Thommo's 6.5 x 2 x 2 Peninsular Tank Photo/Vid Update 19/06

[Thommo01]

Introduction:
Well after looking at my other tank journal http://www.masa.asn.au/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=148&t=219890 and reflecting, I realise that it has been 3 years since getting into the marine side of aquariums. So I guess this upgrade is due. I have been mentioning/suggesting such an upgrade to the wife for the last 2 years with not much luck. So I was surprised the other day when out of the blue she started asking questions about a bigger tank.
I’m not an idiot(can be debated ) so with approval granted from the boss I didn’t waste any time and started the plans for the upgrade before she changed her mind
Also realised how out of date my details for the current tank journal is. Will try to be a bit better with this one. Not promising though

I must admit I am pretty excited

System Objectives: Hoping that with a larger tank I can get more swimming space for Tango(yellow tang) as well as a bit more real estate for further coral growth as the 2fter is getting cramped.

System Type: Plan is mainly SPS with the odd LPS to keep the wife happy and interested

Display System:

Strike up Date: 22/04/14

Display Tank: Peninsula style 6.5 x 2 x 2ft. 15mm Glass full Opticlear

Display Lighting: 3 Ecotech Radion Gen 2's

Stand: 50x50x3 box Steel stand powder coated.

Hood: Aluminium box section clad with one sides hinged to allow access for feeding etc.

Sump: Racetrack sump as per final design pictures below

Refugium:Around 40ish Litres

Refugium Lighting: 48W Power Compact lighting only utilizing 24W at a time though

Support systems:

System Water: Natural salt water with auto water changes done with Stenner duel head pump. 4L per day = around 120L per month = 15% per month

Display Water circulation: 3 x Tunze 6105’s controlled by Apex

Return Pump:Royal Exclusive Red Dragon 3 Pump 80 Watt

Skimmer: Deltec SC 2560, Avast swabbie and siphon cleaning with RO wast water to drain.

Evaporation Top Up: ATO controlled by Apex controller

Tank being controlled via the Neptune Apex controller. Controlling Lights, ATO, RO storage container filling, Skimmer and cleaner, Return pump, heaters and much more. Love it.


Chemical Support:

Calcium Addition: Randy's recipe via Bubble Magus auto doser

Alkalinity Addition: Randy's recipe via Bubble Magus auto doser

Magnesium: Randy's recipe via Bubble Magus auto doser

Iron: 1/2 ml 3 times per week. Will increase over time due to larger tank.

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


Images:

Here are some planned tank pics




Finalised stand design.


Planned Sump design. What do you think? Bigger? Changes? Ideas?


Planned tank design/dimensions. Thoughts, Concerns?
The idea of the deeper overflow is that there will be an acrylic sheet for the weir and this will have slots in it lower to facilitate water changes through on of the drilled holes. You can see the idea better in the complete tank stand picture.


Thanks for looking. Getting excited

[Thommo01]

Cut all the steel for the stand this arvo

[robthepom]

Great news thommo, enjoy the planning and setup, I sure you have read every TJ, trolling for the best ideas

6.5 footer will get the speedy cranking

Did you nick the steel from someone's backyard, looks a bit old, buy some new stuff you tight arse

Keep the pics coming

[Thommo01]

Thanks for the encouragement Rob

Yes I am a tight ass!!!! The steel has been in the middle of Australia in the sun for more than 6 years but nothing beats FREE. Work was happy for me to make the stand up here. Just hope I can get it home ok without the truckies bending it.

Will be sand blasted and powdercoated when finished so won't look so shitty by then

Have been hitting the journals pretty hard actually. They are real handy indeed.

And I'm sure the Speedy is looking forward to getting its legs loose instead pacing along on a 2fter.

[Thommo01]

Steel all prepped up.

Welding to begin soon.

[Thommo01]

Stand fabrication finished. Pictures to follow tomorrow night. Even took some of the welds just for you Meller

Now just need to organize getting it home from work

[Thommo01]

Here are the progress pictures of the stand build. It is currently sitting in the stores yard waiting for a truck to take it all the way back to Adelaide.

Can anyone say OVERKILL!!!!!!!!!





For a comparison

Finished product



Some of the "good welds" for Meller

[Rod the Reefer]

Woo Hoo

Nice welds.

Rod.

[Thommo01]

Woo Hoo

Nice welds.

Rod.

Thanks Rod. Gotta love the MIG welder. Makes life so much easier! Surprisingly Most of the welds were of the same caliber too. MIG is pretty easy once the machine is set-up right.

One step closer.

[kipper31]

Show us the bad welds.

[Thommo01]

But there weren't any OR I ground them all away so no-one will ever see them

[pilonstar]

nice stand, tagging along

[siddr20]

Looking good so far

[Thommo01]

nice stand, tagging along

Thanks very much. Hope the rest of the set-up keeps up to standard.

