So it begins......

reef dummy · 12-16-2008, 03:36 PM

I've always enjoyed following everyone's reef chronicling and upgrade experiences and now I would like to introduce mine. My name is Todd, and my wife Jessica and I bought a 120G reef ready yesterday, we are finally going to upgrade our cramped 46G bowfront!!! We are building a custom stand with a friend who has wicked good woodworking skills. The stand will have 4x4's making up the bulk of the support. I plan on doing a DIY fuge/sump made out of rubbermaid and other DIY stuff. I will be upgrading my skimmer to a lifereef that is good up to 250G. I am certainly not an expert reefer as you can see from my username, but I am not a novice either. I will certainly have questions soon enough about plumbing as I have not done this before with a RR system. If anyone has a similar setup pics of plumbing would be greatly appreciated. I promise you all that I will post pics as the progress continues cuz we all love pics! Anyways, that is all for now, let me see if I can post a pic of the current 46, Thanks all.

[IMG]

[/IMG]

Stacef · 12-16-2008, 03:37 PM

Wow! I love your tank and can't wait to follow the build of the upgrade!

Jason25 · 12-16-2008, 03:50 PM

Your tank does not look like you are a dummy.

Mya · 12-16-2008, 07:04 PM

Liar Liar! Pants on Fire! Reef Dummy?!?! My Foot! Shame on you! =]

reef dummy · 12-22-2008, 08:41 PM

Thanks for the replies, I really am a newbie though. I wanted to post some recent pics of my 46 because it should be coming down next week. I also wanted to show everybody the stand build in case anybody's curious about a 120 g 4x2x2 stand, it turned out solid as a rock. Next week we will be putting custom finishes on the stand and it should look incredible. I am also doing a diy sump/refugium, it is a strong plastic tub with acrylic we cut ourselves. We painted the baffles black with plastic dip so that light can't enter the skimmer area (or very littke light anyways). I am going to use gorilla glue to glue the pieces in then I will silicone them . The tub is very strong and I don't think bowing will be an issue once glued in. Sorry it took so long for new pics and info. but I plan on chronincling this whole process, hope you enjoy. These pics came out way to big so I will repost in a few moments, sorry.

The 46

the 4x4 cuts

My buddy dave and the frame of stand ( he is the one really building it)

Stand with sump

sump w/lifereef skimmer

baffle for sump with black plastic dip

sump w/baffles in place

AndtheBonus · 12-22-2008, 09:39 PM

Wow looks great! Keep us updated!

Reddog170 · 12-22-2008, 10:01 PM

Cant wait to see how it turns out. Keep it coming.

reef dummy · 12-23-2008, 12:18 AM

Thanks for tagging along everyone, I appreciate it. Here is a pic of the baffles. I used gorilla glue and you can see the stuff foaming which is what is supposed to happen after a few minutes. I'll let this dry overnight and tomorrow will seal it with silicone.

Reddog170 · 12-23-2008, 12:49 AM

u ?knat pmusa rof esu oy did tahW

reefmasta · 12-23-2008, 12:53 AM

are you gona incorporate a bioball/rubble with the fuge? if so i was just wondering how you would get good flow through balls and filtermedia being that the baffles are glued straight to the bottom? and kinda was thinking the middle area should be a little larger for more plant area for more nutriant export. because on my tanks my refugiums are hugge because it really takes ALOT of plants to maintain a large tank (100+) . JUST a suggestion lol because i first did the same thing, started out with a little refugium and litteraly it was a waste of time becasuse i still had to do water changes.

yungreefer2410 · 12-23-2008, 01:02 AM

reddog what?!?

reef dummy · 12-23-2008, 01:04 AM

Reefmasta, No bio-balls, just some mud, rock and chaeto. I am a bit worried about the size but my skimmer is big so I don't have a ton of room.. The baffles should work well for the fuge as you dont want a ton of flow, this should just skim across the top keeping the fuge from being disturbed a ton. I also have very healthy (5+ year live rock in the tank which will help keep nitrates down). If it doesn't work it is an easy fix, pull the baffles and add more rock, we will see what happens. Like I said before I am going to try to update bunches, I am learning so all info. is appreciated.

Stacef · 12-23-2008, 02:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reddog170

u ?knat pmusa rof esu oy did tahW

Must be bored!

Translation--

What did you use for a sump tank?

Mya · 12-23-2008, 10:16 AM

Can I ask a silly question? Why did you dip the baffles? Why are you not wanting light in the other areas? Don't think I am picking apart you're design. Im not. Im just asking for the next one I build... Why you dip them and made them black. Thanks for answering my question.

Dentoid · 12-23-2008, 10:29 AM

Great start on the build! From the looks of the 46, it's was definitely time to up grade. You're going to have so much room in the 120. All the best!

