Damien's 4+x4x2 - its here and photos

[damer]

Introduction:
I have been asked many times over the years why i have never had a journal on here, so here you go.

i have been collecting bits and pieces for my new tank for a while now. currently i have a 4x2x2 which has been going for about 7 years, and for 4 to 5 years before that i had a standard 4 ft. I am doing a big renovation on our house (adding more than we currently have) which has given me the chance to upgrade. lucky i have a spare locker at the fire station where i work to put thing in

System Objectives:

System Type: mixed reef, lots of fish, lots of corals

Display System:

Strike up Date: ASAP but a wile yet

Display Tank: 4 foot, 4 inches x 4 x 2, 3 sides 12mm starfire, side panel 15mm normal glass lasercut with external overflow. starfire laser cut one piece top brace. black silicone all round as well as polished edges. i think that its?? viewable through 2 and a half sides. one in the kitchen, one and a half in the loungeroom/entrance. fits in between the existing fireplace and a wall perfectly. ill get some photos of the walls that are coming out to explain it a bit better.

Display Lighting: two 6x54 t5 ATI sunpower untis (already have these)and 2 X 190 "Solatubes"

Stand: metal, powder coated

Hood: not sure yet

Sump: Sump size isnt finished yet, may make it myself, hoping to have some of my broodstock clowns in there as well

Refugium: see above

Refugium Lighting: ?????.


Support systems:

System Water: Natural salt water stored in a 1000 l IBC. direct fill to the tank via laguna pump.should be able to turn one valve to drain the old water into my fish broodtock system, and turn on a pump from the ibc to refill the reef. ahhh, no mor siphoning old water and tipping in 25l drums of new

Display Water circulation: 4 x tunze 6105 pumps on a 7096 controller (already have all this). may put in a couple of 6045 nanos i have if needed.

Return Pump:not sure yet, probably a laguna

Skimmer: Royal alpha 250 (already have this)

Evaporation Top Up:Auto topup


Chemical Support:

Calcium Addition: dosing pump

Alkilinity Addition: dosing pump

Other Chemical Maintenance:

Current Water Chemistry:
Nitrates:
Phosphates:
Alkalinity:
Calcium:
Salinity / Specific Gravity:
Magnesuim:


Images:

no images of the tank yet. wouls love one of those 3d thingys but my computer skills are limited to checking emails and google

so now after 10 years on RTAW, i have a journal

[mattgreen]

about time

[n0rk]

Should be awesome, mate if you want a sketch drawn, send me some plans (either PM or email) and I'll see what I can do for you.

[Ponder On This]

awesome tank specs this will be amazing!! subscribed!!

[shannonpayne86]

Another one of the experienced reefers on MASA setting up a tank, hell i'll subscribe!

[Timber]

Very keen to see this pan out!

[nick_s_h]

Keen as a bean.
Following, ive always been keen for a 4ft wide tank but not sure as ive never seen one in real life, my new tank is only 3ft wide.

[damer]

thanks guys.

Ben, that would be great, ill be in touch

[blags]

I'm in

[Dan]

Another one of the experienced reefers on MASA setting up a tank, hell i'll subscribe!

[mgrav]

Another one of the experienced reefers on MASA setting up a tank, hell i'll subscribe!

Me too.

If ya need any help mate let me know.

[damer]

thanks Guys, got the quote from the tank builder....WOW. anyway, it will be worth it

If ya need any help mate let me know.

dont need help with the tank yet, but you can allways come for a visit, bring your tool belt

[mgrav]

thanks Guys, got the quote from the tank builder....WOW. anyway, it will be worth it

If ya need any help mate let me know.

dont need help with the tank yet, but you can allways come for a visit, bring your tool belt

If I could get more than one consecutive day off I would be more than happy to come and help. How is the builder going is he turning up??? Any progress photos??

