1st tank build

Down · 04/02/2013, 11:58 PM

I picked up my first tank over the weekend. 150G Lee Mar with a 40ish gallon sump and some extra fixins. Stand was in serious need of some TLC in the paint department which is what I'm currently having a TON of fun doing.

Dirty tank but you can almost see the overflows.

Surprising how much work I'd already put into cleaning the sump when this pic was taken.

Example of the existing paint job on the stand.

140 lbs or so of live rock on life support in my family room.

Relatively cleaned up metal halide/LED fixture.

sump is pretty clean and the interior of stand is sanded.

I'm painting the stand black, no need to go down to the wood. I do have most of the heavy brush strokes sanded through at this point, though.

My Vertex IN-180. it came cleaned up, so it's probably my favorite piece of equipment so far.

Kalakuhan · 04/03/2013, 12:51 AM

Let the fun begin....

Definitely worth it! Nice tank, i like the corner overflows.
what are the dimensions?

Down · 04/03/2013, 01:45 AM

Thanks! It's actually not quite 150g, an oddball 72l x 19w x 24t.

Frick · 04/03/2013, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Down

Current USA Sunpod. I haven't seen one of those in awhile. That was a good fixture. I wish they could have done an updated version with the LED cannons in those.

Looks like it is coming a long great.

Weyrman · 04/03/2013, 01:46 PM

What fun bringing an old tank back to life!

bugs713 · 04/03/2013, 06:08 PM

Looking great! Like Roy said, fun to bring an old ugly back to glory!

Good Luck!

Down · 04/04/2013, 12:03 AM

Thanks for the info Frick, I had no clue on brand.
Yes, I'm enjoying the process and hope it'll be a striking improvement but I am certainly looking forward to being done with it. Dealt with a bit of an aiptasia outbreak in my live rock today and, while it's not too obvious from this pic, I am done sanding.

Kalakuhan · 04/04/2013, 12:45 AM

Looks like an episode of This Old Tank!

Down · 04/04/2013, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kalakuhan

Looks like an episode of This Old Tank!

LOL. Only difference being, I'm sure not doling out advice. from setting the aquarium up to refinishing the stand, all of this is a first time endeavor for me.

tcamos · 04/04/2013, 07:55 AM

Can't wait to see what you turn it into!

I am not handy like this so it's fun to see what people do who are.

Here's how I do handy stuff http://www.snotr.com/video/3166/Red_Green_Show

"If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy" so...good thing I'm so handsome.

Down · 04/06/2013, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcamos

Can't wait to see what you turn it into!

I am not handy like this so it's fun to see what people do who are.

Here's how I do handy stuff http://www.snotr.com/video/3166/Red_Green_Show

"If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy" so...good thing I'm so handsome.

Red Green was a visionary, lol.

So, first coat of paint is on!

And I now have a 55g water mixing apparatus.

Down · 04/10/2013, 08:52 PM

Well, it's been a few days and we're still chugging along, ever so slowly.
My sand from Reef Rocks came today. Sorry mailman.

And the stand is finished and moved into its final resting place. Thank god.

m-six hundred · 04/10/2013, 10:38 PM

Stand looks great!

Kalakuhan · 04/10/2013, 10:43 PM

I agree! Stand came out looking great.

See, the bob vila in you came out after all.

Down · 04/10/2013, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m-six hundred

Stand looks great!

Thanks, it was certainly an undertaking. I have a feeling that getting the tank level on my textured, slate flooring should be no walk in the park either.

Down · 04/15/2013, 10:32 AM

Power heads showed up a few days ago. Only pieces left to acquire are plumbing parts. Hope to have it up and running (finally) by the weekend.

bugs713 · 04/15/2013, 04:01 PM

My advice on plumbing from my experience:
Use a bunch of unions to make cleaning, installation and upgrading easier to do.
Also use gate valves instead of ball valves. Gate valves give you precision flow control, ball valves do not; gate valves do not stick/freeze open or closed as easily as the rotten ball valves do.
And, avoid 90 degree bends if you can and use Spa-Flex where you can to also help reduce vibration and water noise.

