It started with a crawdad in a bowl

M

Michael Stephenson

Copepod
#1
#1
Last tank I had was a decade ago, a 125 built into my wall that I apparently didn't take enough pictures of.

When I tore it down, I said "never again".

The neighbor recently asked for help moving and setting up his newly purchased 75.

I got bit, again. So much for "never again".

I found this guy online: View attachment 16941 View attachment 16942

I got a really great deal on it.

The "peninsula" wasn't a bonus, but I can work with it.

I went home and got started.
 
M

Michael Stephenson

Copepod
#2
#2
Where to put it? Here looks good!

View attachment 16946

The carpet is going to get wet though, and at some point, I will probably want to replace the carpet. View attachment 16947

A little hardibacker... View attachment 16948

Some tile magic here and there.... View attachment 16949

Stop, lumber time.

View attachment 16950


A cut here, a screw there, some adjustment and I think this looks to be about right...

View attachment 16951

It's a little short though, needs legs... View attachment 16952

Looks like it skipped leg day a few too many times... there, this is better.

View attachment 16954

That looks like a mess waiting to happen, it needs covered on the bottom.

View attachment 16955
 
M

Michael Stephenson

Copepod
#3
#3
Time to get that sump/fuge going... View attachment 16956

I thought a that might be good to have something catch water if it leaked, so that's a shower liner under it. It now has the ability to keep about an in and a half of water from getting to the floor in the event of a leak.

View attachment 16957

Here's a little water, sand, rocks and light to get things started. View attachment 16958

Moving day! Side note: I hired movers. They didn't show. They didn't call to tell me they weren't going to show. If you're ever moving, absolutely do not use "Parker Movers LLC". Thank goodness for awesome neighbors!

View attachment 16959


Things settled for a few days and now I've got water moving. It's still not plumbed correctly, but at least there's some flow in the system and it's starting to come together.

View attachment 16960
 
M

Michael Stephenson

Copepod
#5
#5
So that's where we are for now. I have limited time available for things. Tonight, the plan is to actually get the plumbing in the right way with the correct pump and returns.

The bulkheads and their fittings have all been leaking a small amount so hopefully tonight I'll be able to get that corrected tonight as well.

I lost a wrass and all the snails in the move. I wanted to rehome the wrass, but I didn't want that to be his final resting place so I'm disappointed about that, but overall I'm good with how it's coming so far.

I'll post more updates later.

The frame of the stand is not how that's going to look, it's just holding the weight. Once everything is settled and I won't need access all the way around the tank, I'll work on making that prettier.

Feel free to criticize anything or make suggestions, I take feedback well.
 
M

Michael Stephenson

Copepod
#6
#6
Haddonisreef said:
Great start! What’s your livestock plans?
Click to expand...
I'm honestly not sure yet.

I'm not sure yet to be honest. Probably more toward fish that probably aren't in line with corals, but then again corals are always fun too. I've always had a thing for larger angels and triggers. This is finally a large enough tank for that. I don't think any tank would be complete without an anemone and a couple of clowns.

It's kind of a blank slate with a few inhabitants, there's some SPS in there, that aren't looking great, but I think mostly have survived.

Right now, I'm just patiently waiting for things to settle down.
 
SynDen

SynDen

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#13
#13
Looks good, but those baffles, look a bit high and aren't doing you any good against micro bubble control, as well as potentially causing a flood. Water levels could fluctuate with that design too, so then you would have an issue with an ato topping off to much or not enough, so it could potentially make stability a hard thing to find. Have you done a power-out test, to make sure it doesn't overflow, when the pumps are off? You likely have but if not, you should try a full power down and see how close to overflowing you get. Ideally it should be quite a way from the top of the sump.
The baffle layout should be something like this
View attachment 16981
This design will ensure you dont get micro bubbles in the display and keeps the water levels low enough so it wont potentially overflow when the power is cut. You also will have a lot better control of the water level as it flows through the sump.
There are other designs too, but at the least, the water coming into the last chamber, should pour over the top of the baffle, and it should also be the lowest baffle.
 
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M

Michael Stephenson

Copepod
#14
#14
SynDen said:
Looks good, but those baffles, look a bit high and aren't doing you any good against micro bubble control, as well as potentially causing a flood. Water levels could fluctuate with that design too, so then you would have an issue with an ato topping off to much or not enough, so it could potentially make stability a hard thing to find. Have you done a power-out test, to make sure it doesn't overflow, when the pumps are off? You likely have but if not, you should try a full power down and see how close to overflowing you get. Ideally it should be quite a way from the top of the sump.
The baffle layout should be something like this
View attachment 16981
This design will ensure you dont get micro bubbles in the display and keeps the water levels low enough so it wont potentially overflow when the power is cut. You also will have a lot better control of the water level as it flows through the sump
Click to expand...
That is a good point. It's pretty much already set in place so it won't be changed. I have simulated power outage to confirm there's enough room for what it takes to get to the overflow as well as what's siphoned back from the pump when it's off.

I got an extra glass to put in it, but running through it in my head over I didn't see a great way to use it. Now that it's running, I know the best place would be the first baffle. I may try build something to hold it up so water can pass under it as a first baffle. There definitely is too bubble action going over the top of the middle of it, which pop and will leave a mess eventually.
 
SynDen

SynDen

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#17
#17
Looks great. Do the panels each come off to access it?
 
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