chbix

Well it all started when I got a jones for owning another fishtank. I had owned freshwater tanks off and on as a kid. Now that I am almost 30 I really wanted to get a SW tank. So I moved into a house last year that had an awesome spot for a fish tank. The wall separated two rooms and had a space about 4 feet wide, 2 feet deep and 4-5 feet tall. So I was looking at a 55gallon tank. The more research I did the more I wanted to utilize a sump and the more equipment I realized I would have to buy and find a place for. My fiance found a good deal on a used 55g tank with a stand and some extras and what not but when I got it I realized it was all freshwater stuff.

More research just lead me to believe this was going to be more than what I wanted in the space so I set up the 55g as a freshwater and was going to look at a saltwater tank later.

Well my fiance rocked and surprised me with a brand new 55g tank and lots of extras including a fluval g6 canister filter, superskimmer 125g protein skimmer, a 1200gph twin power head and some other misc stuff for my early wedding present. (FYI she got a steal on the equipment from a store going out of business, the G6 was around $500 and she snagged it for $260 for example, was sad because that was the only LFS locally but scored on the prices.

SO the journey began.

Knowing I wanted to do this right I began doing research and lots of it.

The fiance wanted pretty corals and fish so I knew that lighting was going to be needed, I wanted a sump and the list went on and on.

The stand that came with my first tank is small and doesnt feel sturdy even with an empty tank so I will be building my own stand to get the space and design I want.

I acquired a used set of power compact lights, 4x96watt. In doing so I am also going to make a light fixture/canopy to use these.

I bought a 29g tank that will be used as a sump and have designed it and have started assembly using acrylic panels.

I wanted an overflow box as I am not wanting to drill the tank.....yet. Using melvsreef design I am currently making my own weir over flow box. I have the acrylic cut and bent and have the first side panel attached.

I purchase an RO/DI unit and am currently trying to decide where to hook it up as there are no water sources near the tank. Will probably utilize 55g bins in the garage.

Research and design issues have made me realize that I would not be able to utlize the G6 (I have to use it, was a gift) in the original manner I thought. I wanted to run the G6 off of the sump and use it mainly for the carbon, however it requires gravity feed and needs to be below the tank. The g6 will be ran separate from the sump, basically intake and return will run off the display tank next to the sump intake and return.

At this time I am slowly designing the stand, canopy and plumbing while I am acquiring pieces and building the overflow and sump.

I will also be attempting to make my own rock from various sources on the internet. I want to have roughly 70lbs, and at $2-3 a lb cant afford the cost. I will be making the majority of it so I can get the shapes and design I want and then seeding with live rock.

I will be doing 2" or so of sand.

Still on my list of things is a return pump, bulbs and timers, test kit, live rock and sand.

Here are some photos