Reefing the Pentagon

[SirReal63]

I put this here, Mods feel free to move if needed...

The 110 gallon DSA Pentagon (with 20 gallons in the sump), the tank I wanted but had to re-arrange my life to squeeze in. I am glad I did, and a special thanks to ErikH for helping to load this beast. This thing is not light, 40x40x25x19x25, 17" tall and 1/2" glass.

Step one...drill a hole for the Glass-Holes overflow. It took a while, but I did it with no surprises.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v362/sirreal63/110%20DSA%20Pentagon/IMAG0122.jpg


A stand is needed, and since this tank did not come with one, I had to make one. Armed with nothing more than a miter box saw, jigsaw and drills. I still have to make the doors and will give them a nice pickle stain in an off white color.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v362/sirreal63/110%20DSA%20Pentagon/110Pentagon001.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v362/sirreal63/110%20DSA%20Pentagon/110Pentagon-1.jpg
That wasn't so hard, the top isn't covered as the tank has a rim on the bottom.

The tank is resting on the stand now....time for some plumbing and leveling.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v362/sirreal63/110%20DSA%20Pentagon/110Pentagon004.jpg

Advance a few weeks...tank is filled, sand has been added and the milkshake has gone away, lights hung and livestock moved.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v362/sirreal63/110%20DSA%20Pentagon/110Pentagon013.jpg

Sump is a 40 gallon plastic bin from Ikea, This thing is thick and heavy, currently holds about 20 gallons of water bringing the water volume to about 130 gallons.

Basic equipment list...
was a 250 watt Phoenix 14K in an LAIII Mini but was just changed to a 150 watt Radium in a LAIII Mini. (It is nice to have lighting options)
MRC Calcium Reactor powered by an Aquarium Plants Electronic Regulator
ASM G3 Recirculating skimmer.
Sanders Ozone Generator
Magnum HOT cannister for carbon and Phosban when needed.
Tunze 6060, K4, 2000 gph MaxiMod, a cut shroud MJ1200 on timer for random flow, total of about 6000 gph for flow.
Mag3 for a return. (This may be temporary, with the 1" plumbing it is providing a decent flow through sump, have a Sicce in the box should I decide to up the flow.)

I knew this tank would be fun to aquascape, and with the single halide, even more fun. There is about 60 lbs of rock in the tank. I decided initially on a cove, SPS on the rock and clams in the center. This what it currently looks like, but is not exactly what I wanted.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v362/sirreal63/110%20DSA%20Pentagon/110Pentagon057.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v362/sirreal63/110%20DSA%20Pentagon/110Pentagon052.jpg

I still have frags to mount, sand to move back, powerheads to aim correctly, the back to paint black, doors to build...etc etc.

The view from my throne...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v362/sirreal63/110%20DSA%20Pentagon/110Pentagon073.jpg

I am still playing with the white balance on camera, so don't beat me up on the photography. You would be amazed at how much different my Fuji S6000 reads the Phoenix as opposed to the Radium. Sunlight hits the back side most of the day, and that adds a little bit of dazzle to the tank.


Am always open to criticism and suggestions on aquascaping. The Tonga in the center will be moved but is here for now to to help spread some coraline.

A special thanks to the wonderful people in this club whom I have purchased frags and equipment from.

[Europhyllia]

Get out of here! That looks FANTASTIC!
(and how brave of you to drill it. I would have been scared. lol)

[Mr Cob]

amazing setup! Great job! Love seeing something a little different.

[ErikH]

Thank you for posting these pics, now I can show this to my wife and show her how good it could have looked! :p

I am jealous! :D

[txav8r]

The cove of rocks is very interesting! Looks great!

Erik bugged me for months to make him a stand for that tank. Looks like you did a great job

[SirReal63]

Thanks Karin...did you notice your old clam? He is very happy, about 6" not and a calcium hog! The hammer that refused to die is doing great as well.

Thanks Rob, I need all the encouragement I can get. I am trying to keep this tank minimal on the aquascaping, I have another 40-50 lbs of dry rock should I need it, but I think it has just enough right now.

[Europhyllia]

I was wondering if that was him! The color has changed so much. He is huge! Glad he's doing so well :)

[SirReal63]

Thanks Jack, I am Jack too by the way. It wasn't hard to build the stand, actually I over built it, but that is ok too. The hardest part is that is where the liquor cabinet was...it is now misplaced in the dining room.

Erik...it will look better when the stand is done. You cannot see it, but I used PlyBead for the back, and will make the doors from the same stuff. I did leave enough room to squeeze my big belly all the way around the tank to make finishing easier. I have a feeling your wife is perfectly happy with it out of her way. :D In a few months I will start adding some clams.

I think the 150 watt HQI and Radium will be plenty, but if not I put the 250 back on. The spread from the LumenArc is great! I also need to get the pellet reactor back online, but decided to give it a rest for now. The tanks parameters have stayed steady and have zero algae.

[txav8r]

Jack,
Nice to meet you
Jack.

LOL

[Jarob]

That looks great!! Im SO jealous, I wanted that tank more than anything, just not a good idea for a college student!

I cant wait to see this thing progress!

[Scream311]

Yea same here. I kept my eye on the sell of this tank. But couldn't figure out where id put it or how id scape it. And boyy have you done an awesome job !

