Dan H Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Hello fellow reefkeepers! I'll start with a quick introduction. About a decade ago my wife and I had a 125 setup in our crappy little apartment in Kalamazoo, Michigan. We were heavily involved in the reefkeeping community, including running porcupinepuffer.com and Meg was even the president of the WMMAC ( West Michigan Marine Aquarium Club ). We sold frags all over the country and were fortunate enough to meet lots of wonderful people in the hobby.When time came for us to move we decided to leave the hobby we dearly loved so we could focus on our lives and careers. We promised ourselves once we had a nice house and enough income to buy a great setup then we would discuss getting back in...That time has finally come. Woohoo! So after lots of research, debating how big did we REALLY need, the decision was made to go 96"x24"x24". Big but not overwhelming.The tank is going to be a custom build by GPS - 1" acrylic with Euro bracing and internal overflow. It has been ordered but won't arrive home until mid April so in the meantime we're trying to get a stand and canopy built. The tank will be located in the main living area so we want it to be quiet and the stand/canopy needs to look fantastic.We have been searching for someone to help us as my wood skills are terrible at best. If you happen to know someone looking to take on a project, have them reach out to me.The plan is to have it be somewhat lightly stocked fish wise, and focus on SPS, Zoanthids, and Ricordea. LED for lighting (most likely Kessils), calcium reactor, big skimmer, DC pumps, and everything controlled by an Apex. I'm a software nerd so obviously data and logging make me happy. It's amazing how much the hardware has advanced in the past 10 years. We're believers in keep it simple, so in that mantra we think emulating nature is what's best... So DSB in main tank plus refugium and skimmer and lots of water flow are pretty much the only filtration we want.I'll be sure to document the whole thing if nothing else for my own amusement.Here is the tank design. It's being built by GPS Aquariums (one of the site's sponsors - check them out). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 I'm stoked! Welcome to the club and I'll be following this build for sure! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victoly Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Big believer in keeping it simple with an apex and CaRx ?! My kinda people !welcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+reeflover Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Hey Dan welcome to the club! It is such a small world and I finally get to know one of my neighbor from back home kalamazoo (portage) where I used to lived. I went to Kalamazoo college then attended at western Michigan university to finish my 4 years program. I've seen a lot of folks moved from Michigan but wondering when will there be a michigan reefer will join this austin club. I used to be a member of michiganreefers till I moved here which was 8 years ago. I could not stand being tankless for so long. believed it or not. I found this club even before I moved here. You came to the right time place. I also live in northwest austin too, not sure how far you are from me. But if you like to hang out, check out my tank, talk about reef. I am up for it. I had a 120 right after I moved, downsized to 34g cube tank. And recently was able to upgrade to 220g last year. So hit me up. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jolt Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Looking forward to hearing more! (Oh, and they let you get away with saying you're a software nerd, but if you ever claim you're a software *engineer* I suggest you duck) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+olaggie01 Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Welcome to the club Dan and Meg. Tank sounds great. Any reason why you did not go with a coast to coast external overflow? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wardlaw Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Welcome. Everyone in ARC is extremely helpful. Good luck. I am happy to follow your build. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckyuv Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Welcome to the club. Tank will look sweet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victoly Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Looking forward to hearing more! (Oh, and they let you get away with saying you're a software nerd, but if you ever claim you're a software *engineer* I suggest you duck) You said the e-word... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viet'spride70 Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 welcom...welcom.....have u consider building metal stand and wood panels to cover the outside? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan H Posted February 26, 2015 Author Share Posted February 26, 2015 Big believer in keeping it simple with an apex and CaRx ?! My kinda people !welcome. HA! Yeah, when you put it that way... Hey Dan welcome to the club! It is such a small world and I finally get to know one of my neighbor from back home kalamazoo (portage) where I used to lived. I went to Kalamazoo college then attended at western Michigan university to finish my 4 years program. I've seen a lot of folks moved from Michigan but wondering when will there be a michigan reefer will join this austin club. I used to be a member of michiganreefers till I moved here which was 8 years ago. I could not stand being tankless for so long. believed it or not. I found this club even before I moved here. You came to the right time place. I also live in northwest austin too, not sure how far you are from me. But if you like to hang out, check out my tank, talk about reef. I am up for it. I had a 120 right after I moved, downsized to 34g cube tank. And recently was able to upgrade to 220g last year. So hit me up. . Actually, I am originally from Kazoo, but our first house was in Portage. We're both WMU alumn as well! The reefkeeping community in Michigan was really intense. I think all those months locked up inside during the winter make people get a little bored. Moving to Austin was probably the best decision we've made in our lives. We lost a ton of money on our house in Michigan, but it was worth every penny. If I recall correctly, Michigan's top export went from cars to college graduates. I will definitely take you up on your offer. I'd love to come see your tank. I'll PM you. We live in the Lakewood neighborhood just North of 2222 off 360. Looking forward to hearing more! (Oh, and they let you get away with saying you're a software nerd, but if you ever claim you're a software *engineer* I suggest you duck) I actually prefer enginnerd. I've somehow managed to get into the executive/management side of nerding. However, I do my best to keep up on technical stuff and stay in the code. Just a few months ago, I was solicited to help kick off a startup and become CTO... So now we're running full speed towards changing the world. You know how