Getting back into the hobby.

tricky_tran · Oct 18, 2020

So after a 10 year hiatus, I decided to get back into the hobby. After talking to the wife, I was ready to buy a big box kit (Red Sea, Waterbox, Cade, Innovative Marine). Got permission to get like a 150 gal + system. So down the rabbit hole I went. Joined R2R and various Facebook groups. Asked some questions, watched a bunch of YouTube videos and almost pulled the trigger. Then couple of good friends mentioned they had some equipment just laying around. Scored a 75 Gal display with homemade stand. What I believe is a 60 gal sump with a ton of other stuff like skimmer, calcium reactors, external return pump, couple of maxspect gyres, apex controller, co2 doser, tank and random odds and ends. Now I need to find a stand big enough to house the big sump, it’s wider than the DT. Let’s see how this goes ...

Phycodurus · Oct 18, 2020

welcome to the group, tran!

i’m also back in the hobby after a ten-year hiatus. 75G is a nice starting size! (you’ve tested it already for leak integrity? where did they store the tank?)

tricky_tran · Oct 18, 2020

Phycodurus said:
welcome to the group, tran!

i’m also back in the hobby after a ten-year hiatus. 75G is a nice starting size! (you’ve tested it already for leak integrity? where did they store the tank?)

It was sitting outside under a tarp. That’s just a bunch of salt. I was ready to vinegar dip it, but it seems to be coming off easily. Just need a new stand. The sump is longer than the DT.

harley32907 · Oct 18, 2020

Welcome to R2R!

Phycodurus · Oct 18, 2020

sitting under a tarp for how long? this is a glass tank?

we’ve had some wickedly hot weather a month back.

tricky_tran · Oct 18, 2020

Phycodurus said:
sitting under a tarp for how long? this is a glass tank?

we’ve had some wickedly hot weather a month back.

A couple of years? It’s starphire glass. An old Leemar tank.

Conchman · Oct 18, 2020

Welcome back to the rabbit hole...

tricky_tran · Oct 19, 2020

Phycodurus said:
sitting under a tarp for how long? this is a glass tank?

we’ve had some wickedly hot weather a month back.

Cleaned up and leak testing. Silicone still seems pretty good considering being outside in the heat.

Tastee · Oct 19, 2020

It obviously depends on where you plan to install this but you may want to consider extending the stand to support the full sump length and building a cabinet around it. You can use the height above the extra sump length for a storage cupboard for a controller etc, either a larger cupboard at one end or two smaller ones each side if you prefer.

tricky_tran · Oct 19, 2020

Tastee said:
It obviously depends on where you plan to install this but you may want to consider extending the stand to support the full sump length and building a cabinet around it. You can use the height above the extra sump length for a storage cupboard for a controller etc, either a larger cupboard at one end or two smaller ones each side if you prefer.

Its going to be the center piece in our living room. The tank is 36" x 24" and the sump is 47" x 24". Since I do plan to get a bigger tank in the future, I am thinking of getting a 60" x 30" x 36" custom Framing Tech stand to give that extra wiggle room for the sump and equipment, then have a big enough stand for the 150 Gal + in the future. For now it will have room for this tank and my Innovative Marine Encore Pro 20 that is 24" x 15".