My slow reef adventure!

hummermaniac88 · 02/02/2009, 09:49 PM

Greetings guys, I have been working at a LFS for a couple of months now and hanging around all the fish made hit the reef bug hard. Since I get discounted aquariums at work, I decided to pick one up. A 125 gallon was chosen. It fits on the way down to the basement and its the maximum amount of work and money I am willing to use.

Unfortunetly(Or fortunetly? the flip sides...) I am a a full time student, and I have to balance all these things in my tight schedule, so this will officially be the slowest build thread ever. Maybe I'll work on it once every 2 weeks, if I am lucky...

Anyhow, I started building the stand a couple of days ago, I need suggestion. Pictures are below! Oh BTW, mat167 is going to be my sidekick! Yay!

Here are the prints, ignore the mesurements since most of them are off, just a general idea of the stand. I have never build anything like this ever, so I don't want it to fail...So please please please tell me if this thing looks like it will hold a 125g...I used 2 X 6 because they seem stirdy...

I will be trying to base this whole thing on will16's design, cause its just amazing. I know I wont do as good of a job, but man, if I get 90% I am a happy camper! (Thanks!

)Click here for the link.

hummermaniac88 · 02/02/2009, 09:50 PM

Winter, is the time my car hibernates until late april, so I do not have the most spacious garage to working, in fact I have a path to work with, yay winters...

Uggg, the mess...

WOOOOODDDDDDDD!

coryjac0b · 02/02/2009, 09:55 PM

is that an m5?

hummermaniac88 · 02/02/2009, 09:56 PM

I wish lol, its the slowest BMW in the world lol....

MrRyanT · 02/02/2009, 10:10 PM

That stand would probably hold 3 125's so don't even worry about that. Looking good so far, keep us posted.

hummermaniac88 · 02/02/2009, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MrRyanT
That stand would probably hold 3 125's so don't even worry about that. Looking good so far, keep us posted.

Thanks! *Sigh of relief* Its good to know cause my aprents are letting me do this in the basement, so I don't want really ruin their carpets...

wbond · 02/02/2009, 11:15 PM

yeah, it'll hold, no problem!

will16 · 02/03/2009, 12:07 AM

Nice start! Agreed... that stand will not have any problems with that tank. Definitely keep us posted.

hummermaniac88 · 02/03/2009, 10:48 AM

Thanks guys, I'll try to work on it whenever I can, but midterms are coming up....

hummermaniac88 · 02/25/2009, 08:36 PM

Ok guys a little update, midterms are done and so is my frame for the stand actually. Mat167 and I decided to work it today and finish the frame so there we go! Tonight I will be sanding it down and preparing it for the 3 coats of staining...Any tips for that guys?

Top frame and bottom frame unite for the first time!

Putting the middle legs and supporting legs...

All together now...

Top braces...

Bottom braces...

With the aquarium on top...

It holds! Yay!

My top peice and bottom piece were warped in the garage because of the dry and sudden humidity and I was worried that it wouldn't be good for the stand let alone the tank. But turned out ok...minor ajustments are needed but better than I thought. On paper this stand looked wimpy...but after todays build, Mat167 and I believe that this stnad is overkill lol...What you guys think?

macronut · 02/25/2009, 08:44 PM

Looking good. Don't worry about the time frame on the build. Just look at it as a blessing in disguise. Your plan can develop and you will be totally pleased with your tank! Good luck!

hummermaniac88 · 02/25/2009, 09:38 PM

I guess it does finish better when time is not an issue, everything went well except that the wood was warped... Hope everything sails smooth tomorrow AKA work day # 3... Fingers crossed...

will16 · 02/25/2009, 09:50 PM

That stand is definitely overkill but I woudl take overbuilt over underbuilt any day. Looking good.

It looks like the tank is not drilled. What are you plans for that?

ebording · 02/25/2009, 09:56 PM

Man where can I get one of those yamaha powerheads?! does that come with a controller?

hummermaniac88 · 02/25/2009, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by will16
That stand is definitely overkill but I woudl take overbuilt over underbuilt any day. Looking good.

