View Full Version : JHill 58 Gallon Build - New to Hobby
jhill
03/30/2013, 07:32 PM
Hey guys,
I haven't been on this forum long but the advice I have read and received has been great. The time has finally come to start the build thread since I feel like I am finally starting to make progress. I have not had a fish tank since I was in Jr. High (long time) and this will be my first SW tank. Please give me as much advise as possible since I walking into unknown territory.
If you read the other threads I started this is kinda like a trial tank to see if I enjoy the hobby as much as I think I will. If I do, when I move next year I will try and to a large in the wall system. Now lets get to the build.
I went with an Oceanic 58 Center Reef Ready tank that I picked up from City Pets because where I am putting the tank I am limited to a 36" tank. Couldn't find a stand that I liked so I decided to build my own out of Maple and then stain it to match the cabinets in the house. So let the fun begin.
Started by building the structure part of the stand out of treat 2x4s
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51844339@N06/8546350339/ (http://http://www.flickr.com/photos/51844339@N06/8546350339/)
Then added some posts made from 2 2x4s screwed together and put a piece of maple plywood on the bottom. Felt I should caulk the heads of the screws so nothing is exposed to the SW just in case.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51844339@N06/8547449096/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51844339@N06/8546352477/
I had to test out the tank to make sure the stand would support the tank and with something in it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51844339@N06/8546353199/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51844339@N06/8546351021/
Now it is time to add the skin on the cabinet along with the trim.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51844339@N06/8546358677/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51844339@N06/8547455094/
Almost done with that but started working on the canopy also.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51844339@N06/8547456772/
Here it is finally built but I don't like building doors so I ordered those. They will be in tomorrow.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51844339@N06/8546361063/
Just put the stain on it yesterday and put it in the house. I had to raise the TV which is why you see the 2 holes in the wall.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51844339@N06/8546356887/
And the finished product minus the doors.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51844339@N06/8546356011/
So far I like the hobbie. Ha ha. I love playing with wood and building stuff if you haven't noticed.
I have some more progress that I will try to post tonight. It seems like it is not going to be a fast process getting this up and running but I am having a good time with it so far.
Can someone tell me how to post the photos so they automaticly pop up. I hate clicking on links.
jhill
03/30/2013, 07:36 PM
Its weird how you think it will only take about a couple of weeks to get a tank up and running. Boy was I wrong. With work and trying to get everything set up it is taking forever. Time for an update.
Stand and Canopy are finished.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51844339@N06/8604931060/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51844339@N06/8604929976/
Started dividing up the sump into 4 different areas.
1 - Skimmer area
2 - Refugium
3 - Return pump
4 - RO/DI water for ATO
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51844339@N06/8603829037/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51844339@N06/8603828133/
Working on the QT also. I have the AquaClear which came with Foam, Carbon, and BioMax pelets. Do I use all of those for the QT?
In order to cycle the tank, do I fill with Saltwater, Turn on the AquaClear, throw in a frozen shrimp, and wait for Ammonia to spike and then come back down? Sorry for the beginer questions.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51844339@N06/8603828133/
leveldrummer
03/30/2013, 08:20 PM
the stand is very well done, very pretty wood/stain combo, you should be able to post the pictures direct on here without having to click a link by clicking the mountain symbol at the top of the reply window, then entering the URL of the picture you want to add. or add [img] tags on either side of the links.
in your sump design, you have one baffle in there that goes all the way up to the top of the tank? what are you doing with that section?
jhill
03/31/2013, 05:07 AM
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8111/8547449096_11cc4ee107.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8244/8546352477_3c5b979bbb.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8112/8546353199_84d3b114d9.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8546351021_f24d741475.jpg
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http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8238/8546361063_3d1e1f974c.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8230/8546356887_4a5983f9d8.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8369/8546356011_1bc2c2f84d.jpg
jhill
03/31/2013, 05:10 AM
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8533/8604931060_1d39eb51aa.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8113/8604929976_9b282d1ea9.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8519/8603829037_47dc7851d9.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8107/8603828133_c8d4f2e5bc.jpg
jhill
03/31/2013, 05:14 AM
the stand is very well done, very pretty wood/stain combo, you should be able to post the pictures direct on here without having to click a link by clicking the mountain symbol at the top of the reply window, then entering the URL of the picture you want to add. or add [img] tags on either side of the links.
in your sump design, you have one baffle in there that goes all the way up to the top of the tank? what are you doing with that section?
