55 Gallon to 225 Gallon Build

[Defuse]

Well I suppose it’s time I share what my wife and I have been working on for the past six months. We got in to this hobby a couple years ago when a friend gave us a 55 gallon tank and stand for free. We dumped some saltwater in and we were hooked immediately. As most of you know that once you start you have to go bigger so I figured it was time to upgrade.

As a birthday gift to my wife I bought a used 225 gallon tank with a steel stand and sump as well as the following equipment.

3x Radion Gen 2
2x Vortech MP-40
Apex Jr
Apex Energy Bar
Apex WXM
Apex PM1
Tusnami ATO
Reef Octopus POV-DC2
Reef Octopus DC-10500
2x BRS 1.1mL Dosing Pumps

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7423/10383573556_b57beb3fc8.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383573556/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383573556/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

Now that we had the equipment we needed to decide what we wanted this tank to look like in our house. We really wanted it to look like it was a part of the house rather than just something that was placed in the house. This means that we needed design cues from other features of our house. We decided to try to match the color, style of our kitchen cabinets and the tile of our floors and coffee tables.

I called around to several different cabinet makers and all of them gave me remarkably high estimates to build two cabinets and a skin for the front of the stand. Ranging from $2,000 to $4,500 for the work. After getting those quotes I decided they were far too expensive and I would try to build them myself. I went out and bought two base cabinets and had Interstate Plywood build doors for the cabinets and also build a front skin for a fraction of the cost that I was quoted by local cabinet builders. Now that I had that I needed a canopy. I figured it would be best to buy a Marineland canopy and simply paint it to match the other cabinetry.

Here is the front skin unfinished.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7314/10383575946_cc8e2ba5f1.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383575946/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383575946/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

First coat of primer on the canopy.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2819/10383578276_693d0cc6fc.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383578276/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383578276/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

The sump had 9” baffles in it which were too tall for the Reef Octopus skimmer so we removed them and installed smaller baffles.

Cutting out the old baffles
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2809/10383534024_28c022b8dd.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383534024/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383534024/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

New baffles installed

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5490/10383744713_401db88b9a.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383744713/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383744713/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

Water testing sump after new baffles installed. This is the point where I decided that the red walls needed to go as they didn’t match anything at all. Lol

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3796/10383755603_5a9197c45e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383755603/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383755603/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

I added some bead board to the sides of the cabinets to help match them to our kitchen cabinets.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7443/10383630716_0fc39d8a19.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383630716/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383630716/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5488/10383791893_93d2959291.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383791893/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383791893/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

Cabinets primed and ready for paint and glaze.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7295/10383638076_bc071d3cba.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383638076/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383638076/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

Paint and glaze done.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7330/10383799363_447af97c0a.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383799363/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383799363/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

[Defuse]

Some more detail of the glaze. It’s my first time ever doing a finish like this and I am pretty happy with the results.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3780/10383602004_5e23df8e81.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383602004/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383602004/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

Stand skin painted and glazed.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7456/10383646886_6e184e6b01.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383646886/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383646886/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

Canopy painted and glazed as well.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3789/10383617884_d766240b64.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383617884/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383617884/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

The return pump is attached to 2x ¾ inch Sea Swirls and here is the manifold that I built for them.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3730/10383627054_1105018951.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383627054/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383627054/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

I embedded four rare earth magnets to the skin to keep it attached to the steel stand and they work brilliantly.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3741/10383629224_069ea8f96e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383629224/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383629224/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

Dry fit of the plumbing. I and doing a Herbie overflow with this setup to keep the noise down.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2873/10383675016_b84b9ae2e8.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383675016/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383675016/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

My wife did the aquascaping. Here is the dry run to make sure everything is going to work before we got the mortar out.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7403/10383660605_1da05c702e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383660605/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383660605/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

Got some friends to come over and help move everything in to place. Just need to finish the countertops now!

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2891/10383848243_73e4911d83.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383848243/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383848243/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

Might as well toss a hose in and make sure nothing leaks too.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3804/10383704626_76c59f0a62.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383704626/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383704626/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

I also got some nice door pulls for the cabinetry.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5473/10383723376_39f133d897.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383723376/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383723376/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

[Defuse]

Installing the Radions in the canopy.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2817/10383736676_69b2da6981.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383736676/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383736676/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

All of the electrical equipment is enclosed in one of the cabinets. This is to hopefully keep the metal of the electronics from corroding prematurely from exposure to salt water and higher humidity.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7451/10383701914_3df557c4ac.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383701914/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383701914/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

Putting the rocks in the tank.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3717/10383728935_0d2f70f150.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383728935/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383728935/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

Sand now.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5543/10383730715_dd526e6a88.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383730715/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383730715/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

And finally cranking up the RO/DI. Took around 60 hours for the tank and sump to fill. ☺

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5475/10383914883_bfdc8416f4.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383914883/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383914883/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

Almost full!

