500g bi-level reef system [Archive] - Reef Central Online Community

malawiman

10/25/2009, 07:48 PM

in one year of sw we have went from a 30g, to a 55g, to a 135g. then added 3 stock tanks to the basement and tied them into the display upstairs. this is a great hobby. and a great reason to be broke. :thumbsup:. here are two videos of our tanks. we have since compleately reaquascaped the diplay and the smaller stock tank. thanks for looking and enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIG76P0f4VU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1Zvm8stTDg

nsamouroux

10/25/2009, 08:31 PM

Your links are goobered up. You don't need to include the HTTP:// prefix when copy / pasting a web address using the "Hyperlink" button in the forum post window :)

malawiman

10/25/2009, 08:38 PM

sorry i fixed it. lol

nsamouroux

10/25/2009, 08:39 PM

I kept clicking them thinking "dammit! I want to see this!" until I noticed the address it was trying to pull up :D

elijaher

10/25/2009, 08:56 PM

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIG76P0f4VU
www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1Zvm8stTDg

Devaji108

10/25/2009, 10:50 PM

worked for me nice videos :)

malawiman

10/26/2009, 03:45 AM

thanks davaji108

MrineLfRlz

10/31/2009, 02:05 AM

very nice setup!

am3gross

10/31/2009, 03:18 AM

nice

malawiman

11/01/2009, 08:16 AM

thanks again guys. i will have to post some pics of the new aquascaping and addition of a powder blue tang.

malawiman

11/01/2009, 08:20 AM

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=372&pictureid=2051
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=372&pictureid=2043
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=372&pictureid=2055

cuse1

11/05/2009, 08:08 AM

Thats a nice set up!!

malawiman

11/11/2009, 05:24 PM

update. we are in the process of aquiring a 3'x3'x1' glass trimmless tank. we will be plumbing this awsome frag tank to the main floor from the basement just like our 135g display. we plan to remove the smaller of the three stock tanks in the basement and maintain the same system volume. this new tank will have a 400w se mh and be mainly for frags but also house a rbta and maroon clown. we may move out the black and white autralian tank raised clown pair from the 135g and provide them a proper carpet to host.
awww the smell of fresh upgrade. by far the best part of the hobby for me. the many hours of planning and then the frantic one day build that im prone to do. pics will be up soon.:)

seashark

11/11/2009, 11:29 PM

That sounds good cant wait to see it

daytonben

11/12/2009, 09:12 AM

Amazing tank. Awesome job.

malawiman

11/12/2009, 09:39 AM

thanks guys. today we intend to pick up the tank and then drop it off at a lfs for a 3" hole cutting. this 3" hole will be the drain and we will just run the returns over the side of the tank. at $25 a hole one is fine for me. also gona go to another lfs and grab 2 new 400w hamilton 14k bulbs for our existing display. gotta love payday, i know my tanks do lol.:wildone:

boogaman

11/12/2009, 09:13 PM

Looking good.

malawiman

11/13/2009, 09:44 AM

update.
our person with the truck fell thru so we called the lfs and they charged us $35 to help haul it in their truck. it was awsome of them to do it especially with only a 1hr notice. so tank is to be drilled today as soon as the expert gets in. t minus 2hrs and counting lol. the fun part is that it is a custom tank and we have no idea if its tempered or not :eek1:. we are keeping our fingers crossed, i figure ill get a phone call either way. also we returned our lg goldstar dehumidifier to wally world, it hadnt been working right and come to find out we found it on a recall list on their web site. will update results of drilling as soon as i know.

malawiman

11/13/2009, 10:02 AM

i just realized it friday the 13th :worried:

malawiman

11/13/2009, 12:27 PM

update.
got a call from the shop. the 2" bulkhead wont work since it will compromise the back glass and would be prone to cracking. the peice of glass being drilled is 3'x1'x1/4". we decided to go with 2 1" bulkheads on the sides of the back closer to the bracing as apossed to the center with the 2". the bracing is on the corners.

am3gross

11/13/2009, 02:22 PM

well think about this... if it breaks on the 1st hole they cant charge you for the 2nd!

malawiman

11/13/2009, 03:33 PM

sweet. tank is drilled and now sitting in the living room. :bounce1:. who says the 13th is unlucky. shout out to joe my lfs guy thanks man. i will post some pics soon.

malawiman

11/13/2009, 07:47 PM

we got the stand built and tank placed on top. the floor is uneven and the stand will need to be shimmed. shimming will be easy as the stand is custom and built like a crazy strong table with four legs for all the support. come to realize the drain holes arent even one is 1/4" higher than the other i did not ask for that to be done. i will have to modify the elbow i intend to use as a overflow. i could solve the problem by putting in two small glass overflow boxes.

