Adrienne Posted October 24, 2015 Report Share Posted October 24, 2015 Late 2008 and I picked up an ex-marine tank (450 litres) and stand from Napier. It came with a sump and pvc piping but not being remotely interested in marines at that time and having no knowledge of sumps, I set it up as a planted discus tank. After twelve months of persistent dripping from the pipes going into the sump, the sump was sold off and a FX5 took its place. Discus, followed by Rainbowfish, then Discus again, followed. Last year hubby and i set up a Red Sea Max C-250. Move on 14 months and the discus/rainbow tank has been emptied and plans are underway for a conversion back to a marine. Many told me this would happen, I should have listened! The stand is currently being stripped of its varnish - a long, slow and noisy job. The sump design is in the planning, and I have a skimmer and return pump on order. I will post in this thread as progress is made JJWooble, Silverdollarboy2, flatfish and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted October 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2015 Received a message today to say the sump & ATO are ready for collection. Only trouble is that I haven't finished sanding!! I will have to store it in the spare bedroom.The only difference to the above design is that the ATO (right hand end) is now a seperate tank to the sump. flatfish 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted November 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2015 Sanding and re-varnish of cabinet and hood done Caryl, flatfish, livingart and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted November 11, 2015 Report Share Posted November 11, 2015 Very nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted November 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2015 Not a huge amount to report.The tank has gone away for re-sealing and a tidy up and for drilling, as has the sump.The ATO is now in the cabinet.I picked up my new Hailea A-500 chiller today from Ronnie at New Pupuke Aquarium Centre. Thanks Ron Last night I collected another 18kg of Walt Smith rock, bringing the total amount I now have to around 43kg. Discusguru 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flatfish Posted November 19, 2015 Report Share Posted November 19, 2015 sounds like you are making reasonable progress and pics wont be to far away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted December 7, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2015 Another update.My tank arrived back yesterday looking heaps tidier than when it left with new silicon around the edges, the overflow and circulation outlets attached. The photos are not great - the tank is in a high light room as it faces a wall of floor - ceiling windows and my Christmas tree means I can not pull the drapes at the moment - but you will get the general idea. flatfish 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted December 8, 2015 Report Share Posted December 8, 2015 That looks fantastic! What will you stock the tank with? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted December 8, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2015 My rabbitfish from the 250 has to go in to it and so the CBB will have to go too as they are best mates. However the rabbitfish will be the last fish added.Looking at a moorish idol, a blue tang, pair of clowns and probably a couple of mandarins (may just try and move the existing one) and of course shrimp etc etc. Not sure what else at this stage as no where near ready. Silverdollarboy2 and JJWooble 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted December 9, 2015 Report Share Posted December 9, 2015 Aquaworld also has many false moorish idols for sale too. Worth checking out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted December 31, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2015 (edited) On Tuesday my lights, skimmer, pump, ATO and 2 x powerheads arrived. Edited December 31, 2015 by Adrienne damiem and livingart 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted December 31, 2015 Report Share Posted December 31, 2015 Very nice Adrienne, good to see the young fella on the job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted December 31, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2015 Very nice Adrienne, good to see the young fella on the jobYes, I am greatly appreciative of the assistance and the work he is doing for me on this. I don't have the necessary experience and skill so being able to get someone to come and in organise the setup and do the build has been fabulous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camtang Posted December 31, 2015 Report Share Posted December 31, 2015 If this tank turns out half as good as your planted tank it will be amazing.Looking forward to watching it develop. flatfish and livingart 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SanityChelle Posted January 2, 2016 Report Share Posted January 2, 2016 I can't wait to see this with water in it!! Such a cool project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted January 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 It has been confirmed by my son in law, a registered sparky, that the loading this new setup is going to place on the circuit that runs to the sockets behind the tank - is going to more than overload it. Therefore this week he will be running cables through the ceiling from the circuit the master bedroom is on to enable the tank to operate. We have worked out that it will use a minimum of 6 amps at any given time. The hall cupboard sits around the corner from the tank so the new power sockets will be put in the cupboard and the multiplugs and light powerbox will also be in the cupboard. A hole will be cut in the wall to run the cables through and then a small cage placed over the inside of the cupboard to prevent any plugs being knocked when the vacuum cleaner is taken out or put back in. I will take photos of the progress if I am here when it happens. We can not add to our existing switchboard (if anyone was wondering why we just don't do that). livingart 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shilo Posted January 3, 2016 Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 Good on you for checking that out! Bet there are more then a few systems running from multi boards plugged into each other!Wish I had a sparky as a son in law - could come in very handy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted January 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 We live in a school house which is about 20 years old but had add ons done before our time. The one circuit feeds garage, kitchen (not range), lounge, dining room, sunroom, hall and bathroom and the wall the new tank set up will be on is on that circuit. We've known for a couple of years that it is fully loaded as having the dishwasher and clothes dryer on when I switch the vacuum cleaner on will trip the circuit, if the panel heater in the hall is also running.I've done the multi boards on multi boards in my time and once a fireman visiting to pick up fish told me that he sincerely hoped it was the only time he would visit looking at what I had done. However that room was a different house and had its own circuit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishyNZ Posted January 3, 2016 Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 Nice pics.6 amps (or about 1400w) seems a lot. Must be the lights? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted January 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 (edited) Lights aren't too bad but chiller adds a bit onto the rest of the loading. So lights, 500 watt heater, chiller, skimmer, pump, 2 x wavemakers, ATO to start with. Having a chiller in our lounge is not an option but I am wondering how much noise two chillers running will make - if both tank chillers come on at the same time Edited January 3, 2016 by Adrienne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted January 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2016 (edited) Today the wire was run up the bedroom wall, through the ceiling cavity and down the lounge wall into the hall cupboard. The photos show it all Hole lounge side (sits just behind the tank)Power points in place in hall cupboard (backs the lounge wall)Lounge side with labelled cables for tank equipmentHall cupboard side with plugs in sockets - all labelled. Lighting box currently sitting on the carpet but will be placed on the wall.and the tank from the front Edited January 5, 2016 by Adrienne Caryl, fishyNZ, JJWooble and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted January 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2016 (edited) Today Raymond plumbed the tank A big job!Right hand rear of tankLeft hand rear of tankFrom a distanceFront closeupMy next decision is to where I place the controllers. Then the wires will be tidied up and in a couple of weeks a test on the plumbing etc will be run. Edited January 7, 2016 by Adrienne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted February 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2016 The Walt Smith rock has been added and two trips made to the Takapuna Boat Ramp to collect NSW which I then pumped through a 1 micron filter to prevent parasites etc getting in to the tank. The tank was filled on 27 January. NB the small piece of rock centre front won't be staying there.left sideright sideOn 4th February the skimmer was turned on and a small piece of live rock added (from my other tank). Since then a bag of coral rubble has been added to the sump and a prawn (dead) put in to the tank to start the cycle. No readings so far. flatfish 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gligor Posted February 10, 2016 Report Share Posted February 10, 2016 Looks incredible! Good luck and can't wait to see it with the fish :-) Adrienne 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted February 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 29, 2016 Update: As of yesterday my readings on the tank had settled. A 10% waterchange was done using NSW and a largish leather mushroom with galaxy star polyps growing on the lower stem was added.This morning two blue chromis were added to the tank. Now I sit and wait Silverdollarboy2 and JJWooble 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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