Good luck!

Down · 04/15/2013, 05:59 PM

Thanks for the input. Honestly, I won't even be doing the plumbing myself. I bought the tank from someone associated with an aquarium maintenance company so I'm having his company come out to do the plumbing. I met with the guy a couple days ago and I'll be doing mostly spa flex with minimal ball/gate valves, I'll be relying on maintaining a low enough sump level/return line to just break the siphon for maintenance. It certainly won't be the Cadillac of setups but this won't be a long term setup anyway, this is my "feeler tank" to make sure I'm willing to commit the effort required for a tank like this. I'll either be out of the hobby or upgrading in the next year or 2 so I'm not too set on the perfect setup now.

Down · 04/19/2013, 05:08 PM

It's dirty but the tank is finally in and on the stand. Woo-hoo.

HondaKid · 04/20/2013, 10:37 PM

Looking good. The stand turned out really nice!

Kalakuhan · 04/21/2013, 07:15 AM

Wow, cleaned up nicely!

Down · 04/21/2013, 02:03 PM

Thanks! About to tackle the plumbing. With any luck, I'll have water and rock in before bedtime.

Down · 04/24/2013, 12:15 AM

The plumbing is done and I have water in the tank.

It's mostly flex tubing and certainly isn't fodder for a tank of the month but it's holding water.

Of course I've now found another issue. While I really dug on the idea of the open back on this stand, since it would combat heat and condensation, I'm no longer as taken with it. It's L.O.U.D. I mean loud. My return is a MAG 9.5 which I know doesn't exactly scream quiet operation but it's definitely worse than I expected. I've got it on a silicone pot holder for the time being until I can dig up a mouse pad which I hope will help some. The pot holder did nothing. Soooo, I got some insulation/sound deadener to tack to the back of the stand for a temporary solution and there's part of me that wants to weatherstrip the doors to keep a little bit more of that sound contained but I'm worried about sealing it up too tight.
I'm also tempted to buy an Eheim but:
1. I need a break from unplanned, extra expenses. even if only for a moment.
2. I'm worried there wouldn't be as much of an improvement as I hope.

Sigh. Keep on, keepin on, I suppose.

frogg21 · 04/24/2013, 12:22 AM

I had a mag 9 in a little bowfront 46 gal. and it wasn't too bad at all. Is the noise definitely from the pump? and is the pump running right? (I guess the tank maint. guys should know from the sound if its running louder than a mag 9 should).

Frick · 04/24/2013, 11:40 AM

You have made a nice turn around on everything so far. The break will give you time to cycle the tank.

I have a mag 9.5 on my tank as well. If it is used make sure it is clean inside. The impellers are notorious for building up minerals. So clean it off by running it in a bucket of water and vinegar. Make sure the inlet is as open as can be Which from the picture it looks like it is. What did you reduce the outlet to?

Also the Mag Drive pumps will come with a stick neoprene pad that you can stick on the side that contacts the sump. Use that if you have it of find another pad for it to rest on.

04/02/2013, 11:58 PM	#1
Down Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Scotttsdale, AZ Posts: 308	1st tank build I picked up my first tank over the weekend. 150G Lee Mar with a 40ish gallon sump and some extra fixins. Stand was in serious need of some TLC in the paint department which is what I'm currently having a TON of fun doing. Dirty tank but you can almost see the overflows. Surprising how much work I'd already put into cleaning the sump when this pic was taken. Example of the existing paint job on the stand. 140 lbs or so of live rock on life support in my family room. Relatively cleaned up metal halide/LED fixture. sump is pretty clean and the interior of stand is sanded. I'm painting the stand black, no need to go down to the wood. I do have most of the heavy brush strokes sanded through at this point, though. My Vertex IN-180. it came cleaned up, so it's probably my favorite piece of equipment so far.

