipment will have to be off the apex for a while.

 

[reacclimating 2 the hobby]

Nitrate somewhere between .5 and .75 ppm. Phosphate is between .12 and .16ppm

 

[OffTopic]

Nice job, I really like the stand it looks really good. Taking notes for the one I am going attempt to build. Awesome job following along

 

[reacclimating 2 the hobby]

Nice job, I really like the stand it looks really good. Taking notes for the one I am going attempt to build. Awesome job following along

Thank you! Its built to last through a couple upgrades.

 

[reacclimating 2 the hobby]

Picked these up on the forums. They are really nice.

 

[Rattzreef]

awesome stand.. Im gonna be starting my 40 breeder build shortly too. I built my own stand and canopy from oak plywood and hardwood trim.
DIY builds are fun.

 

[reacclimating 2 the hobby]

awesome stand.. Im gonna be starting my 40 breeder build shortly too. I built my own stand and canopy from oak plywood and hardwood trim.
DIY builds are fun.

Nice! I didnt think about all the light with a new baby around so I'll be adding a three sided canopy soon. Just moved into my house and need to get the wood shop setup.

 

[Rattzreef]

Thanks. mine just barely fits the 6 bulb T5 fixture I have for it.. I made this so all the plumbing is enclosed in the stand and it can fit closer to the wall. the 1" pure bond plywood skeleton is very sturdy.

 

[reacclimating 2 the hobby]

Ati? I had one forever and switched to this aquatic life hybrid. Four bulb and two radians. Built a chalk control center on one end. Work in progress.

 

[reacclimating 2 the hobby]

Radions*

 

[Rattzreef]

Actually I think mine is an old Coralife T5 fixture. not quite sure there are no labels or tags. It does have six "moon" lights on it also and is programmable.. I have considered going with a retro kit and a pair of Kessil A360's but this fixture was cheap and a pair of reefbright strips should be sufficient for SPS.