picture diary of build( with some commentary)

[Texreefer]

Well, since the build is complete and many people don't want to read through half a million posts to get to the good stuff, I figured I would post some Pictures and go through the process start to finish. so people can see how it started. This build took roughly 4 months and this is what the tank looked like before and while I was working on the new on

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/DSC01776.jpg

I started with the reef structure
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/DSC01290.jpg

applied foam
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/DSC01296.jpg

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/DSC01293.jpg

painted it a bit
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/DSC01300.jpg

fit it into aquarium
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/DSC01384.jpg

and added background
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/DSC01394.jpg

built custom mounts for my seios
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/DSC01440.jpg

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/DSC01442.jpg

started building stand and
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/053.jpg

puting together temporary home for my corals
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/052.jpg

started clearing out room and gathering needed supplies
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/050308002.jpg

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/050308004.jpg

plumbing
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/050308005.jpg

skimmer
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/050308009.jpg

New chilller plumbed in
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/0092.jpg

pulled the old tank out
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/050308020.jpg

into temp home
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/050308021.jpg

whats left of old tank
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/050308018.jpg

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/050308019.jpg

,,..... continued in next post

[Texreefer]

New tank set into place

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/050308023.jpg

what it took to get all the corals back in place
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/003-1.jpg

the finished plumbing
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/004.jpg

the new work area
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/005.jpg

calcium reactor
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/006.jpg

return and chiller pumps
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/007.jpg

water storage and supplies
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/008.jpg

corals back in
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/011.jpg

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/DSC01497.jpg

a blurry shot of my new orange shoulder
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/009.jpg

a quick coral comparison from then to now
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/060.jpg

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/022.jpg

The reason i was able to do all this
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/002.jpg

and thats it! nothin to it!

[ErikH]

The pic taken at 4:26 am really shows the depth!!! It looks very, very nice man. You never cease to amaze people with the power of foam! I can't wait to check it out in person!!!

[RayAllen]

Nice work, blows Sea Worlds displays out of the water.

[BioCube14]

that is a very nice setup love the 4 pumps you have going across the top

[SoLiD]

Very Nice Mike. Your aquascaping inspires me to do so much better. I still need to transfer everything to my QT before I can start to try and emulate your setup. Good Job. Thanks for the inspiration.

-David

[Texreefer]

Thanks,, Picture really don't come close to showing the true dimensions. I'm off today and tomorrow.. anyone is welcome to stop by.. I'm really itching to show it off!

[Mr Cob]

Super sweet work TexReefer. Love it!!!

[coraline79]

I really want to do the foam, but man I just don't see myself doing it like you. It really is a piece of art!

[Texreefer]

I think it could be a tank of the month candidate in a few months on reef central but I rarely visit that site so we will just keep it our little sites secrete!,, and stay on the best site I know of.....:bigsmile:

[LoneStar]

Very nice.

That fish room is clean......for now!!

[JeffCo]

Nice Job!!! did it take all tubes of glue to get everything back in? Does the super glue stick better to the foam than it does rock? Thanks for sharing the entire build.

[Texreefer]

only about half those tubes, It does, IMO stick better to foam than to rock

[LoneStar]

How many beers did you glue to your hands?

[apedroza]

Awesome work Mike!!!

[Texreefer]

How many beers did you glue to your hands?

None!.. but I did glue my stomach to the tank a couple of times:bigsmile:

[MissT]

great job, Mike... nice to see your plan come together! :applause:

[technomex]

Very nice Mike. Any concerns with the chiller being outside?....getting wet, sun exposure, etc

[Texreefer]

Very nice Mike. Any concerns with the chiller being outside?....getting wet, sun exposure, etc

no. I have it covered right now but will be building a partial enclosure for it in the near future

[Texreefer]

Ok, Exactly two weeks since the big move.. here are some test results... Alk still a little high but i think i'm alright,
Temp - 80.5
PH - 8.4
SG - 1.024
Nitrates - undetectable
Calcium - 390ppm
Alk - 4.58 meq/l
Mag - 1260ppm
Phosphate - undetectable but i'm sure its there.

Just have to fix a microbubble problem and I am good to go

[Megaramasaur]

Looks great, except for that goofy girl.... oh wait... that's my sister in law... tell her I said Happy Mother's Day

Dan

[Texreefer]

a few pics Ace took
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/DSC02118.jpg

shows some depth
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/DSC02121.jpg

Just like this one
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/DSC02125.jpg

tri color millie
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/DSC02146.jpg

my favorite clam
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/DSC02156.jpg

baby clown hiding in tree
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/DSC02150.jpg

squasmosa
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/DSC02157.jpg

The Green MOnstor
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/DSC02158.jpg

micros
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/DSC02160.jpg

cool reflection shot
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o258/itili/DSC02165.jpg

[ErikH]

The frockwork looks lagoonish :) Too cool.