Skippie's First Start-up

[Skippie]

Hey All,
OK so I got a fresh water tank from a friend and thought i could turn it into a Marine tank.....Boy what a surprise
So I introduced myself here and got a lot of lovely responses Also I realised that the tank i got is not going to work. So i looked at tank prices and that shuttered my dream.....Till.....
CW Gave me his old tank and a lot of extras Thanks CW I owe you big time. And this is what it looks like.
Display tank
118cmX50cmX60cm 354 Litres
Overflow - 540mm high X 500mm Wide
2XPowerheads 5000L/h
2X300W heaters
Return Pump Atman 5000L/h
Sump
100cmX32cmX39cm 124.8 Litres
And a whole lot of sand.
The sump was divided into 3 compartments
Inlet side
Sand Bed (SB)
Return side.
Stand
Stand with wood covered panels and doors, Very neat.
So I had to make some changes just to put my finger print on it to make this MY TANK.
Firstly.
While still reading up on start-up and sumps and how the whole eco system should work I had some time to make some customizing changes to the Sump and stand. I sanded off the stand where there was some rust building and painted it with antirust paint.

Then I added a chamber on the inlet side of the sump where I want to filter out big particles by means of a sponge type filter. The second chamber will be Live Rock And the next chamber My Deep Sand, and finally the pump.

Plan for the next 2 weeks is to get the stand on some wheels and then put the Display tank and the sump in place to start with the pipe work.

Will post some pic’s soon.

Nite for now....

[Skippie]

The photos is all in my Album
Marine Aquariums of South Africa

Thanks

[erratiC]

Awesome start Skippie, your hardware isn't shabby at all

I don't see it mentioned but what skimmer are you going to use?

Looking forward to seeing your tank progress.

[crispin]

great to hear you are off on the right foot

a big up to CW, thats a hugely generous thing to do, well done its great to see people starting others off like that.

remeber to let that tank mature, dont rush it or you will crash it.

[crispin]

love the way you get your lighties envolved with the build too

[Tremayn]

congrats on the tank man!

[Skippie]

Originally Posted by erratiC

Awesome start Skippie, your hardware isn't shabby at all

I don't see it mentioned but what skimmer are you going to use?

Looking forward to seeing your tank progress.

Yes i didn't mention the skimmer yet - I need some more reading and then will post what i am thinking and get some serious input's

I am going to start up very slowly so i may only need a skimmer in about 2 months time when I am going to add LS.

Thanks for the interest: nice to know so many people looking out for me.

[belindamotion]

Looks like you'r off to a great start...!!!

[Skippie]

Originally Posted by crispin

love the way you get your lighties envolved with the build too

Yes, They actually offered so i will not stop them ... In fact they will inherit the tank from me one day so they should know how it works....

[Skippie]

Originally Posted by Tremayn

congrats on the tank man!

Thanks a lot And please let me know where you think i am going wrong

Cheers

[Skippie]

Originally Posted by belindamotion

Looks like you'r off to a great start...!!!

Thanks a lot

[seank]

That trailer is too close for comfort to me....lol

[Skippie]

Originally Posted by seank

That trailer is too close for comfort to me....lol

I am more worried about the bakkie ......

[Skippie]

Another update.

I welded in the supports for the sump and while i was busy I also add some wheels, Industrial troley wheels so that i can move the system if needed.


Front view



So next I will paint the stand and put the tank on top to start with the pype work.

Will update soon.

[erratiC]

Hey Skippie, good looking DIY but I'm just wondering if those wheels have brakes? The last thing I'd want to see is my tank moving around on its own, lol.

[gMAN]

hmmmm... are those wheels a good idea? have you calculated what weight it can take and over what period of time?

[crispin]

Originally Posted by gMAN

hmmmm... are those wheels a good idea? have you calculated what weight it can take and over what period of time?

coupled to the fact that its on a tiled floor I have a feeling skippie will have a few cracked tiles after a while. the concerntrated pressure of all that weight (water, glass, sand and LR) will put massive pressure on a concerntrated area.

[Skippie]

Originally Posted by erratiC

Hey Skippie, good looking DIY but I'm just wondering if those wheels have brakes? The last thing I'd want to see is my tank moving around on its own, lol.

Dude i am going to use wooden stops - I have 2 boy's and 2 Jack russels.....Have to think about the safety alll the tame.....

[Skippie]

Thanks for the concerns but i did my home work ...now lets get to the more important stuff...The tank.

I completed the stand and another cote of paint and, and, and. I placed the display unit on top and the result....



Tomorrow i will complete the pipe work, and most probably the electrical wires. One more week to start up.
I have ordered a 500L mixing tank . This is going to be fun.
Please comment and let me know what it is I am forgetting for the start-up (one month cycling).

Thanks All

[erratiC]

Congrats on a good looking tank, Skippie. Coming together nicely.