It looks like the tank is not drilled. What are you plans for that?

I haven't been brave enough to drill the tank but the plans are simple. 2 X 2" bulk heads for the over flow and 1 X 1" bulk head for the return. The overflow is going to be a single piece of glass cutting the corners to create an overflow.

That makes me feel that less space has been wasted and best of all the middle allows me to mount 3 stacking pumps (Either maxi jets with mods or Koralias) to created enough flow throught the tank. Hopefully that should be good.

I forgot a question, the foam on the top should be sandwiched between a piece of wood or should it be on the top, right under the tank? Which option would be best?

Anyone have any tips about drilling the tank, I cringe everytime I think about doing it....

hummermaniac88 · 02/25/2009, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ebording
Man where can I get one of those yamaha powerheads?! does that come with a controller?

The Yamaha is only for mixing salt, the Johnson next to it is for the tank...

hummermaniac88 · 04/11/2009, 04:34 PM

So I haven't posted in a quite a bit of time, heres a little update. I orederd some equipment on Bulk Reef Supply (BRS), they have great service! Andrew is the man! Anyhow, I'll let the pictures talk, sorry for some repeated pictures, but I like them all so I posted them all I like! Enjoy and let me know what yous think! A second shipment is going to come in soon thats going to consist of D/A ReefKeeper lite STG 3, random bulkheads, GFO & Carbon reactor, Maxijets with mods and lights!

5 Stage RO/DI system! 75GPD, YES!

The RO

The DI

No TDS...? I don't think so, Dual TDS FTW!

DRILLIN' TIME!

The sand was not from the shipment but...Meh. Don't worry I'll get more sand, just 2 bags for now, couldn't put more than 2 bags of sand in my car or it would of rubbed lol...

The Main item of the shipment! THE SKIMMER! Octopus Extreme 300 (Octo-X300)! YAY!

More pictures coming of the skimmer, its uploading as I type!

hummermaniac88 · 04/11/2009, 04:58 PM

The skimmer was bigger than I had planned, almost didn't fit in my stand. Well it surely didn't fit in my a 50 gallon that I was planning to get as a sump. Read on for the solution that Mat167 gave me. Thanks lol!

Here it is!

Compare it with the bottle of water, Its big...

I love it!

Yeah dusty, I know...

I love the silencer, very nice!

So heres the solution, an 8$ Rubbermade bin to house my skimmer which is going to connected to my sump.

Yeah its going to fit!

Thats all folks! Thanks for looking!

hummermaniac88 · 04/11/2009, 11:38 PM

No comments...? Wow.

tangtang clown · 04/12/2009, 04:49 PM

Looks great man. How are you going to plumb the tote into your system? How are you going to keep a constant water level in your tote?

will16 · 04/12/2009, 07:39 PM

Looking good. I'm a big fan of BRS too.

Are you going to practice drilling on something else first? Or is the dt going to be the first? I've been thinking of doing it soon. I'm a bit nervous about it though.

hummermaniac88 · 04/12/2009, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tangtang clown
Looks great man. How are you going to plumb the tote into your system? How are you going to keep a constant water level in your tote?

I haven't quite planned that yet, I am actually in the process of doing some research to see what the options are and which one would yeild the greatest advantages. Any suggestions?

*Edit* LOL at your sig!

hummermaniac88 · 04/12/2009, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by will16
Looking good. I'm a big fan of BRS too.

Are you going to practice drilling on something else first? Or is the dt going to be the first? I've been thinking of doing it soon. I'm a bit nervous about it though.

I am very nervous right now, I am going to practice tomorrow on piece of glass, but I don't like the idea of drilling glass... I am going to use a pneumatic angle grinder, because its lighter and less in the way when I am concentrating on drilling. I am about 50/50 about finding someone to drill it and drilling it myself.

Yeah, I saw you got the dosing pumps from them, how you like them? I am planning for that in my shipment #2!

