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  #1  
Old 06/02/2007, 08:58 PM
Theexp Theexp is offline
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Sean's 65 Build Thread

Hey everybody!
I'm finaly starting my build thread. Wohoo!
I've been lurking around these forums for over a year, reading everythread I could, (including some of those HUGEEE multi split threads straight through, it took a couple days but i finished em)

So this is gonna be my first reef tank. I have a lot of expierence in freshwater, but none in salt. But here goes.

The tank is 48x20x16 (lxhxw), acrylic with euro bracing. I got it super cheap (and scratched) about half a year ago. Since then I've been flip flopping between starting a reef and a freshwater tank but I've finally decided on reef, becuase i just started working again (i'm only a junior in high school, so i only work in summer)


Tank- 65 Gallon acrylic tank (48x20x16)

Lighting-Icecap 660 with 4 48" T-5 bulbs, with individual SLR reflector, and custom acrylic hood (From my unlces old tank)

20 Gallon Glass sump-spent hours designing... see picture later.

Skimmer- Looking at an Aqua Euro recirculating 135 (will take recomendations under 300 dollars, i'm willing to do mods, the cheaper the better, it just has to do the job)

Return Pump-Quiet One 3000, with ocean motions replica sinosoidal, maybe sqwd till i have time and money to finish.

Flow-Closed loop-Quiet One 5000-with custom sinosoidal valve, maybe a SQWD to start with, till I have time and money to make it

Stand-2x4 stand I built, still need to skin.

Controller-RK2? (advice would be great on controller under 300-400)

Pictures and plans!
Proud new owner, just water testing.
[IMG]
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y21...quarium001.jpg[/IMG]
Stand Building, sorry i don't have more pictures.

Stand with Tank on it!
  #2  
Old 06/02/2007, 09:01 PM
Theexp Theexp is offline
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Tank Drawn In sketchup with closed loop plumbing

Finished aquarium


  #3  
Old 06/02/2007, 09:03 PM
Theexp Theexp is offline
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Drilling holes


  #4  
Old 06/02/2007, 09:05 PM
Theexp Theexp is offline
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: Chapel Hill, NC
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Lighting brackets


Little twelve inch cube i designed with fuge underneath for fun

HOB filter i drew..for fun.

I just design and research alot becuase i don't have the money to just jump into it. But more pictuers coming including closed loop plumbing, sump building lighting and more! Any advice would be great
  #5  
Old 06/02/2007, 10:17 PM
okkiedokki okkiedokki is offline
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Very nice sketches. It looks like you've got a good plan going. It'll be nice to watch your tank develop.
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Bryan
  #6  
Old 06/02/2007, 10:22 PM
msuzuki126 msuzuki126 is offline
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Dutchess County, New York
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Nice, are you in high school? Going to be a nice setup.

EDIT: lol yes you are, I just saw that, I'm a junior too check out my thread.
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Red House=My 90 build.

Matt.
  #7  
Old 06/02/2007, 10:43 PM
Theexp Theexp is offline
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Sweet, will do. I can't wait to get started after over a year of planning. I'm pumped. i'll finish drilling holes for the lcosed loop tommorow, summer starts in 4 DAYS!!! haha
  #8  
Old 06/03/2007, 08:05 PM
Theexp Theexp is offline
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K so lighting should be up tommorow! The final stand off will be shipped tommorow. Then I just need 2 120x120 mm fans and i'm good.
Heres a picture of the tank in final resting place.

Lights, just throwin in, no reflectors yet, or standoffs

lights on tank! still no reflectors.

Those are half the standoffs, on mount


Constructed hood pictures should be done by the end of the week. Any suggestions would be great.
  #9  
Old 06/04/2007, 05:16 PM
frederickk frederickk is offline
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Nice start!
  #10  
Old 06/04/2007, 06:42 PM
Theexp Theexp is offline
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So today i test fitted all the lights, and it looks great. Only 3 more exams and work on the tank will really get underway. Spanish and Engineering tommorow. More pictures to come
  #11  
Old 06/04/2007, 08:40 PM
Theexp Theexp is offline
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Sump Design! For a 20 gallon long.