Thanks for the tip. Now all of the updates people wont have to click on the links. Tons better!!!
The section with the tall baffle is to hold the ATO water. I thought about having a seperate container but then thought everything would be safer inside 1 tank. The house is wood floors and I do not want to risk something overflowing.
bmullikin1
03/31/2013, 05:44 AM
nice wood working skill you have, nice viper as well.
jhill
03/31/2013, 05:51 AM
nice wood working skill you have, nice viper as well.
You must know your cars. :beer:
james30ct
03/31/2013, 07:35 AM
Looks good. You might not want a tv over the tank due to salt creep.
reef1906
03/31/2013, 07:43 AM
Just my two cents, I would put the ato in a separate container as you don't want the saltwater to mix at all with because if u go ba do corals it will stress them. But still love your tank
reef1906
03/31/2013, 07:44 AM
Just my two cents, I would put the ato in a separate container as you don't want the saltwater to mix at all with the freshwater because if u do corals it will stress them. But still love your tank
jhill
03/31/2013, 07:56 AM
Looks good. You might not want a tv over the tank due to salt creep.
I am kinda stuck with the TV location. Selling the house next year so hopefully there aren't any issues before then. Whenever I sell a house with TVs on the walls the buyer always wants the TVs to stay. New TVs for me next year. Ha ha.
jhill
03/31/2013, 08:36 AM
Just my two cents, I would put the ato in a separate container as you don't want the saltwater to mix at all with because if u go ba do corals it will stress them. But still love your tank
I didn't see the difference between putting it in one container or having it separate. The only thing that could go wrong is the seal that I did fail. I hope I did a good job and the pressure shouldn't be that much either.
Let’s say the seal did fail. Max that compartment can hold is around 8 gallons. Total system volume is around 75 Gallons (58DT + 17 Sump). How much would that hurt the salinity?
Wizzard~Of~Ozz
03/31/2013, 08:46 AM
10% :)
When the ATO level gets low, or is full, it will put an a lot of pressure on that wall as the sump water / ATO water attempts to equalize that area. You will definitely be testing that seal as the pressure will go back and forth depending on which water level is higher.
jhill
03/31/2013, 09:13 AM
The height of the water would be max 17" which isn't that much pressure......I hope. I am taking it slow and won't be getting any coral for at least a few months. If it does fail hopefully the fish will be ok.
leveldrummer
03/31/2013, 11:49 AM
i think your fine with the pressure, it wont even be the pressure of the entire sump pressing on the wall, at most, when the ATO reservoir is empty, the only pressure will be from the next chamber of the tank. your good, nice design.
reef1906
03/31/2013, 01:15 PM
I'm not really worried about the seams and pressure but what will happen to your ato water if your sump overflows ?
reef1906
03/31/2013, 01:18 PM
Btw these are just things to think about that's all.
jhill
03/31/2013, 02:06 PM
I'm not really worried about the seams and pressure but what will happen to your ato water if your sump overflows ?
Btw these are just things to think about that's all.
Thanks for bringing all this up. Makes me feel better talking through this to make sure everything is covered.
I am using a 30 gallon sump (38 gallon tank - 8 gallon ATO) which should give me plenty of extra room for the reverse siphon space. And if for some reason the water kept coming up then it would flow into the ATO water and fill that space. Then I would dump the ATO water and refill with fresh.
jhill
03/31/2013, 07:37 PM
Got the BRS RO/DI unit installed in the garage and started filling up the QT tank. After months of planning there is finally water in a tank.:dance:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8114/8607480101_d141b57c15.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8112/8607478849_246df8700e.jpg
jhill
04/03/2013, 08:31 AM
I changed the QT setup a little. Original plan was to use a AquaClear 50 HOB but switched to the Penguin 200. Felt that never changing the bio-wheel would keep the bacteria that is needed.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8393/8615624797_e990403b4d.jpg
After getting the tank filled up, salt added, and HOB filter on.....the shrimp wanted to go for a swim.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8251/8616668932_2999678434.jpg
Can someone tell me what this is? After the salt dissolved I found these little ball looking things rolling around the bottom of the tank.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8244/8615562793_b00120ac20.jpg
jhill
04/03/2013, 08:46 AM
Now that the QT is cycling it is back to working on the plumbing for the DT.
