Building a 135 Reef

[Wicky48]

Ok sooo....... And yes frustration is the sound. I installed my waterline last night and installed my RO in another room. All went great and everything worked. I checked the line for pressure and then again last night before I went to bed. No problems. I wake up this morning and go into the basement to feed my cat and I step into an inch of water. One little joint overnight gave out and soaked everything in 2 rooms. So today is cleaning that up. I fixed the leak right away and its now sealed for sure. Throwing out a few hings. One silver lining in this short story, the water totally missed my birch that is the finish wood for this tank by like an inch. It is dry as a bone.

 

[Dierks]

Following along! What a rollercoaster of a build, but it looks great! Keep up the great work!

 

[Wicky48]

Well it's almost done. Had water running in it for 2 weeks to wash out impurities. I have all the salt I need now just finishing wood. As well after I set it up add-ons like a doser and some more lights and mangroves in the basement tank but for now I can cycle it. Thanks for the great comments!!

 

[Wicky48]

At work, working nights this week but on break. This is the fish I had drawn on the door of the tank and then used a Rotozip to carve it out so the light comes through. Cool effect

 

[Wicky48]

More pics. Been a long build but yes I'd do it again.

 

[Wicky48]

Yahoo! My new tank is up and running. All together the water volume is about 300 gallons. The main tank where fish and animals will be is about 150. Then the three other tanks are about 50 each. That's right 3 other tanks. The first one is a rock filter and where I will grow a lot of cheato. The second I am having mangroves in and the third is basically a big algae scrubber. This tank has supports but the bottom of the tank is open so i can shine lights up through the tank and from the top. I am having the light covering or plastic covering we sometimes use on the tank top so the fish don't jump out but placed vertically up and down in the tank about 10 pieces 12" x 12" with light from all sides probably 5000k to support lots of algae growth. These can be removed if need be and cleaned. The tank is up and running with saltwater after being flushed with fresh for two weeks.

Now I do not use RO water at this point because making so much RO water from scratch would take forever. I am filtering through a media reactor with carbon and GFO to remove any Phosphates and I do have cheato in there already in the second tank which is already showing growth under the cheato lights which are a blend of LED lights Red, Blue,White, Green, Orange, Yellow, Purple.

After 4 days I am already seeing signs of algae growth. Some brown, some green, I am also pumping air through a powerful pump in the main tank to accelerate cycling. I have added some sand from my previous tank where the animals and fish are coming from and one piece of rock with no coral on it but it is cultured.

So basically the tank is done. Here is a few more pics and there will be more to come but the majority of 1.5 years work is done. On to the next project. Oh oh, my wife just heard that and passed out. LOL

There is also a large area on the right of the tank which is empty right now however alot of the rock from my existing tank will go there. Thank you all for watching this thread and keep your eyes open because I will be showing more pictures from time to time as it evolves.

Bruce

 

[Wicky48]

Ok so here is a video of the tank after 6 days of running. It is cycling well I think.

 

[Michelle G]

Very nice build!

 

[Wicky48]

Thank you Michelle! I am excited to get my corals in there and fish but trying not to rush it.

 

[Wicky48]

A much nicer pic from my girlfriend's phone. All coral and fish moved over now and the rock is complete. This reef really came out the way I wanted it.

 

[Wicky48]