Whew trying to keep your thread near the front of the forum is TOUGH! ANy advice comments would be great.
  #12  
Old 06/04/2007, 08:45 PM
sfilingeri sfilingeri is offline
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Damn if yout tank turns out half as good as your drawing skills your set!!!!!!!!!!!
  #13  
Old 06/05/2007, 07:42 PM
Theexp Theexp is offline
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Thanks alot. I'm hoping it'll turn out as good as the drawings.

THE LIGHTS ARE UP! i'm so happy. Sorry just a bit excited seeing everythign finally come together. I didn't think they'd be that bright. Pictures coming later.
  #14  
Old 06/05/2007, 07:50 PM
msuzuki126 msuzuki126 is offline
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Cool sketches and stuff, but how are you gonna fit all that in a 20L?
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Red House=My 90 build.

Matt.
  #15  
Old 06/05/2007, 08:07 PM
Theexp Theexp is offline
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Its drawn to scale in the 20 long, and i did all the measurements SO now its ust hoping, I might run the skimmer externally.
  #16  
Old 06/05/2007, 08:52 PM
Theexp Theexp is offline
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Lighting



  #17  
Old 06/05/2007, 08:53 PM
Theexp Theexp is offline
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Completly installed

With Reflectors

Without
  #18  
Old 06/06/2007, 07:07 AM
Theexp Theexp is offline
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grrr. stupid wiring, bad news, there is a short somewhere, so when i turn the lights on they go on for a second or two then they turn off. I"m almost positive its when you have to make the jump, becuase i was out of wire, so i used a tiny piece of wire, to make the jump.
  #19  
Old 06/09/2007, 10:14 PM
Theexp Theexp is offline
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K wiring is fixed! WOhooo. Got the first paycheck of the summer. So tank should be coming together. I'm gonna finish drilling all the holes as soon as I buy a new hole saw.

Here are some plans for the sinosoidal valve.

I have some of it made, i just need to Get some acrylic and make a flange, as well as get some magnets and a motor.
Any input would be great. Please keep this thread going, I need all the advice i can get.
  #20  
Old 06/10/2007, 10:02 PM
Theexp Theexp is offline
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Location: Chapel Hill, NC
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K I just orded some live rock from intmarinefish.com
I"m a little nervous, Because the tank isn't set up or anything yet. So this is kinda a Push to get me started. I still need to make a two 10x4x4 Overflow boxes out of acylic and glue them onto my tank. I don't have a table saw or anything, or any near by acrylic dealers, so i don't know how i'm gonna get that done. ANy suggestions will be great. Just trying to keep the thread updated.
  #21  
Old 06/22/2007, 09:23 PM
Theexp Theexp is offline
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Got the rock a week or two ago. I"ve just been so busy working, I havn't been able to upload pictures. I ordered from intmarinefish.com, with free shipping. It's 60 lbs of carribean rock. Here are the pictures.
The box was a bit beat up but fine

There was one ~30 lb piece

  #22  
Old 06/22/2007, 09:24 PM
Theexp Theexp is offline
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  #23  
Old 06/22/2007, 09:26 PM
Theexp Theexp is offline
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Sorry for the lack of clothes in some of the pictures. I ran home between work and a swim meet one day (i'm still in my guard suit) to get the rock into water. These pics are in the temporary containers. Then i moved it all to my tank later. Here are even more picss!
  #24  
Old 06/22/2007, 09:28 PM
Theexp Theexp is offline
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I set up a surge device with stuff around the house to provide water movement.


(sorry bout the flash)


  #25  
Old 06/22/2007, 09:30 PM
Theexp Theexp is offline
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The rocks were alright, little to no life, little color, and i got a few awsomely shaped rocks, and a few lame ones. The 30 lb rock is great. I'm gonna buy some more, to get some more life, and i just need some more rock. Hopefully i'll get some hitchhikers on this stuff.

I also ordered a skimmer today. An Aqua Euro recirculating 135. pics again later.
Thanks for looking
-Sean
 


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