First Foray into Reefkeeping

[esquare]

Thanks! The stand is metal framed, with MDF making the cabinet area. The edges of it were cut, shellac, then painted black with acrylic. I think the last pic looks that way due to a combination of flash and it being 1-2 coats from completely covered.

I've been made well aware we're expected to get a 'Nemo fish' - and it'll probably be the first addition honestly. I'm on pretty much the same page with clown and bta I think. Do clowns typically do better in pairs?

Plans for the rest of the weekend are plumbing and maybe sorting out hellos and pump controller placement if I get froggy.

Lol, "expected to get Nemo".

I only mentioned a pair because watching the interaction of a mated clown pair that has been hosted by an anemone is one of my favorite things about this hobby. 1 or 2 is really your preference. My understanding is it gets difficult to keep more then 2 though it can be done.

Sounds like you have the cut edges sealed well.

Plumbing can be a challenge, best of luck!

 

[AnomMatty]

Progress so far today: Return down to the ball valve assembled and installed, along with the overflow box.

 

[AnomMatty]

Rest of the progress today:
Plumbing done!

Pump and heater controllers placed. I've got some wire management in my future soon

 

[esquare]

Looks good, I like how you'll be able to access the gate valve from the side

 

[AnomMatty]

Looks good, I like how you'll be able to access the gate valve from the side

Thanks! I can access both - return is a little awkward, but it's just on/off with a ball valve so not awkward for long.

 

[AnomMatty]

Got some preliminary wire management done yesterday. Next week or so is gonna be slow as we're going on vacation and getting everything in order to do so.

 

[esquare]

Wire management is my downfall. I gave up and got mounting boards for most of my equipment and raceways to hide it all.

 

[pierrelowey]

Really like all the DIY on this build so its custom to your space, nice work! just one question how do you access the sump once its fully plumped in and full of water? to change socks or clean equipment? the gap looks quite small between the top of the sump tank and the shelf above.

 

[AlyciaMarie]

This is cool, can't wait to watch the progress. Good luck!

 

[AnomMatty]

Really like all the DIY on this build so its custom to your space, nice work! just one question how do you access the sump once its fully plumped in and full of water? to change socks or clean equipment? the gap looks quite small between the top of the sump tank and the shelf above.

If you look at post #18 I cut an access area in the shelf above the sump. It gives height so I don't have an issue fitting a protein skimmer, but it also allows me enough access that I can touch the bottom of anywhere in the sump. You are right though, gap between the top of the sump and the shelf above is about 2.5".

 

[AnomMatty]

This is cool, can't wait to watch the progress. Good luck!

Thanks! I'm currently trying to sort out how much RODI system I need, and trying not to buy anything prior to our vacation that will put me in the dog house

 

[Manpeckz]

Very clean plumbing, nice work!

If I’m you I’m going 150 or more GPD.
I have a 75 GPD 5 stage, made about 8-9 gallons in 2.5-3 hours yesterday.

 

[AnomMatty]

Very clean plumbing, nice work!

If I’m you I’m going 150 or more GPD.
I have a 75 GPD 5 stage, made about 8-9 gallons in 2.5-3 hours yesterday.

It's more been a round about of stages honestly. I know there's chloramines used in our water supply which leans me towards at least 5, but the only help I've gotten local is an LFS that seems more interested in selling me a max-stage bells and whistles system than answering my questions. Hoping to not go so far as ICP testing my tap water, but spending $ on extra stages that are just acting as redundancy isn't something I'm currently keen on.

 

[Manpeckz]

I just do 5 for the carbon redundancy and because I live in a home that has OLD plumbing in the country. I feel if you do a really good flush each time you won’t need a lot of stages. Mine starts in the hundreds and by the time I close the flush valve it’s down to 3-4 IN, 0-1 OUT. My water is extremely hard here as well.

 

[AnomMatty]

I just do 5 for the carbon redundancy and because I live in a home that has OLD plumbing in the country. I feel if you do a really good flush each time you won’t need a lot of stages. Mine starts in the hundreds and by the time I close the flush valve it’s down to 3-4 IN, 0-1 OUT. My water is extremely hard here as well.

I'm leaning pretty heavily towards 5 - mostly because I know there's chloramines and I can bump to 100 gpd and still be under a 75gpd 6 stage system. Worst case I end up adding a stage down the line. I don't feel like I really *need* anything higher than 75gpd, as one of my primary goals is minimal maintenance (and water changes), so after initial fill it's just top off I hope to deal with long term. Our plumbing is fairly new (mid 1990's), but we're on the fringes of a large public water system.

 

[AnomMatty]

Pulled the trigger on everything left except salt and powerheads. Hoping to have it for my post vacation day off so I can get to aquascaping and leak testing

 

[AnomMatty]

Started aquascaping

Aquascape input

I feel like it's pretty solid, buy wanted to open myself up to improvements other folks may see that I don't. 40 Breeder

www.reef2reef.com

 

[AnomMatty]

RODI installed. Gonna start leak testing.

Aquascape is *almost* there. Wanna find an arch piece to add to the solo rock I placed back left.

 

[AnomMatty]

First official hurdle: primary drain plumbing is leaking. Appears to be the slip joint into the bulkhead. Can't tell 100% if it's the only place, as the rest of the return is down from there.

 

[esquare]

Did you use primer and PVC cement?