Here is what I have done.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8385/8615563243_133978a63e.jpg
Everything under the DT will be connected with flexible hoses with plastic hose clamps. I used PVC primer and PVC cement. Someone tell me that stuff was OK to use because it is a little to late to change it. Ha ha. Probably should have asked that before gluing it. Also is it ok to use Teflon tape or plumbers dap (I think that is what that putty type stuff is called) for the threaded parts?
Covered the bottom of the tank with plastic gratting to help keep the rock in place.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8403/8616668272_001253fcf3.jpg
Next step is to fill up with freshwater and test for leaks. Moving a long nicely now that I have a few days off from work.
jhill
04/03/2013, 07:28 PM
Tank has been filled with freshwater and is going through a leak test. At first one of the bulkheads wasn't tight which created a nice flow onto the floors. Good thing it was only a cup of water that I poured into the tank. Ha ha.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8249/8618337026_26532bd8d2.jpg
Is there a way to make the drain quieter? I only have 2 holes in the tank so I only have one drain. Let me know if anyone has come up with anything.
pwahrn
04/03/2013, 07:43 PM
Love the "furniture quality" stand/hood (versus generic store-bought). I was going to comment on the Viper then saw someone else beat me to it. Your garage looks incredible!
jhill
04/03/2013, 08:52 PM
Love the "furniture quality" stand/hood (versus generic store-bought). I was going to comment on the Viper then saw someone else beat me to it. Your garage looks incredible!
Thanks. I started out planning on building my own stand because I thought I could build something nicer for cheaper. Boy was I wrong. Ha ha. Turned out spending a lot more than expected but it turned out how I wanted. And since this is a test tank to see if I like the hobby I should be able to put a piece of granite on the base and call it furniture when I am done.
I love my garage (still need to do a few things)! I live in an older neighborhood where the houses were built in the 50s. Came across this house with a 4 car garage (2 deep) and jumped all over it. Now I am spoiled and can never go back to a 2 car garage.
jhill
04/03/2013, 09:03 PM
The QT tank is starting to smell from the shrimp. How long do I need to keep the shrimp in there? Only been 2 days so far and ammonia is only at 0.75.
jhill
04/06/2013, 09:21 PM
Made some good progress this week. Tank was filled yesterday with the RO water and mixed in the salt. I was surprised that I was able to get 1.025 with the first try.
Today I picked up the LR and I think it turned out pretty good. Went with 42 pounds of Fiji rock. Kinda wondering if I need some more but figured I can always add more later if I want. LFS wanted me to go with live sand but from what I read on here it is just a waste. Ended up going with dry sand. Took forever washing it to get the crud out of it. Sorry for the photos, still only using my iphone.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8406/8625699907_7e13d2293c.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8405/8625699659_a785773b39.jpg
Now comes the hardest part.......Waiting for the cycle to finish.
jhill
04/09/2013, 02:05 PM
QT: Day 7
Temp - 80.0
Gravity - 1.024
Ammonia - 7.00PPM
Nitrite - 0.00
Is the Ammonia too high on the QT? I still have the shrimp in the tank. The shrimp is starting to look very nasty. Time to take it out or do I leave it in there till the end?
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8540/8634816397_aed6f5bdec.jpg
DT: Day 3
Temp - 84.0 I turned down the lights to help with the heat while I find some fans I can use to help pull the heat out.
Gravity - 1.024
Ammonia - 0.50
Nitrite - 0.00
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8112/8634863713_b9825d6f13.jpg
The rock on the right has turned an orange color. Is that die off or is that some sort of bacteria growing?
jhill
04/14/2013, 01:17 PM
Stopped by a new LFS and they hooked me up with some snails and blue leg crabs so I could have something other then the LR to look at. (Ammonia-0, Nitrites-0, Nitrates-.30) I probably shouldn't have gotten the snails and crabs because as soon as I placed them in the water a few hours passed before I could pull myself away from my tank. I don't know what I am going to do as soon as there is a fish in there. Work productivity is going to suffer!!
