70G Oceanic build

[Milly]

Picked up a full tank setup or $100 on Craigslist! (woohoo). Came with tank (drilled 36x25x18 1/2), 29g(sump not modified), stand, and lights (36" 1 150w metal halide and 2 96w compact lights)

http://img.tapatalk.com/4b01ba7e-2587-aeec.jpg

Chris and my dad are going to modify fixture from compact lights to HO t5s.

Planning on a doing complete reef, softies, LPS and SPS and eventually get a clam. Here are the before shots. Planning on sanding down the stand and restraining to a darker color.

http://img.tapatalk.com/4b01ba7e-256a-3956.jpg

One thing, both Jason and I hate the trim around the tank, anyone know of a way to modify it without roughing u
It up and painting it?
http://img.tapatalk.com/4b01ba7e-25f0-f7d8.jpg

More to come later!

[RayAllen]

Nice tank, great size.

Milly take a medium-high grit sand paper to it mask it off and repaint it with a spray paint of your choice. Id go with a couple of coats of Krylon Fusion- color of your choice.

[reefreak]

Great score can you post a pic of the light

[Milly]

Here's a picture of the light fixture. Not sure what brand it is tho.

http://img.tapatalk.com/4b01ba7e-2e9d-2a9a.jpg

[reefreak]

Same light I had its a coralife

[Milly]

All cleaned up!
http://img.tapatalk.com/4b01ba7e-3fc9-dec8.jpg
Tank is upside down in this picture to let the water drain.

Background will be a dark navy blue since I like black and Jason prefers blue. Compromise ladies and gents. Compromise.
http://img.tapatalk.com/4b01ba7e-4010-7b50.jpg

Will post a picture when it's all done

[allan]

That glass looks clean!

[reefreak]

Wow Milly this is a great tank can't believe you got it for that cheap

[Big_Pun]

aww y'all are so cute. it's your "love" tank , like Emily calls ours. lmao

[Milly]

aww y'all are so cute. it's your "love" tank , like Emily calls ours. lmao

Omg, that's hilarious. I guess you're right though, it is!!

Back is dry in pic below:
http://img.tapatalk.com/4b01ba7e-52fa-e914.jpg

[hobogato]

great score! looking forward to seeing what you guys do with it

[reefreak]

Milly are you sure its a 150 watt

[Milly]

Yeah it's a 150w. I'm not sure if the bulb is out or the ballast cause it didn't turn on. I need to get my hands on a 150w to test it out.

[hobogato]

One thing, both Jason and I hate the trim around the tank, anyone know of a way to modify it without roughing u
It up and painting it?



why dont you build two wood collars that will fit over the tank and stain them to match the stand. the first one would fit over from the top and rest in place at the bottom of the tank covering the molding and the second one would just sit on top of the tank like a canopy, only it would be just the rim. if you want to come by and see how i did this exact thing on my big tank, you and jason are welcome. it would look something like this (excuse my crude ms paint drawing):

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/projects/milly.jpg

[ErikH]

At first glance I thought that was Allan painting the back of that tank!

That's a helluva score. Does the ballast hum or anything when you first plug it in?

[Milly]

Milly are you sure its a 150 watt

Upon taking the light fixture apart, we discovered the halide is a 250w afterall.

[reefreak]

Ahh figured the one I had was a 250 too

[Big_Pun]

Ahh figured the one I had was a 250 too

it will be diff once I get my hands on it!!

[reefreak]

Lol

[Milly]

We discovered it was a 250w when we discovered it was missing a ballast. Hence why it didnt work!!