04/03/2013, 12:51 AM	#2
Kalakuhan Free Reef Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 1,224	Let the fun begin.... Definitely worth it! Nice tank, i like the corner overflows. what are the dimensions? __________________ rePete Current Tank Info: 125g rimless leemar, 40B sump, ASM G3, MP40s, 2x40 3w CREEs CW/RB mix, Neptune Apex

04/03/2013, 01:46 PM	#5
Weyrman Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: South Valley Posts: 1,132	What fun bringing an old tank back to life! __________________ "The Grand Canyon of Colorado is a chasm that slices through the plateau country of northern Arizona like a gigantic and impossible desert crevasse." Colin Fletcher, "The Man Who Walked Through Time" Current Tank Info: 150g Mixed Reef, 30g sump, ASM2 & 3, Koralia & MP40, 3 Radions, Spectrapure Litermeter III ATO, Kalk dosing, Auto water change - 4 Tangs, 2 Rabbit Fish, 2 Dragonets, 12 Chromis, Hawkfish, Clown, Pajama Cardinals

04/03/2013, 06:08 PM	#6
bugs713 In-A-Gadda-Divita! Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Apache Junction, AZ - USA Posts: 2,345	Looking great! Like Roy said, fun to bring an old ugly back to glory! Good Luck! __________________ O\|\|\|\|\|\|\|O

04/04/2013, 12:45 AM	#8
Kalakuhan Free Reef Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 1,224	Looks like an episode of This Old Tank! __________________ rePete Current Tank Info: 125g rimless leemar, 40B sump, ASM G3, MP40s, 2x40 3w CREEs CW/RB mix, Neptune Apex

04/03/2013, 01:45 AM	#3
Down Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Scotttsdale, AZ Posts: 308	Thanks! It's actually not quite 150g, an oddball 72l x 19w x 24t.

04/04/2013, 12:03 AM	#7
Down Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Scotttsdale, AZ Posts: 308	Thanks for the info Frick, I had no clue on brand. Yes, I'm enjoying the process and hope it'll be a striking improvement but I am certainly looking forward to being done with it. Dealt with a bit of an aiptasia outbreak in my live rock today and, while it's not too obvious from this pic, I am done sanding.

04/04/2013, 07:55 AM	#10
tcamos Reef, Crustacean, Puffers Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: East Mesa. Posts: 3,003	Can't wait to see what you turn it into! I am not handy like this so it's fun to see what people do who are. Here's how I do handy stuff http://www.snotr.com/video/3166/Red_Green_Show "If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy" so...good thing I'm so handsome. __________________ - Chad http://youtube.com/arizonafishkeeping Current Tank Info: 75 Gallon Reef & 20 Gallon Reef

04/10/2013, 08:52 PM	#12
Down Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Scotttsdale, AZ Posts: 308	Well, it's been a few days and we're still chugging along, ever so slowly. My sand from Reef Rocks came today. Sorry mailman. And the stand is finished and moved into its final resting place. Thank god.

04/10/2013, 10:38 PM	#13
m-six hundred The Most Diabolical Hater Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Ruston, Louisiana Posts: 2,766	Stand looks great!

04/10/2013, 10:43 PM	#14
Kalakuhan Free Reef Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 1,224	I agree! Stand came out looking great. See, the bob vila in you came out after all. __________________ rePete Current Tank Info: 125g rimless leemar, 40B sump, ASM G3, MP40s, 2x40 3w CREEs CW/RB mix, Neptune Apex

04/15/2013, 10:32 AM	#16
Down Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Scotttsdale, AZ Posts: 308	Power heads showed up a few days ago. Only pieces left to acquire are plumbing parts. Hope to have it up and running (finally) by the weekend.

