kriv4o's 40b build thread and newb questions

[kriv4o]

Hi everybody,
after browsing the site for over I week I pulled the trigger and got a 40b tank from Petco's dollar sale(almost a month back). Since then I went trough a lot of reading mainly on this forum and trough the building of my stand, sump and plumbing. Now that I am almost done with the project and getting ready to glue the plumbing I decided it's about time to start my own build thread, post some of the pics I took while working on the tank and ask for your help and advice on the build so far.

This is how it all started:
http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad116/kriv4o/Aquarium%20build/DSC04668.jpg

First thing that I had to do was to build the stand. After I read a ton of DIY stand threads and about a thousand trips to HD:

http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad116/kriv4o/Aquarium%20build/DSC04666.jpg

http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad116/kriv4o/Aquarium%20build/DSC04669.jpg

top and bottom frames done:
http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad116/kriv4o/Aquarium%20build/DSC04670.jpg
http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad116/kriv4o/Aquarium%20build/DSC04671.jpg

more to follow....

[kriv4o]

Forgot to mention that the stand is 37'' wide, 36'' wide and 19'' deep. Some more pics of the stand build:

legs installed
http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad116/kriv4o/Aquarium%20build/DSC04672.jpg

additional supports added
http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad116/kriv4o/Aquarium%20build/DSC04673.jpg

.....almost done skinned the sides with plywood and the front with a 1x8 trimmed to size.

http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad116/kriv4o/Aquarium%20build/DSC04678.jpg

ready for paint:
http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad116/kriv4o/Aquarium%20build/DSC04685.jpg

http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad116/kriv4o/Aquarium%20build/DSC04684.jpg

first coat of paint on:

http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad116/kriv4o/Aquarium%20build/DSC04686.jpg


all done(you can see the door drying off in the back)

http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad116/kriv4o/Aquarium%20build/DSC04689.jpg

[RVANANO]

I see Smirnoff :)

[kriv4o]

While building the stand I kept reading and researching and came to the conclusion that a sump would be needed. So next thing I had to decide was overflow. After doing some more reading I went with GlasHo@@s 700gal overflow and two 1/2'' returns that were properly fitted on the main tank. I did all that myself and let me tell you drilling the glass of the back wall was the most nerve racking challenge so far. Went smooth kinda, not bad for a first attempt. The result:

http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad116/kriv4o/Aquarium%20build/DSC04693.jpg

http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad116/kriv4o/Aquarium%20build/DSC04692.jpg

On to the next project. My original plan was to make a sump from Rubbermaid containers. Then on the day I was gonna drill the DT I noticed a crack in my brand new tank. A trip to Petco later ended up with a crack-free DT and a brand new 20l tank for a sump(it was cheaper to get the 20l than the Rubbermaid containers as initially planned.

After some more reading and debating on the sump design I went for


fuge>return<overflow
A call to the local glass shop later and I had the baffles ordered and cut to size. I used GE silicone type to put them in and that's the end result:

http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad116/kriv4o/Aquarium%20build/DSC04712.jpg

http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad116/kriv4o/Aquarium%20build/DSC04715.jpg

While the silicone was curing I installed the power center in the stand and fitted the background(I used navy blue poster board):

http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad116/kriv4o/Aquarium%20build/DSC04703.jpg

http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad116/kriv4o/Aquarium%20build/DSC04704.jpg

http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad116/kriv4o/Aquarium%20build/DSC04711.jpg

[RVANANO]

Looking good so far! And Welcome to RC! I am sure someone will be along shortly with the welcome banner :)

[kriv4o]

With all that done all had to do is plumb the DT and the sump. I went trough a few possible designs and ended up with that:

the two returns and drain in the middle
http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad116/kriv4o/Aquarium%20build/DSC04901.jpg

http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad116/kriv4o/Aquarium%20build/DSC04902.jpg

sump a bit closer:
http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad116/kriv4o/Aquarium%20build/DSC04900.jpg

I would try to explain what the plan here is and you guys are more than welcome to critisize and give ideas for improvement as the pluming is not glued yet.

I will start with the drain. Nothing special there. An 1 1/2 kit from GlassH@@es that tees off to feed the fuge.
The return is made out of 1'' PVC. The pump that I am going to use is a mag 7. I know the pimp's outlet is only 1/2 but a article at Melev's reef recommended doubling the pump's outlet when plumbing it for better performance. I plan on using a piece of flex PVC between the pump and the 1'' pipe to reduce vibrations(hence the gap in the plumbing) From there I teed of the return for adding a carbon and GFO reactors(have the carbon from BRS and planing on buying the other one when needed). I can also use that tee to lower the flow to the DT (without restricting the pump too much) in case the overflow can't handle it.

This is how the plumbing sits as of last night. I really hope to get some pointers from you guys so I can correct any mistakes I made, finish the pluming and get a step closer to water-testing :bounce3:

Ever since I bought the aquarium I have about 35 lb of live rock(bought online from Petco) curing in a Rubbermaid container with a powerhead and a heater. While doing a water change last week I noticed this guy moving around:
http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad116/kriv4o/Aquarium%20build/DSC04883.jpg
http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad116/kriv4o/Aquarium%20build/DSC04887.jpg

[kriv4o]

Finally did a leak test and filled the tank with salt water. some picks of it as it stands now:
http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad116/kriv4o/Aquarium%20build/DSC04922.jpg


http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad116/kriv4o/Aquarium%20build/DSC04923.jpg

some sump action
http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad116/kriv4o/Aquarium%20build/DSC04924.jpg

it's settling fairly fast, went perfectly clear overnight
http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad116/kriv4o/Aquarium%20build/DSC04930.jpg
http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad116/kriv4o/Aquarium%20build/DSC04931.jpg

since the last pic was taken I've added 2 MaxiJet400s for additional flow.