A whole new dimension!!!

[returnofsid]

Well, it's time for the next step in our journey of Reef Keeping Evolution!!

Last time, we took a step into a much smaller tank, with Angie's 24 gallon Aquapod Nano. This time, we'll be taking quite a large step in the opposite direction. In the coming weeks, I'll be taking and posting pictures of our progress as we start this new leg of our journey.

Okay, enough suspense, here's the details

200 Gallon Deep Dimension with a Starphire glass front panel!! Dimensions are 48" wide X 36" deep X 27" tall. Yes, you read that right, 36" front to back!!! Barbie, at Aquariums Solutions, made us a screaming deal (really, Angie screamed) on it that we just couldn't say "no" to, although Angie mighta tried a time or two.

That's all the details for now, but stay tuned!!! Hope to start building the stand this week.

[returnofsid]

Sorry this thread hasn't been updated. It's because there's nothing to update at the moment. A trip to Montana took priority and I haven't even begun to build the stand yet. Hoping to get it started in the next couple of days.

[returnofsid]

Finally, a couple of pictures...lol. The stand is assembled, and in the living room. Well, partially assembled. The framework is complete and ready to hold up the tank. I'll probably have the tank on the stand tomorrow, depending on how much help I'm able to get. I'll sheet the stand later, most likely with 1/2" oak ply. The "floor" will be 1/2" CDX plywood. I had to build the stand in stages, that I could then bring into the house and assemble. Otherwise, it wouldn't fit through any doors.





Here's the tank, still crated up.

[Emg]

Can't wait to see that puppy all set up !!!

[Barbie]

Yeah, what are you waiting for?

Barbie

[returnofsid]

More muscles. A couple guys with muscles...lol. Had planned on a couple friends from across the street helping me get the tank in last night, but they had an unexpected change in plans. Hoping for today.

[Emg]

Ha....you mean you can drag that little ole thing in by yourself ? Shheesh !

[returnofsid]

LOL I'll be taking pictures of the moving process. If I posted pics of myself trying to drag the tank into the house, Barbie AND Angie would kill me!!!

Still awaiting my neighborhood muscle.

[returnofsid]

So here's an update I've been really wanting to make!! Today, I get to.

Here's the stand, not finished. Still need to decide what style of trim I'm going to use and still need to build the doors. Screws will all be hidden by trim. There will also be plywood installed for the "floor" of the stand.





Here's the pictures I've REALLY been waiting to take. We got the tank placed on the stand a few hours ago.



To give an idea of how large this thing actually is:

[MGDMIRAGE]

awesome can't wait till it's filled up.. You shoulda called me i woulda helped move it in!

[returnofsid]

WooHoo!!! We got a tank full of water!!! It's only freshwater, to test plumbing, flow and such. No leaks, stand is level, we're making progress!!





Yes, there's a mesh wheel in the skimmer collection cup...lol. Just put it there so I wouldn't lose it in all the clutter.



The Sea Swirl on the left hand side will have the locline added to it tomorrow. I wanted to see the flow with and without the locline Y.

[returnofsid]

Well, I have 2X32 gallon trash cans full of saltwater, and Barbie's 100 gallon stock tank filling with RO/DI water. Hopefully, by mid-day, I'll have 160 gallons of saltwater. Here in a bit, after drinking more coffee, I'll haul a bunch of live rock from the basement and start building the base. Then I'll get the dry sand in the bottom and start filling with the 60ish gallons of SW that I already have!! Hopefully I can talk Angie into taking pics while I play with live rock, sand and am generally getting WET!!

[Slate]

Can't wait to see more pics of your progress. Just offer the wife chocolate and wine....that is how I bend my wife's will to my own .

[returnofsid]

LMAO!!! You've obviously never met Angie!!!

Anyway, here's some boring pics for the night. No, Angie didn't take them...lol.



Here's about 1/3 of the rock I added today. That's a lid from the largest Rubbermaid tote I have. To give you an idea of size, the lid is about 3' long.


LOL Ceiling fan right above the camera, you can see the pull chain. Okay, this is all the rock I added today. There's still LOTS of room. I'm sure I'll re-aquascape several times before I get it all in.




Ran out of water, so I put a pump in to circulate water, and called it a night.

[Emg]

Nice Rock Sid !

Sure is a lot of fun putting a new tank together. I'm always a bit awed by those of you who delve into the sump addition...lol...all that plumbing and equipment makes my eyes spin and my brain turn off in self defense. Just give me a couple of large HOBS and an outlet and I'm set to go !

Looking forward to more progress pics and a fully loaded and operational liquid wall unit !

