GoToSleep's 700g Build Thread (& complete remodel)

I'm seriously leaning towards the Tradewinds 1.5hp (ouch!). I'm going to check online prices this weekend and my LFS is going to have a price for me on Monday. My plan is to get it ordered on Monday no matter what. I've passed the tipping point where the value of what I could loose in my tank is far above what the chiller/install is going to cost me.

I talked to Tradewinds customer service yesterday and they were really helpful. They estimate that I'd have a 9 hour duty cycle with their 1 hp and a 5 hour duty cycle with the 1.5hp.

My other option is still the AquaLogic water cooled model. DS-10-wc

 

Last week I got the surround for my tank installed. Custom concrete and it turned out even better than I had expected. We matched the color to the counter top and table in the same room. It's probably tough to see in these pics but the rough edge of the conrete actually has the appearance of a fossilized coral reef cast into the edge. There are shiny bits of Mother of Pearl mixed into the concrete and fiber optic lighting which I can turn on or off.

left side pieces being dry fit before siliconing into place



the finished product



it's really hard to convey with my limited photography skills but here's a FTS last night. The bright spots on the concrete are the fiberoptic lights. They're kinda washed out by the flash but much more dramatic in person.



Hmmm, it looks like there are a few more corals in that last FTS than in my eariler pics.

 

I heard about your shopping and design trip!!! Let's see the pics!!!

 

Finally got the four VHO bulbs installed. Here are pictures of the install work. 2 bulbs near the tack of the tank and 2 more bulbs at the very front. I started with 454 bulbs to bring a bit more blue to the 14K MH's. These pics only show the first bulb installed but you can see the track that I cut out of 2" oak to support the bulbs on either end. I'm running these with my old IceCap 430 Ballasts from my last tank.

 

I think you will not regret the Tradewinds if you decide to go that way. Mine has ran perfect and have no complaints on the equipment.

 

Hey, this is a build thread . People want to see construction pictures-- concrete and lights -- not some boring coral pictures.:yelrotflm

 

Coral pictures for Miliisa. Notice how I was careful to include equipment in the shots.

 

Yes, but doesn't the act of building a mini "coral" reef, usually involves CORAL????!!!!!! ;D

I wanna see pretty sticks and stuff.....not bags!

 

Looking like you need a bigger fish room already... ;D

 

Yea, let me know if you see a good place in there for that 1.5hp chiller ;D.

Actually if I move the salt water vat out into the main room, right about where my wife's Christmas tree is sitting now, I should be in good shape.