[txg8gxp]

That looks great, I love the rock....very cool

[SABOB]

Did an amazing job with a unique tank.Keep the pics coming....we love pics!!!!!

[SirReal63]

Thanks for all of the kindness...it is not where I want it, but it will get there.

[Jarob]

Hey I was just browsing the SLASH forum and noticed youre on there as well.. Im from StL and actually there right now for winter break. Nice to see a former STL member here!

[SirReal63]

Slash is in my blood, I was one of the 5 founding members. We had a lot of fun building one of the most active Clubs I have ever seen. It was also a tremendous headache, starting a club is not easy, but we had a great base of members, so that helped. It looks like it is snowing there today, always welcomed on Christmas, I actually miss snow from time to time. Enjoy Saint Louis and be safe.

MAAST is a great club and I am very thankful that we have this group of people. So many areas do not have this kind of group. We are blessed that we do. :)

[RayAllen]

Looks great, im glad a reefer put that tank to good use.

[SirReal63]

Thanks Ray. :-)

[SirReal63]

A little update...I moved to Windcrest with my significant other, so I had to actually make the stand look like it belonged in a home, not just a bachelor pad. :-) This is as good as it gets with limited tools. I would kill for a real woodworking shop again.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v362/sirreal63/110%20DSA%20Pentagon/110Pentagon088.jpg

Next is to built a suspended hood to house both LAIII Mini's and 4x39 T5. (or maybe plasma :D) Tank fill will begin later this week...I have a lot of plumbing and electrical to do first.

[Europhyllia]

looks great! (also like the tile floor and the cream colored dog. Your home is so earth-tone coordinated! ;) )

[Scream311]

Those colors all mix well into one another. Very relaxed setting for a different Reef

[ErikH]

It gets better everyday! :)

PLASMA PLASMA PLASMA PLASMA /chanting

[SirReal63]

Toni has good taste. :-) The tank is a bit overbearing in the family room, even with 3000 sq ft there was no other good place to put the tank and combining our lives and furniture has been fun. The walls are cream colored, but that will soon have a nice 20K Radium hue to it. :-)

A few pics because a build thread is worthless without them.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v362/sirreal63/110%20DSA%20Pentagon/110Pentagon090.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v362/sirreal63/110%20DSA%20Pentagon/110Pentagon092.jpg

[SirReal63]

It gets better everyday! :)

PLASMA PLASMA PLASMA PLASMA /chanting

Seriously thinking about it. :D

[SirReal63]

Plasma...so tempting.

The tank is finally filled and stocked. A few equipment changes, ditched the MaxiJet Mods, the Seio's and the Koralias, went with two Tunze 6100's. (blew the plasma budget) I still have to build a hood for the LAIII Mini, that project will start soon. I still have a little cleaning up to do after the sandstorm milkshake but day by day it gets more acceptable.

A few pics...the water is still a little cloudy, Rox8 and the ozone should clear back up in a few days. :D

Left side
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v362/sirreal63/110%20DSA%20Pentagon/110Pentagon101.jpg

Left center
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v362/sirreal63/110%20DSA%20Pentagon/110Pentagon095.jpg

Center
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v362/sirreal63/110%20DSA%20Pentagon/110Pentagon099.jpg

Right side
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v362/sirreal63/110%20DSA%20Pentagon/110Pentagon098.jpg

The obligatory FTS
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v362/sirreal63/110%20DSA%20Pentagon/110Pentagon102.jpg

There is so much work left to do, but it is finally all moved and the sps can begin to color up again.

[ErikH]

I am so glad you are making me wish I hadn't sold that tank. It just looks spectacular.

[Europhyllia]

Congrats on that awesome new hammer!!! Looks great :)

[SirReal63]

Thanks Erik...it has been a lot of fun, and headache, but it is coming together. Be sure and let the wife see, lol.

The Tunze's have ended the sandstorms and I still have great flow.

Karin, the hammer is going to be great!

[txmike]

i so kick myself for not buying this tank when Erik had it for sale .

[Scream311]

You lucky dogg Jack. That's a nice Hammer. I was sooo tempted to call Ismael up for it

[Europhyllia]

I think the thing that kept the tank from selling was the need for a custom stand. Jack did a fabulous job making that stand for the tank. Turned out a real showpiece all together. :)

[SirReal63]

I think the stand turned out decent, considering the limited tools I had to work with. A table saw would have made it so much easier.

The hammer is puffing up nicely. :D

[ismvel]

Jack, your tank and stand looks great. A very nice showpiece for that large open room.

Glad the hammer is starting to puff up. It does look much happier already than it did in its temp home (sump). LOL....Once it is settled, happy and fully extends your wife will enjoy the motion of it. You have placed it in a perfect spot with all that open real estate around it.

[ShAgMaN]

Awesome, can't believe this is the first time I've checked your tank out. I remember asking you to post some pics, and you've already exceeded my expectations of this set up. With your experience and obvious knowledge, this tank is only going to get better.

[SirReal63]

Thanks Ismael...not married but maybe one day she will make an honest man of me. lol

Thanks Terry, your tank is one of my favorites. Mine will get better but still needs some fish and frags and a lot of time. It may never replace my old 125 but I have high hopes for this one.