My 150 startup

Covey · 03/27/2006, 07:33 PM

Hello,
I am starting to set up a 150G AGA RR tank with the dual overflows. The tank is paid for I am waiting for it to get here. Should be here wednesday. I am going to be DIYing a ton of stuff for this project. I thought I would get started on the stand today.
Here it is:

This is the load bearing 2x4 part. 2x4 supports 2x4 and everything is glued and deck screwed together probably overboard but it was still only $40 in lumber and screws. I am not sure yet how I am going to skin it yet.
What do you think?

Anyway it will be about a month before it have water in it I am hoping to have something to show by the time the tank tour comes around.

Double-J · 03/27/2006, 09:59 PM

looks good! Are you planning on putting all your sump skimmer etc... in the stand?

Covey · 03/27/2006, 10:21 PM

Nope this is going to to be the in-wall that isn't. That will make sense when the tank gets here but it will be dividing off part of my living room and the equipment will be hide behind it. Elevated sump, I got to make that stand next.

I'm a big guy and I was never good at getting in the sump under the tank. This setup should be easier to maintain than the last.

bgreenlee · 03/28/2006, 12:03 AM

stand looks tough. If you need help moving anything around let me know. I will be back in town this coming Sunday night.

atram · 03/28/2006, 08:20 AM

Look's like a good start. If you need any help let me know.

BenZoo · 03/28/2006, 04:10 PM

I know we havent met, but I would love to help with some of the DIY projects too. I will be starting some of my own as soon as I find the right tank.
Nice stand
Ben

Covey · 03/28/2006, 06:35 PM

I've built tons of stuff. It's half the fun of setting up a new tank.

Covey · 03/29/2006, 07:46 PM

The tank came in today. For size comparisons that is a 55G behind it. I am going to need a bigger mag float. The glass is like 3/4"!

Here a pic of my foot long Midas cichlid eyeing the tank. He is going to get the hand me down 75g in the deal.

What do you think?

atram · 03/30/2006, 08:10 AM

Sweet

Do you think it will be running when we do the tank tour?

got2lb · 03/30/2006, 08:18 AM

Looks pretty good so far! How come you built the stand so low? Is that so you can see the tank better when sitting in a chair or something?

Covey · 03/30/2006, 12:30 PM

It's 29" deep the stand is 24" tall and that just works out for me at 6'4" the tank comes up to my arm pit. Any taller than that and I would have to stand on a stool to do maintance.
That and I do have low furniture.

Al, I should have the equipment set up by then but I probably won't have any new coral or fish.

Covey · 04/07/2006, 10:40 PM

Well the snail buy prompted me to move my time table forward. My 150 is now setup.
55G Midas >buckets>75G
75G Reef>to 150G
I went to Aqua Enviro 3X, lowes 2X, Pet Smart 1X, Petco 1X, and HD 1X all in the same day.
Perfectily Dremel drilled my 29G for a sump

and then cracked it when I was plumbing it in place

. Long live the rubbermaid sump!
Spent 8am to 8pm working on my day off.
I post you guys some pics tommorrow.

The High Life and Pizza is calling.
I'm out

mwood · 04/08/2006, 07:30 AM

Have you decided on lighting yet? I saw you were looking at evc14k's and wanted to see them if you did. I thought about these and sun aquatics 14k's at one time but was nervous about the color.

Covey · 04/08/2006, 11:00 PM

Maybe if OE ever gets the 400W retro back in stock. Iwas thinking possibly these to.
http://www.reefexotics.com/lumenarc.htm
I was hoping to find a bulb I could run only MH with and still not be overly blue. I am liking the Reeflux bulbs.

mwood · 04/09/2006, 07:02 AM

I like radiums. You can see the pic in my gallery. The blue pic is radiums only. Not as blue as 250w 20k's. I like the look alot.

May want to consider par though. Blue bulbs don't have much for par. Won't hurt anything, just get slow growth.

I have a version of the lumenarcs. Everyone likes them. About 40% more light into your tank, more par.

3 400w radiums in lumenarcs would look great on that tank! That would be my vote.

Covey · 04/09/2006, 07:51 PM

The light is still up in the air but I though I'd post a pic now that it is slightily orginized

Still need another 50lbs of rock. So you won't see the rack. Still need to up the flow, finish the stand, and buy about a grand in lighting and I can finally buy coral again.

