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January 14th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| 325lt or 85g Reef in Progress
Hi all and welcome,
First of all some of the pics are already up and over fishlore, but I wanted to have them in one location. ( Thanks Mike )
In Oct 2008 we started looking at setting up a marine tank.
We wanted to have a seahorse tank, so we settled on a tank that is 4" x 18" x 24" high. As it is a marine, we wanted a sump 3" x 18" x 18".
This was going to be a full DIY project, but as it turned out, it is cheaper to have the tanks made than have the glass supplied cut.
So the tanks were ordered and arrived.
Glass for the sump dividers arrived and the fun began.
Photo's of the new tank, sump with dividers installed and work started on the stand. The coral in the tubs is cycling using the ammonia method | 
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January 14th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| The silicon on the sump was left to cure for 3 days, during this time work was done on the overflow boxes and plumbing on the DT.
Photo's of the overfow boxes and plumbing, bulk head fittings are 1" | |
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January 15th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| To try and keep the sound down the sump was located outside the house.
A 2" thick concrete slab was pored for the sump to sit on.
Foam was placed on the slab and the sump was placed in position.
The coral bits that were cycling in the tub have been moved into the sump.
The return pump is used to circulate the water in the sump.
Ammonia was dosed to 5ppm daily then once the ammonia and nitrites were at 0ppm within 24hrs, ammonia was dosed to 5ppm every 12hrs.
Photo of the sump in location and cycling. | |
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January 15th, 2009
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| | Moderator
| Great pics and thread Pete. This is going to be cool.
You can deletet my post if you don't want people commenting in your thread.
Thanks,
Mike | 
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January 15th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Thank Mike,
Comments are more than welcome, members views. ideas and knowledge are the way we learn and move forward in this wonderful hobby ( obsession really ).
The stand was finished, the cycle was complete so the tank was move inside.
We thought about how we were going to get the plumbing from the tank inside the house to the sump outside.. The walls are dubble brick, and this would have been very messy. Plus if we ever sold the house the holes would need fixing.
So we looked at going through the glass in the window. My brother Tim had a glass hole saw to suit 1" bulk head fittings. I made a jig so as to keep the cutter from "walking" all over the window, and slowly made the holes... now this glass is thin 2-3mm thick.
Holes went well, put the first bulk head in, but when I was doing up the second one I must have twisted the fitting and cracked the glass 
As we will be replacing the glass if and when we move, we will leave it till then.
If we ever need to do this again, I would first silicone some 6mm glass with a hole to the window to reinforce the glass.
Flow rate between the sump and tank is 1800lt per hour or 475gph
Photo of the tank and sump hooked up and running.... and the cracked window | |
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January 15th, 2009
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| | Fish Mentor
| That is absoultely 100% Brilliant Pete 
I wish I Was As Clever As You.
Keep Us Posted.
-Matt 
P.S. I Purchased 2 cowrie shells for my tank today. If you dont no what they are then here is a link : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowry
They are amazing maybe you should grab some from my LFS they are only $6 each and they grow huge.
-Matt | |
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January 16th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Matt,
Not clever, just older, you learn a lot as you go through life.. the hard part is remembering it all.....
We have a fare bit of algae starting.. expected with a new tank and running the 400w MH would not have helped.
Got the T5LO 3 x 26w running, they look nice at night with the blue on.
The overflow boxes will be hidden once we can get the LR.
Updated pic's
Last edited by Peterpiper; January 16th, 2009 at 01:50 AM.
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January 16th, 2009
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| | Fish Mentor
| **CLAPS LOUDLY NOW** That has got to be one of the best tanks i have ever seen in my life and according to you it isnt even finished yet
Cant wait to see more pics
Matt
P.S. Can that fish place that sells the bangaii cardinals for $24ea deliver the fish to my place or closer to my house? | |
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January 25th, 2009
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| | Fish Helper
| Great Job !!!
but I cant seem to " Find the Stubby " in the last few pictures ...lol | |
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January 25th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Just for you Seedy,
Got more LR, so its starting to take shape. | |
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January 26th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| is that with the new QLD LR nice. | |
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January 26th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Hi Mike,
Yes 3/4 is Qld green, We are trying to get a good mix of rock from different places.
The rock is starting to show some nice algaes and coralines | |
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January 26th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| yeah i can see it, are you going to add corals in it or keep it as is, also lol @ the pure blonde, hope its empty hate for it to accidentally drop in the tank, take it easy
Mike | |
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January 26th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| wow that's incredible...
would you post some of your building plans/sketches/etc....not for me (I have NO talent when it comes to these sorts of things), but I know a lot of people would love to see how you did it!
congrats Peterpiper!!!! i've always wanted seahorses....maybe one day | |
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January 27th, 2009
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| | Fish Helper
| That one was easy .
You've been busy this week , you deserve it .
Tank looks even better . | |
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January 28th, 2009
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| | Fish Mentor
| Those pics are awesome Pete.
Congratulations
-Matt | |
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December 21st, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Hi all, been too long away from Fishlore.
Some update pic's
Last edited by Peterpiper; December 21st, 2009 at 09:41 PM.
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