MrineLfRlz

11/14/2009, 02:09 PM

come on quit holding out show us some pics:fun5:

malawiman

11/14/2009, 06:02 PM

many things need to be done. secure the fixture/rack, clean the tank. plumbing, stand paneling etc. thanks for the interest here are some pics.

malawiman

11/14/2009, 06:04 PM

more pics.

jollyballs

11/15/2009, 08:19 AM

cool tank

malawiman

11/19/2009, 10:07 AM

update. we are having a BABY. yay. this tank was a bad idea i spent about $500 toatal in tank and prep for the tank. then the next day as i was starting the build i got 40lbs of black live sand in and about 25g of water and then bam were pregnant. the tank still sits 3days later in the same state i left it, with sand and water no pumps or nothing. and decided to return all the items we could and sell the tank. i really liked this tank but it wasnt ment to be. a good friend is buying it from me anyway so i will see it full of salty goodness. so for now we will stick with our main system and continue to grow corals for local reefers. :thumbsup:

amj991

11/19/2009, 10:28 AM

congrats on the baby....sorry to hear about you selling your tank

malawiman

11/30/2009, 02:34 AM

update.
we planned to sell the cube tank but have decided it is too cool to get rid of. so the build is back on. yayay :dance:
planning to plumb it in this week. we will need to aqire another 400w mh thou.

MrineLfRlz

11/30/2009, 11:33 AM

malawiman

12/02/2009, 09:37 AM

update.
yesterday we got it all plumbed up and running. we had to add around 100g to the system to even water levels out. also we grabed another 20lbs of black reef sand. after going up thru the floor and across the room behind our main display there was considerable prx drop from the genx 40 pump. it has about 700-800gph at the tank. i added a hydor 3 to the back wall and the flow is nice. the drain is kinda loud and i may diy a mini durso. i will put some pics up in a little bit. im totaly stoked this tank is awsome. now i need a 400w bulb socket and ballast. :fun2:

malawiman

12/02/2009, 03:44 PM

PICS.:dance:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=769&pictureid=4354
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=769&pictureid=4357
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=769&pictureid=4359
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=769&pictureid=4361

popper231

12/02/2009, 04:16 PM

good job..nice...hardy...

MrineLfRlz

12/02/2009, 07:08 PM

both tanks look great!
what do you say to some videos of the new tank?

malawiman

12/03/2009, 07:11 AM

thanks guys, we will get a video up today. yesterday was a crazy day, we were on our way to get some lighting equipment from the local indoor gardening center and the brakes went out in our 1987 chevy nova. we paid $350 for this car and we drove it for 2 years. we decided that it was time for a new car and we found our new car in less than an hour of looking thru a family friend. its a 1994 cadillac sedan deville. its not a brand new car but it looks like it. we are very happy and having good luck lately.:beer:

darrelljm

12/03/2009, 02:00 PM

The cube is sweet.............will be good for top-down shots!

malawiman

12/05/2009, 07:41 PM

here is a video of the cube tank. right after i made the video i decided to move some corals from other tanks loose things mainly and some nice zoas. i will post a new video tommarow.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObSjUUrmOXw

chipnamanda

12/05/2009, 08:48 PM

Good looking setup

MrineLfRlz

12/05/2009, 09:30 PM

just like you promised
great video of the new tank im glad you didnt have to get rid of it!
the drains are alittle loud though does the noise get on your nerves any?

