Robert’s Dream Build

[robertjules1981]

Hello reefers! I have been lurking for the past year, reading build posts, picking up valuable info from all of you and I began believing I could do this.
I’ve had planted high tech fresh water tanks for some time now and am finally ready to see how life is on the salty side.

My wife is very supportive of me, though it took some cajoling and negotiation to get approval to put a beast of a tank inside the house and not out in the garage with my others. I pulled the trigger and ordered a 250 gallon custom tank from Glass Cages, thanks Joe! I’m having a custom stand and canopy built by Chris Benner and a sump from Luna Reef. I’ve ordered a skimmer, lighting, return pump and power heads. Now I just have to be patient! I am out of my mind right now with excitement and am looking forward to documenting the process, mistakes, victories, successes, challenges and failures as I’m sure there will be many! Stay tuned…

 

[JC1977]

Congratulations sounds like it will be an awesome build! Can’t wait to see some pics!

 

[robertjules1981]

Just some of the hard goods. I’ll come down and stand in front of this shelf sometimes… lol!

 

[robertjules1981]

Congratulations sounds like it will be an awesome build! Can’t wait to see some pics!

Thanks!

 

[Joe Glass Cages]

Hello reefers! I have been lurking for the past year, reading build posts, picking up valuable info from all of you and I began believing I could do this.
I’ve had planted high tech fresh water tanks for some time now and am finally ready to see how life is on the salty side.

My wife is very supportive of me, though it took some cajoling and negotiation to get approval to put a beast of a tank inside the house and not out in the garage with my others. I pulled the trigger and ordered a 250 gallon custom tank from Glass Cages, thanks Joe! I’m having a custom stand and canopy built by Chris Benner and a sump from Luna Reef. I’ve ordered a skimmer, lighting, return pump and power heads. Now I just have to be patient! I am out of my mind right now with excitement and am looking forward to documenting the process, mistakes, victories, successes, challenges and failures as I’m sure there will be many! Stay tuned…

Most Awesome @robertjules1981

Thanks so much for allowing the Glasscages Team to be a part of your journey. Honored!

 

[robertjules1981]

I’m trying so hard to be patient and not call Joe at Glass Cages everyday! Waiting for sump to go into production. I’m thinking of doing a Triton method mainly to simplify sump and have more open space down there to either do a refugium or modify with foam baffles as I add equipment. Literally all I can think about lately!

 

[bobbravo2]

Following! Can’t wait to see it

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Can't wait to see pictures of the tank once you get it in!!

 

[robertjules1981]

So life got busy, work, kids, wife and what not and I was pleasantly surprised to find out my tank has shipped, dump is in production soon to be shipped and the stand is being stained and prepped for shipping! Big shout out to Joe GlassCages, Chris Benner and Luna Sumps
More updates to come! Working on plumbing diagram and saltwater/RO mixing station.

 

[Joe Glass Cages]

So life got busy, work, kids, wife and what not and I was pleasantly surprised to find out my tank has shipped, dump is in production soon to be shipped and the stand is being stained and prepped for shipping! Big shout out to Joe GlassCages, Chris Benner and Luna Sumps
More updates to come! Working on plumbing diagram and saltwater/RO mixing station.

this is so exciting @robertjules1981

 

[robertjules1981]

this is so exciting @robertjules1981

Thanks Joe! The tank arrived in Phoenix and will be scheduling delivery soon!

 

[robertjules1981]

Just took delivery of the tank! It’s getting real!!

 

[robertjules1981]

I can’t decide how to plumb the UV… looking at a closed loop in and out of DT but scared to drill this beauty That or return-UV-DT and run a second pump for manifold to sump. No plans yet on reactors.

 

[bobbravo2]

I can’t decide how to plumb the UV… looking at a closed loop in and out of DT but scared to drill this beauty That or return-UV-DT and run a second pump for manifold to sump. No plans yet on reactors.

For this big of an investment: I’m planning on dual return pumps for redundancy. Drilling sounds like a smart bet.

Just go slow, use lots of water, and go slow

 

[robertjules1981]

Hi everyone! I’ve steadily been acquiring all the pieces of equipment for my build and started working on rock scape while waiting for the stand to ship. Should be next week! I’m so freaking excited
I’m using Marcos Foundation, shelf and ARC Reef Stacker dry rock with mostly super glue. I tried some of the Two Little Fishies putty but have mixed results with it. I get it placed where I want and then when I push it into place it sticks to my finger and gets pulled out… Any ways, maybe I’m doing something wrong? Maybe gloves would help?
I’m happy so far with the rock scape, I added more to the formation in the picture today and built a second plateau shelf formation to go under the tip of the partial bridge.
That’s Ramses on quality control…

 

[robertjules1981]

Hi everyone! I’ve steadily been acquiring all the pieces of equipment for my build and started working on rock scape while waiting for the stand to ship. Should be next week! I’m so freaking excited
I’m using Marcos Foundation, shelf and ARC Reef Stacker dry rock with mostly super glue. I tried some of the Two Little Fishies putty but have mixed results with it. I get it placed where I want and then when I push it into place it sticks to my finger and gets pulled out… Any ways, maybe I’m doing something wrong? Maybe gloves would help?
I’m happy so far with the rock scape, I added more to the formation in the picture today and built a second plateau shelf formation to go under the tip of the partial bridge.
That’s Ramses on quality control…

More progress today… I only bought 150 lbs of rock and this is only like a third of it

 

[robertjules1981]

The stand arrived! Now to start some plumbing before the tank is placed on top.
The sump came with the strangest return pump I’ve ever seen

 

[robertjules1981]

Howdy reefers! It’s been a while since I last posted. It’s been a productive couple months! Finally got the tank in the house and on the stand which required me hiring a tank mover out of Phoenix/San Diego. Thanks Chad! Local movers insisted they would just need 2 guys to pick it up and carry it which I didn’t like the sound of… Plumbed my mixing station which is through the crawl space on the opposite side of the house. Tapped into the intake pipe off our water heater for the RO, mixed Somme salt water and filled her up over the course of a couple days. She is now almost done cycling, I’ve got a couple clowns coming next week and 9 Chromis and some sand sister starfish in a WaterBox cube that was my first planted freshwater tank. Debating on setting a smaller QT up and doing a copper QT regime for fish in the cube and putting invertebrates in the other…

 

[DarkReefer]

This looks to be something that'll be very nice once you've finished getting it up and and going properly. Looks great so far. Looks like you've certainly done some planning !

I'm in the early stages of working out my next build and considering plumbing some stuff into/through walls as well and out into my garage so I can have things like UV or RO etc out there instead of lugging things around so it's cool to see how others have done things!

 

[robertjules1981]

This looks to be something that'll be very nice once you've finished getting it up and and going properly. Looks great so far. Looks like you've certainly done some planning !

I'm in the early stages of working out my next build and considering plumbing some stuff into/through walls as well and out into my garage so I can have things like UV or RO etc out there instead of lugging things around so it's cool to see how others have done things!

Thank you! I’ve spent over a year lurking in all the build threads on here trying to speak up as much knowledge as possible. Note to put it into practice and be willing to ask for help when I need it. I wish my wife would have allowed plumbing through the wall! I crammed an 80 watt UV sterilizer in the stand attaches to the underside of the top. Plumbing came out a little wonky and I gave up on color scheme after I had to cut out a few sections. Opted for white schedule 40 since I’d already greatly exceeded my budget…