strauss Posted July 14, 2013 Report Share Posted July 14, 2013 So the title is a little misleading. The tank is actually 270 gallons but the top 12 or so inches are for grow out. I just sold my 89 reef as I feel I dominated it and hard crazy growth out of even the hardest SPS so it's back to freshwater like never before. I may verywell have a mild case of ADD but the wife is ok with it. Anyway back to freshwater with a vengence. As of thus far, the tank is being built by concept aquatics. 72 long, 24 wide, 36 tall. Dual overflows, beane animal style. 2 returns drilled in the bottom of the tank so I can create a slow moving river current that will most likely alternate. I ordered 2 Kessil a150w's as I will be utilizing my Mitra lx6100 from the reef tank I just sold. I feel good using it as I can customize it to anything and everything. It is extreme overkill but can be dialed down via computer. I will be using my reef controller for everything and have ordered the up atomizer to plumb in the return plus Co2 canister/regulator. I grabbed a ton of ADA amazonia and the smaller grained amazonia sand. I am thinking of using playsand(whitish) to contrast the ADA but in a controlled bed in the front. I also ordered 3 boxes of manzanita out of cali. I plan on making the tank one big mangrove bed out of the manzanita wood. Just inverting the wood and either glue or screw together and hide all holes. It will be heavily planted as well as the top portion will be stocked in bromeliads and orchids as well as ferns. Lots of colour, but the main event is the water. I will post pictures as piecies start arriving and I get at the tank, I promise. I want schools and I love plecos so thinking rummynose, 7-10 kinds of pleco, maybe cardinals or harlequin rasb. A school of sterbei's. I am not sold on discus but like the idea. If you have any suggestions/ recommendations, please voice them. I am currently looking for sand to use that is not a million dollars a bag and brownish-white. More white than home depot play sand. Tank is done late next week so the fun will start then. Ill keep you posted. Brandon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted July 14, 2013 Report Share Posted July 14, 2013 Check out sandblasting stores for a great assortment of sand. The sales staff shold be able to tell you it's reactivity - you want something that is completely inert so it doesn't affect your pH. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cullymoto Posted July 14, 2013 Report Share Posted July 14, 2013 Sil industries sells a 50lb bag of nice beach colored sand for 8 bucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abby Posted July 15, 2013 Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 Oasis Pools on centre has pool filter sand. That's what I use in my 75 gallon and I love it. I think it was about $13/bag and I bought two bags to do my 75g. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strauss Posted July 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2013 Awesome, thanks guys. I stopped at Western pumps yesterday to get plumbing and Jennifer pulled me aside and said if I wanted she could order what ever I wanted from lifeguard aquatics. So the quiet one 6000 will end up costing about 110 versus over $200. Plus many hard to find items. Now just waiting on everything to arrive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strauss Posted August 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2013 Sorry for the long intermission but here is a photo update: Painting back black stand and hood skirted and built Daughter in for comparison and time out, just kidding Main electrical components on board with magnets Putting wood in Glass barrier siliconed along tank bottom as sand/ada barrier. Some will mix but I will be planting glosso which should fill in and cover Lights on but not calibrated Adding water, will be doing water changes throughout the week as RO/DI kicks in Tank and plumbing Will have more soon Brandon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strauss Posted August 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2013 Also, the brown on top of the wood is a landscaping foam coated in silicone and peat moss as I will have some dart frogs in the top section with bromeliads and orchids. I ordered a bunch of plants from aquaticmagic on ebay and still looking in calgary for lots. More pic's when I get that done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cgy_Betta_Guy Posted August 6, 2013 Report Share Posted August 6, 2013 The little fishy in QT looks like she might have some aggression issues... lol :rofl: This is going to look nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaykit Posted August 6, 2013 Report Share Posted August 6, 2013 Very cool! Nice progression pictures of the build so far. Looking forward to watching this progress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VT231 Posted August 6, 2013 Report Share Posted August 6, 2013 Pretty cool looking project you got there, can't wait to see the end result. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McTurtle Posted August 6, 2013 Report Share Posted August 6, 2013 It's already looking good. I'm sure the end result is going to be amazing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayba Posted August 7, 2013 Report Share Posted August 7, 2013 Pretty cool! Where did you get the wood? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PistolPete Posted August 7, 2013 Report Share Posted August 7, 2013 Very nice Top notch project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strauss Posted August 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2013 The wood is out of California. I have family in Vancouver so I had it shipped to an American address and they grabbed it. It's 2 boxes of wood totaling about $220 with shipping and duty. You can't really beat it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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