Considering getting into the hobby

[BummersReef]

Ok, that made me laugh. I can't say that it won't happen, but it would be very unlike me. My wife would tell you I am the most detail oriented and patient person she has ever met. And yes, I am an engineer at work, although I received my training in the navy instead of college.

Edit: The one thing I would like to rush is getting started, but I want to build my own stand and that will take time. Need to finish building a desk for my son before I start that.

You sound PERFECT for this hobby - truly. Patient and detail oriented! But once there is water in there it is so hard to not want to add stuff that you can watch. I'll tell hubby "ok no more stuff for at least a month" and then come home the next day with an urchin

 

[Brew12]

Welcome home, you will love it here!

Keep us posted with your build when you get there!

Well, here is the first update. My plans for getting a 75 or 90 gallon tank and building a custom stand didn't make it through the month.

Instead, I am picking up a 120gal aquarium from a guy in the area who has to move and doesn't have room for it. It was way too good of a deal to pass up so I hope to find some very strong backs and pick up the tank tomorrow night. I would rather have had the 75 for space reasons. The extra foot in length is going to force me to move all the furniture around in my office/man cave to get it to fit. The only other option (which my wife actually suggested... I love that woman!) would be to knock out a section of wall to widen a doorway. Had I not just laid new hardwood floors earlier this year that would have been tempting. I'm just not ready for a flooring patch job.

I'll add some pictures later in the week when I get the tank in the garage and start making some modifications. It really is a beautiful set up, complete with hard piped PVC. Unfortunately, I may have to redo much of it because I want to create separate electrical sections on each side of the stand and the sump is plumbed right against one of the sides. Looks like my reefing adventure is going to start earlier than expected!

Oh, and I'll switch over to the member tank section to continue the journey!

 

[BummersReef]

yes!! this is great news. You would have wanted a bigger tank in 3 months anyway! lol ... and the more tweeking you have to do, the more you will learn. Good call!

why not drill a couple holes in the floor and put the sump in the basement!! <grin> kidding, sort of ... heeee heeee

 

[Brew12]

yes!! this is great news. You would have wanted a bigger tank in 3 months anyway! lol ... and the more tweeking you have to do, the more you will learn. Good call!

why not drill a couple holes in the floor and put the sump in the basement!! <grin> kidding, sort of ... heeee heeee

Here in the south almost all the the homes are built on a slab. Not sure the wife would approve of undermining the house!

 

[BummersReef]

Here in the south almost all the the homes are built on a slab. Not sure the wife would approve of undermining the house!

yeah that might be pushing it a bit .... what's in the room behind the tank? you don't need a laundry room do you? <really big grin> laundry rooms are great places for lots of water etc ....

 

[Brew12]

yeah that might be pushing it a bit .... what's in the room behind the tank? you don't need a laundry room do you? <really big grin> laundry rooms are great places for lots of water etc ....

Man I like the way you think! Unfortunately, I have an outside wall, a hallway, my son's room and my wife's reading room around my space. I'm stuck hauling water and with an in-stand sump.

 

[4FordFamily]

Well, here is the first update. My plans for getting a 75 or 90 gallon tank and building a custom stand didn't make it through the month.

Instead, I am picking up a 120gal aquarium from a guy in the area who has to move and doesn't have room for it. It was way too good of a deal to pass up so I hope to find some very strong backs and pick up the tank tomorrow night. I would rather have had the 75 for space reasons. The extra foot in length is going to force me to move all the furniture around in my office/man cave to get it to fit. The only other option (which my wife actually suggested... I love that woman!) would be to knock out a section of wall to widen a doorway. Had I not just laid new hardwood floors earlier this year that would have been tempting. I'm just not ready for a flooring patch job.

I'll add some pictures later in the week when I get the tank in the garage and start making some modifications. It really is a beautiful set up, complete with hard piped PVC. Unfortunately, I may have to redo much of it because I want to create separate electrical sections on each side of the stand and the sump is plumbed right against one of the sides. Looks like my reefing adventure is going to start earlier than expected!

Oh, and I'll switch over to the member tank section to continue the journey!

Can your wife talk to mine??

That's excellent!!

 

[dbl]

You'll love starting with a 120g. Way to jump right in there!

 

[Brew12]

You'll love starting with a 120g. Way to jump right in there!

Honestly, it is a bit intimidating. I had convinced myself that 75 gallons was the perfect starting size for stable water but not too big. This is just a lot. Not to mention that I feel like I'm just not ready yet. I will have all the equipment but I feel like I need more knowledge. I'm thinking it will be awhile before the glass box gets wet.
Fortunately, this is an amazing reference. It's so nice to have all this expertise and variety of opinions at my finger tips. Speeds up the learning curve by a huge amount!

 

[dbl]

I realize it's a little intimidating, but you're off to a good start. You realize you may not be ready just yet and are willing to wait. That speaks volumes. Just because you have the tank doesn't mean it has to be filled right away.

Continue your reading and research and you will eventually start to get the feeling you can do this. I would recommend going through various build threads. Additionally if you haven't gone through the thread below, there is a lot of great info there too.

Lastly, don't be afraid to ask questions...we're all here to help.

http://reef2reef.com/threads/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.138750/