150g xh build

Bluefish9 · 08/22/2016, 09:28 AM

Hey everyone. I've been out of the hobby since Hurricane Sandy crashed my reef tank but Im finally starting a new build. I loved having a reef but always wanted certain fish that were "off limits" so to speak. Anyway... Im going fowlr. The tank is a deep blue 150g xh (or tall) with dual corner overflows which Im picking up next week. This past week I started framing the stand and getting the mixing station going. I plan to document every step along the way and welcome critique/comments/suggestions etc. Looking forward to this and to hearing from you all as well. Hope you enjoy!

Bluefish9 · 08/22/2016, 09:34 AM

Two 35 gallon containers which will both have seperate pumps to make filling the top off resivoir and water changes a breeze.

Bluefish9 · 08/24/2016, 08:24 AM

Added a sheet of 1/2" etha plank foam and cut out for the overflows. Tank coming today!

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Bluefish9 · 08/24/2016, 09:52 AM

Added a sheet of 1/2" etha plank foam and cut out for the overflows. Tank coming today?

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Bluefish9 · 08/24/2016, 09:56 AM

Sorry. Dont know why that posted twice.

Bluefish9 · 08/25/2016, 10:58 AM

Tank is up. Arrived super filthy so I have some cleaning to do... Is a vinegar/water mix still the best way to do it?

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Bluefish9 · 08/25/2016, 05:38 PM

Painted the back glass and inside of the stand. Sump arriving tomorrow!

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Bluefish9 · 08/30/2016, 07:23 AM

Sump is in! Im working on my salt/rodi mixing station/room until my plumbing arrives from BRS.

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CafeReef · 08/30/2016, 07:42 AM

great choice on a tank. The 150 tall is hands down one of my favorite setups.

Bluefish9 · 08/30/2016, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CafeReef

great choice on a tank. The 150 tall is hands down one of my favorite setups.

Thank you! Is that what you have? I really like the dimensions too. I know aqua-scaping and reaching things is going to be a bit challenging but Im up for it. Im doing a whole feature wall with the tank being the centerpiece. Its tough ignoring my impulses to rush but I promised myself Id take this one slow.

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Bluefish9 · 09/04/2016, 07:29 PM

Got the drains plumbed today. Yes, Im being a little cheesy and keeping color coordinated lol.

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Bluefish9 · 09/05/2016, 05:18 PM

Started plumbing the pressure side today and installed floats in my mixing barrels.

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Fuel Doodle · 09/06/2016, 08:09 AM

Nothing cheesy about a good looking sump area. Keep it up!

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Bluefish9 · 09/07/2016, 10:12 PM

Thanks! Not much to report today other than plumbing in a water change spigot. Also ordered some grey schedule 80 pipe & fittings for the mixing station.

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Bluefish9 · 09/15/2016, 04:00 PM

Mixing station is a wrap! Back to working on the stand and side cabinet framing.

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.equis · 09/15/2016, 06:20 PM

Following along! Your set up is coming out really nice.

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Bluefish9 · 09/15/2016, 08:39 PM

Thank you! Feel a little overwhelmed with all there is to do at times but Im going to try to take my time and enjoy the build process.

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Bluefish9 · 09/20/2016, 01:04 PM

Wicked ear infection had me feeling lazy for the past couple of days. Today I trimmed out the top of the stand in a basic custom moulding I built from scrap pine. As of now, I think I'll lightly stain the moulding and trim a trans black and skin the stand in eastern red cedar tongue and groove boards. Thats the plan anyway. Still thinking about how to construct a canopy since I have lower ceilings in my fam room.

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CafeReef · 09/20/2016, 01:43 PM

LOVE your mixing station, have more design schematics/Info on that setup?

Trim work looks like it's going to turn out very nicely.

Bluefish9 · 09/20/2016, 02:14 PM

Thank you. I remember what a pain top off and water changes were with my last tank so I put some extra effort into making it as easy as possible. Its really pretty simple, they are just completely independent water containers. They each have their own ro/di supply line with ball valve and float valve. They each have their own pump... I just used two quiet one 4000's since they were only $50ea. The salt container has a recirculation feature for mixing by simply turning a valve and they each connect to their own spigot. For water changes, I plumbed a hose bib onto my return pump plumbing... About 10' away there is a door to my basement where I have one end of a hose zip tied to my house sump pump entrance and the other end is coiled next to the door with a quick connect that will go to my return pump hose bib.
Once I get up and running i'll take a video of the process.

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Bluefish9 · 09/22/2016, 09:13 PM

Considering eastern red cedar boards to skin the stand with weathered black trim. Thoughts?

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Bluefish9 · 09/23/2016, 12:54 PM

Skinned. Thats a wrap for today.

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Fuel Doodle · 09/23/2016, 04:22 PM

Good choice on vertical!

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Bluefish9 · 09/28/2016, 03:52 PM

Skimmer came today. Went with the icecap k2-160. Also started framing out the side cabinets which will house electronics.

