My 58 gallon mixed reef build

[Stephen73ta]

Ok, so I finally got my tank up and running! It's my first tank and it took me forever.. I'm really proud of it and hopefully I won't kill any livestock. I built a majority of the stuff myself and I'll try to show you how I did it.

Here is what I started with.
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/IMG00092.jpg

You will have to excuse me I accidentally deleted a lot of the construction pics of the stand. Here is what I have.
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/IMG00109.jpg

After I got the sides up I painted the stand with primer and then semi gloss black paint. Here I cut holes in the back for plumbing and the side for fans.
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/0024-1.jpg<br>
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/0044-1.jpg

Here's the fans installed.
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/0083-1.jpg
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I also added this air vent.
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/0192-1.jpg
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Doors and Bracket.
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/0063-1.jpg
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/0073-1.jpg
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Finished Product.. Well, atleast that's what I thought..
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/0182-1.jpg

I ended up having to drill 4 more holes on the back two for the 3/4" inlet and return on the closed loop and two holes on the bottom left for electrical use..

I must say the planning of the sump/fuge and plumbing were some of the most complicated and frustrating tasks I've ever endured. I'm so glad it's over.<br>
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/0012-1.jpg

Here is a drawing of my initial design.
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/plumbing02.jpg>br>
I had a wet/dry system that I converted to a sump/fuge.
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/Sump.jpg
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/sump2-1.jpg<br>
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/005-1.jpg
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http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/015-1.jpg
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Bulkhead for return and i added some baffles, a bubble tower and drilled the fuge section that I closed up for another bulkhead. This will direct the overflow from the fuge straight into the return chamber bypassing the skimmer.

http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/014-1.jpg
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/013-1.jpg
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http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/017-1.jpg
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[Stephen73ta]

Here I modified the bulkhead because I had clearance issues with the baffles.
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/0032-1.jpg
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/0062-1.jpg
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/0072-1.jpg<br>

Showing the 1" overflow line from the fuge to return chamber.
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/018.jpg<br>

Here's some pics of the equipment and plumbing.

Overlflow box single 1" return split with a T to fuge and bubble trap in skimmer section. There are valves on each line to control flow.
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/020-1.jpg
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/321.jpg
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/324.jpg
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/320.jpg
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From left to right it goes return line, return #1 closed loop, intake for the loop, overflow and finally return #2 closed loop. Return line is 1" with a valve and the closed loop is 3/4" with a valve on each return.
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/317.jpg
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/318.jpg
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/321.jpg
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/322.jpg
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/320.jpg
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/008-1.jpg
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/006-1.jpg

[Stephen73ta]

Here's some pics of me creating a light bar to hang from the ceiling supporting my dual 150w metal halides. I constructed the frame out of 1" square aluminum tubing from home depot. I drilled it then painted it black. I hung the bar from the ceiling using eye screws and black chain.
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/light06.jpg
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/light07.jpg
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/light10.jpg
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/light02.jpg
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/light09.jpg
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/light05.jpg
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/light04.jpg
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/light03.jpg
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/light01.jpg
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My live rock, just waiting to be in my tank! 60 lbs.
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/0042-1.jpg<br>

Timer for lights and fans.
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/323.jpg<br>

We have Water!
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/313.jpg
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/315.jpg

[Stephen73ta]

Livestock:
60 lbs live rock
2 clowns
1 yellow striped dottyback
20 hermits
10 snails
3 peppermint shrimp
1 emerald crab
xenia

http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/018-2.jpg
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/019-2.jpg
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/020-2.jpg
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/Stephen_eddinger2/022-2.jpg

[blindside]

Nice build!

[ballardjr2000]

very nice i like the walk through lots of pics and worth the wait to get to the end

[Mr Cob]

Thanks for sharing. Looks great. Lots of work!!!