[SoLiD]

I believe that is an older style AquaTraders.com "Odyssea" light fixture... so you're not missing much, as their ballasts are pretty lousy. While another cheap 250W ballast can be found with little effort, "IF" you want to get the best colors out of your Metal Halide bulbs, it would be best to buy a higher end ballast like a Lumatek or an Aqua Medic Reeflex Cube Ballast. They put out some great crisp colors and have a bunch of stellar reviews.

http://www.marinedepot.com/250_Watt_Metal_Halide_Ballasts-FILTACBAMHTF-ct.html
http://www.f3images.com/IMD/250/LK1221/Lumatek-250W-120-240V-Dimmable-Multi-Wattage-Ballast-Kit-1.jpg

http://www.f3images.com/IMD/250/AQ6813/Aqua-Medic-Reeflex-Cube-HQI-Magnetic-Ballast-150W-99.jpg

http://www.aquatraders.com/36in-Metal-Halide-HQI-T5-Aquarium-Light-p/54263.htm
http://www.aquatraders.com/v/vspfiles/photos/54263-2T.jpg

[Big_Pun]

yes it is old odysea. I'm going to give her my t5ho ballast we are going swap the cf out. also found a magnetic ballast at a good price.

[Milly]

Jason managed to change out the hardware to our fixture. Compact lights to 2 dual T5 HO with the help of Chris, thanks for the ballasts!

http://img.tapatalk.com/4b01ba7e-2df8-2725.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/4b01ba7e-2e06-06c2.jpg

I did my part by supervising whilst drinking wine. :)

Tried it out on our 20g to see how it looks and viola:
http://img.tapatalk.com/4b01ba7e-2e3e-43bd.jpg

[Big_Pun]

looks great I'm glad those ballast went to good use but I may need them back for my next build. lmao j/k. take your time on this build and you will be happy when it's all together.

[reefreak]

looking good milly

[Milly]

One step closer thanks to Ben! Got our sump today, attached higher baffles, just waiting for it to dry. Just need to he a pump for the skimmer, sand and rock now!

[Gseclipse02]

Becareful I would double check the stock wiring .... I seen so many bare wires on those fixtures ...... Like they.we're saying those stock ballast blow saw one kind of blow up on a Co worker

[Big_Pun]

yea the fixtures can be janky! Jason basically put all new wires in it, when he converted it from pc to t5.

[Scutterborn]

One step closer thanks to Ben! Got our sump today, attached higher baffles, just waiting for it to dry.

Nothing to it Milly! My pleasure meeting you and Jason! Give me a shout if y'all need anything else.


- Ben -

[Milly]

http://img.tapatalk.com/4b01ba7e-5b05-8ad6.jpg
Got our koralia 1400s in yesterday, tomorrow were going to build a unique stand, it's going to support the 70 & 20L (frag tank). I'll have Jason draw it up and post. :)

[KING]

Milly..Whats the word..Hows the build going..

[Milly]

Okay, Jason and I be been slackin on the tank build since we purchased the horses and cattle....but, we worked on it today! Finished the stand for the 70g. Just put first layer of stain, going to out varnish on tonight!!
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/11/12/mazy7uma.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/11/12/u6y6ety3.jpg

Stand is laying on its backside while we stained it

[Big_Pun]

finally !!! looks good

[Milly]

Okay!! Used magnets on the front and side doors!! Looks like we will be buying sand soon!
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/11/26/u9ujyvep.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/11/26/ude5anag.jpg

[Scutterborn]

finally !!! looks good

Agreed!


-Ben-

[Ms_Big_Pun]

OMG. Lookin good:):) I can't wait until you guys get it up and running.
vanwrjnagw49u0qa3w4ghakldjfnvaljrvarg

[Milly]

Ugh so our ballast went out on our light fixture - so now were in need of a new 250w ballast! Yay.... :/

Bright side, the 70G is wet now!! Once the tank is fully cycled, we will r transferring everything from the 20L into the 70. Then setting up the 33G long (frag tank) on the left side! Woohoo!!
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/08/pa4ydupa.jpg

[Big_Pun]

go with an electronic ballast this time around, ill see what i can find also. looks good! will both tanks share sump/fuge?

