my first reef 150g and basement room

**card16969** · 12-15-2009, 11:07 PM

OK OK OK im not going to lie i copied and pasted the main parts from my build thread on another site i didnt feel like copying all the links seperately for my pics lol

So here we go i'm building my first tank, and here are the pictures of my progress and the build as it goes along. Eventually the system will continue to grow and add a skimmer calcium reactor etc but for now heres my start.

150 gal 72Lx18Wx26T

oak stand

1 1/4 drains coming out of tank to 1 1/2 drain to the fuge & sump downstairs

15 Gallon three chamber fuge draining into 50 gallon rubbermaid short tub which will house a skimmer at a later time

44 Gallon food grade brute trash can for mixing water provided by 100gpd RO/DI, water will be pumped by penguin power head from the brute to the rubbermaid.

Water being returned to tank by little giant 3-MDQX-SC through 1 1/2" pvc at a calculated 9.62 foot of head feeding the tank 628 gph.

Flow in tank will be supplemented by 3 modded maxijet 1200's

Lighting consists of 3 175w MH with 20k Bulbs and a 71" Helios super blue 03 bulb

starting out with 2" sand bed and 100lbs of live rock

Hood will be built here in the near future

shopping list of what i still have to purchase out of next paycheck except skimmer:

brute trash can
rubbermaid tub
skimmer
rodi
maxijet power heads and mod kits
new helios bulb (my cat broke mine lol true story) anybody know anyone who carries them?
lumber for hood
2 buckets salt

as i was tearing down tank from previous owners house way different from how im setting it up
IMG00056 20090927 2007 - my first reef 150g and basement room

IMG00056 20090927 2007 - my first reef 150g and basement room

IMG00075 20091001 1705 - my first reef 150g and basement room

IMG00076 20091001 1705 - my first reef 150g and basement room

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IMG00098 20091005 0135 - my first reef 150g and basement room

IMG00104 20091007 1641 - my first reef 150g and basement room

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IMG00106 20091007 1642 - my first reef 150g and basement room

IMG00108 20091007 1814 - my first reef 150g and basement room

Tim aka Alwaysfishing
IMG00110 20091007 2057 - my first reef 150g and basement room

IMG00112 20091007 2120 - my first reef 150g and basement room

**card16969** · 12-15-2009, 11:08 PM

IMG00114 20091007 2222 - my first reef 150g and basement room

IMG00115 20091007 2222 - my first reef 150g and basement room

IMG00116 20091007 2223 - my first reef 150g and basement room

heres an update on the build, im in the process of cycling which i ofically started on halloween. So hopefully ill be able to add fish before too long. I installed my rodi finished setting up my fuge and sump downstairs and plummed everything together and have changed a few things along the way. I picked up another 150lbs of live rock which puts me at 250Lbs of live rock (about 180-200lbs in my display) and about 80lbs of sand. I keep adding things week by week like more flow and heaters trying to get this thing up to par. Building the canopy should begin when i get paid this week which is going to an interesting adventure as im not sure on how i want to build it exactly. Enjoy the pics from my phone as i havnt been able to find my digi cam.

fisttry - my first reef 150g and basement room

fisttry - my first reef 150g and basement room

didnt like how little rock that my first 100lbs equaled out to be so i added some more
screwit150lbsmore - my first reef 150g and basement room

then started playing with the layout
almostthere - my first reef 150g and basement room

and heres the final product so far ive pushed on everything shaking it around trying to get it to move and everything seems pretty stabil and LOTS of places for fish to go in and out
final - my first reef 150g and basement room

final - my first reef 150g and basement room

Cant forget about the RO/DI 6 stage 100gpd and the sump and the fuge in the room down stairs, electrical should be finished this week and not sure when im going to finish the drywall work not exactly a priority since im never in the basement other than laundry and the fish tank
IMG00005 - my first reef 150g and basement room

IMG00005 - my first reef 150g and basement room

IMG00004 - my first reef 150g and basement room

And at the end of the night tonight this is what i wound up with
IMG00047 20091115 2247 - my first reef 150g and basement room

So far i think ive had some pretty good progress

So my cycle seems to be complete so we put the huge tomato clown in there that we call gigantor and testing regularly. Ive been working on my canopy its almost done and have the doors cut for the front of my stand and just waiting to paint them with the canopy. Hoping to have my lighting finished this weekend and adding my blue hippo and my clowns as well. Looking forward to adding my corals into the system and watching them grow. Oh and another update im debating on adding in a frag system and using my 55gal sump that i have laying around into my system. It will further increas my water volume but that decision is still up in the air right now. Here are some newer pics

**card16969** · 12-15-2009, 11:09 PM

IMG00068 20091121 1507 - my first reef 150g and basement room

IMG00071 20091121 1624 - my first reef 150g and basement room

IMG00076 20091122 0006 - my first reef 150g and basement room

IMG00078 20091122 1829 - my first reef 150g and basement room

PICS FOR MY ADORING FANS LMFAO......heres the pics of the first part of wrapping my hood, i still have to trim it in and sand it and re paint it and the doors for the front of it are drying at my shop. And finally heres the pics of the tank with the halides on it!!

IMG00104 20091203 1532 - my first reef 150g and basement room

IMG00104 20091203 1532 - my first reef 150g and basement room

IMG00105 20091203 1532 - my first reef 150g and basement room

IMG00106 20091203 2041 - my first reef 150g and basement room

IMG00107 20091203 2041 - my first reef 150g and basement room

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IMG00142 20091205 1408 - my first reef 150g and basement room

**Fishgeek88** · 12-15-2009, 11:09 PM

Lookin good!

**card16969** · 12-15-2009, 11:09 PM

100 0434 - my first reef 150g and basement room

100 0428 - my first reef 150g and basement room

100 0427 - my first reef 150g and basement room

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Got some new inhabitants in my tank finally a little color

6 headed torch on a long branch that looks like a palm tree
green birds nest
Rose bubble tip anenome
2 orange ricordias
3 green ricordias
2 misc zoos no clue what they are they are still opening
and a couple mushrooms popping up out of the rocks
Pink spot goby

IMG00041 20091215 2015 - my first reef 150g and basement room