that goes. Welcome to the club Dan and Meg. Tank sounds great. Any reason why you did not go with a coast to coast external overflow? We didn't choose external so we can put the tank as close to the wall as possible to keep the flow of the living room and the look of the tank clean. Partly this is because we plan is to install a vent to exhaust some of the humidity outside of the house. I like the look of external better, but we feel this will look better overall without having a big gap between the tank and the wall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan H Posted February 26, 2015 Author Share Posted February 26, 2015 welcom...welcom.....have u consider building metal stand and wood panels to cover the outside? Yes considered and not out of the question at this point. We're open to anything really. We want the stand to be bulletproof, but look very nice. Basically we want a furnature quality exterior for the stand/canopy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viet'spride70 Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 welcom...welcom.....have u consider building metal stand and wood panels to cover the outside? Yes considered and not out of the question at this point. We're open to anything really. We want the stand to be bulletproof, but look very nice. Basically we want a furnature quality exterior for the stand/canopy. and u can have exterior custom in any color, style or furnature quality u like...it has a modern, elegant appeal...thats my future build if a wife said " yes i do....." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jolt Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 and u can have exterior custom in any color, style or furnature quality u like...it has a modern, elegant appeal...thats my future build if a wife said " yes i do....." Do you know someone who makes wood skins? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viet'spride70 Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 and u can have exterior custom in any color, style or furnature quality u like...it has a modern, elegant appeal...thats my future build if a wife said " yes i do....." Do you know someone who makes wood skins? not at all...but i think of myself as handy enough i could do that on my next tank... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan H Posted March 1, 2015 Author Share Posted March 1, 2015 Some minor updates... We finally have a stand design that we like and met someone through a referral. We commissioned him to begin building the design. We modeled our stand off one found on reefcentral. Below is the design we plan to replicate. The plan is to use high quality walnut wood for the facade. Ordered 4 Kessil a360we lights, an exhaust fan, and I'm ordering most of the other hardware Monday. Lastly, the tank builder said the acrylic arrives Monday and so construction will begin next week. [emoji41] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAM Posted March 1, 2015 Share Posted March 1, 2015 Nice, really excited to see a fellow reefer back into action....did I see somewhere you said SPS!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madsalt Posted March 1, 2015 Share Posted March 1, 2015 Welcome to the club. I look forward to watching the build. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan H Posted March 1, 2015 Author Share Posted March 1, 2015 Yes to SPS. I love SPS, Meg loves Zoas and Ricordeas. Last night I decided that the 4 Kessils may not be enough, so I bought 5 - 12" Build My LED 20K lights to mount front-to-back between the Kessils. Well, I was bored this morning so I put our stand design into a cad program. I'll probably do the canopy later today too. You can actually sign up and play with the design here: https://tinkercad.com/things/j95Wg0zl1rw Here are all the pieces of wood all in inchesOutside Dimensions97.5 x 25.5 x 39.25Regular stock wood2 - Red = 94.5 x 1.5 x 3.52 - Orange = 19.5 x 1.5 x 3.514 - Green = 28.25 x 1.5 x 3.54 - Dark Green = 37.25 x 1.5 x 3.55 - Yellow = 19.5 x 0.75 x 3.57 - Light Blue = 19.5 x 1.5 x 5.5 - center piece may not work with overflow2 - Dark Blue = 94.5 x 1.5 x 5.51 - Transparent grey sheet, green in others = 94.5 x 0.75 x 22.5 1 hole 30in x 8in center back1 - Dark Brown back Sheet = 96 x 0.75 x 381 - Purple = 97.5 x 0.75 x 5.51 - NOT ON DIAGRAM = < 96 x 0.5 x < 24 bottom sheetMade of Walnut:2 - Light Brown sheet = 38h x 0.75 x 24w 1 hole in each side 8.5 x 27.75 positioned 3in. from bottom, 8.5 inches in1 - Front Facade sheet = 96 x 0.75 x 38 2 holes in front sheet = 34.5 x 27.75 positioned 3in. from bottom, 8.5 inches in2 - Side horizontal top trim = 25.5 x 0.75 x 5.51 - Front horizontal top trim = 97.5 x 0.75 x 5.57 - Vertical front and side trim pieces = 30.75 x 0.75 x 5.54 - Front Doors = 30.75 x 0.75 x 18.75 Mounted 1.5in from bottom, 7inches in from outside of trim2 - Side Doors = 30.75 x 0.75 x 11.5 Mounted 1.5in from bottom, 7inches in from outside of trim Thanks for all the warm welcomes! I'll be sure to join the next monthly meeting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madsalt Posted March 1, 2015 Share Posted March 1, 2015 Your stand looks a lot like the one I built for my 180. I will tell you that with a center brace in the front and back, you wont need those additional 2 x 4s. Your corners will hold most of the weight and by the looks, you have them built correctly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan H Posted March 1, 2015 Author Share Posted March 1, 2015 The tank is acrylic, so it needs extra center support. Might as well add some extra for piece of mind... But yes, they are definitely overkill. Ok, designed the canopy and have some better pics of the stand design. We're still figuring out if the Kessils will be mounted on the top, or inside. I think we'll probably test them once we get them and see how it looks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan H Posted March 5, 2015 Author Share Posted March 5, 2015 Robert sent me some updates on the stand. It's getting hard to contain my excitement. Some of you may recognize this awesome guy. Also, all of the equipment has been ordered. Just waiting for things to start arriving. Lastly, to keep track of how much poorer I am... https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1v_v4H1K9l1mTGKa1PkBrgCIdi_b5cT7fzebUJx-3g_Y/edit?usp=sharing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victoly Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 you have committed the ultimate reefer sin. 1) Thou shalt not track expenses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan H Posted March 5, 2015 Author Share Posted March 5, 2015 I'm actually surprised that it's within $2k of what I estimated when we first started planning a few months ago. Besides, it's actulaly helpful to keep track of all the stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 Holy moly! I think my entire setup was around $2k! I'm extremely jealous of your budget! Tank looks like it's coming together nicely. Curious, what was your deciding factor to choose kessils for your main lighting? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.