My 150g build thread
 

Just so you know, this all started because I woke up at 3:00am on a Saturday and couldn't go back to sleep!

I bought the tank used from the used goods forum ($400). Pickup was in Columbus Ohio which is about two and half hour drive for me.

I picked up the tank this past Saturday... turns out a 150g tank and stand, do not fit in a Trailblazer.... =(. Solution!

Tank:
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...Q/DSCN0474.jpg

Stand: =)
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...Q/DSCN0470.jpg

It was just under 200 miles one way =)

Stand: I think I am going to refinish the stand.
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...Q/DSCN0476.jpg

Tank plumbing
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...Q/DSCN0478.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...Q/DSCN0481.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...Q/DSCN0482.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...Q/DSCN0483.jpg

Day 1 Progress:

Yesterday I removed all the plumbing:
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...Q/DSCN0491.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...Q/DSCN0490.jpg

I also cleaned the tank out as much as possible. Still some coraline to get off the overflows.

I also picked up a heater: ($18)

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...Q/DSCN0493.jpg

Future sump: (Free)
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...Q/DSCN0492.jpg

and I also ordered a 5 stage RO/DI unit =)

I have a Mag 5 ($30 shipped on the used forums) pump on order also to help circulate some vinigar water in the sump to clean it out. Its been sitting in someones garage for unknown amount of years and was really nasty on the inside.

Looking good. I know that feeling of wanting to get up and start on the tank. Im working on my 150 right now as well. I would reccomend cleaning around your tank drains and returns really well so you get a nice clean surface for your bulkheads (new ones!) Is that a 5 foot tank? What kind of lighting are you planing on using?:D

Famous, looks like we are both heading down the same path =). Yes so far I have got just about all the silicone off the glass around the holes. I think I am going to have an issue with the bulkheads, if ou look at the pictures you'll see they drilled 2 of the holes very close to the edge.

It is a 4 foot tank. I plan to use my 36 inch 2x250w MH light to get the tank started, then replace it with something yet to be determined down the road. I'm leaning tward sticking with something MH, maybe mix in 4 T5s or something to come on before the MH.

Can't wait to see more progress. Its alway exciting setting up a new tank. Thats why favorite part. What are the dimensions of your tank? Your 36 inch 2x250 MH should hold you off for a while.

That was some nasty looking plumbing; way too much silicone!

Looks like an exciting project. Congrats on the deals you're finding on the equipment too; that's awesome!

Just picked up a tube of silicone and some new razorblades at Home Depot ($14).

While I was there I saw some nice 34g trash cans on wheels. I think I may buy one and use it to transport water from the kitchen where the RO / DI unit will be mounted to the tank room. They were only $15. I figure I could drill a bulkhead into the bottom and leave a pump in there and just plug it in and pump water into other tanks =) I'm sooo lazy =)

The Mag 5 showed up today =)

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...d/DSCN0494.jpg

39lbs of live rock for $50 =)

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...d/DSCN0495.jpg

Nice start. I just picked up my 180g tank in Columbus too on Friday. I'm so happy I can't sleep either. Try to get more pics of everything.

More pics to come for sure =) Not much going on right now, just aquireing all the parts I need. I'll probably get the new bulkheads this week and install them, purchase the baffles and install them in the sump. I want to do all the silicone work at one time so I don't have to buy another tube unless there are leaks.

Lots of parts on order at the moment:

Bulkheads will be in on Friday ($28)
Mag 9.5 used ($70 shipped)
Octopus NW 200 used ($130 shipped)

=)

I filled up the sump today, I wanted to find out where the leaks were so I can get it dryed out in time to maybe install the baffles this weekend. Figure I'll do all the silicone work at one time =)

Very cool to see a new tank being setup. Cant wait to see more progress.

I look forward to posting more progress for you.

These are my design documents so far (I ROK at MS paint) =)

Drain lines:
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...mprearview.jpg

Return lines:
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...mprearview.jpg


Sump:
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...Build/Sump.jpg

This will greatly help you with water changes and make your life a little easier! This is what i do besides the wheels and works great.