[returnofsid]

The plumbing can be a bit daunting, but it's not bad, as long as you plan it all out before hand. I eliminated the 2 return lines in the corner overflows, just plugged them. Water drains from each overflow into one end of sump/refugium. Water flows through skimmer and then continues through sump/fuge to return pump. Water returns from return pump through a 1" line that splits into 2X1" lines, each feeding a 3/4" Seaswirl. For simplicity, each return could have returned through overflow, and it would have been easier, but not as easy to manipulate flow.

Tank is still very cloudy, so no new pics yet. I just through on 2 Magnum canister filters, with micron inserts. Hopefully that will clear the tank up quickly.

[Emg]

......"Water flows through skimmer and then continues through sump/fuge to return pump. Water returns from return pump through a 1" line that splits into 2X1" lines, each feeding a 3/4" Seaswirl. For simplicity, each return could have returned through overflow, and it would have been easier".......

I'm sure it'll clear up quickly. I was amazed at how fast my 50 cleared up after the move. I had put in new sand instead of using the sand I had. After stirring up that mess I was sure it would create issues if I put it in there. Man....was it RANK !

[returnofsid]

Yeah, I thought about using sand from the 75, in the 200, but discounted that idea. That sand bed has been established for about 3 years and I'm sure once you dig down about 1/2", it's pretty nasty...lol. So, I went with new, dry sand as well. It's clearing up pretty quickly.

[returnofsid]

Tank has cleared up a lot!! Last night, it was still a lil murky, but I took some pics anyway. Then I just took a couple more pics. Here they are. Forgive the reflections...lol. Without lights on the tank, I can't take pics at night, with room lights out. Soooo, we get reflections.
Last night


Just a few minutes ago


Here, you can see a reflection of Angie's Nano.


Today, I will drill anti siphon holes in the outputs of the SeaSwirls. Last night, I tested the sump/fuge capacity, by unplugging the return pump. Before doing this, I bent the Locline Y up a bit, to get it closer to the surface. By the time everything drained, I still had room for about 8 1/5 gallons in the sump/fuge. While doing this, I'll also do away with the locline Ys and replace with a single locline flare on each SeaSwirl.

Might also get around to adding more live rock today.

Last night, I tested the water. The only thing that registered was a very slight reading of nitrates. That was before I put the skimmer online.

[returnofsid]

Done for the day, and exhausted!! I got all the rock in the 200. Most of the corals are in, some are still in the 75 awaiting transfer. I just got too wore out...lol. All fish are still in the 75 and will be caught, bagged and acclimated tomorrow. There are a few fish in the the 75, that won't make it into the 200, for various reasons. I'll also add a Modded MJ1200. Well, here's some pics I just too...enjoy. There's some sand floating around, so they aren't the best of pics.





This is Actinics only.



This is all lights on, well, for now. Right now, there's only a 6 bulb, Tek5 fixture on the tank. I plan to add another 4 bulb Tek 5 fixture, as soon as possible.



From the end



Left side



Center



Right of center



Far right



Still not enough room!!!



Once the 75 is all tore down, I'll tackle the 46, some of which is also going into the 200.

[Emg]

I LOVE it ! Nice job on the scape !



I know what you mean about getting worn out doing all that....and I only had to move a 50. The tylenol came in handy for the next few days after the move.

[returnofsid]

Here's some Macro shots to enjoy.

[Slate]

Looks amazing, keep up with the great work.

[returnofsid]

A couple new arrivals that came direct from Hawaii, via Les at WPH (Wet Pets Hawaii). They arrived bright and early this morning, and are already chowing down!!

The first is a Lavender Tang that was kind of an impulse buy, one of those, "You're already placing an order, the price is awesome...so add it to the order," things.

The second is a 4 Lined Wrasse. I've wanted 1 for 3 years now. Barbie has been watching her list for one forever, Kevin has watched for me as well. No luck!!

So, I PMd Les about it, or posted about it or something....lol. Finally, he had one on his list AND at a great price!!!

Another couple here in Spokane, also ordered a few things, so Les was generous enough to send them together.

The 4 Lined Wrasse is already hunting and pecking at the rocks and will be joined by a 6 Lined Wrasse in the near future. The Lavender Tang is already gobbling down algae sheets, like a lil' piggy. It and the Scribbled Rabbit have been buddying around the tank together. I'll be adding a Purple Tang, this evening, that's been in the 46 for about a week, awaiting the arrival of the Lavender Tang. I didn't want the Purple Tang to have a week to establish any territory, before adding the Lavender Tang.

[Slate]

Very nice, It is always a great feeling to finally obtain something you've been wanting for three years.