Oh yes, I forgot to ask, how do you like the Reef Keeper 2? I want to get a RK Lite, but don't really know if its worth it.

lb013 · 04/12/2009, 09:23 PM

Very nice job! Keep the updates coming.

hummermaniac88 · 04/12/2009, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lb013
Very nice job! Keep the updates coming.

Thanks! I see you have a 125Gallon too, care to share some pictures? I want to see your set up too! Maybe it'll give me some good ideas that I can copy !

02/02/2009, 09:49 PM	#1
hummermaniac88 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 258	My slow reef adventure! Greetings guys, I have been working at a LFS for a couple of months now and hanging around all the fish made hit the reef bug hard. Since I get discounted aquariums at work, I decided to pick one up. A 125 gallon was chosen. It fits on the way down to the basement and its the maximum amount of work and money I am willing to use. Unfortunetly(Or fortunetly? the flip sides...) I am a a full time student, and I have to balance all these things in my tight schedule, so this will officially be the slowest build thread ever. Maybe I'll work on it once every 2 weeks, if I am lucky... Anyhow, I started building the stand a couple of days ago, I need suggestion. Pictures are below! Oh BTW, mat167 is going to be my sidekick! Yay! Here are the prints, ignore the mesurements since most of them are off, just a general idea of the stand. I have never build anything like this ever, so I don't want it to fail...So please please please tell me if this thing looks like it will hold a 125g...I used 2 X 6 because they seem stirdy... I will be trying to base this whole thing on will16's design, cause its just amazing. I know I wont do as good of a job, but man, if I get 90% I am a happy camper! (Thanks! )Click here for the link. Last edited by hummermaniac88; 02/02/2009 at 09:58 PM.

02/02/2009, 09:56 PM	#4
hummermaniac88 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 258	I wish lol, its the slowest BMW in the world lol.... __________________ Click on my little red house for my 135G Build! Current Tank Info: 135G + 33G REF + 25ish G Bin

02/02/2009, 10:10 PM	#5
MrRyanT Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 1,334	That stand would probably hold 3 125's so don't even worry about that. Looking good so far, keep us posted. __________________ We are what we repeatedly do, excellence then, is not an act, but a habit. - Aristotle Current Tank Info: 110 gallon reef

02/03/2009, 10:48 AM	#9
hummermaniac88 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 258	Thanks guys, I'll try to work on it whenever I can, but midterms are coming up.... __________________ Click on my little red house for my 135G Build! Current Tank Info: 135G + 33G REF + 25ish G Bin

02/25/2009, 08:36 PM	#10
hummermaniac88 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 258	Ok guys a little update, midterms are done and so is my frame for the stand actually. Mat167 and I decided to work it today and finish the frame so there we go! Tonight I will be sanding it down and preparing it for the 3 coats of staining...Any tips for that guys? Top frame and bottom frame unite for the first time! Putting the middle legs and supporting legs... All together now... Top braces... Bottom braces... With the aquarium on top... It holds! Yay! My top peice and bottom piece were warped in the garage because of the dry and sudden humidity and I was worried that it wouldn't be good for the stand let alone the tank. But turned out ok...minor ajustments are needed but better than I thought. On paper this stand looked wimpy...but after todays build, Mat167 and I believe that this stnad is overkill lol...What you guys think? __________________ Click on my little red house for my 135G Build! Current Tank Info: 135G + 33G REF + 25ish G Bin

02/02/2009, 09:50 PM	#2
hummermaniac88 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 258	Winter, is the time my car hibernates until late april, so I do not have the most spacious garage to working, in fact I have a path to work with, yay winters... Uggg, the mess... WOOOOODDDDDDDD! __________________ Click on my little red house for my 135G Build! Current Tank Info: 135G + 33G REF + 25ish G Bin

02/02/2009, 09:55 PM	#3
coryjac0b Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Metairie, LA Posts: 754	is that an m5?

