The New Tank is Here!!!!

[MCDAVIES]

Hi all...a total newbie to marine aquariums but have decided to take the plunge! Had my 150g tank and stand delivered a week or so ago and will be doing most of the plumbing this afternoon.

After all the research and reading discussion threads for the past 3 month, I can hardly wait to get it going!

Have included a couple of pic for those interested...will keep you updated as the project progresses...

Below are a couple of the tank and stand...let me know what you think.

Mark

[MCDAVIES]

Here's one with the cabinet closed...

[MCDAVIES]

I'm putting the sump / refug in the basement under the tank. Size will be 5' (approx 150g). Here are a couple of pics of the setup...

First, the storage room...

[MCDAVIES]

Then had to cut through the wall upstairs and the ceiling of the storage room (below)...

[MCDAVIES]

Next came the table for the sump...

[Andy]

Wow! Very nice Mark. Did you have Aquaview Industries build your stand and hood by any chance. Looks just like mine. What kind of return pump are you using. Keep us posted.

Andy

[rottn]

Congrats Mark! Looking very good so far. Definitely keep us posted! :)

[MCDAVIES]

Good call Andy...the cabinet is from Aquaview. I'm very pleased with the quality and look. The tank is in our living room and, as such, asthetics IS important!

Likely going with an Amp Master 4000 as the pump. Will need the high flow (4000 gph) given the combined size of the tank and sump, plus the vertical travel back up from the basement.

[Sohal Tang]

Hi Mark,

What a beauty! Perfect size in my opinion!
I absolutely love it! Bet you are restless with anticipation
of putting the first gallons of water in the puppy! hehehe

Go slow....
Have fun.....
A big Congratulations!!!

Tim
:cheers:

[Andy]

Hi Mark

I noticed you don't have overflow boxes. What kind of drains are you planning and how are you getting the water back in. Are there return holes drilled in the tank.

[Sohal Tang]

SO....McDavies..is the WATER IN YET?

Hurry up will ya..we wanna see more pics of this beauty!


Tim
:roflmao:

[MCDAVIES]

Did some of the plumbing this weekend but the sticking point is the pump...will not be in for another week or so. Posted some pics below of the sump and the plumbing.

Also glued in the overflow boxes. Each corner has two holes...outflow and inflow. Again, pics below.

Will be putting in the lighting over then ext week. 2-400W MH and 3-5' HVO along with fans in the canopy. Will post more pics when done...

And...yes, Tim...it IS driving me nuts waiting to get things up and running!

Mark

Below is the sump (still in the wrapping!). Large middle section is for the refug.

[MCDAVIES]

First we glued in the overflows and hooked up the plumbing for the drainage and returns...

[MCDAVIES]

Close-up of the returns...I may put in a bit shorter return tube to drop the height of the flex lines...

[Sohal Tang]

Hey Mark...all ya gotta do in the meantime to fight the
desire for WATTERRRRRR is just KEEP SPENDING MONEY!!!
HEHEHEHE Every day go out and buy something new
for the set up!! hahaha that will get you by till
ya fill the beast! hehe

Tim

[MCDAVIES]

Then plumbed the drain and return lines...used corrogated flex tubing. This stuff is AWESOME! Easy to work with and will not kink. Below is a pick of the tubes running down into the basement.

[Sohal Tang]

HURRY DEAR!! theres an octopus escaping from the
bottom of your tank!!!

:laugh:

[MCDAVIES]

Below is a pic of the tubing running into the sump (but not hooked up. This shows the sump better. The skimmer will be on the right. The water then flow through an baffle to eliminate bubbles, then overflows into the refug. another baffle and then the water is pumped out and up on the right.

[Andy]

Mark

I noticed you don't have any holes drilled in your canopy yet. Where do you get a drill bit large enough to drill a 4" hole. I currently only have 2 holes in my canopy, one at each end. I may add a couple more if heat is an issue when I switch over to MH. You may want to have 2 fans at each end as well.

Andy

[MCDAVIES]

Last pic for now...this is the outflow of the sump. The furthest from the camera is the outflow to the pump. Closest to the camera is the outflow to the drain (to faciliate water changes). The middle outlet will either be for the sump (if required) or will be plugged.

That's it for now...next step is the lighting...

[MCDAVIES]

With you on that Andy...

Given that it is a fully enclosed canopy, I will be putting two fans in to get some good airflow over those MH's. Otherwise, will have to get used to boiled fish for dinner!

Mark