Walnuts Custom 65 Tank Build

[walnuts24]

Alright, let me start out by saying that this website has been a life saver with everything a beginner looking to get into the saltwater aquarium hobby needs. I have been keeping freshwater fish since I was 10 years old and my mom bough my brother and I a 29 gallon tank that we used for oscars and plecos. I have grown up on the water spending most of my summers fishing or at the beach.

I got my first reef tank about 10 months ago after lurking on RC and other websites for a while. The tank was a stock BC 29 that I got brand new. It allowed me the opportunity to witness first hand the amount of work and dedication needed to succeed in this hobby at a reasonable cost. I have been reasonably lucky with my first set-up as I have read so many horror stories of tank crashes, yet have never had any with my tank.

I decided about 5 months ago that I wanted something bigger. Something with a better footprint, and impulse bought a 40 breeder at the Petco $1 per gallon sale. I drilled the tank, bought a sump, plumbing, and other supplies only to run into the fact that I had to build a stand. My DIY skills are lacking to say the least and I COULD NOT finish the stand if my life depended on it. I went to the LFS looking for a stand to buy, thinking that the most it could be was like $80 or $90. To my suprise the cheapest one they had was $199 and it was back to the drawing board. I went to another LFS for them to tell me the same thing, about $200 was the cheapest stand they had, BUT they had a beautiful custom built 65 gal with stand and light for sale. I impulse bought the new setup and sold the 40 breeder setup.

I am in need of major help in terms of plumbing, equipment, etc... as I have only had experience with a AIO BC 29. So enough with the monologue, here are some pics.

Before I Put in Water:

http://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l598/walnuts24/b826a4d9.jpg

With Lights On:
http://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l598/walnuts24/239a0d5d.jpg

Moved to the office and put in Rock, Sand, and Salt with RO:

http://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l598/walnuts24/DSCN0252.jpg

Rough Scape (Still Need to Add the Rocks From my BC)

http://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l598/walnuts24/DSCN0253.jpg

More To Come Tomorrow With some Questions.

Thanks

[Reefoly]

Looks good. What do you intend to keep in there and are those Power Compacts?

[walnuts24]

I currently have a pair of clowns, a GBTA, a pair of Bangaii Cardinals, and a Yellow Corris Wrasse in my BC 29 that will be moved over once the cycle is complete. I plan on adding a flame hawkfish and maybe something else down the line. The lighting is a cheap 4 bulb t5 light that I plan on using until the bulbs run out, then I am going to upgrade to a 24" Acan LED.

[walnuts24]

My sump will not fit the heater so can I put the heater inside the overflow? I am running a durso type overflow and there is more than enough room inside there.