JimSWreef's 75g Build Progressive Thread

JimSWreef · Nov 22, 2015

Hello fellow reefers! It is time I start my build thread on my 75g tank. Just a little background. I joined this hobby this past February and went with a 29g cube. I have that guy with a custom frag rack inside atm.

I recently moved and had to take it down the road in the freezing cold to North Pole, AK where the new location would be. It was an interesting move, as I built a custom rack inside a cooler to house my corals safely ( at least I hoped). Here is a picture of my move

I made it work. All the corals survived. My pink Birdsnest lost some tips, but the fished lived, and I eventually had to throw the birds nest away anyways since my wife left it out of water way too long trying to catch my fish for me ( while I was TDY with the Army) to quarantine them due to ick. So the coral died unfortunately. It was HuGE ( pictured above). I have frags from it that lived so no too worried.

Below is my inspiration, but I intend on making it bigger and more innovative!

I am super excited to do this build, spending way more money than I thought, but having fun making it the best I can. Feel free to follow my progression as I build this tank through the holidays! I will be building (framing) my DIY stand tomorrow. Wish me luck! I have about 2k worth of equipment coming in within the next few weeks! Stay tuned! Feel free to comment and post suggestions!

-JimSWreef, Out.

JimSWreef · Nov 23, 2015

So, I started day 1 of cutting lumber. I went to lowes and bought 61 2x4s. I got all of my boards pre-cut today. I am waiting on my drill to charge up before I start screwing it all together.

Below are my hand drawn plans that I was going off of. I had to make a few adjustments do to some math corrections, but all in all I am crossing my fingers it turns out the way I planned.

The next post will be the completion of all the lumber screwed together. I am a chinook pilot for the army up in Alaska. Since I am going down to Washington next week, I had a ton of supplies for my build send to a buddies house. I am gonna load it all onto my helicopter and fly it back with me to save the horrendous shipping costs. Below is a pic of me flying in Alaska.

I will keep y'all posted!

JimSWreef, Out.

JimSWreef · Nov 28, 2015

Got some work done today. I was able to frame out the stand and two shelving units. I still need to work on the conopy, but my hands are done. That was a lot of drilling. I think it is turing out nice. Once i complete the canopy framing it will be time to figure out how i am gonna finish this. I am thinking white paint with teal accents. I will trim it all out and add cabinets. So far so good!

JimSWreef, Out.

JimSWreef · Nov 28, 2015

I got impatient... Here is the completed framing!

JimSWreef · Dec 2, 2015

Black Friday got the best of me! Thanks, BRS for the 2k worth of equipment. So, living in Alaska is super expensive to get anything here. Since it is so expensive, I had my entire order shipped to a buddy down in Ft. Lewis, Washington. I will be flying my chinook from Ft. Lewis, WA to FT. Wainwright, AK loaded with all of my aquarium goodies! I can't wait to get all my supplies.

The picture below is my buddies house with all my gear in it!

I also have about 4-5 boxes arriving to my house on top of this. Once I receive all the equipment I will take a pic with it all layer out and reveal everything that I bought for this awesome setup.

Thanks for following everyone!

JimSWreef, out.

JimSWreef · Dec 8, 2015

I am getting excited. I leave this Wednesday to fly down and pick up my fish equipment. My flight kept getting delayed (over a week) due to maintenance on the helicopter. I can't wait to REVEAL all the cool things I bought to make this build amazing! Stay with me to see what happens next!

JimSWfish, out.

JMLewis · Dec 8, 2015

So awesome! Now that's how you move reef equipment!!

Looks great man, look forward to seeing how this turns out!

Gabriel Garcia · Dec 8, 2015

Looking forward to this build. I'm in the Army too. Currently cycling my first tank and trying to teach the wife a few things along the way. Need to get her trained up to take care of the tank for when I end up TDY or depolyed again.

JimSWreef · Dec 8, 2015

Gabriel Garcia said:
Looking forward to this build. I'm in the Army too. Currently cycling my first tank and trying to teach the wife a few things along the way. Need to get her trained up to take care of the tank for when I end up TDY or depolyed again.

I have my wife do the same thing. Thanks for following the build. My following post ill take some pics of the chinook transport [emoji12] followed my an equipment reveal from my black friday shopping spree. I went nuts haha. Cheers!

Gabriel Garcia · Dec 8, 2015

JimSWreef said:
I have my wife do the same thing. Thanks for following the build. My following post ill take some pics of the chinook transport [emoji12] followed my an equipment reveal from my black friday shopping spree. I went nuts haha. Cheers!

My brother just recently ETSd he was a chinook mechanic, Crew Chief, and Flight Engineer. So I am pretty familiar with them as well as my many rides in them downrange. Air Assault!! Looking forward to seeing your equipment!

JimSWreef · Dec 13, 2015

So i made it to Washington and am finally united with my black friday order that i shipped to my friend! I will be loading on my chinook on monday and flying back to alaska. More pics to follow from my trip!

This is my hotel room now haha.

JimSWreef · Dec 14, 2015

All loaded up!

JimSWreef · Dec 19, 2015

I made it home and with all my equipment in tact. Below is my Black Friday haul along with a list of everything pulled in. I am super excited to set everything up. Unfortunately I will be gone for the month of January, so I am thinking about cycling the tank while I am gone, and do a waterchange when I return. So, I am hoping that I can play when I get home. I will have my wife test the water while I am gone to monitor the cycle for me.

The goods:

2 Neotherm 150w heaters
Pan world 1000+ gph pump
Neptune Apex Controller w/ standard probes.
Neptune Apex Dos Dosing system
Neptune Apex Dos Resivoir
Eheim 2062 return pump
Blue Plumbing 1" and 3/4"
Elbows, check valve, ball valves, gate valve, T fittings etc.
BRS dual GFO/ Carbon reactor w/ rox .8 and high capacity. GFO
Reef Octopus Prime 150-int
Aqua FX 150gph RODI unit with Aquatec 8800 and prefilter
Maxspect 130 Gyre
Calcium/Alk dosing package from BRS
Trigger Systems Emerald 34 sump
Trigger Systems 5 g ATO matching Emerald container
Tunze Osmolator 3155 ATO
2 Brutte Trash Cans
SB Reef Lights SBox Elite Pro 16" x2
Synergy Reef Overflow 1500gph
77lbs of reef rock 2.1
80lbs of Ocean Direct Caribbean Live Sand ( may buy more)

Please feel free to comment and follow on with my build. The next post will be an update of my stand progression. I plan on having the stand 80% complete within the next few days.

Happy reefing!

JimSWreef, out.

JimSWreef · Dec 21, 2015

Did some plywood paneling today. I still have to panel the fronts, but ran out of time for the day. I am hoping tomorrow i can complete the paneling and begin paint. I will be shopping for trim as well this week. For the final touches.

Here is a little sneak peak of my cabinet doors that will be coving this thing.

JimSWreef, out.

Jake Gremaud · Dec 21, 2015

Why did it come in military helicopter jimswreef

JimSWreef · Dec 21, 2015

Jake Gremaud said:
Why did it come in military helicopter jimswreef

I am a pilot, and shipped my stuff i bought to my buddy since it was free, and i flew it home to alaska since i was doing that flight anyways. It allowed me to save a butt ton in shipping since no one ships free to alaska

JimSWreef · Dec 27, 2015

Another amazing day of progress. The final steps are approaching. We moved it into the house and have a little touch up to do. I have my lights hung, and am getting ready to install cabinet doors. The next step would be to install the tank, plumbing and sump. Shortly after we will install equipment.

Here is my new saltwater mixing station.

JimSWreef, out.