iReefers 700 Gallon Peninsula

[iReefer12]

Big update to catch up and prepare for the next stage of this build.

Update: The tank will arrive on Friday .

The tack strip worked great, I used the type that has sticky tape on the underside and didn’t have to hammer into concrete which was a relief. I was a bit skeptical, but I placed some heavy items on the cut line which helped get it to stick and it’s pretty solid.



Got the stand moved back into place and finished installing the rope light throughout the cabinet.


Rock-scape
Now to a task that I’d been looking forward to, whilst also dreading for a long time: Building the rock-scape.

I used Marco Rocks Reef Saver & then added some Cornerstone branch rock, all glued together with e-marco mortar.







Ended up being about 180lbs of Marco Rocks and 90lbs of CornerStone Branch. I’m looking to do a Negative Space Aquascape, with as much rock off the sand as possible, lots of branches to attach corals to. They are 5 separate structures that will all attach together once placed into the tank.

 

[iReefer12]

Humidity Control/Ceiling Protection

Next up, I’ve decided to add PVC foamboard to the ceiling inside the stand. Once again, huge thanks to @flagg37 for his help cutting these pieces of board square, would have been a lot less neat had I cut these myself.




The lines in sharpie are on the concealed side, they were a guide to help me drill pilot holes, for when I screw into the ceiling joists. I have these mounted using the little black brackets tied into the T-Slot at the moment, this way if I need to adjust the ceiling structure to be more lined up with the tank, then I can move everything still. Once everything is aligned, I’ll screw the boards into the ceiling.

 

[iReefer12]

A few more shots of the ceiling panels installed.








I worked on some of the plumbing today, trying to get as much of it done as possible before the tank arrives. It’s a bit tight for space, so the plumbing is a bit complicated.

 

[iReefer12]

It was tank move in day.

This is the ramp that I built to help slide the tank into the basement.




The top 2x4 frame sits inside the 4x4 rails and acts like a pivot, the tank sits flat up top, then pivots down to slide down the ramp. I wasn’t exactly sure how this was going to work in theory… but, it worked.

It took 2 heavy duty lift carts, and 8 guys, but we got it off the truck, over a fence and down into the basement.



And onto the stand, I was stressed.



Was able to transport the rock into the tank and that was about all for today.

 

[Raul-7]

Congratulations! Beautiful build!

Love the fact that the length is ~2.5X the dimension of the width. Most beautiful aquariums I've seen have that golden ratio of length:width.

Also love peninsula aquariums, nothing like seeing the aquarium from both lengths.


Who makes that skimmer?


Wish you well.

 

[iReefer12]

Thanks! It’s been a vision in my head for about 8 years. Planning for 4 and real world actively working on for the last year, it was nice to see this stage take place today.

The skimmer is an RK2-5AC skimmer

 

[Raul-7]

Thanks! It’s been a vision in my head for about 8 years. Planning for 4 and real world actively working on for the last year, it was nice to see this stage take place today.

The skimmer is an RK2-5AC skimmer

I love when a person's dream becomes a reality. Congratulations.

Do you have a vision for the aquascape?

 

[iReefer12]

Yeah, trying to keep lots of negative space and keep a lot of the rockwork off the sandbed.

The rockscape is mostly done, I just need to glue the 5 pieces together now that they’re inside the tank

 

[David_CO]

congrats on getting it in. Thats gotta feel great.

 

[SPR1968]

It was tank move in day.

This is the ramp that I built to help slide the tank into the basement.




The top 2x4 frame sits inside the 4x4 rails and acts like a pivot, the tank sits flat up top, then pivots down to slide down the ramp. I wasn’t exactly sure how this was going to work in theory… but, it worked.

It took 2 heavy duty lift carts, and 8 guys, but we got it off the truck, over a fence and down into the basement.



And onto the stand, I was stressed.



Was able to transport the rock into the tank and that was about all for today.

Very nice!

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

Glad its in and up now time to plan a day to come downand see it in person. Wish i coulda been there this night schedule they have me on has been brutal....but idk gonna have to work a visit in for sure...

 

[iReefer12]

It’s been a week since getting the tank in, it was such a relief to get that step over with. I’ve not been able to get that much done, had to spend some time cleaning up around the tank, and getting things tidied up.

I was able to epoxy the final rock pieces together, so the aquascape is now 100% complete (no green tape to id the pieces).



I was able to mount the lights this week, I’ve gone with Neptune Sky’s. Big thanks to @neonreef3d for the help creating these mounts for me, had to edit his design to fit onto thr Controller Dynamics profiles and it worked really well.






I have 2 light rails that hold 4 Sky’s each, the design allows me fold up the rails individually, and it raises the lights about 8”, so if I’m working in the tank I have a bit more clearance.




Water going in tomorrow, should take several days, and I’ve got to get the final bits of plumbing completed.

 

[neonreef3d]

It’s been a week since getting the tank in, it was such a relief to get that step over with. I’ve not been able to get that much done, had to spend some time cleaning up around the tank, and getting things tidied up.

I was able to epoxy the final rock pieces together, so the aquascape is now 100% complete (no green tape to id the pieces).



I was able to mount the lights this week, I’ve gone with Neptune Sky’s. Big thanks to @neonreef3d for the help creating these mounts for me, had to edit his design to fit onto thr Controller Dynamics profiles and it worked really well.






I have 2 light rails that hold 4 Sky’s each, the design allows me fold up the rails individually, and it raises the lights about 8”, so if I’m working in the tank I have a bit more clearance.




Water going in tomorrow, should take several days, and I’ve got to get the final bits of plumbing completed.

Looks Amazing!!! Great Job!!

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

Scape looking awesome man great work...

 

[1000rrstunna]

Looking killer ! I am pretty sure mines the same dimensions And plan on getting it in almost the same way you did. It should arrive next week but I’m dragging on welding up my stand…

 

[iReefer12]

It’s been filling slowly.

First drips.


1 day of water running


2 days of water running.


I’ve shut the water off at 12”, going to let it sit their for 24hrs and then continue on.

I should have the last bit of plumbing installed tomorrow, It’s a bit of a spaghetti junction with all the pipes, but just hoping I did a good job with my PVC cementing, fingers crossed.

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

It’s been filling slowly.

First drips.


1 day of water running


2 days of water running.


I’ve shut the water off at 12”, going to let it sit their for 24hrs and then continue on.

I should have the last bit of plumbing installed tomorrow, It’s a bit of a spaghetti junction with all the pipes, but just hoping I did a good job with my PVC cementing, fingers crossed.

Looking awesome man glad I got to visit with you this last weekend for a little bit. Cant wait to see this thing flowing...

 

[iReefer12]

Next time your down this way, gotta come check it out.

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

Next time your down this way, gotta come check it out.

I will set aside a day for that trust me lol....you going to the coral extravaganza on Nov. 11th in Denver?

 

[iReefer12]

I wasn’t planning on it, depends if the tanks finished, all the free time is occupied at the moment with trying to get it completed