Well after almost 2 years out of the hobby, I had to get back into it. It took 4 months of being deployed overseas to fund this project and I finally have it up and running. I decided on a 40 breeder for the display and a 20 long for the sump. I have a SRO 1000 internal skimmer with bubble blaster pump, mag 12 to push the return, refugium, and 2 reactors, 2 MP 10's, RKE, BRS doser pumps, 2x 250w MH (HQI) in lumen max DE 3 reflectors and fired from 2x lumatek ballasts, 2x T5's fpr color fired from a workhorse 5 ballast, finnex titanium heater, BRS 5 stage RO/DI 75 GPD unit close to 40lbs of sand and BRS reef saver rock. Of course the chemicals needed and the testkits and miscelanious items that go along with a reef tank were also purchased. I built my own stand because I am a stickler for sump areas and I prefer them spacious and clean as opposed to cluttered and messy looking. I did some searching online and I stole the design for the stand from another reefer but was unable to use his hood design so I had to fab that on my own. Here are the pics of the stand build.
I built the stand out of 2x4's
alt="" />
alt="" />
Got the panels on.
alt="" />
alt="" />
A little trim work.
alt="" />
alt="" />
I build a lip/shelf that surrounds the tank and hides the black frame of the tank to give it a cleaner look.
alt="" />
alt="" />
alt="" />
alt="" />
I laid out the tile just to see what it looks like with the tank. My wife picked out the color of the tiles for me. I think she picked the perfect color. the light blue tiles will shine with the tank lights up and running.
alt="" />
alt="" />
alt="" />
alt="" />
alt="" />
The hood frame is also made out of 2x4's that I ripped in half with the table saw. I make a hood from out of white wood 2x6's but the wood was softer and weaker so I trashed it and went with 2x4's. This turned out much better.
You will also notice the placement of the ballasts in the next few pictures. I lefts 8.5 inches of space behind the tank to keep my ballasts and hide my plumbing. The wood hatches on the sides hide the ballasts and are held in place by magnets. I can pop them out easly to access the ballasts or pumbing if needed.
alt="" />
alt="" />
alt="" />
alt="" />
alt="" />
alt="" />
alt="" />
I decided to make a bubble trap also for the sump. My the last 3 sumps I had when I was in the hobby didnt have one and the bubbles and "fizzies" from the bubbles were annoying as they would get everything wet over time.
alt="" />
alt="" />
I added this computer fan I got at Radio Shack and wired it up to help vent the humidity out since I have the back of the standed closed off. I used a standard dryer vent from Home Depot as well. It turned out nice and works like a champ.
alt="" />
alt="" />
Got the lights wired up.
alt="" />
alt="" />
alt="" />
alt="" />
alt="" />
alt="" />
I built a box to mount my RKE and the dosing pumps and put it in the closet next to the tank. This keeps all those wires out from under the tank and puts them out of site. I think it all looks much cleaner now.
alt="" />
The tank has been filled and running for about a week now. A buddy of mine gave me 10 gallons of water from his water change that I dumped into my tank to help jump start the cycle and another buddy mailed me a bag of cheeato and a 1/4 cup of sand to help seed my tank. So far everything is running great. I will post updated pics of the tank up and ruuning and I look forward to chatting with fellow reefers again.
cheers
Tom
I built the stand out of 2x4's
Got the panels on.
A little trim work.
I build a lip/shelf that surrounds the tank and hides the black frame of the tank to give it a cleaner look.
I laid out the tile just to see what it looks like with the tank. My wife picked out the color of the tiles for me. I think she picked the perfect color. the light blue tiles will shine with the tank lights up and running.
The hood frame is also made out of 2x4's that I ripped in half with the table saw. I make a hood from out of white wood 2x6's but the wood was softer and weaker so I trashed it and went with 2x4's. This turned out much better.
You will also notice the placement of the ballasts in the next few pictures. I lefts 8.5 inches of space behind the tank to keep my ballasts and hide my plumbing. The wood hatches on the sides hide the ballasts and are held in place by magnets. I can pop them out easly to access the ballasts or pumbing if needed.
I decided to make a bubble trap also for the sump. My the last 3 sumps I had when I was in the hobby didnt have one and the bubbles and "fizzies" from the bubbles were annoying as they would get everything wet over time.
I added this computer fan I got at Radio Shack and wired it up to help vent the humidity out since I have the back of the standed closed off. I used a standard dryer vent from Home Depot as well. It turned out nice and works like a champ.
Got the lights wired up.
I built a box to mount my RKE and the dosing pumps and put it in the closet next to the tank. This keeps all those wires out from under the tank and puts them out of site. I think it all looks much cleaner now.
The tank has been filled and running for about a week now. A buddy of mine gave me 10 gallons of water from his water change that I dumped into my tank to help jump start the cycle and another buddy mailed me a bag of cheeato and a 1/4 cup of sand to help seed my tank. So far everything is running great. I will post updated pics of the tank up and ruuning and I look forward to chatting with fellow reefers again.
cheers
Tom