I prop mod'd my first maxi-jet. These thing rock nothing like 3000gph for 30 bucks. This first one is ugly but functional I believe I will redo the housing and mod a few more.

cabenn · 04/10/2006, 10:39 AM

prop modded?? What's that? Is that just when you cut the nozzle off the end of the MJ for more flow?

atram · 04/10/2006, 11:02 AM

I thinkCovey's talking about the prop mod on the following link.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...5&pagenumber=1

cabenn · 04/10/2006, 02:58 PM

good god people and their DIY stuff are all crazies :P

Pretty darn neato though but I have no skeelz. Girls like guys who have skillz!

How would ya stop rogue snails from becoming escargo :P

Now if someone wants to make the parts for me to do this I'll pay em for their time and materials as long as it isn't too expensive. I'd love to see this in action

I wonder how long it will be before someone starts mass producing all these DIY parts so all ya need to do is just buy a kit.

Covey · 04/10/2006, 08:43 PM

Here I started a seperate GIRS thread for it.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=821885
I stuck my finger it. It doesn't spin with a lot of force. If a snail got in it I don't think it would hurt it.

cabenn · 04/10/2006, 08:45 PM

cool, Between I like your tank

wish I could redo all my rockwork and m aybe I will someday with some pvc and eggcrate like you did.

Covey · 04/10/2006, 08:58 PM

It makes it real easy to clean BB or DSB. My tanks will always have a rack.

03/27/2006, 07:33 PM	#1
Covey Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Davenport IA Posts: 2,018	My 150 startup Hello, I am starting to set up a 150G AGA RR tank with the dual overflows. The tank is paid for I am waiting for it to get here. Should be here wednesday. I am going to be DIYing a ton of stuff for this project. I thought I would get started on the stand today. Here it is: This is the load bearing 2x4 part. 2x4 supports 2x4 and everything is glued and deck screwed together probably overboard but it was still only $40 in lumber and screws. I am not sure yet how I am going to skin it yet. What do you think? Anyway it will be about a month before it have water in it I am hoping to have something to show by the time the tank tour comes around.

03/28/2006, 04:10 PM	#6
BenZoo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Davenport, IA Posts: 28	I know we havent met, but I would love to help with some of the DIY projects too. I will be starting some of my own as soon as I find the right tank. Nice stand Ben __________________ "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." -Benjamin Franklin Current Tank Info: 45 Gal reef tank

03/30/2006, 08:18 AM	#10
got2lb Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Clarksville, Iowa Posts: 2,771	Looks pretty good so far! How come you built the stand so low? Is that so you can see the tank better when sitting in a chair or something? __________________ Tanks gone, planning the next endeavor!

04/07/2006, 10:40 PM	#12
Covey Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Davenport IA Posts: 2,018	Well the snail buy prompted me to move my time table forward. My 150 is now setup. 55G Midas >buckets>75G 75G Reef>to 150G I went to Aqua Enviro 3X, lowes 2X, Pet Smart 1X, Petco 1X, and HD 1X all in the same day. Perfectily Dremel drilled my 29G for a sump and then cracked it when I was plumbing it in place. Long live the rubbermaid sump! Spent 8am to 8pm working on my day off. I post you guys some pics tommorrow. The High Life and Pizza is calling. I'm out

04/10/2006, 10:39 AM	#17
cabenn Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Shueyville, Iowa Posts: 687	prop modded?? What's that? Is that just when you cut the nozzle off the end of the MJ for more flow? __________________ "Is that a pink phone?" Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon Reef (2 x175 USHIO, 2x110w VHO Actinic, 3x MJ 1200 (one on CPR BakPak II), 1x MJ 900, 1x AC 402, 1x SEIO 820)

03/27/2006, 09:59 PM	#2
Double-J Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: IA Posts: 1,061	looks good! Are you planning on putting all your sump skimmer etc... in the stand?

03/27/2006, 10:21 PM	#3
Covey Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Davenport IA Posts: 2,018	Nope this is going to to be the in-wall that isn't. That will make sense when the tank gets here but it will be dividing off part of my living room and the equipment will be hide behind it. Elevated sump, I got to make that stand next. I'm a big guy and I was never good at getting in the sump under the tank. This setup should be easier to maintain than the last.

03/28/2006, 12:03 AM	#4
bgreenlee Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cambridge, IL Posts: 771	stand looks tough. If you need help moving anything around let me know. I will be back in town this coming Sunday night.

03/28/2006, 08:20 AM	#5
atram Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bettendorf, Iowa Posts: 403	Look's like a good start. If you need any help let me know.

