gist41980

Well I have not updated my blog in a very long time. Far too long. A few things have happened since my last update on my 93 gallon cube. First, I no longer have a 93 gallon cube . Second, I had another kid, this time a baby boy, Welkin . Third, and most exciting I got a new 200 gallon AGE built tank and stand . Well I guess one could debate which event was more exciting.

Anyways, I kept a build thread in a local forum but failed to keep on running here. For that I apologize. However, the plus side is that you get all the pictures from start to finish right away skipping all the waiting for updates.

So here it goes, the new tank:

Here are pictures of the space I had to work with:




The Setup

72""x30""x22"" AGE with stainless steel bracing, non-starfire

72"x30"x36" Steel Stand from AGE (to be skinned with wood at a future date)

PVC bottom with sides in the stand for the sump and equipment to sit on (so like a tray that would be water tight and catch small leaks or water spills)


60x24x16 Acrylic Sump/Refugium

SRO 3000 Skimmer

Tunze 6105
Tunze 6005
MP 10
Perhaps 1 more, think its needed?

Neptune Apex Controller
Neptune VDM Module

4 x AI Sol Super Blue LED's

Water Blaster 7000 Return pump


The Draw-Up:



From deep in the heart of Texas...


Thanks to a few strapping young gentlemen, the tank is now in place. Here are a few quick cell phone shots.









Filling it up!











Tank Update: I have replaced the metal support bands and screws with plastic support bands using stainless steel screws.






I have added some of the live-rock from my current tank to the new tank to help speed things along. The current rock structure is just temporary. I also added some macro algae to the refugium and put a temporary light over it. I have seen all sorts of pods and bristle worms in the new tank so things are going well.

I also have been doing 5 gallon water changes every 2 or 3 days on the 93 cube. The water I take out of the cube then goes into the new tank.

Hoping to transfer everything over in a couple weeks!


The tank is now wrasse proof! Making the screen tops was my least favorite part of the build so far, big pain in the butt. Transferring everything into the tank this weekend!





Break time. Livestock is transferred into the new tank. I have not worked on the aquascape yet. After looking at things a bit, I think I have to much rock to work with so I may move some down to the sump.



Did a bunch of aquascaping, still not done and not happy with how crowded it is with all the rock.





















A hastily created video of my tank:
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yeah, so I take a lot of pictures....




























































































Hurricane Sandy Power outage! Here is my tank mvp! Kept things going for 65+ hours!







A friend of mine made this great video of my tank:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=mpm9owuXT0U











__________________
A couple days ago I noticed the colors on my blue star leopard wrasse looked kind of strange. After looking at it for a bit I realized she is changing into a he

A few months ago (she is the top one):


Today: