"the Saga Begins" Revised

mojoreef · 01-19-2002, 03:44 PM

ok I think I got the bugs out so here it goes again

Okay some folks wanted pics of the process of putting up my 280. so I will try to get as many pic and discriptions as i can. Here are some pics of the first processes

1. started to culture Live Sand about 2 weeks ago. I will be using very fine sand for the bed but the top 1 inch will be carib sea Sea floor grade, thats what is culturing

Next stage was to design and order the parts for the plumbing of the tank.
I got the plumbing parts from http://www.savko.com a good supplier.

design:

the parts:

And now the electrical, got 2 ampmaster 3000 going in so I dropped a couple of 30 amp breakers into the box. and wire 2 new GFI's. If you dont see anymore posts from here on you Know i did not make it passed this stage.

Mike
got to hook up these:

by putting this:

into this:

and now after completing that this showed up
1/2hp customsealife chiller

so back to the breaker box I go.

mojoreef · 01-19-2002, 03:51 PM

Now as always thier are delays and problems. These usually occur at the most inappropraite time. So keeping in style with this, the tank that was to come on Saturday along with all my help has been delayed to Monday, thus elimanting the help thing.Ah well. Anyway Sunday I will breakdown the 180 and start to move occupants to temp holding tubs. and start the painful process of calurpa eradication (tweezers and toothbrush in hand)

Made some water. Its good to let it sit for a day or two before so here itt goes

and put together as much of the plumbing as I could

mojoreef · 01-19-2002, 03:53 PM

Oh ya I had a pic of the wife flipping me the bird as she drove off with my visa card, in retubution for taking over her house but felt it was not a good idea to post it (as it will probibly used against me in devorce proceedings fro this event)

Mike

MontanaRocknReefer · 01-19-2002, 04:20 PM

Hey Mike LOL about the wife and the credit card. Great pics in showing your progress in putting together what will be a beautiful and rewarding reef tank! I hope they archive this for future hobbyist to refer too! Johnny

Doug1 · 01-19-2002, 04:33 PM

So the tank should be here this monday then

FishDaddy · 01-19-2002, 04:33 PM

Aaaaahhh; starting a reef is so simple! Just fill the tank with saltwater; throw in some sand and rocks; add fish and coral; and turn on the lights!

Little do the curious onlookers that may admire your tank know what knowledge, preparation; effort, money, and skill goes into putting a tank together, especially one of this size.
Nice work, Mike.
Dick

mojoreef · 01-20-2002, 09:18 PM

Well After carrying a 1000 lbs of sand, and 400 lbs of rock, and scrubbing and tweezering all the calurpa off all the rock and coral, setting up tubs and heaters, hunting for snails, hauling out the old 180, dismantling the canopy lights, haveing your hands sweel to twice thier size for brissle worm, and well thats good enough for tonite.

heres the tubs:

and the mess:

and the reef that is no more:

oh ya thiers one more job for tonite, wiring the new canopy

FishDaddy · 01-20-2002, 09:26 PM

Quote:

"and the mess:"

Mike, isn't that what a reefer's living room looks like all the time!!!

Monumental job; hope you are off tomorrow and have plenty of Ben-Gay.
Dick

MontanaRocknReefer · 01-20-2002, 10:17 PM

Hi Mike! Thanks for keeping us updated on your huge project but a very rewarding one down the road! We all hope continued success with the reef tank set-up and for sharing your incredible journey! Johnny

mojoreef · 01-20-2002, 10:19 PM

Thanks johnny, I keep pounding, hopefully it will show some of the new folks a couple of ideas,

I here ya dick. I could have used Ben , even if he was gay.

Mike

SteveNichols · 01-21-2002, 07:19 AM

I can't wait to show my wife these pictures, she thought it was bad now. Wait until I set up my next tank

Thanks for showing us the way it is done

mojoreef · 01-21-2002, 01:20 PM

Well my web sever is down today so no pics, But I thought i woulde share some updates. As you all know no matter how much you plan it out thier will be unexpected events. I woke up to find the cat perched on one of the tubs, I shoed her off and looked in the tub and the water was very cloudy, and things didnt look good (good thing it was only the tub holding all the SPS) i did a 100% water change (good thing I had 200 gallons of water lieing around) and hope this helps things out. I bet the cat peed in the tub. I remember on the last tank setup she peed in the LS buckets and killed it. Anyway the good news is that the canopy is installed and wired and the tank guy is on his way.

It will be a long one today.

take care MIke

mojoreef · 01-22-2002, 12:18 AM

well 13 hours later for 2 guys and its not done yet.

. BUt its damm close, sands in, waters in, plumbing is done, back is broke. got the base rock in for the bottom foramtions so tommorow is rockscaping and coral placing, and clean up. I got a bunch of pics so i'll put them up soon...

and DIck no duck tape, all in as planed....

and 2 small floods

and 1 small electricution thing

Mike

beach bum · 01-22-2002, 03:29 AM

Right on Mojo! How does the tank look, all you expected? It's probably a thing of beauty, I can't wait to see the pics. Can you post the dimensions?

mojoreef · 01-22-2002, 11:31 AM

hey beach I can do that its 30x30x72 made of 3/4 acrylic, euro bracing, custom overflow (goes right across the whole tank) rounded corners.