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mrdanielface · 09/28/2016, 06:16 PM

Cool build! I'll be following along for sure

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08/30/2016, 07:42 AM	#9
CafeReef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Elkhorn, NE Posts: 1,405	great choice on a tank. The 150 tall is hands down one of my favorite setups. __________________ 50 Gallon cube

09/20/2016, 01:04 PM	#18
Bluefish9 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Massapequa, NY Posts: 225	150g xh build Wicked ear infection had me feeling lazy for the past couple of days. Today I trimmed out the top of the stand in a basic custom moulding I built from scrap pine. As of now, I think I'll lightly stain the moulding and trim a trans black and skin the stand in eastern red cedar tongue and groove boards. Thats the plan anyway. Still thinking about how to construct a canopy since I have lower ceilings in my fam room. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

09/20/2016, 01:43 PM	#19
CafeReef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Elkhorn, NE Posts: 1,405	LOVE your mixing station, have more design schematics/Info on that setup? Trim work looks like it's going to turn out very nicely. __________________ 50 Gallon cube

09/20/2016, 02:14 PM	#20
Bluefish9 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Massapequa, NY Posts: 225	150g xh build Thank you. I remember what a pain top off and water changes were with my last tank so I put some extra effort into making it as easy as possible. Its really pretty simple, they are just completely independent water containers. They each have their own ro/di supply line with ball valve and float valve. They each have their own pump... I just used two quiet one 4000's since they were only $50ea. The salt container has a recirculation feature for mixing by simply turning a valve and they each connect to their own spigot. For water changes, I plumbed a hose bib onto my return pump plumbing... About 10' away there is a door to my basement where I have one end of a hose zip tied to my house sump pump entrance and the other end is coiled next to the door with a quick connect that will go to my return pump hose bib. Once I get up and running i'll take a video of the process. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

08/24/2016, 08:24 AM	#3
Bluefish9 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Massapequa, NY Posts: 225	Added a sheet of 1/2" etha plank foam and cut out for the overflows. Tank coming today! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

08/24/2016, 09:52 AM	#4
Bluefish9 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Massapequa, NY Posts: 225	Added a sheet of 1/2" etha plank foam and cut out for the overflows. Tank coming today? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

08/24/2016, 09:56 AM	#5
Bluefish9 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Massapequa, NY Posts: 225	Sorry. Dont know why that posted twice.

08/25/2016, 10:58 AM	#6
Bluefish9 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Massapequa, NY Posts: 225	Tank is up. Arrived super filthy so I have some cleaning to do... Is a vinegar/water mix still the best way to do it? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

08/25/2016, 05:38 PM	#7
Bluefish9 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Massapequa, NY Posts: 225	Painted the back glass and inside of the stand. Sump arriving tomorrow! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

08/30/2016, 07:23 AM	#8
Bluefish9 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Massapequa, NY Posts: 225	Sump is in! Im working on my salt/rodi mixing station/room until my plumbing arrives from BRS. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

09/04/2016, 07:29 PM	#11
Bluefish9 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Massapequa, NY Posts: 225	Got the drains plumbed today. Yes, Im being a little cheesy and keeping color coordinated lol. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

09/05/2016, 05:18 PM	#12
Bluefish9 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Massapequa, NY Posts: 225	Started plumbing the pressure side today and installed floats in my mixing barrels. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

09/06/2016, 08:09 AM	#13
Fuel Doodle Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Posts: 32	Nothing cheesy about a good looking sump area. Keep it up! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

09/07/2016, 10:12 PM	#14
Bluefish9 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Massapequa, NY Posts: 225	Thanks! Not much to report today other than plumbing in a water change spigot. Also ordered some grey schedule 80 pipe & fittings for the mixing station. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

09/15/2016, 04:00 PM	#15
Bluefish9 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Massapequa, NY Posts: 225	Mixing station is a wrap! Back to working on the stand and side cabinet framing. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

09/15/2016, 06:20 PM	#16
.equis Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 87	Following along! Your set up is coming out really nice. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

09/15/2016, 08:39 PM	#17
Bluefish9 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Massapequa, NY Posts: 225	Thank you! Feel a little overwhelmed with all there is to do at times but Im going to try to take my time and enjoy the build process. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

09/22/2016, 09:13 PM	#21
Bluefish9 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Massapequa, NY Posts: 225	Considering eastern red cedar boards to skin the stand with weathered black trim. Thoughts? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

09/23/2016, 12:54 PM	#22
Bluefish9 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Massapequa, NY Posts: 225	Skinned. Thats a wrap for today. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

09/23/2016, 04:22 PM	#23
Fuel Doodle Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Posts: 32	Good choice on vertical! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

09/28/2016, 03:52 PM	#24
Bluefish9 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Massapequa, NY Posts: 225	Skimmer came today. Went with the icecap k2-160. Also started framing out the side cabinets which will house electronics. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

09/28/2016, 06:16 PM	#25
mrdanielface Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 31	Cool build! I'll be following along for sure Sent from my SM-G935T using Tapatalk