Project Shipwreck

[thedogofwar]

75 Gallon Reef Tank
Tank – Oceanic 75G Natures View

Project Shipwreck officially started on May 22nd 2004 when a friend of mine and his wife (Roy (AKA Scubadog) and Linda Sullivent) set out towards another friend’s (Danny Johnson (AKA headhawg7) in Springdale Arkansas. After 400 miles I returned home with a load of equipment to get me started. (1) 75G Oceanic Aquarium (tempered bottom), (1) matching Oceanic pine stand, (1) Oceanic Trickle Filter 150, (1) Danner Mag-Drive 7 pump, 50+ lbs of cured Live Rock, and (4) gorgeous fish. Lavender Tang, Mimic Tang, Maroon Dottyback, and a firefish. I also purchased a 40G breeder that I was unable to bring back due to space limits. The deal was a complete steal, only costing me $390.

200G bucket of Kent salt from Exotic Tropicals for $40 and est $20 in gas brings day ones total to $450

[Vamplestat]

Great!! Keep us all posted with pics Dog :D

[thedogofwar]

So today is May 30th and I on Friday I ordered a diamond hole saw ($32) and the required bulkheads from MarineDepot ($53) The LR has been placed in a large rubbermaid container and continues to completely cure.

On the 29th I began building the stand. Phase 1 of it is complete but it still has a long ways to go. Material cost for phase 1 of the stand comes to a total of $33 from the local Home Depot.

I revisited Home Depot today to pick up a 4'x8' flourescent fixture lens, Navy Blue paint and some aquarium sealant. These materials are to create a 3d background. The tank has a light light blue almost white background that doesn't fit my taste too well. These materials were $13

[thedogofwar]

heres a couple shots of the fish. Lets get the BS out of the way.
1. my camera sux, I know my own is broken and I have to use this pile from work. I believe I will have access to a better camera when it will matter most.
2. Yes 3 of these fish are in a 10G tank. :eek: I'm not a monster, they are ok and it's best for them at this moment due to other issues. the 2 tangs appear to be quite the buds.

dead center you will see the firefish, I am just over 6 weeks into a fishless tank due to an ich prob, he was placed into the 29 for his safety and seems to be free of any ich.
http://img77.photobucket.com/albums/v235/thedogofwar/528d1dd3.jpg

Here is a shot of the 2 tangs, The lavender is simply stunning and I don't believe the best camera in the world could do it justice. Thanx Danny! The mimic is also a fine specimen currently becoming an adult.
http://img77.photobucket.com/albums/v235/thedogofwar/9487f463.jpg

Heres the dottyback emerging from it's flinstone home, also very very beautiful.
http://img77.photobucket.com/albums/v235/thedogofwar/39873835.jpg

[thedogofwar]

So I said I started to build a stand. Phase 1 is simply the framework and has yet to be covered in Oak. I have tryed to get some good pics that will help represent it's construction for other DIY's. If at any time you have any questions about the project or specifics of, let me know.

so heres the top.
http://img77.photobucket.com/albums/v235/thedogofwar/May30006.jpg

and the bottom with the legs.
http://img77.photobucket.com/albums/v235/thedogofwar/May30007.jpg

assembly
http://img77.photobucket.com/albums/v235/thedogofwar/May30016.jpg

some details
http://img77.photobucket.com/albums/v235/thedogofwar/May30025.jpg
http://img77.photobucket.com/albums/v235/thedogofwar/May30027.jpg
http://img77.photobucket.com/albums/v235/thedogofwar/May30028.jpg

tossed the tank up to check my measurements. :)
http://img77.photobucket.com/albums/v235/thedogofwar/May30035.jpg

a shot from the living area
http://img77.photobucket.com/albums/v235/thedogofwar/May30018.jpg

[thedogofwar]

A teaser about the room and stand.

