Salt'n'Lime's 29 Gallon Project

SaltnLime · Post by **SaltnLime** » Tue May 20, 2003 9:08 pm

Going to start a thread on my 29 gallon reef tank project. If we decide to move it to another forum later then cool. I just wanted to map my progress...however painfully slow , so other people will not feel so overwhelmed (as I do/did) when I decided to set this reef tank up.

By the way, smaller is not necissarily less expensive. You can be just as frugal (or go just as nuts) with large tanks as you can with smaller tanks. It's all in the individual.

This will probably be alot of trial and error........but I'm not going to rush it....and I'm gunna have fun.

Currently I have a 29 gallon that is cycled with about 25-30 lbs of live rock and a few critters and some live sand. I will be moving this over to the new tank

')

Used Kilz Premium on the inside. The rack is for my Halide ballast box and switch/timer mounting.

Canopy is 14\" tall to get my halides off the water. Front hinged for access.

Kilz added to interior canopy and piano hinge for reflective and corrosion purposes.

will add more as I update.

** note: removing back wood brace from canopy so incase I have to add something hang on later...it will be at tank level.')

SaltnLime · Post by **SaltnLime** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 12:00 am

An ongoing saga

SaltnLime · Post by **SaltnLime** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 12:02 am

Tank stand, and canopy empty. You can see the extra tall canopy and high stand in this picture

SaltnLime · Post by **SaltnLime** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 12:07 am

Rear Plumbing . The SCWD "Switching Current Wave Device" is mounted in the center of the tank. A mag 9.5 is located in the sump pumping back to the device.

SaltnLime · Post by **SaltnLime** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 12:10 am

I braced the plubing to the rear stand and mounted the return ball valve facing the inside of the stand. The allowed for easier and safer adjustment of my sump level.

SaltnLime · Post by **SaltnLime** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 12:14 am

Inside the stand as I was setting up. You can see the converted wetdry that I got from Reeferpuffer. This was before I cut the trickle plate and plumbed the intake straight into the chamber.

SaltnLime · Post by **SaltnLime** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 12:21 am

I chose Hinged Timer boxes to control everything. Mainly because I thought they kept everything neat and out of the way. With my luck who needs salt water and a tangle of wires in the same place

SaltnLime · Post by **SaltnLime** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 12:26 am

After alot of sleepless nights

I decided to go with a Ushio 175watt Metal Halide bulb and 2 actinic 03 bulbs to light the thing. They are all mounted under a spider reflector and currently sit about 9-10" above the water. I love the way it looks now. I will add the pics of the in canopy mount later.

SaltnLime · Post by **SaltnLime** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 12:30 am

As I am posting these pictures I remeber all the questions that I asked (and still ask)....and all the help that I received from fellow reefers, especially members of the MBRK club. Everyones help was invaluable to me getting this project going in the right direction........ So if I have managed to not say thank you to someone that has helped me

THANK YOU! .................... That is for you.

SaltnLime · Post by **SaltnLime** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 12:40 am

I have valve 2 lockline returns and an adjustable 90 with a screen for an overflow. This gives me several adjustment locations so I can tuned the wavemaker a bit.....Since the tank is not that big.

Amyjoe · Post by **Amyjoe** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 5:46 am

Well you have been AWOL for a while... I was wondering if you decided that you didn't like us.... What about picutures of the Final Set-up inside of the tank? (well you know what I mean) pics of the tank with the new inhabitants?

SaltnLime · Post by **SaltnLime** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 10:47 am

A few pics of the current setup

SaltnLime · Post by **SaltnLime** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 11:00 am

A few more pics

SaltnLime · Post by **SaltnLime** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 11:04 am

These guys are my favorite.

Post by **snoopdog** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 11:26 am

Very good shot of the shrimp man, very nice setup. Looking great so far. After the tank is aged is when the real beauty sets in. After we get back from vacation i will be making another Pensacola run i hope !