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8539/8648660609_88c7c016c8.jpg
jhill
04/23/2013, 09:15 AM
This past weekend I decided to get my first fish since Ammonia - 0, Nitrites - 0, Nitrates - 0.5 and the snails and crabs were doing well. Since I am getting a lot of algae growth I went with a Lawnmower Blenny, Emerald Crab, and a Cleaner Shrimp.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8540/8675643992_e1c6ba28ae.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8521/8675643440_725dbc5ff0.jpg
This was the same store that I picked up the LR and assumed the salinity was the same as what they told me it was for the LR (1.025). When I got the critters home and tested the water from the bags it was all 1.020. That had me a little worried since I have read that you shouldn't raise it that quickly. I didn't have a choice and slowly changed the water till I got to 1.024 which took 6 hrs.
So far the Blenny has been eating up a storm. It is amazing at how well he blends into the rock because if he doesn't move good luck trying to see him. Emerald crab has been hiding during the day and because I have been working nights haven't seen him till last night. He was perched on top of some rocks picking away at the hair algae. The cleaner shrimp hasn't come out of a cave yet which has me a little concerned. But I do see him moving around so I know he isn't dead.
This coming weekend I am thinking about picking up 2 black/white Ocellaris Clownfish but should probably wait till the QT finishes cycling instead of putting them directly into the DT.
stancfii
04/23/2013, 09:47 AM
You can make the drain completely silent. Turn both into a drain! Make one of the pipes lower than the other by a few inches, put a couple 90* elbows on it, and a ball(or gate) valve on the underside of that line between the bulkhead and sump. This will be a siphon line ( you also want to put an air hole in the line after the ball valve but before the water level). On the other drain hole, make a herbie drain. Hang your return line over the back. Once the return is going, SLOWLY close the ball valve until the water starts to rise up in the overflow towards the herbie drain. You'll have to play with this for a little bit to get it perfected (tap it, wait 30 min, then see if it needs to be adjusted again). Eventually, you will have a faint trickle down the herbie drain, and you won't hear anything because the siphon is silently handling the draining. Key is to not have too much return flow (on your tank, 400gph should be max). That way if something clogs the siphon, the herbie can handle the load. Also, the slower the turnover, the more effectively your skimmer can pull out the gunk.
jhill
04/23/2013, 09:47 AM
Girlfriend has a Nikon SLR D90 and she says she needs a different lens to take better pictures of the tank. What are you guys using or recommend?
jhill
04/23/2013, 09:53 AM
You can make the drain completely silent. Turn both into a drain! Make one of the pipes lower than the other by a few inches, put a couple 90* elbows on it, and a ball(or gate) valve on the underside of that line between the bulkhead and sump. This will be a siphon line ( you also want to put an air hole in the line after the ball valve but before the water level). On the other drain hole, make a herbie drain. Hang your return line over the back. Once the return is going, SLOWLY close the ball valve until the water starts to rise up in the overflow towards the herbie drain. You'll have to play with this for a little bit to get it perfected (tap it, wait 30 min, then see if it needs to be adjusted again). Eventually, you will have a faint trickle down the her is drain, and you won't hear anything because the siphon is silently handling the draining. Key is to not have too much return flow (on your tank, 400gph should be max). That way if something clogs the siphon, the herbie can handle the load. Also, the slower the turnover, the more effectively your skimmer can pull out the gunk.
Thanks for the tip. As of right now it is just about silent. I am able to keep the drain from swirling which was creating the sucking sound. Now the drain from the skimmer is making the most noise. Thinking about adding some pipe to the skimmer to make the drain right above the water (currently 2" or so above the water line). I am probably going a little overboard since the HOB filter on the QT is louder than the DT.
stancfii
04/23/2013, 04:02 PM
What kind of skimmer? Have a pic of the drain? I may have an idea.
jhill
04/23/2013, 04:53 PM
What kind of skimmer? Have a pic of the drain? I may have an idea.
Skimmer is a Super Reef Octopus 1000int. My idea is to get a very short straight pipe and then attach a 45 to angle it down to the water. That will make it go back into the sump at a slope instead of falling from a few inches. Problem is all of the plumbing stores that I have been to so far don't carry this type of pipe. :headwally:
jhill
04/23/2013, 05:07 PM
I had a big hermit crab picking on a little hermit and when I lifted the top to separate the two with the net. The cleaner shrimp finally came out of his cave. It seems that he feels the lights are to bright. Lights were set to 60%. I dropped the lights to 45% and he is slowly venturing out.