[coral1]

cant believe you actually have a tank journal and no tank yet

[StripestheEel]

:clap: cant believe you actually have a tank journal and no tank yet

All the pros do it like that

[damer]

If I could get more than one consecutive day off I would be more than happy to come and help. How is the builder going is he turning up??? Any progress photos??

im the builder. paid my $80 odd, fill in a form, bingo im a builder

one of the fireys i work with is a chippy, so is his step dad, so they are doing a lot. but i have done HEAPS!! talk about a steep learning curve, but its been great. unfortunately though it has slowed up a bit as we are both on the same shift at work so are really only doing 3-4 days a week at the moment.

good thing is they are both as fussy as you, so everything is looking great, even considering im the TA

photos? you know what im like with photos.

actually i have a few, ill try and get them up tonight

[Tom the Reefer]

Yes show some pics please

[mgrav]

:withyou:

If I could get more than one consecutive day off I would be more than happy to come and help. How is the builder going is he turning up??? Any progress photos??

im the builder. paid my $80 odd, fill in a form, bingo im a builder

one of the fireys i work with is a chippy, so is his step dad, so they are doing a lot. but i have done HEAPS!! talk about a steep learning curve, but its been great. unfortunately though it has slowed up a bit as we are both on the same shift at work so are really only doing 3-4 days a week at the moment.

good thing is they are both as fussy as you, so everything is looking great, even considering im the TA

photos? you know what im like with photos.

actually i have a few, ill try and get them up tonight

That's great to hear ya having at craic ya self mate it's a rewarding job (sometimes). I couldn't imagine myself doing anything else. It's also a good way to keep the kg's off. Sounds like your making some good process and are not going to fall into the trap of letting it drag out for a year or two. Quicker it's done the quicker you can post some of your famous verbal photos.

[damer]

hi guys,

our home computer "died" a few weeks ago, so sorry for no updates,

been a busy couple of weeks, filled a 12 cubic metre bin of rubbish in one day this week. WOW

got some good photos so if i remember ill bring them to work in the morning and upload some.

[n0rk]

How's progress, mate? Getting much done?

[damer]

in a word....No.

sick kids have stalled me for a few weeks in regards to the Reno. got crap loads of painting to do but most of the building is done and we are well past "lock up". my wife is back to work full time and my work at the firestation has been crazy with lots away. fine line between working overtime to pay for the reno, or working on the house and not hacving the money to do it.

my small temporary tank in the shed semi crashed and ive lost almost all of the old corals i had kept including some ricordeas collected over years. (Michael... ) red BTA, clam, and some broodstock clowns.

any way moving on, i still havent ordered the tank due to hold ups with new timber (sydney blue gum) flooring. fingers crossed that will be happening soon as i recieved a call from the timberyard to say it would be at my house wednesday .....last week, not here yet!!!. once that is down i can put the stacked stone on the fireplace and get an accurate measurement for the width.

the solatubes may not be doable due to location where i want the tank and the now second story stopping sunlight. i may also consider selling my 2 ATI t5 units and use LED's but not sold on them just yet.

ill get some photos this week, as the home computer has been playing up for months, everything got lost, then found then it wouldnt work, but we got it back last week and i think its ok (other than the new 2 gig of ram coming up as 1.5)

[PaulG]

Sounds like a good time for a MASOV meeting to be held

[n0rk]

Bloody hell, sounds like you can't catch a break mate. Sucks about the crash action, especially losing stuff you've had for a while... that always salts the wound. On the upside, at least Sydney Blue Gum is nice wood!

[StripestheEel]

Slow and steady they say!

Nothing happens quickly

[damer]

you got the right Matt, but most of the equipment i have is still in its boxes at work and coming out of warranty

i must say, you feel a bit of a loss when you lose the first coral you ever bought and have had it for about 12 years.

[blags]

That is a bugger about the crash. Let me know when you are ready with the new one and i can send down a few pieces.

Cheers
Pete

[damer]

Hi all,

its been a while so i thought id show everyone why. (well one of the reasons anyway)

since about april last year we have gone from this




to this








sorry about all the crap laying around, i just dont have the energy to move it for a few photos. its a massive project while living there. from august until 3 days before christmas we had 6 of us in two bedrooms.
so a couple of pointers for those considering a MASSIVE reno......dont do it!!!!!

its actually been good, really steep learning curve for me, but ive done a lot myself, and considering i didnt know what a top or bottom plate on a frame was, ive come a long way

so ive been a bit busy. there has been a little bit of debate where the new tank should go, but i, i mean we, decided to go with the original plan, although this may meen no solatubes as the second story kind of cancels out the light. i can get elbows and bring it forward, but havent decided just yet.

fingers crossed the tank will be finalised and ordered within the next week or two, still roughly 4x4x2.

regards

Damien

[damer]

i think we have made a decision, and im ready to order

[Byronredsea]

Damien how about some photos of were the tank is going in you Castle

[damer]

its taken me 8 months to get those

no worries, ill see what i can do.