Dave in N.D.'s First Saltwater build Thread

Dmmuir · Apr 19, 2020

So, I'll do this I guess.

I have to blame my cousin showing me his reef tank. I have 12 freshwater tanks currently. Wife said no. Wife walked into the local SW fish store, said I can use my share of the Covid money to build a tank.

Took me about 2 weeks to find a starter tank,

Dirty, needs resealing, sump and tank only but I got a good deal.

This is as of this afternoon,

I have verified/test fit the plumbing. On recommendations from here I am doing a double herbie drain and piping the return over the rim.

I have a picked up:
oversized DC return pump, 2100gph
Simplicity 240 skimmer
salt
sand
rock
used ATI Sunpower 60" 6 bulb T5HO fixture.
heaters (2)

I think that is all as of now.....

I am working on test fitting the plumbing before I wrap and finish the stand and begin on the canopy.

Maybe I can test it out by next weekend.... leak test that is.

Anyone in Fargo, ND area with ideas, or up for helping carry this in when I am done.... I'm open to suggestions as well.

JumboShrimp · Apr 20, 2020

Looks 10 times better than it did!

Idoc · Apr 20, 2020

Nice cleanup! Have fun with the build!!!

Dmmuir · May 1, 2020

so the stand is wrapped, the canopy is built and ready for the lights, and the tank has been fully resealed. Ignore the dust, lots of sanding to get things ready for stain

JumboShrimp · May 2, 2020

Looks spankin’ new! I can see a beautiful red Flame Hawk right now, bouncing from rock to rock, darting up to grab a piece of food!

Dmmuir · May 4, 2020

Stand Construction is complete.

Since this picture it has been disassembled. The inside, bottom 4" is waterproofed with plastic and sealed. The remainder of the inside has been painted white.

Once that is good and dry, the exterior will be painted Semi Gloss black. I tried several stain colors but none of them looked right to me. It's a shame to cover up the wood but.....

We've also decided that I will be building a cabinet to match to sit next to the aquarium, it will hold my mixing station and supplies.

JumboShrimp · May 4, 2020

She’s a beauty. Will be following all the way until the first inhabitants!

Dmmuir · May 9, 2020

Slow week. Out of town for work. Got the stand painted tonight. Tomorrow will be reassembling, then the most fun part....plumbing! Ugh

My aim right now is to have it full of fresh water some time Sunday and let it do a couple day leak test. If that’s successful salt and water next weekend????

Dmmuir · May 12, 2020

Made some progress tonight, the drain plumbing is fitted.

Dmmuir · May 22, 2020

Tank is in the house and in place. Canopy is hung. I need to put the front canopy supports in tonight.

Then tonight I start sand and water. Should be running by tomorrow evening!

Dmmuir · May 26, 2020

So I ran into some issues. I had a slow leak from the main tank into one of the overflows. Slow , but if the power was off for hours it would drain the tank.

So I drained and emptied it, resealed that overflow again and leak tested it. It’s refilled and for the first time running on the sump and the heater is on.

Give it a day and I’ll start boosting the cycle with bacteria......

Dmmuir · May 26, 2020

Still cloudy, but should be cleared up by tomorrow........

Dmmuir · Jun 21, 2020

It LIVES!

Well, almost. It's done. It's fully cycled. It's ready for fish.

Next question I have not yet gone into... lighting cycle?
I have an ATI Sunpower 6 bulb T5 HO fixture.

2 channels, 1 has 2 actinic, other has blue plus ATI bulbs.
It has not yet been turned on since there's nothing in the tank. Where would you start with the lighting?
Once fish go in I am going to have to turn on that new skimmer and get that set up too..... the fun never ends!