Go Cowboys! =)

haha don't get me fired up! haha

Called the glass place today and ordered the baffles for the sump: ($27.15)

2x 12x15
2x 12x14

They said I could pick them up at 5:00PM =) So I was thinking to myself... "Self, how are you going to get the center baffle of the bubble trap 1" off the bottom... and how are you going to get the baffles to stand up and the silicone cure".... Solution =)

Stoped at the lumber yard after picking up the baffles and bought a pieces of 1x4 =) ($3.77)

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...d/DSCN0496.jpg

Ready to install!

Not so fast says my dog... you need to take me for a ride or I'm not getting out of this truck!

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...d/DSCN0497.jpg

=)

Well I cut my little glass holder device out of the 1x4 and also a piece to mesure the 19 1/4 inches that the center baffle needed

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...d/DSCN0498.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...d/DSCN0499.jpg

Cut 1 24" piece 2x 18" pieces and a 1" piece.... I screwed the 1" piece to the 18" piece, then instered the glass and laid the other 18" piece on top of that and screwed down the other side of the 1" piece now they are exactly 1/4 of an inch apart. Now I can lay the sheet of glass and my spacers in place and silicone the baffle into place having it exactly 19 1/4" from the end of the tank (skimmer section) and exactly 1" off the bottom of the tank....


PROBLEM =(

I miss mesured.... the baffles need to be 11 3/4 inches.... not 12" =( UGH!!!!

Tomorrow I will call the glass place back and see if they can shave 1/4 inch off each piece.

Also I cleaned up the edge of the sump where the leak was identified in one of the vertical corner seams. When it is ready for silicone.

Today the following parts arrived: Bulkheads, RO / DI unit, and Mag 9.5 ( Pics soon =) )

I also ran over to Home Depot on lunch and picked up a wide varity of 1" PVC, Ball valves, T couplings, 3/4 to 1" adapter, 90 elbows, and of course 1" and 3/4 10 foot lengths of pipe.

This should be enough to get me started on the drain lines from the tank when I'm ready for it.

Some actual progress was made this weekend. My new bulkheads came in on Friday as well as my RO / DI unit, and I got the glass for the sump baffles fixed.

So Friday I installed the RO / DI unit under the sink (These things were not ment for small spaces!)

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...d/DSCN0507.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...d/DSCN0508.jpg

And it works =)
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...d/DSCN0511.jpg

Saturday I worked on the bulkheads, sump baffles, and disassembled my old tank.

Bulkheads: I broke one of the new bulkheads after I tried to tighten it down to much, snapped the head right off. So I'm using the best looking of the old ones. I solved the problem of the bulkheads going over the lip of the tank moulding by cutting down one of the sides of the bulkhead. Installed and leak tested. There is a leak on the overflows because I didn't put any teflon tap on the threads, but the outside of the bulkheads have no leaks =)

(Shot before I cut down the edge)
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...d/DSCN0501.jpg

Sump: (Silicone stinks!) 3 tubes of silicone, one I wasted (didn't read the directions, 2 for the build.

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...d/DSCN0513.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...d/DSCN0514.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...d/DSCN0518.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...d/DSCN0519.jpg

Sunday Leak test:
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...d/DSCN0523.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...d/DSCN0520.jpg

I may decide to drill the sump, not sure yet. Next steps will be to refinish the stand, install new electrical in the house, and prep the sump room.

Just a quick update for any of you following allong at home. Since my last update (Pictures to follow soon):

I have removed all the ouside wood of the stand leaving only frame

Squared up the frame, was out of square by a lot!

My skimmer has arrived

I have painted the back of the tank

It amazing my sump is exactly like yours, and I DIMS all.

Ok here are some pics I promissed awhile back.

Skimmer!
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...d/DSCN0524.jpg

Stand progression

The stand when I first got it:
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...d/DSCN0476.jpg

The stand as it is now.:
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...d/DSCN0526.jpg

And I just picked up the wood yesterday to rebuild it, so more pics of that to come later.

Here is the painting of the tank:
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...d/DSCN0527.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...d/DSCN0528.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...d/DSCN0529.jpg

Next steps:
Finish the stand
Run the new Electrical in the house
Prep the sump room

good work!

Tanks cleaning up very nicely. Keep up the good work :D