02/02/2009, 11:15 PM	#7
wbond Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: MI Posts: 71	yeah, it'll hold, no problem!

02/03/2009, 12:07 AM	#8
will16 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 1,805	Nice start! Agreed... that stand will not have any problems with that tank. Definitely keep us posted.

02/25/2009, 08:44 PM	#11
macronut Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Indianapolis IN Posts: 404	Looking good. Don't worry about the time frame on the build. Just look at it as a blessing in disguise. Your plan can develop and you will be totally pleased with your tank! Good luck!

02/25/2009, 09:38 PM	#12
hummermaniac88 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 258	I guess it does finish better when time is not an issue, everything went well except that the wood was warped... Hope everything sails smooth tomorrow AKA work day # 3... Fingers crossed... __________________ Click on my little red house for my 135G Build! Current Tank Info: 135G + 33G REF + 25ish G Bin

02/25/2009, 09:50 PM	#13
will16 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 1,805	That stand is definitely overkill but I woudl take overbuilt over underbuilt any day. Looking good. It looks like the tank is not drilled. What are you plans for that?

02/25/2009, 09:56 PM	#14
ebording Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: san jose ca Posts: 236	Man where can I get one of those yamaha powerheads?! does that come with a controller? __________________ -Ducky Current Tank Info: 55gal reef 30 gal local coldwater

04/11/2009, 04:34 PM	#17
hummermaniac88 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 258	So I haven't posted in a quite a bit of time, heres a little update. I orederd some equipment on Bulk Reef Supply (BRS), they have great service! Andrew is the man! Anyhow, I'll let the pictures talk, sorry for some repeated pictures, but I like them all so I posted them all I like! Enjoy and let me know what yous think! A second shipment is going to come in soon thats going to consist of D/A ReefKeeper lite STG 3, random bulkheads, GFO & Carbon reactor, Maxijets with mods and lights! 5 Stage RO/DI system! 75GPD, YES! The RO The DI No TDS...? I don't think so, Dual TDS FTW! DRILLIN' TIME! The sand was not from the shipment but...Meh. Don't worry I'll get more sand, just 2 bags for now, couldn't put more than 2 bags of sand in my car or it would of rubbed lol... The Main item of the shipment! THE SKIMMER! Octopus Extreme 300 (Octo-X300)! YAY! More pictures coming of the skimmer, its uploading as I type! __________________ Click on my little red house for my 135G Build! Current Tank Info: 135G + 33G REF + 25ish G Bin

04/11/2009, 04:58 PM	#18
hummermaniac88 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 258	The skimmer was bigger than I had planned, almost didn't fit in my stand. Well it surely didn't fit in my a 50 gallon that I was planning to get as a sump. Read on for the solution that Mat167 gave me. Thanks lol! Here it is! Compare it with the bottle of water, Its big... I love it! Yeah dusty, I know... I love the silencer, very nice! So heres the solution, an 8$ Rubbermade bin to house my skimmer which is going to connected to my sump. Yeah its going to fit! Thats all folks! Thanks for looking! __________________ Click on my little red house for my 135G Build! Current Tank Info: 135G + 33G REF + 25ish G Bin

04/11/2009, 11:38 PM	#19
hummermaniac88 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 258	No comments...? Wow. __________________ Click on my little red house for my 135G Build! Current Tank Info: 135G + 33G REF + 25ish G Bin

04/12/2009, 04:49 PM	#20
tangtang clown Expert Beginner Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 2,155	Looks great man. How are you going to plumb the tote into your system? How are you going to keep a constant water level in your tote? __________________ You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. Current Tank Info: "My tank is heavy man" -Tommy Chong

04/12/2009, 07:39 PM	#21
will16 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 1,805	Looking good. I'm a big fan of BRS too. Are you going to practice drilling on something else first? Or is the dt going to be the first? I've been thinking of doing it soon. I'm a bit nervous about it though.

04/12/2009, 09:23 PM	#24
lb013 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: PA Posts: 79	Very nice job! Keep the updates coming.