Firehousereef440- Upgrade from 75g to 220g

[JJ440]

Hello everyone,
I have been surveying different build threads and forums for a while trying to learn as much as possible. I still have a lot to learn. I think I’ve been a little apprehensive about starting a build thread because I rarely post on any social media. This in fact being the first forum I have actively been a part of (more like actively watching). After viewing so many threads I’ve realized how much help and support is available on reef2reef. I will try my best to adapt and learn as I go.
As the title suggests this upgrade will happen at our firehouse. The current 75g has been setup for a little over a year and a half. As this was my first attempt at setting up a saltwater aquarium, it has been through many ups and downs. I decided to tryout setting it up at our firehouse as a source of stress relief. It’s just something relaxing and calming about an aquarium I hoped everyone would benefit from.

current setup 10/2020

 

[Peace River]

This is great on many levels! Thank you for what you do for the community and thank you for what you are doing for your fellow firefighters by setting up this tank. I look forward to seeing the 220g come together and know that there are a lot of us here to help you along the way - we're cheering for you!

 

[JJ440]

I enjoy working with my hands and putting things together but, trying to do this at the firehouse has been a little challenging. We initially acquired a used 220g oceanic aquarium that was used as the inspiration for this build. Things didn’t go as planned.......

 

[JJ440]

This is great on many levels! Thank you for what you do for the community and thank you for what you are doing for your fellow firefighters by setting up this tank. I look forward to seeing the 220g come together and know that there are a lot of us here to help you along the way - we're cheering for you!

Thank you! I appreciate it!

 

[JJ440]

The crew along with our Captain has been very supportive and jumped right in to help restoring the used aquarium

 

[JJ440]

We thought we had it figured out

 

[JJ440]

The tank ended up with a leak and sent us back to the drawing board. This was a little disheartening for me as I started building a custom stand for a 7’x2’x2’ tank.

 

[JJ440]

This is where the camaraderie of the fire department stepped in. Knowing how much time and money I had already invested, many of the members across three shifts chipped in to help with a new aquarium. With a large amount of support coming from my own shift of course. And so they helped me continue setting everything up in anticipation of the new build.

 

[JJ440]

Speaking of help from other members, we have some very talented people around the department. One in particular is a firefighter named Chip who built an amazing stand for us. So this is the start....

 

[Deep dive coral]

Awesome build so far. My brother in law in with the FDNY. If you need any help id be more then willing to help out with advice. Where are you located maybe even come and help hands on.

My only concern with the stand is going to be getting a sump in there. The opening doesnt seem very wide. I would make one of the side panels a false panel to slide the sump in and use all the area that you can.

 

[JJ440]

I came to him with a million ideas that he graciously took into consideration while putting everything together.

 

[JJ440]

Awesome build so far. My brother in law in with the FDNY. If you need any help id be more then willing to help out with advice. Where are you located maybe even come and help hands on.

Thank you! We are in the middle of Fairfax , VA

 

[Deep dive coral]

Thank you! We are in the middle of Fairfax , VA

I see a possible road trip in the future. Im in NY.

 

[JJ440]

Applying stain

 

[JJ440]

A few of the ideas that I had that Chip was able to make happen. The doors

 

[JJ440]

Funny thing......in an attempt to save money we used the glass from my coffee table to make the center door. Chip laughed at me and said I was crazy.......and then made it happen

 

[Deep dive coral]

Its amazing what a CNC machine can do..

 

[JJ440]

This was taken sometime around December 2018 with the restored aquarium

 

[JJ440]

Plumbing was started. Synergy overflow used for the return setup

 

[c.poindexter]

Awesome Progress. It looks great.