In Wall 250 Gallon Build

anyone?

 

Yes I would join PhotoBucket and then upload you photos there. then using the Icon above with the mountains (it's yellow) you would paste the url. Photobucket also formats the url already with the {img} tag so you just need to copy and paste

http://www.3reef.com/forums/faq.php?faq=how_to_add_images#faq_displaying_images


J

 

Once in photobucket- then whats the next step?

Also - APC

I know if my pic is slightly too large, I think it's 396mb for a Jpeg, it won't upload, and doesn't even tell you why. In other words, maybe 4the pic is too much memory per pic?

I'd love to see your pics too!

You could email me a few of the overall build to
Todd_Sails at yahoo.com
Thanks and good luck

 

Upload a picture, then just copy the image code, and paste it into your post.

 

Did this work? I reduced the size of the image.

 

okay, got it. You were right, it was image size! It did not tell me that was the issue when it bombed out. Oh well. Alright, that was a random photo from the build. I will export and then upload a bunch more here as soon as possible. Will likely be monday. Thanks for your help all!

 

APC, like the post says, it's easy and you post as many as you like on one post. Check out my newest thread with pics in the 'show off your tanks' thread

 

thanks, I am uploading to photobucket now. will post an update here later today or tomorrow AM. Thanks for all of the help.

 

Alright, lets see if I can get this post right this time. I started this project about 7 weeks ago. As part of a larger basement build out in our house, I wanted to incorporate a reef tank into the wall in the media room. I had a 120 gallon reef tank already, and I wanted to leverage the equipment and livestock from that tank in the new set up. While I would love to have multiple tanks, the reality of my life is that I would not have the time to keep more than one up. So I went out looking for the biggest possible tank I could get, given my space constraints. As you will see in the pictures, it looks like I could have gone with a larger tank length wise, but there were some structural considerations (mainly plumbing from above rooms) that limited me to right around 6 feet...and I had to move a few things to get that. I decided on the Marineland 250 gallon tank, as I really liked the deep dimensions of it. It is 60 inches wide, 27 inches deep (top to bottom) and 37 inches deep (front to back). I posted a picture of the tank earlier in this thread.

Over the past few weeks our contractor built out the opening for the tank. He had to install a header (as this is a load bearing wall), reroute some plumbing, and install electrical. Below is a picture of that in process



Once the tank was installed, the drywall was done and everything was painted, I took over from there, and started the tank construction. I built a sump using a 40 gallon breeder and some custom cut glass. My tank has dual overflows – so I opted to bring the water into the sump in the middle of the tank, put protein skimmers in the center, and then return from the sides. It seems to be working really well. I should note that I have two protein skimmers. I already had a new reef octopus skimmer that I really liked. However, It is not rated for the larger volume of the new tank, so I just bought another one to run along side it. Here is a picture of the sump in action. Ultimately I have room behind the sump, under the tank to add a refugium if I so desire…we shall see on that.
I am also going to add an ATO system in the near future – I have the stuff to do it – just ran out of time. I will have it set up in the next couple of weeks though.


With the sump in place, I began the move from the old tank to the new tank. I took 100% of the water, 100% of the live rock (about 100 pounds) and all of my live stock. I did not take any of the sand, and elected to use the arag-alive sand from carib-sea in the new tank. I added 7 bags to the tank – so a total of 140 pounds. I also added 80 pounds of Carib-Sea base rock – it’s a man made rock, but it appears to be highly porous, and it looks really nice. In addition, I had to make 150 gallons of new saltwater to make up the difference between the old tank and the new tank. I did that over the course of a few days, I stored it in new trash cans, aerated, and kept it up to temperature prior to moving it into the tank. Once I began removing water from my existing tank – the move took about 6 hours from start to finish.






Once I moved the tank contents over – I moved the AI SOL lights from my existing tank to the new tank. I added two additional units to the system as well. I also added a vortec MP40W to the new tank, to replace several Koralia pumps in the 120. Ultimately I may need another MP40 in the new tank, but will see how it goes. I am using two mag drives from my sump and getting good flow from them as well…so I am hoping to be okay. Here are some photos of the current state as of today.









I still have a lot to do. I need to set up my ATO. I need to install and web enable my Apex system as well as a web cam. I have all the equipment, I just need to get the time to do it. I’d like to do that in the next week or two…but it may end of being Christmas before I get to it due to my end of year work schedule. I will also be adding more fish, coral, etc. once the tank has time to settle in…more updates to follow on that….

Thanks for following along…and sorry I had so many issues getting pictures posted! 

 

Looks awesome!! I'm glad everything made the move smoothly. Keep us updated.