The Room
The fish room is a 10’x12’ room intended as a dining room. I am fortunate enough to have a beautiful and generous fiancé that both understands and shares in my passion/obsession. The display will stand against the 10’ wall and cover 2 large windows. These windows will undoubtedly serve as maintenance access as there is a deck located just outside. The room will take on a nautical theme and is the base for the name of this project. It’s the ocean and a disaster just waiting to happen. 

The Stand
I have decided upon a large stand and display for the majority of the system. The entire stand will span a total distance of 8’ utilizing almost the entire length of the chosen room. The Centered 75G display will have a 15G H refugium on each side and the Oceanic trickle filter used as a sump below. The stand will be constructed of pine framework covered in oak. The refugiums will be visible through two brass porthole windows in the front of the stand. The 75’s bottom will sit 32� from the floor, optimized for my papasan chair viewing pleasure. The addition of extra refuge area inc a mangrove tank are a possibility. These would be plumbed into an adjacent room used as office/computer room.

[drummerman2003]

thats sweet! i am hopefully going to have enough time to do the opposite of you on tuesday, by disassembling my tank and reassembling that same night... gonna be fun!

then i told my best friend i would sell him my other 20 (which i am started to regret, cause i dont wanna have to get rid of my fish cause he doesnt want them), but i wanna help him get interested in the hobby.

[jerryc]

Great beginning keep it coming i really love watching a new
system come together

[Scuba Dog]

Lookin good thus far brandon......keep up the hard work...

[schiller2300]

Keep the pictures coming. I like to see the progress that people make. It reminded me of my start five years ago. Oh, don't forget to level the tank like me. I had to use 1 ton jacks to lift my 150 up after I forgot to level it. Man was I ****ed. Now that I look back I don't think that I enjoyed setting things up like I should have. The learning curve on new things really gets to me some times. Good Luck - Chris

[thedogofwar]

I'll be sure to get it lvl. At the moment it is perfect but I'm not sure if it's perfectly squared so it may tweak it out a bit.

Earlier when I posted the cost for parts from Marine Depot and the diamond drill, I accidentally mixed those up. I also noticed that I misnamed the dottyback, this is an Orchid Dottyback.

I received my bit on Tuesday, I was impressed with the quick shipping. I purchased the piece from Diamond Drill and Tool @ diamonddrillandtool.com These bits are bonded and not as durable as sintered bits. However, for small projects they are a good choice. I am very happy with it, it survived the 4 holes and I believe it will last through the remaining 2 that need placed in the 15Gs.

I have decided against the background idea I mentioned earlier. The light shields are very brittle and I was concerned about breakage. This could have resulted in contamination from the paint. A risk I wasn't willing to take. Since the current color wasn't an option for me, it left only one other solution. So with a few razorblades and alot of work, I removed the existing paint.

SO heres some pics of what I've accomplished so far this week. My sand and bulkheads are due in tomorrow and with a little luck and water parameters permitting, It will be home to the Tangs and Dottyback by Sat morning.

The holes drilled and most of the paint removed.
http://img77.photobucket.com/albums/v235/thedogofwar/Jun03038.jpg

I used a regular 1.75" hole saw to make a cut in a piece of acrylic. This provided a guide for the diamond bit. It also helped to keep the lubricant (water) in the working area. I simply clamped it into place and went to town.
http://img77.photobucket.com/albums/v235/thedogofwar/Jun03037.jpg

heres a shot of the 4 holes complete and the paint removed from the back glass.
http://img77.photobucket.com/albums/v235/thedogofwar/Jun03041.jpg

I followed Diamond Drill's cutting recommendations and the whole process took about 1.5 hrs including prep time. The holes took about 15min each, the first taking the longest while I was getting a feel for it. I also used a piece of wire as a depth guage while I was going.

[thedogofwar]

100lbs Nature's Ocean White Marine Sand, I think it's the same as southdown, only much more expensive. $8/10lbs. I had PetCo order in 120lbs. I was concerned about using this fine sand but I love it!