[allan]

Yes, first foray into her own tank will be a linked system.

Outstanding, Jason and Milly.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Milly]

Yeah Chris it will be tied together into one system. I'm excited! I want to go LED but I have to save up for a wedding lol

[allan]

Led is over rated, metal halides rock!!!


:)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Big_Pun]

Yeah Chris it will be tied together into one system. I'm excited! I want to go LED but I have to save up for a wedding lol

your all ready living together screw all the formalities get some LEDs! that's what I would do..... just sayin

[Flyride95]

screw all the formalities get some LEDs! that's what I would do..... just sayin

Woah! I can't believe what I just read! :)

[Scutterborn]

I feel like my whole world is upside down...

;)

[BBQHILLBILLY]

progresssss:bigsmile:

[Big_Pun]

I feel like my whole world is upside down...

;)

I said for a tank the size of my 150 at the moment I wouldn't do LEDs. for a smaller tank they are cool.

[Milly]

Alright, salt is just right. Sand and rock added. I like the rock scape now but I'm still not sure if I'm going to stick with the way it is:

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/11/9e9evynu.jpg

[Big_Pun]

we got lift off! finally it's running

[Big_Pun]

oh yea welcome to Maast ... lmao

[Milly]

Hardy Har :P

[RayAllen]

Looks great Milly.

[Milly]

Thanks everyone. Water is clearing up nicely, still need to purchase carbon and a heater - Jason and I have been discussing livestock. Def. some sort of anthias, I'm thinking a bartletts pair. Jason wants and angel- momma says NO! :)

[Milly]

Parameters and startig to level back out, had a small cycle..

3 bar damsel has been in the sump the past 3 days and doing great
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/25/jebuguqa.jpg

I put a small frag of Xenia in the DT today, going to see how it does vet the next fee days!
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/25/yruhe7yq.jpg
Algae bloom has reduced drastically too, can't wait to move everything over!

[edshas2]

I believe we have the same tank. Looking good. The only thing I don't like about tank is when I have to get inside tank to clean or move things around, I have to take canopy off because of the
depth

[Milly]

Good thing my arms are skinny then :). I picked up a new ballast that will be suspended so either way I shouldn't have an issue. . . I hope

[Milly]

Move some more coral from the 20 gallon. Starting to fill out nicely, I'm excited!
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/27/se8y3e7u.jpg

[Scutterborn]

Sweet!


-Ben-

[Milly]

Switched light ballasts to one I purchased from another member a while back. 1 250w halide with icecap ballast and 2 VHO t12 bulbs. Loving the light I'm getting from it, and so do my coral

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/03/01/uzuzeru4.jpg

Livestock includes:

Snowflake ocellaris x2
Yellow tang
Red firefish (2 didn't make it)
GBTA (has white speckles all over it)
quite a number of hermits and snails
And today I introduced a cleaner shrimp

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/03/01/6u7anyhu.jpg

[Fracture]

Nice

[Scutterborn]

Looking sharp!


-Ben-

[Milly]

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/03/05/rezuqeta.jpg

Listed as a "blue hammer" but Dan and I both agreed its more of a pearly/pink. Either way its a great addition to my tank!

[Fracture]

Oh wow where did you get this I want some

[Milly]

Oh wow where did you get this I want some

Dan,jewels of the sea, he had another one. Not sure if it sold or not.

[Fracture]

I should have known he has some of the most beautiful things :) thanks for the info. It looks great on your tank.

[Milly]

Thanks! I love it and so does Jase. Can't wait to get homes and see it again :D

[Fracture]

Dans gonna have lots of business from me soon cause Justin bought me a 125 6x2 for me for my birthday :) so ill have lots of space to fill lol

[Milly]

Love the new addition to our tank. He's eating we'll and we love his color :)

Tri color:
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/03/09/ze7aquqy.jpg

[Kristy]

Nice! That's a great picture and a beautiful fish.