malawiman

12/05/2009, 10:01 PM

MrineLfRlz

12/05/2009, 10:21 PM

the noise can be anoying im planning a mini durso but im open to suggestions.
it was louder till i put that blue cap on there that was kinda what i was trying to show on the vid. its alot quieter with the cap. im wondering if the mini durso idea would be safe since the water level will fluctuate at first when the power comes on.
i know little about dorsos accept the ones in my HOB overflow box your right the lvl of water does go higher then normal until it equals out with the stand pipes but in my little box it doesnt raise that much before lowering back down though

malawiman

12/05/2009, 10:25 PM

i guess i will just build one and test it out. should only be a few bucks for the elbows. ill post up progress.

fishtankfactory

12/05/2009, 10:27 PM

Nice setup!

malawiman

12/06/2009, 05:39 PM

here is a new video after some new additions this also includes my 135g display. enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwdcLPO6H6k

Chupakabra-King

12/14/2009, 12:33 PM

here is a new video after some new additions this also includes my 135g display. enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwdcLPO6H6k

Man I bet the CEO of the Electric company knows you by name ! Expect a Christmas card from him this year ! LOLOL j/k :lolspin:

All kidding aside, I would be in heaven if my wife would let me have that much fish stuff in the house . If I did I would be alone in a heartbeat . She doesnt share in the addiction. Especially since a little while ago I took down my 110 gallon reef tank , and my electric bill dropped $100 a month ! She was overjoyed ! :lol:

Anyway I love your setup !

malawiman

12/15/2009, 08:18 PM

did alot of work today. added 1.5 5g buckets of sand to the 100g stock tank now the new dsb. took all rock and most corals out of the 135g display tank. removed 3 blue green reef chromis, two sicsortail dart fish, algae blenny and male marroon clown all from the displays, all were for sale and are now gone. i also removed the black and white clowns and placed them with the anemone in the cube tank. totally re aquascaped the 135g display and added a new red tail flasher wrasse to the 135g display and a target mandarin to the cube. whew that was alot of work. i will post pics of the 135g display tommarow but here is the cube tank fully stuffed with corals from the display. thanks for looking.

malawiman

12/15/2009, 08:19 PM

more pics.

malawiman

12/16/2009, 10:57 AM

Man I bet the CEO of the Electric company knows you by name ! Expect a Christmas card from him this year ! LOLOL j/k :lolspin:

All kidding aside, I would be in heaven if my wife would let me have that much fish stuff in the house . If I did I would be alone in a heartbeat . She doesnt share in the addiction. Especially since a little while ago I took down my 110 gallon reef tank , and my electric bill dropped $100 a month ! She was overjoyed ! :lol:

Anyway I love your setup !

lol. thanks man

marcpuffer

12/16/2009, 06:37 PM

awesome tank room

buffalo123

12/21/2009, 03:43 PM

looks like more than 500 gallons in those videos

malawiman

01/15/2010, 11:00 AM

update.
we have had a fellow reefer express interest in the cube tank. we plan to trade the cube for a 8' 112g acrilic tank. :bounce1:. we are planning to put this tank in the same place as the cube but hugging the wall makeing a
14' long L of tank display. we plan to move our two triggers , one six linned wrasse, 5 yellow tailed damsels, and alot of our softies, leathers, mushrooms etc. any sugestions for inhabitants? btw this tank has a overflow box with a durso and i plan to light this tank with pc lights untill i can get 2 more 250w mh and build a conopy. the back is black and the dimensions are 15"w X 18"t X 96" l.

malawiman

01/24/2010, 08:42 PM

the cube tank is gone and the new tank is in its place. i added the triggers and picked up a pair of fairy wrasses. if anyone is interested ill post pics.

munkyboy111

02/09/2010, 08:07 AM

Very nice system you have going. And yes, this hobby is does put holes in your pockets.

huskerreef

02/09/2010, 08:36 AM

Where's the new tank pics? I want to see how my old tank looks with more than hair algae in it.LOL and by the way your fish room and set up doesn't look ghetto to me (inside joke) Looking good!

cbort

02/10/2010, 03:10 PM

thats your old tank! huskerreef! he has pics of it on linomareefs!

malawiman

02/28/2010, 11:43 PM

Where's the new tank pics? I want to see how my old tank looks with more than hair algae in it.LOL and by the way your fish room and set up doesn't look ghetto to me (inside joke) Looking good!

lol. ill get some pics up husker its looking really cool. lots of tonga, corals, macro and fish now.