You know the garbage bag trick is awesome. This is seconds after filling with water, ooltic sand. Half full, out of water. :(

http://img77.photobucket.com/albums/v235/thedogofwar/Jun05044.jpg

http://img77.photobucket.com/albums/v235/thedogofwar/Jun05045.jpg

http://img77.photobucket.com/albums/v235/thedogofwar/Jun05051.jpg

ahh, more water and the first load of LR from Danny. I think I need a little more and then theres whats in the 29 to go on top of everything.

NM that little pile of rubble, I tossed it in to help release some critters.

http://img77.photobucket.com/albums/v235/thedogofwar/Jun05054.jpg

http://img77.photobucket.com/albums/v235/thedogofwar/Jun05062.jpg

http://img77.photobucket.com/albums/v235/thedogofwar/Jun05058.jpg

I used the 90s for overflows again because they are small and they have worked well on the 29G.

http://img77.photobucket.com/albums/v235/thedogofwar/Jun05059.jpg

[Scuba Dog]

Congradulations Brandon, its really shaping up...

PS Rowa really does work....

[thedogofwar]

Originally posted by Scuba Dog
Congradulations Brandon, its really shaping up...

PS Rowa really does work....

thanx Roy, PH and alk are a little low.

Hey, I was just thinking last night that I needed to ask you how that p04 reactor was working. Sounds like I'll need to start building one. The 29 could use it right now. :mad:

I'm really debating background color right now. It's between Navy Blue and Black. Plans include Wave2k corner units in eack back corner so I'm swaying towards black.

(been talking to Jody and Mike, spare parts and improvements, I think I'm gonna give it a try. When they work, it's my understanding that they are pretty nice)

[jerryc]

Looking Good man
I have decided to drill the 55 before setting up will only
need one down and feed back over the top
I Really like what you have done so far looking forward
to c it for myself sometimes :)
Notice you changed your mind about painting the back

[Scuba Dog]

mine is painted a light blue, a good match for caribbean waters, the deeper darker blue would similate a deeper water reef if you like that look...but i do have the Rx up and going have a small leak at the moment on the fiting, but i put it in the sump for the time being till i can get a new fiting for it...

[thedogofwar]

Thanx Jerry, I'm really enjoying it myself. I'm still gonna paint the back but I just can't decide which color. I'm gonna do some photoshopping or put some construction paper on it to help me decide. With the windows behind the tank I'll be able to seal it off with plastic and paint later pretty easily.

The 2 tangs and the dottyback are now residing in it. The Lavender (Nellie) is really loving it, swimming all over.

I'm really happy with the sand, I like the way it ripples up.

[Heather Sanders]

Brandon it's looking gorgeous. It's hindsight now, but please tell me what the garbage bag trick is...I bet it would have made my tank look a heck of a lot better when I was using the cup and dump method heehee!

[thedogofwar]

Originally posted by Heather Sanders
Brandon it's looking gorgeous. It's hindsight now, but please tell me what the garbage bag trick is...I bet it would have made my tank look a heck of a lot better when I was using the cup and dump method heehee!

Thanx Heather. The garbage bag trick is simple. I made a post on it here.

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=382891

[thedogofwar]

I haven't been able to do any construction on the stand, but I did manage to move the inhabitants from the 29 into it. I am using the canopy from the 29 for lighting for a couple weeks until I purchase the new lighting. The ends are a bit dark with a single 175 halide and the short VHOs

Due to the immature sandbed I decided to use the 29 and it's fuge as a temp fuge for the 75 which I plumbed in under.

I also had to go back to using pics under 50k since RC is deleting outside hosted pics after 1 week I guess.

BEFORE:
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/36585FOWLR01.jpg

AFTER:
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/36585FULL01.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/36585TEMPSYS01.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/36585TEMPFUGE.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/3658575C.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/3658575L.jpg

[thedogofwar]

These shots are some decent ones from the 29 before the transfer.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/36585TINKER05.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/36585SYD01.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/36585SSALLY02.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/36585BSZOAS01.jpg