Looking good so far

Thankyou

Hope to pick up the stand next week and take it straight to the powder coaters.

Still waiting on tank quotes for low iron. Have pretty much settled on low iron. Don't think I can go back to standard float glass after having it for so long now. Only money

[millotoli]

have you decided if you will go low iron and who will make your tank?

[Thommo01]

Hi Ollie,

Have one more avenue to persue tomorrow as my brothers mate might be able to get me glass at a nice price and then get M+ to put it together, but if not, most likely will end up going clear float. Just hard to justify the cost for 3 panes of glass. Would be a no brainer if it was 1 pane of glass but an extra 1.5K....... Still undecided.

We have clear float shelves in the cupboard 12mm so I took it out and put it up in front of the opticlear glass on my current tank and I can notice the difference but just. A bit darker(i.e. green tinge) Nothing I couldn't live with though. I don't think I'd know the difference if I didn't know there was a difference(if you know what I mean )

Here's hoping my brothers mate can fix me up. Otherwise will be ordering the tank before the weekend.


Also I dropped the stand off today to be balsted and powder coated. Hopefully will pick it up before going back to work.

[ssscuz]

But there weren't any OR I ground them all away so no-one will ever see them

Stands looking the goods mate. I did the same thing with a few of mine ha ha

[Morgan_1985]

Tagging along

[Thommo01]

Picked up the stand from the powder coaters today Looks nice and shiny.

Currently sitting in the shed waiting a tank.

Plan now is to get it all set-up and running(plumbed and water tested) in the shed before transporting inside and going through all the fun off swapping the tanks over.

Tank almost ordered. Plan is that the whole tank will be Ultra Clear glass, polished and beveled edges, 15mm. It all will work out for the very reasonable price that has been quoted. Waiting on final quote before paying some cash though. Not rushing this process(if you could tell) apparently tank is about 4-6 week wait which suits my timeframe well

[Amphibian]

the stand looks the part now, well built and no chance of it deflecting .

The ugly duckling has been transformed. amazing how a good coat of paint can make the difference.

Looking foward to rest of the build

cheers

[kipper31]

Looking great Thommo if you need a hand with anything don't hesitate to ask .

[Rod the Reefer]

Looking the goods Thommo.

Who's making your tank?

Rod.

[Thommo01]

the stand looks the part now, well built and no chance of it deflecting .

The ugly duckling has been transformed. amazing how a good coat of paint can make the difference.

Looking foward to rest of the build

cheers

Thanks bud. I agree. The steel was pretty shitty looking but only superficial. Amazing what a bead blast and a coat of paint can do.

Looking great Thommo if you need a hand with anything don't hesitate to ask .

Thanks Chris. Might take you up on that one day

Looking the goods Thommo.

Who's making your tank?

Rod.

Cheers Rod. Will get it finished oneday
I am planning on ordering it(although I'm a bit scared) through Aquarium Gallery Perth. Even with shipping and insurance + 15mm instead of 12 and whole tank UltraClear glass with edge beveled and poished. Still cheaper than the rest. So it wasnt a hard choice for me to go with them.

I just hope it gets to my joint all ok. Tanks are transported all over the world all the time, so mine wont be the first one. Still waiting on the final price for shipping but dont think it will be a show stopper.

[ssscuz]

Stand looks good mate!! Bet your hanging to get a tank on it now

[millotoli]

Hey mate, how is your build going, have you got an ETA for the tank?

[millotoli]

Oh and where were you going to source the ally section for the light frame?

[Thommo01]

Hey mate, how is your build going, have you got an ETA for the tank?

Hi bud,
Funny you should ask as I ordered the tank today. Apparently it is around 3 weeks to get to Oz, so should be at my place in around 5.

Oh and where were you going to source the ally section for the light frame?

Was just planning to use the connect-it stuff from Bunnings. Might try to find a cheaper supplier but initial looking around hasn't turned up much. Guessing the Bunnings stuff would cost about $50-80 to build. Doesn't have to be much of a frame as it is more of a frame to put the cladding on the outside and supporting the lights is pretty simple.

[Thommo01]

Few of the goodies I have received over the last couple of weeks + 2 lots of base rock which I have running in the tub in RO to make sure the phosphates are as low as possible.


Also as before the tank and sump are ordered as per the pictures below, so hopefully they turn up like this

Tank(main idea only, bracing etc is up to the tank manufacturer who actually know what is needed)

Sump

[kit]

That's a really well thought out sump.
Any update on the build?

[Thommo01]

That's a really well thought out sump.
Any update on the build?

Thanks Kit. Much appreciated. Did a lot of googling and journal reading before pulling the trigger on it. Hopefully it turns out ok.

Tank and sump have been ordered and still being built or on a ship heading to Oz, not sure, waiting on an update from the supplier. I have asked for some pictures if possible once it is done.