57g rimless aka "the mistress"

[Lilmatty5dimes]

well, time to start the new build. its a oceanic Illuminati 57g rimless. i picked her up for only $100 and a drive to WWC. it came with the overflow kit and a starboard bottom which is perfect to go bb.
here she is the day i brought her home.



equipment list
tank: above
stand: going to be custom 4'x20'x40'
controller:apex with 8 and 4 energy bar ph and temp probe
lights: tek 6 bulb fixture with ati bulbs (upgraging to 160w razor 16k or pair radion gen 2)
flow: mp40 and maybe a k1400 (upgrade mp10 if needed)
sump:custom 40g breeder
skimmer: reef octopus xp1000sss
return pump:rio2500 (have laying around)
top off: jbj ato with aqua lifter pump
reactor:tlf 150 with mj 900 running gfo have another one for carbon if needed.


skimmer

dry rock from dick. awesome stuff anyone need any make the trip down there and pick some up. def worth the trip. i'll def go back when the time comes for upgrade.

got bored

tank as of last night

 

[Lilmatty5dimes]

well, here are some pics of the stand building progression. heres a step by step guide with pics for those who want to build there own.

first thing i always do is cut the first inch or so off the board. this way you're going to know it'll be even.


next make my marking using a tap measure


then i grab a square and make a line going all the way across the board.


next line up the blade with my marking. this saw doesn't have the laser going down showing where the blade will be cutting the line



next i drill some pilot hole and then countersink the holes to have the screw flush with the board. then to cover the holes up i'll grab some saw dust and wood glue or paste and fill the hole making the screw disappear.



next line the boards in the corner to get the height i added to more screw in each one.

 

[Lilmatty5dimes]

this is 42" glad i didnt go with the 50" i was planning on going.




here the 30b i was going to us as a frag tank. as dimension as the 40b just a lil higher. see how it'll fit in the bottom.




all cuts are done for now. just need to screw everything up and place the plywood on the bottom and start the detail parts.

 

[eliramos]

tagging along!

 

[WhoDey]

100$ is a steal for that tank. Do yourself a favor and take some of the money you saved and invest in a better return. The Rio will fail sooner than later, I burned through a few before upgrading. Even a modest step up like the ocean runners would be good. Tagging along!

 

[Mrfresh]

Very nice build

 

[DSP]

Awesome cant wait to see more of this build.and btw iv had great success with rio pumps never had one fail

 

[Lilmatty5dimes]

tagging along!

thanks

100$ is a steal for that tank. Do yourself a favor and take some of the money you saved and invest in a better return. The Rio will fail sooner than later, I burned through a few before upgrading. Even a modest step up like the ocean runners would be good. Tagging along!

thanks. i was going to pass it up and then started searching the forum about a 57g tank and found out it was rimless and saw a few stunning set up. decided to fragged up a few coral and sell them and buy this. this was going to be a frag tank or breeder for some bj cardinals. bht i had a crash on the 150 cube and just sold that to buy equipment i wanted for this. thinking ahead a few years and see what i can reuse when i upgrade again. i had the rio for a year and never had a issue with it (knock on wood). also have a 1700 i do for mixing water and pumping it into the tank for water change. figure i would need a bigger return pump cause i'm thinking of putting a 30g breeder next to it as a frag tank and will be splitting the return.

Very nice build

thanks. this is the first one from scratch. so far i'm proud of it. just need to figure out how to finish the trim.

Awesome cant wait to see more of this build.and btw iv had great success with rio pumps never had one fail

thanks. so far i'm happy with the rio.

 

[Lilmatty5dimes]

you'll get a kick out of the skimmer cause i only paid $200 for that with an extra bubble blaster pump.

 

[Genesis Corals]

Great looking build.

 

[Lilmatty5dimes]

Great looking build.

thanks

 

[Lilmatty5dimes]

*****update*****
here are 3 rockscapes i'm looking at so need some input. got the stand frame finished. now time to caulk the edges, paint interior with kilz, lay down shower linear for double protection, trim, and finally stain or paint the outside. we'll see how it goes. hopefully i'll be wet by christmas. lol
heres the first rockscape all 60lbs

heres the second one. took the a rock of the bottom right corner and a small one off the top left.

third one took a piece of rock on the bottom left corner for a less rock look

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Great build! I think I like #1 best.

 

[Lilmatty5dimes]

another lil update is the frag tank i'm going to be hooking up to the 57g. it's a 30g breeder. plan on putting it right next to tank on a different stand a lil lower. going to hang the tek lighting once i get the razors.
doing a water test on it now. going to be drilling a couple holes for overflow and return.


and the few frags i have in the 30g breeder now.

 

[Lilmatty5dimes]

Great build! I think I like #1 best.

thanks. thats one for one. lol

 

[Lilmatty5dimes]

need to clean everything so off to the vinegar bath for you. lol

 

[wakeboardgeek]

Looks great so far!

 

[.Marshall]

You do know all those frags are dead SPS corals right..

 

[MandarinGirl]

^^^yeah they look kinda dead but by the way I like your aquascape!!!

 

[KoleTang]

I would add some braces across the bottom of that stand. DIY Stands Template and Calculator - Reef Central Online Community

^^^yeah they look kinda dead but by the way I like your aquascape!!!

Kinda dead? LOL