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7367/10383741985_7de40d0ca4.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383741985/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383741985/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

Here is the trim I chose to hide the bottom of the tank and the plywood base.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5531/10383748794_8cf67e4c93.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383748794/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383748794/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

The tile we chose. The bottom tile is not “enhanced & sealed” the top one is.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7431/10383760944_146f7523f2.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383760944/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383760944/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

Counter tops with mastic getting ready for grout.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7385/10383765544_aae31717bf.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383765544/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383765544/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7441/10383784715_0631c08038.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383784715/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383784715/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

[Defuse]

Waiting on the Gorilla glue.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7424/10383770334_7c9c9e940e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383770334/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383770334/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

Black frame and plywood hidden!

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3710/10383969513_37c5f8b47c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383969513/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383969513/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

Grout finished.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7415/10383974873_9e160d2c10.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383974873/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383974873/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

Sealed and done!

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3825/10383829546_f5aeef6f52.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383829546/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383829546/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7423/10383990183_a3e843e082.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383990183/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383990183/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

The cat approves of the new viewing platform

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2818/10383795424_2e34b0096b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383795424/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10383795424/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7361/10384656016_dd3589c20f.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10384656016/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10384656016/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3755/10384657836_7362301376.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10384657836/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10384657836/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5506/10384824823_4810c9ae13.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10384824823/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10384824823/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2888/10384656855_61e9aa55b7.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10384656855/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10384656855/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

[Defuse]

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2892/10384842323_1df8ce0c40.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10384842323/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10384842323/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

The other cabinet holds our two part and testing stuff.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3741/10384666835_ecbf8254d8.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10384666835/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10384666835/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

Added a fan to keep the electronics cool.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7458/10384690916_d962a4be7b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10384690916/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10384690916/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

Wet sump.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7302/10384686905_cfa829a4d2.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10384686905/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10384686905/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

Electrical cord pass through.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3724/10384866713_55c64daebb.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10384866713/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10384866713/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

Gate valves for fine adjustments of herbie

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3822/10384690565_197eed6ed5.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10384690565/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10384690565/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

Skimmer.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5533/10384711936_2d02e7681c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10384711936/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10384711936/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5519/10384714836_a6845a7af6.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10384714836/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10384714836/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

The smaller hose goes to the RO/DI which is hooked up to a float valve in the ATO reservoirs. The larger hose is for water changes that drains to the toilet. No more bucket lugging!

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7348/10384718076_470dc3b826.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10384718076/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10384718076/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

This has been a very fun project as it is the first time I have done any serious woodworking, painting, tile work and overall I am very pleased with the results. I am sure that as always I will find things to tweak as time goes on. Thanks for looking!

[Defuse]

All Done!

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7361/10384656016_e688e30d80.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10384656016/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/106111486@N08/10384656016/) by defuse1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/106111486@N08/), on Flickr

[stlcard]

Great build. So glad you waited til the end to post anything. i hate having to filter through 800 pages just to see start to finish.

[austings]

Awesome build, you did an excellent job for your first time with woodworking.

[oceanlife83]

Really really nice. Excellent job on the woodwork and tile. Also i love the tank. I am building a 250. Nice inspiration for building my tank.

[nck1992]

Nice, Nice, Nice... The most great thing is doing all this things "with wife" together.

[justthewife]

Wow!!!!!!!!!!:thumbsup:

[S14Swap240sx]

I wish I had the nads to put a tank like that on wood floors.. by far one of the nicest diy stands Ive seen. congrats

[PensFan05]

Man that looks great!

[dukecj]

Great job! It came out really nice! I really like the glaze finish.

[BassandReef]

Excellent!!

[rottloverr]

Are you happy with the flow with your current setup?

[Defuse]

Are you happy with the flow with your current setup?

Yes I think the flow is more than enough. I alternate modes in the Vortech via the Apex and run them at 50%.

[Goibot]

Nice build, thank you for sharing

[dwilli57]

Will be following along. That looks great!

[adamhill]

Bravo guys!!!! Looks great!

I need to come and see it in person sometime...

[Pushwood]

Such a beautiful tank. Your stand looks awesome, as well as the viewing platform for your cat! :) My cats would also approve of that.

[Defuse]

Thanks for all the compliments everyone. So far the only real tweak that I have had to make was to shorten my drain line for water changes.

I really like the WXM module though. Being able to change the modes of the Vortechs automatically and their intensity is really neat. That coupled with the Sea Swirls makes the flow patterns really random and hopefully close to what you would find in the ocean.

[rale2001]

very impressive

[BuggINTN]

:thumbsup:Well Done:spin1:

[MarquiseO]

Great build

[MrCaveman]

That's Awsome! Love the idea of the two cabinets with tile on the side