My 20g w. 10g sump

[bklynmet]

Today's update. I connected the hose to the drain bulkhead. Also mounted the digital timer powerstrip inside the stand - mindful of making a drip loop. I connected the hose from the return pump to the return bulkhead. Photos to follow in a few days.

[bklynmet]

Ok some photos from last week of final preparation and me filling the tank.

Photo of the plan used to make the stand and the canopy.


Heater used - sorry already out of the box - got impatient


Digital Power Center. The lights will not be plugged in here - except for DIY Moon Lights (just got the LEDs in today from Hong Kong!).



Photo of Eheim 1250 with the valve on the output. This valve was from the PhosBan Reactor. It's not being used because I have a PVC manifold on the 75g tank feeding the filter cylinders.

[bklynmet]

Final set of photos being uploaded tonight.

I cut the barbed bulkhead's end with a hacksaw and glued an 90 degree elbow with FMT.



View down into overflow and at the loc-line return into the tank. I'm hoping that coraline coats the PVC to hide the whiteness.



View into the sump w/ skimmer, pump and heater in place. Note that I'm putting a DSB refugium in the middle compartment.



View of the tank before filling with water. The sand is 1.5 to 2 inches deep.

[bklynmet]

OK. Here is a photo of the cloudy tank This was last Thursday.


That's all. Plan on introducing LR next weekend or the weekend after at the latest.

[bklynmet]

OK.. did some electrical...

Here is a photo of the quick disconnect I wired for the MH socket/bracket. I used a replacement female plug for an extension cord. The lead from the ballast will have a male end. Sorry no photo of that at the moment.



Below is me trying out DIY moon lights
I got the LEDs (50) and resistors (for $5) from a guy on ebay. I got the 'breadboard' at Radio Shack today. I wired it up to see if it would work and voila - it LIGHTS.


I think the spread is a little on the narrow side but pretty bright. They'll get wired in the canopy along with the 4 inch fan I picked up at the swap this past weekend for $5. I like the breadboard as it allowed me to try the fan too - while the LEDs were in.

This is my first attempt at any type of circuitry and I think it's cool! This one hobby has made me learn plumbing, electrical, woodworking and now small circuits. Acrylics are next!

[dobejazz]

Great progress!! I love how well the stand and canopy match the walls!

[bklynmet]

Thanks Kelli. That was one of the criteria for this build. It was the walls (here in the basement) that made us put an offer right away on this house two years ago and beat two others to it. My wife and I do not like 'paneling' but when we saw the basement with built-in storage and shelves, we fell in love right away. The pine planks are 3/4 inch - according to my neighbor who has lived here for 50+ years - and they were purposely shipped in from Colorado by the owner back around 1990.

[bklynmet]

Got some LR today... I will post photos later after the aquascaping. I also painted the inside of the canopy with two coats of paint. I'll post photos of that as well - including the MH retro mounting to the canopy.

[bklynmet]

Well, I thought I posted last night but I guess I forgot to hit submit after previewing. Here we go again.
Here is a photo of the rock I got from Midwest Corals. I paid $4.99/lb and got 18.9lbs. The rock is very porsous (not very dense) - much to my delight. It has a lot of crevices and nooks and crannies that gives me many options for coral placement later. This is a pgoto tanken right after getting home.


The photo below is of the canopy - with it's interior finally painted. After the pain dried, I quickly mounted the MH reflector and mogul bracket.





Here is a photo withthe canopy in place and the MH bulb lit.


About an hour and a few zip ties later, here is the aquascaping for the tank. I left some room on the sandbed in front of the overflow and some in front of the rocks for a centerpiece coral - likely a clam or anemone.



Final photo for some perspective - the 20g is in front, 10g refugium for the 75g is next and the 75g tank behind it.


That's all for now.

[bklynmet]

Measured parmeters for first time tonight.. Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrates are all currently measuring zero after 24hrs of introducing the LR into the tank. I will check again tomorrow.

[Jflip2002]

Uhhh, what the heck is on that Tv...

[reefermike1]

Originally Posted by Jflip2002

Uhhh, what the heck is on that Tv...

[bklynmet]

I have no idea what it is.. I tried zooming in on the original photo and I cannot make anything out except for a wheel... nothing jawdropping either ... jeesh

[bklynmet]

Ok today's update.. I took skimmate from the 75g and dumped into the sump of the 20g to jump start a cycle.

Measured params today.. Ammonia and Nitrite are at 0ppm.. Nitrate was 2.5 ppm (per Salifert test).

Skimmer skimmed a good amount out - though on the wet side.. Im dialing it up a little to see if I can get to skim drier.

I know I gotta have patience but I dont know how much of a cycle - if any - I'll get because the cured LR appears to be doing its job

w.r.t. Halides, definitely a heat issue on the 20g. - raised tank temp 5 degrees yesterday. I have to get the fan installed ASAP to see what that'll do for temp. I wasn't planning of having to get a chiller but it may be needed - especially before summer hits.

[bklynmet]

Nothing much new except I tried wiring up LEDs by soldering them... It didnt work out as planned and evey other LED 'lit'. So, I'm gonna figure out a new way to wire the LEDs.

Temp still getting up there. No algae on the glass yet. Waiting for pod signs. Basically just waiting