12-16-2008, 03:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
reef dummy Scopas Tang Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 439 View Gallery Karma Komment	So it begins...... I've always enjoyed following everyone's reef chronicling and upgrade experiences and now I would like to introduce mine. My name is Todd, and my wife Jessica and I bought a 120G reef ready yesterday, we are finally going to upgrade our cramped 46G bowfront!!! We are building a custom stand with a friend who has wicked good woodworking skills. The stand will have 4x4's making up the bulk of the support. I plan on doing a DIY fuge/sump made out of rubbermaid and other DIY stuff. I will be upgrading my skimmer to a lifereef that is good up to 250G. I am certainly not an expert reefer as you can see from my username, but I am not a novice either. I will certainly have questions soon enough about plumbing as I have not done this before with a RR system. If anyone has a similar setup pics of plumbing would be greatly appreciated. I promise you all that I will post pics as the progress continues cuz we all love pics! Anyways, that is all for now, let me see if I can post a pic of the current 46, Thanks all. [IMG][/IMG]

12-16-2008, 03:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
Stacef Golden Moray Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Dubuque Posts: 2,620 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: So it begins...... Wow! I love your tank and can't wait to follow the build of the upgrade! __________________ Stace My 72g Build-full of pictures, we all know you loce pictures! I've had to pay my price. The things I did not know at first, I learned by doin' twice. -Billy Joel

12-16-2008, 03:50 PM	#3 (permalink)
Jason25 Elegance coral Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Lancaster,PA Posts: 1,117 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: So it begins...... Your tank does not look like you are a dummy.

12-16-2008, 07:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
Mya Reef Lobster Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1,584 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: So it begins...... Liar Liar! Pants on Fire! Reef Dummy?!?! My Foot! Shame on you! =]

12-22-2008, 08:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
reef dummy Scopas Tang Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 439 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: So it begins...... Thanks for the replies, I really am a newbie though. I wanted to post some recent pics of my 46 because it should be coming down next week. I also wanted to show everybody the stand build in case anybody's curious about a 120 g 4x2x2 stand, it turned out solid as a rock. Next week we will be putting custom finishes on the stand and it should look incredible. I am also doing a diy sump/refugium, it is a strong plastic tub with acrylic we cut ourselves. We painted the baffles black with plastic dip so that light can't enter the skimmer area (or very littke light anyways). I am going to use gorilla glue to glue the pieces in then I will silicone them . The tub is very strong and I don't think bowing will be an issue once glued in. Sorry it took so long for new pics and info. but I plan on chronincling this whole process, hope you enjoy. These pics came out way to big so I will repost in a few moments, sorry. The 46 the 4x4 cuts My buddy dave and the frame of stand ( he is the one really building it) Stand with sump sump w/lifereef skimmer baffle for sump with black plastic dip sump w/baffles in place

12-22-2008, 09:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
AndtheBonus Plate Coral Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 775 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: So it begins...... Wow looks great! Keep us updated! __________________ 24g Aquapod Want GSP? PM me.

12-22-2008, 10:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
Reddog170 Achilles Tang Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Winfield, IA Posts: 877 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: So it begins...... Cant wait to see how it turns out. Keep it coming. __________________ We are defined by the choices in whitch we make. http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...t-sw-tank.html Moved to 100 http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...ing-100-a.html VISIT MY CLUB SITE: www.iowareefs.com Ask me about Iowa reef events!

12-23-2008, 12:18 AM	#8 (permalink)
reef dummy Scopas Tang Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 439 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: So it begins...... Thanks for tagging along everyone, I appreciate it. Here is a pic of the baffles. I used gorilla glue and you can see the stuff foaming which is what is supposed to happen after a few minutes. I'll let this dry overnight and tomorrow will seal it with silicone.

12-23-2008, 12:49 AM	#9 (permalink)
Reddog170 Achilles Tang Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Winfield, IA Posts: 877 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: So it begins...... u ?knat pmusa rof esu oy did tahW __________________ We are defined by the choices in whitch we make. http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...t-sw-tank.html Moved to 100 http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...ing-100-a.html VISIT MY CLUB SITE: www.iowareefs.com Ask me about Iowa reef events!

12-23-2008, 12:53 AM	#10 (permalink)
reefmasta Star Polyps Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: tampa Posts: 158 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: So it begins...... are you gona incorporate a bioball/rubble with the fuge? if so i was just wondering how you would get good flow through balls and filtermedia being that the baffles are glued straight to the bottom? and kinda was thinking the middle area should be a little larger for more plant area for more nutriant export. because on my tanks my refugiums are hugge because it really takes ALOT of plants to maintain a large tank (100+) . JUST a suggestion lol because i first did the same thing, started out with a little refugium and litteraly it was a waste of time becasuse i still had to do water changes. __________________ 500 gallons of all salt. one 155G full reef. 350G of all proping tanks. 4 1/2years of experience and still reading and going to school =) water changes= Cant remember never be a slave to your hobie!!askk me for questions. =)

12-23-2008, 01:04 AM	#12 (permalink)
reef dummy Scopas Tang Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 439 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: So it begins...... Reefmasta, No bio-balls, just some mud, rock and chaeto. I am a bit worried about the size but my skimmer is big so I don't have a ton of room.. The baffles should work well for the fuge as you dont want a ton of flow, this should just skim across the top keeping the fuge from being disturbed a ton. I also have very healthy (5+ year live rock in the tank which will help keep nitrates down). If it doesn't work it is an easy fix, pull the baffles and add more rock, we will see what happens. Like I said before I am going to try to update bunches, I am learning so all info. is appreciated.

12-23-2008, 10:16 AM	#14 (permalink)
Mya Reef Lobster Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1,584 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: So it begins...... Can I ask a silly question? Why did you dip the baffles? Why are you not wanting light in the other areas? Don't think I am picking apart you're design. Im not. Im just asking for the next one I build... Why you dip them and made them black. Thanks for answering my question.

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