Shamous's 150 Build

[shamous113]

Well this is long overdue, I'm finally setting up my tank WOOT WOOT! I havent had A tank for over 6 years. I've been collecting gear and equipment for this over the past year. the main display is a standard 150gal tank 72"x18x27, ive put a c2c over flow in it with a external been animal drain set up. I built the stand out of heavy wall HSS2x2 at my work. The sump is a 115 (72x24x16) gal set up in my basement, a pita to get in place but worth it. Ive been so consumed getting it set up that I didn't post anything. so now that I'm mixing salt water it's time for some pics.

 

[nathan]

Really sweet rock work going on there. Absolutely awesome. Can't wait to watch this continue

 

[shamous113]

Really sweet rock work going on there. Absolutely awesome. Can't wait to watch this continue

Thanks, Although I feel that the right side is missing something. I'll take a closer pic tonight.

 

[Nighthawk26]

Eye spy, with my little eye, a LifeReef Skimmer. Excellent choice.

Although I am not sure of your setup with the sump at this point, I suggest you get a check valve just in front of the Return pump.

 

[shamous113]

Eye spy, with my little eye, a LifeReef Skimmer. Excellent choice.

Although I am not sure of your setup with the sump at this point, I suggest you get a check valve just in front of the Return pump.

I'm excited about the skimmer, its a beast and dead simple
What chk valve would you recommend? When i calculated the volume in the pipe theirs less then 1.5gal heading up to the tank in the pipe, I put a siphon break at the water line on both returns. the pump section of the sump can hold 30 gal before it crests the first baffle.

 

[Nighthawk26]

If you are sure you will have no overflow issues, then it's not a huge deal really at all. Remember you will still have the drain water coming back, plus everything till the siphon break. If you are sure it holds it all, no problem. I have a similar setup, but my pipes are like a 55ft run so I have a lot more to be sensitive about.

 

[Nick James]

Looks good! Jealous of your skimmer!

 

[c31979839]

Looks nice!
What thickness of glass did you use for the c2c? Did you have any problems finding a glass shop to cut such long and skinny plates of glass?

 

[derrick orosz]

Looks good...I'll be following along

 

[shamous113]

Looks good! Jealous of your skimmer!

Thanks, I lucked in to the skimmer.

Looks nice!
What thickness of glass did you use for the c2c? Did you have any problems finding a glass shop to cut such long and skinny plates of glass?

6mm for the c2c and 10mm for the external overflow. I used k-w glass, the c2c is only 2 1/2" deep and 64" long they were more then willing to cut it, all the glass was +- 1/64"

 

[shamous113]

If you are sure you will have no overflow issues, then it's not a huge deal really at all. Remember you will still have the drain water coming back, plus everything till the siphon break. If you are sure it holds it all, no problem. I have a similar setup, but my pipes are like a 55ft run so I have a lot more to be sensitive about.

The math works but now i'm second guessing myself, their is 6' of 1.5"dia plumbing and 6' of 1" dia in the return system...

 

[shamous113]

Some more pics, water level is almost at the top.. next on the list is to get the stainless steel parts together for holding the lights. Im still not loving the rocks on the right hand side, might rip it apart and redo it. any suggestions?

 

[shamous113]

Well I've been ammonia cycling. I dosed 3ppm last night and had a reading of 0.15ppm today nitrites are dropping too, tests showed 1.5ppm (ish) and nitrate is showing 15ppm so the wait continues... hopping to get the stand closed in and the wiring cleaned up this weekend and the light fixture built by Christmas.

 

[shamous113]

finally changed the rite side rock work... I'm liking it a bit more

 

[SpongeAl]

Awesome tank, its a dream setup when you start going through walls or floors. I've always wanted to try a toothless C2C like yours.

As far as the rock work, tough call, I'm not very good at it. I will say I'm not a fan of rocks leaning up against the glass as it is so hard to clean around it.

Mixing two types of rocks is a challenge I don't envy. I wonder how it would look if you used the potato rocks on the right as a base or floor around the whole tank, then have the sticks poking out here and there with the shelves sitting on them. I think it would be interesting. It would make your floor kinda like one big rock, with the added bonus of being able to clean the glass a little easier. Just IMO cause you asked.

 

[Nick James]

How far below the tank trim is the top of your overflow box? I have to install one as well, and want to make sure I set it at the right height!

Looking forward to see what livestock you put in here!

 

[shamous113]

How far below the tank trim is the top of your overflow box? I have to install one as well, and want to make sure I set it at the right height!

Looking forward to see what livestock you put in here!

The internal box is set flush with the bottom edge of the trim, I put the external about 7/8" down from the top edge of the trim. the kids have already stipulated that we need "Nemo and Dory"

 

[Nick James]

the kids have already stipulated that we need "Nemo and Dory"

Naturally!

 

[shamous113]

So my tank can process ammonia really well 2ppm in 2 hours down to .01ppm nitrite on the other hand is 15+ppm, i discovered that one of my heaters had crapped out and the tank temp wouldn't go above 76 I've since added 2 more heaters and I'm at a stable 78 now. I'm hoping that this will finally push the process along.

 

[shamous113]

I'm over the hill!!! ammonia=0 nitrites = 0.003 and nitrates=12-15 WOOT WOOT!!!!!