04/15/2013, 04:01 PM	#17
bugs713 In-A-Gadda-Divita! Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Apache Junction, AZ - USA Posts: 2,345	My advice on plumbing from my experience: Use a bunch of unions to make cleaning, installation and upgrading easier to do. Also use gate valves instead of ball valves. Gate valves give you precision flow control, ball valves do not; gate valves do not stick/freeze open or closed as easily as the rotten ball valves do. And, avoid 90 degree bends if you can and use Spa-Flex where you can to also help reduce vibration and water noise. Good luck! __________________ O\|\|\|\|\|\|\|O

04/15/2013, 05:59 PM	#18
Down Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Scotttsdale, AZ Posts: 308	Thanks for the input. Honestly, I won't even be doing the plumbing myself. I bought the tank from someone associated with an aquarium maintenance company so I'm having his company come out to do the plumbing. I met with the guy a couple days ago and I'll be doing mostly spa flex with minimal ball/gate valves, I'll be relying on maintaining a low enough sump level/return line to just break the siphon for maintenance. It certainly won't be the Cadillac of setups but this won't be a long term setup anyway, this is my "feeler tank" to make sure I'm willing to commit the effort required for a tank like this. I'll either be out of the hobby or upgrading in the next year or 2 so I'm not too set on the perfect setup now.

04/19/2013, 05:08 PM	#19
Down Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Scotttsdale, AZ Posts: 308	It's dirty but the tank is finally in and on the stand. Woo-hoo.

04/20/2013, 10:37 PM	#20
HondaKid Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 13	Looking good. The stand turned out really nice!

04/21/2013, 07:15 AM	#21
Kalakuhan Free Reef Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 1,224	Wow, cleaned up nicely! __________________ rePete Current Tank Info: 125g rimless leemar, 40B sump, ASM G3, MP40s, 2x40 3w CREEs CW/RB mix, Neptune Apex

04/21/2013, 02:03 PM	#22
Down Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Scotttsdale, AZ Posts: 308	Thanks! About to tackle the plumbing. With any luck, I'll have water and rock in before bedtime.

04/24/2013, 12:15 AM	#23
Down Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Scotttsdale, AZ Posts: 308	The plumbing is done and I have water in the tank. It's mostly flex tubing and certainly isn't fodder for a tank of the month but it's holding water. Of course I've now found another issue. While I really dug on the idea of the open back on this stand, since it would combat heat and condensation, I'm no longer as taken with it. It's L.O.U.D. I mean loud. My return is a MAG 9.5 which I know doesn't exactly scream quiet operation but it's definitely worse than I expected. I've got it on a silicone pot holder for the time being until I can dig up a mouse pad which I hope will help some. The pot holder did nothing. Soooo, I got some insulation/sound deadener to tack to the back of the stand for a temporary solution and there's part of me that wants to weatherstrip the doors to keep a little bit more of that sound contained but I'm worried about sealing it up too tight. I'm also tempted to buy an Eheim but: 1. I need a break from unplanned, extra expenses. even if only for a moment. 2. I'm worried there wouldn't be as much of an improvement as I hope. Sigh. Keep on, keepin on, I suppose.

04/24/2013, 12:22 AM	#24
frogg21 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Fragstaff, AZ Posts: 341	mag 9 I had a mag 9 in a little bowfront 46 gal. and it wasn't too bad at all. Is the noise definitely from the pump? and is the pump running right? (I guess the tank maint. guys should know from the sound if its running louder than a mag 9 should).

04/24/2013, 11:40 AM	#25
Frick AZ FRAG President Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: TempE, AZ Posts: 4,312	You have made a nice turn around on everything so far. The break will give you time to cycle the tank. I have a mag 9.5 on my tank as well. If it is used make sure it is clean inside. The impellers are notorious for building up minerals. So clean it off by running it in a bucket of water and vinegar. Make sure the inlet is as open as can be Which from the picture it looks like it is. What did you reduce the outlet to? Also the Mag Drive pumps will come with a stick neoprene pad that you can stick on the side that contacts the sump. Use that if you have it of find another pad for it to rest on. __________________ Jason Frick "Polyp Whisperer"