Dystinction
Active Member
- Joined
- Oct 5, 2013
- Messages
- 279
- Reaction score
- 910
- Location
- Colorado Springs
- What state or country do you live in
- Colorado
The day has finally come!
I've officially started on my tank build, after long deliberation and (hopefully) some solid decisions.
I have been lurking around this community for a while, soaking up as much knowledge as I can. Let me first say that his forum/community is absolutely fantastic, and I'm really excited to be able to now participate more. Many great, nice, and knowledgeable people in this forum.
I'd like to give a shout out to @Shabalaba . Shaba, to me, exemplifies what this community is and should be. I had seen a post from him in another thread, and decided to private message him with a question. A prompt and detailed answer was returned, and additional questions from myself ensued. What I'm trying to point out is that this is my unique experience within this forum, however, it is not unique within this community, rather indicative of the type of help, support, and time that members here provide to others.
So, before I start laying out the down-and-dirty for my build, I'll tell you a little about myself.
I had my first saltwater tank back in the early-80's. This was a 55 gallon beast with an under-gravel filter, crushed coral substrate, and even a dead sea fan for decoration. This was a fish-only tank, and I can still see the Copperband Butterfly, Clownfish, Cleaner Wrasse, and Queen Angel in that tank. Unfortunately, that tank suffered a catastrophic failure with a break in that back panel that ran in an arc from the lower left to the lower right. It's amazing how fast 55 gallons can dump out of a tank. All inhabitants survived, and were re-homed to another hobbyist.
Fast forward many years, with a lot of stuff in between that wouldn't thrill you, nor keep your interest, and we arrive at my current build.
So, I am not really interested in a mixed reef, or display style of tank. I am really interested in corals...kinda period.
So this build, while I am going to try and make it look very nice, like a 'display' setup, will be a frag system. I really just want to grow out some corals and have my very own coral garden.
Here's the setup:
Tank: 34 gallon Deep Blue rimless (36x18x12)
Overflow: Internal Eshopps S (gonna drill the tank)
Sump: Trigger Crystal Cube 18
Skimmer: Skimz Monster Mini SN127
Return Pump: Sicce Silent 3.5 660gph with an RFG at the end of the line
Powerhead: Icecap 1k Gyre
ATO: Tunze Osmolator 3155 with a 5 gallon reservoir
Lights: 2x AI Prime HD with mounts
Controller: Apex
Dosing Pump(s): TBD
Stand: homemade
I decided to do this thread as a build-in-progress, and document my way through. So if you've stayed to this point through this very verbose thread, unfortunately I don't have a ton of pics and a finished product for you.....yet.
All of the above listed gear is scheduled for delivery on Tuesday.
I did get started on the stand, so at least I have something to show at this time.
The stand is made up with 1x3's to create the inner skeleton of the stand/cabinet. I will be skinning it with 1/2 birch ply.
Still some more bracing to do, however, I am waiting on gear to map out my space appropriately.
This is my first time using a Kreg pocket jig, and I am extremely impressed with the ease of use, and most importantly, the strength of the joints.
So, yes, it has begun. I hope to make good progress on this over the next few weeks, and have it wet by the end of the month.
I promise my updates won't contain nearly as much diarrhea of the keyboard as this one. ;Blackeye
I've officially started on my tank build, after long deliberation and (hopefully) some solid decisions.
I have been lurking around this community for a while, soaking up as much knowledge as I can. Let me first say that his forum/community is absolutely fantastic, and I'm really excited to be able to now participate more. Many great, nice, and knowledgeable people in this forum.
I'd like to give a shout out to @Shabalaba . Shaba, to me, exemplifies what this community is and should be. I had seen a post from him in another thread, and decided to private message him with a question. A prompt and detailed answer was returned, and additional questions from myself ensued. What I'm trying to point out is that this is my unique experience within this forum, however, it is not unique within this community, rather indicative of the type of help, support, and time that members here provide to others.
So, before I start laying out the down-and-dirty for my build, I'll tell you a little about myself.
I had my first saltwater tank back in the early-80's. This was a 55 gallon beast with an under-gravel filter, crushed coral substrate, and even a dead sea fan for decoration. This was a fish-only tank, and I can still see the Copperband Butterfly, Clownfish, Cleaner Wrasse, and Queen Angel in that tank. Unfortunately, that tank suffered a catastrophic failure with a break in that back panel that ran in an arc from the lower left to the lower right. It's amazing how fast 55 gallons can dump out of a tank. All inhabitants survived, and were re-homed to another hobbyist.
Fast forward many years, with a lot of stuff in between that wouldn't thrill you, nor keep your interest, and we arrive at my current build.
So, I am not really interested in a mixed reef, or display style of tank. I am really interested in corals...kinda period.
So this build, while I am going to try and make it look very nice, like a 'display' setup, will be a frag system. I really just want to grow out some corals and have my very own coral garden.
Here's the setup:
Tank: 34 gallon Deep Blue rimless (36x18x12)
Overflow: Internal Eshopps S (gonna drill the tank)
Sump: Trigger Crystal Cube 18
Skimmer: Skimz Monster Mini SN127
Return Pump: Sicce Silent 3.5 660gph with an RFG at the end of the line
Powerhead: Icecap 1k Gyre
ATO: Tunze Osmolator 3155 with a 5 gallon reservoir
Lights: 2x AI Prime HD with mounts
Controller: Apex
Dosing Pump(s): TBD
Stand: homemade
I decided to do this thread as a build-in-progress, and document my way through. So if you've stayed to this point through this very verbose thread, unfortunately I don't have a ton of pics and a finished product for you.....yet.
All of the above listed gear is scheduled for delivery on Tuesday.
I did get started on the stand, so at least I have something to show at this time.
The stand is made up with 1x3's to create the inner skeleton of the stand/cabinet. I will be skinning it with 1/2 birch ply.
Still some more bracing to do, however, I am waiting on gear to map out my space appropriately.
This is my first time using a Kreg pocket jig, and I am extremely impressed with the ease of use, and most importantly, the strength of the joints.
So, yes, it has begun. I hope to make good progress on this over the next few weeks, and have it wet by the end of the month.
I promise my updates won't contain nearly as much diarrhea of the keyboard as this one. ;Blackeye
Equipment list looks spot on, I cant wait to see more!
. Keep up the good work!!
