Blue Water

Av8Bluewater · 09-24-2008, 03:46 PM

After flying around the Caribbean for a year and a half... and visiting almost every country there, it has inspired me to build a reef.

Welcome to my tank thread.

I bought my tank, and equipment on Craigslist.

180 Gallon tank with custom made stand and cabinet. It was 91" tall so I had to reduce it 6" to fit in my dining room. That was a whole day of woodwork. It cost me $250 dollars to move it from Houston to Dallas. About a week after Hurricane Ike it was hit or miss whether I would be able to get gas or not. (or food)
Trailer rental, 3 guys to help me move it in, and gas.

After several days of bleaching, soaking with baking soda... my rocks are clean. Today I started attaching rocks to the armature I built yesterday with PVC. I installed my pumps and plumbing.. waiting on the cement to dry. Tank only was filled today and tomorrow will get a full fresh water test run of the pumps and plumbing. I'm kinda nervous the plumbing around the overflow box will leak. Got them as tight as I could, but it's very awkward getting in there.

For some reason the rocks look dirtier in the pics than in person.
Critics and comments welcome.

More to follow as I progress.

Cheers

PackLeader · 09-24-2008, 03:52 PM

Looking good so far! The only thing I noticed is that your rockwork takes up a lot of room. What kind of fish are you planning on keeping?

scenario1313 · 09-24-2008, 03:53 PM

I can already tell this is going to be an outstanding reef.

Av8Bluewater · 09-24-2008, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PackLeader

Looking good so far! The only thing I noticed is that your rockwork takes up a lot of room. What kind of fish are you planning on keeping?

Well, I don't really know yet. Probably going to get some basic reef safe fish, Yellow tang, Hippo, clowns. I could have made it appear that there's more room by moving all the rocks back against the wall, but I like making it more interesting for the fish to have both sides to move around. It doesn't look as crowded for some reason when you look through the side windows.
After you said that I walked around it and I think it's fine.. You're right though in the pics it looks much more crowded.

PackLeader · 09-24-2008, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Av8Bluewater

Well, I don't really know yet. Probably going to get some basic reef safe fish, Yellow tang, Hippo, clowns. I could have made it appear that there's more room by moving all the rocks back against the wall, but I like making it more interesting for the fish to have both sides to move around. It doesn't look as crowded for some reason when you look through the side windows.
After you said that I walked around it and I think it's fine.. You're right though in the pics it looks much more crowded.

OK. I wasnt doubting it just wondering. Pics can do weird stuff when trying to compare sizes. A tang like a hippo though can reach over a foot long, just make sure you leave enough room for them to turn-around. Your probably fine.
Beautiful structure BTW!

GuitarMan89 · 09-24-2008, 04:22 PM

How did you attach the rock to the pvc, It looks really cool

Av8Bluewater · 09-24-2008, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitarMan89

How did you attach the rock to the pvc, It looks really cool

Thank you.
I used plastic industrial zip ties. You can get them at the hardware store. Most of the rocks have natural holes to put them through. I had to drill a few holes/break some apart... the rock is really soft and goes through easily with a masonry bit.

Av8Bluewater · 09-24-2008, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scenario1313

I can already tell this is going to be an outstanding reef.

Haha, we'll .. we'll see. I'll certainly try.

Otty · 09-24-2008, 07:14 PM

Way to go on your build, tank looks like it will give you many years of enjoyment

JupiterSailfish · 09-24-2008, 07:23 PM

Can you go any faster? I want to see it running

Beautiful looking setup!

09-24-2008, 03:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
Av8Bluewater Hammer Head Shark Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Old Town-22314 Posts: 2,630 Skin: Mobile Karma: 17869	Blue Water After flying around the Caribbean for a year and a half... and visiting almost every country there, it has inspired me to build a reef. Welcome to my tank thread. I bought my tank, and equipment on Craigslist. 180 Gallon tank with custom made stand and cabinet. It was 91" tall so I had to reduce it 6" to fit in my dining room. That was a whole day of woodwork. It cost me $250 dollars to move it from Houston to Dallas. About a week after Hurricane Ike it was hit or miss whether I would be able to get gas or not. (or food) Trailer rental, 3 guys to help me move it in, and gas. After several days of bleaching, soaking with baking soda... my rocks are clean. Today I started attaching rocks to the armature I built yesterday with PVC. I installed my pumps and plumbing.. waiting on the cement to dry. Tank only was filled today and tomorrow will get a full fresh water test run of the pumps and plumbing. I'm kinda nervous the plumbing around the overflow box will leak. Got them as tight as I could, but it's very awkward getting in there. For some reason the rocks look dirtier in the pics than in person. Critics and comments welcome. More to follow as I progress. Cheers Attached Thumbnails

09-24-2008, 03:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
PackLeader Giant Squid Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Reno, NV Age: 27 Posts: 5,450 Skin: Mint Karma: 50921	Looking good so far! The only thing I noticed is that your rockwork takes up a lot of room. What kind of fish are you planning on keeping? _________ Jason 200 gallon long reef: 55 gallon sump, 20 long fuge, 300+ pounds LR, 750W MH, 216W T5, ASM G4+ skimmer, reactors, wavemaker, etc Hippo tang, O clown pair, firefish, starry blenny, YT damsel, BJ trigger, Scopas tang, chromis. Too many corals and inverts to list. http://www.3reef.com/forums/show-off...-60554-19.html [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

09-24-2008, 03:53 PM	#3 (permalink)
scenario1313 Fu Manchu Lion Fish Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 1,919 Skin: Mint Karma: 20967	I can already tell this is going to be an outstanding reef. _________ http://www.3reef.com/forums/show-off...ild-55711.html *Only those who Risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go*

09-24-2008, 04:22 PM	#6 (permalink)
GuitarMan89 Giant Squid Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: West Chester, Pa Posts: 4,164 Skin: Classic Karma: 35358	How did you attach the rock to the pvc, It looks really cool _________ Equipment: 55 gal, PM Redline R125 Skimmer, Tek 6x54w T5 HO lighting, Vortech MP40, 87+ lbs fiji live rock, 20 gal. long sump, Rio2100 return, refugium w/ cheato

09-24-2008, 07:14 PM	#9 (permalink)
Otty Bikers are a dying breed Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Elizabethtown, IN Age: 42 Posts: 6,311 Skin: Classic Karma: 39978	Way to go on your build, tank looks like it will give you many years of enjoyment _________ Scott 265g (Peninsula) 3x400w MH's, 4x95w Actinics, AAT Lunar Lights, OM 4-way CL, PM Bullet 3 Skimmer, DelZone Eclipse 1, 57w Aqua UV, WavySea Plus for return, AAT Kalk Reactor, KNOP Ca Reactor w/PM Second Chamber, TradeWinds Chiller, ACIII Pro Controller, Oceanus ATO, PM PO₄ Reactor, 75g Sump, 30g Fuge Born March 5, 2007 Parameters My 265 Gal. Tank Thread

09-24-2008, 07:23 PM	#10 (permalink)
JupiterSailfish Peppermint Shrimp Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Age: 20 Posts: 422 Skin: Mint Karma: 706	Can you go any faster? I want to see it running Beautiful looking setup! _________ http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ium/tank-1.jpg 58 gallon

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