03/28/2006, 06:35 PM	#7
Covey Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Davenport IA Posts: 2,018	I've built tons of stuff. It's half the fun of setting up a new tank.

03/29/2006, 07:46 PM	#8
Covey Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Davenport IA Posts: 2,018	The tank came in today. For size comparisons that is a 55G behind it. I am going to need a bigger mag float. The glass is like 3/4"! Here a pic of my foot long Midas cichlid eyeing the tank. He is going to get the hand me down 75g in the deal. What do you think?

03/30/2006, 08:10 AM	#9
atram Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bettendorf, Iowa Posts: 403	Sweet Do you think it will be running when we do the tank tour?

03/30/2006, 12:30 PM	#11
Covey Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Davenport IA Posts: 2,018	It's 29" deep the stand is 24" tall and that just works out for me at 6'4" the tank comes up to my arm pit. Any taller than that and I would have to stand on a stool to do maintance. That and I do have low furniture. Al, I should have the equipment set up by then but I probably won't have any new coral or fish.

04/08/2006, 07:30 AM	#13
mwood Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Winterset, IA 50273 Posts: 2,299	Have you decided on lighting yet? I saw you were looking at evc14k's and wanted to see them if you did. I thought about these and sun aquatics 14k's at one time but was nervous about the color.

04/08/2006, 11:00 PM	#14
Covey Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Davenport IA Posts: 2,018	Maybe if OE ever gets the 400W retro back in stock. Iwas thinking possibly these to. http://www.reefexotics.com/lumenarc.htm I was hoping to find a bulb I could run only MH with and still not be overly blue. I am liking the Reeflux bulbs.

04/09/2006, 07:02 AM	#15
mwood Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Winterset, IA 50273 Posts: 2,299	I like radiums. You can see the pic in my gallery. The blue pic is radiums only. Not as blue as 250w 20k's. I like the look alot. May want to consider par though. Blue bulbs don't have much for par. Won't hurt anything, just get slow growth. I have a version of the lumenarcs. Everyone likes them. About 40% more light into your tank, more par. 3 400w radiums in lumenarcs would look great on that tank! That would be my vote.

04/09/2006, 07:51 PM	#16
Covey Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Davenport IA Posts: 2,018	The light is still up in the air but I though I'd post a pic now that it is slightily orginized Still need another 50lbs of rock. So you won't see the rack. Still need to up the flow, finish the stand, and buy about a grand in lighting and I can finally buy coral again. I prop mod'd my first maxi-jet. These thing rock nothing like 3000gph for 30 bucks. This first one is ugly but functional I believe I will redo the housing and mod a few more.

04/10/2006, 11:02 AM	#18
atram Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bettendorf, Iowa Posts: 403	I thinkCovey's talking about the prop mod on the following link. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...5&pagenumber=1

04/10/2006, 02:58 PM	#19
cabenn Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Shueyville, Iowa Posts: 687	good god people and their DIY stuff are all crazies :P Pretty darn neato though but I have no skeelz. Girls like guys who have skillz! How would ya stop rogue snails from becoming escargo :P Now if someone wants to make the parts for me to do this I'll pay em for their time and materials as long as it isn't too expensive. I'd love to see this in action I wonder how long it will be before someone starts mass producing all these DIY parts so all ya need to do is just buy a kit. __________________ "Is that a pink phone?" Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon Reef (2 x175 USHIO, 2x110w VHO Actinic, 3x MJ 1200 (one on CPR BakPak II), 1x MJ 900, 1x AC 402, 1x SEIO 820) Last edited by cabenn; 04/10/2006 at 03:10 PM.

04/10/2006, 08:43 PM	#20
Covey Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Davenport IA Posts: 2,018	Here I started a seperate GIRS thread for it. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=821885 I stuck my finger it. It doesn't spin with a lot of force. If a snail got in it I don't think it would hurt it.

04/10/2006, 08:45 PM	#21
cabenn Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Shueyville, Iowa Posts: 687	cool, Between I like your tank wish I could redo all my rockwork and m aybe I will someday with some pvc and eggcrate like you did. __________________ "Is that a pink phone?" Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon Reef (2 x175 USHIO, 2x110w VHO Actinic, 3x MJ 1200 (one on CPR BakPak II), 1x MJ 900, 1x AC 402, 1x SEIO 820)

04/10/2006, 08:58 PM	#22
Covey Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Davenport IA Posts: 2,018	It makes it real easy to clean BB or DSB. My tanks will always have a rack.