150 Shallow Reef

[Joe]

With the help of Static, I got my new 150 tank on the stand last night. My old broken back is screaming at me today.

The tank is 88 wide and 27 deep with a height of 15 inches and edge bracing. Depending on the speed of my last build, it should be complete in about 4 years!


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[Murfman]

J.J. does have a tendency to jack up backs!!!

[static reef]

Since you didnt take any pics. Here is the stand. Still needs to be painted to completion and wrapped, but its def sturdy.

[89delta]

I am in awwww Joe. That will be a great setup. Where did u get that tank? Am gonna have to talk Mary into it once the house in Fl. is finished being renovated and we move home.

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[Joe]

I am in awwww Joe. That will be a great setup. Where did u get that tank? Am gonna have to talk Mary into it once the house in Fl. is finished being renovated and we move home.

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I got it through Cris at Aquatic Arts in Denver. It's just what I was wanting!


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[charleshardy5]

Since you didnt take any pics. Here is the stand. Still needs to be painted to completion and wrapped, but its def sturdy.

Look! A tank at eye level for Joe!

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[FunFishin24]

Looks good joe. Probably a bit more functional for you. . Can't wait to see it full of corals.

[Joe]

Look! A tank at eye level for Joe!

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It's 45 inches high at the top, so I'm on a step ladder.

[Joe]

Making the rock wall, this time just egg crate, some black pond foam(uv resistant), a piece of rocker and there, and Epoxy coating with sand sprinkled on it. NO Hydraulic cement!








After I let the foam dry, I go in and pick out pieces to form the shape I want and carve out holes or caves.



http://vid1359.photobucket.com/album...psolylbwko.mp4

I did some of this while watching the Super Bowl upstairs and sitting on the carpet. The static electricity made it a pain to clean up. Every time I would throw away the pieces I carved out, they would jump back out of the garbage can.


After a coat of epoxy and sand.




I got bracing on the top sides of the tank to help keep fish, salt spray, and drips in the tank. It also helps the rock wall pieces stay in place. They are crazy buoyant, so instead of adding weight, I just made them the right size to tuck up under the bracing edges. I won't need to silicone them in place, which will help if I want to pull them out for any reason.

[static reef]

Sick. Awesome video man. Watched it probably 5 times

[the haj]

Looking very nice, Following along on your build.

[ddwmedic]

Wow, very cool

[Joe]

All pieces are made and test fit. Coated the remaining ones with epoxy last night. Once I fit the back piece in, I'll cover up the gaps between the pieces. I'll have water in this thing this week. Probably won't plumb it into my display until I'm sure it's cycled properly. I'll be seeding with live rock, some live sand, and Dr. Tims Nitrifying bacteria, so I expect it to be good to go really fast.


Left side.


I coated the end pieces, but not the back one to make sure the fit was good before I add the epoxy, which makes it harder to trim it down.


Right Side. I may add a gyre on this side by cutting out the top of this piece. Not sure what powerhead I want to use yet.

[ddwmedic]

I'm not worthy!!!
Sweet...

[Kirblit]

That looks awesome Joe. I may be asking for advice when I try this on the 300.

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[GrassHoppa']

Wow! now that is cool

[FunFishin24]

Great job Joe. Well done. Really looks good as everyone has said. Hopefully this one works better for you than your other one did.

[Joe]

I've had the tank cycling for several days now and am ready to start putting critters other than pods and brine shrimp in it.

Plumbing underneath is just about done. A couple more connections tomorrow and I'll let the water start running from the bigger tank into the new one.

I made clean-out ports at the base of my drain pipes so I can open them easily if I get a blockage. The water will gravity feed into my sump under the other tank and go through a filter sock. I had to make a the plumbing go up and over the sump wall because I just didn't want to risk drilling it.

[Joe]

I forgot to run my electrical, but I went back and fixed it. Thank goodness I caught this before there was a problem. It's good now!

[Murfman]

I forgot to run my electrical, but I went back and fixed it. Thank goodness I caught this before there was a problem. It's good now!

Lil bit of silicone and you are good to go!