Anyone else have this problem? The LFS had him under LED lights with coral frags so I never thought that it would be too bright. Should I slowly ramp up the lights?
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8398/8675710663_1fa1e4d112.jpg
NeilFox
04/23/2013, 06:07 PM
Really love your rockwork! The Rock looks good too! How is the Lawnmower working out? I would like to get a small tang suitable for a 120 but maybe I will go with a Lawnmower for cleaning up. I love yellow tangs but here they may grow too big. Is he very shy, I have kinda a busy tank with some active damsels.
jhill
04/24/2013, 11:53 AM
Really love your rockwork! The Rock looks good too! How is the Lawnmower working out? I would like to get a small tang suitable for a 120 but maybe I will go with a Lawnmower for cleaning up. I love yellow tangs but here they may grow too big. Is he very shy, I have kinda a busy tank with some active damsels.
So far I love the Lawnmower (I was going to name him after the guy that cuts my grass but the girlfriend didn't think it was funny). Great personality. He found a small cave in the middle of the tank about 3/4 of the way up the rock that he calls home. He hops all over the tank because I don't really call what he does swimming and then if something startles him he rushes back to his home and sticks just his head out. Then after a few mins he does it all over again. Plus he is eating the hair algae constantly.
He is the only fish in my tank as of now besides some snails, crabs, and a shrimp so I hope he stays as active as he is once some tankmates join him.
I have was thinking about getting a small yellow tang but my tank is a little small for them. Very happy with the Lawnmower.
rlpardue
04/24/2013, 12:11 PM
Nice job Justin! You make it look like you've done this before! Kudos on taking it slow and doing it right.
jhill
04/24/2013, 04:36 PM
Nice job Justin! You make it look like you've done this before! Kudos on taking it slow and doing it right.
Thanks Lee. Grab the wife and we will all grab some dinner or I can cook something at my house. Let me know what works for you guys.
I don't know about taking it slow since the tank is only 2.5weeks old and I already want to throw in a pair of clownfish this weekend. :lol:
jhill
05/12/2013, 09:49 AM
Time for an update. I am a little behind on updating.
Saturday (5/11) I stopped by a LFS and picked up 2 ocellaris clowns and a white tip torch. Figured it was time to give an LPS a shot and see what happens.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8136/8714702570_a41c8bd2b6.jpg
Then on Sunday I picked up a RBTA from another member and the quality blew me away.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8418/8713583635_62737ba32b.jpg
Placed it on top of the rock but within a few mins it had moved down the side to the right. Been there overnight and still hasn't moved. Guess it is happy there.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8275/8714704402_550c195250.jpg
The torch and the RBTA have opened up already so the water, light, ect must be right. The clownfish were being pushed all around the tank and has me wondering if I have too much flow in the tank. Is that possible? The return pump is around 150gph and then I have two powerheads that do 1150gph. That would put it around 50x the DT. I turned one of the powerheads off this morning and the clowns seem to be a lot happier.
jhill
05/12/2013, 10:44 AM
Mixing station is complete. Tons of trips to Lowes and Home depot but finally finished. Ended up spending a lot more than I originally planned but as long as it makes my life easier I feel it is worth it. Went with a Eheim 1260 for the pump.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8262/8703375378_2da0108342.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8114/8703375814_0cb7757919.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7410/8720887959_47dafe3ac1_z.jpg
I guess I am not 100% done yet because my table from Grainger that it will sit on isn't in yet (means I can't fill it all up ) and I have to think of an attachment to fill the buckets to then carry to the tank. The buckets aren't ideal but it will work for this house.
jhill
05/12/2013, 10:48 AM
RBTA is reaching and expanding a lot during the day. Wonder if it needs more light? Is there a way to tell? I had my lights running at 60% during the peak of the day and just cranked it up to 75% to see if that makes a difference. It did eat some shrimp tonight so I guess it is happy.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7344/8722009790_e2f6ce6a67_z.jpg
Tank is looking better and better the more I get in the tank.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7281/8720888891_f26b83d6be_z.jpg
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