Surprise, Another SPS Tank (1 Viewer)

[spsick]

2020 has been the longest year ever, right?!

In May my wife and I bought our first house. It’s smaller than the place we were renting but the housing market in MPLS is crazy and we did t want to overpay- so we got a fixer upper.

Water supply to the whole house was 1/2” copper, necked down after the meter. Replaced with 3/4” to all the main tee points to improve flow. Supply is galvanized so that’s a fun $7000 problem for later. added a dedicated RO supply and shutoff.



House had a janky 60amp panel with screw-in fuses, so this was first order of business. We had 2 months to move so I had time to do a lot of work on the house. I installed a new 100a service panel, meter, service mast, etc. This of course included my first ever dedicated tank circuit. Did this all between ripping up carpet, refinishing hardwood floors, and a partial bath remodel.

Before:



After:


Added a DoS for AWC and ran the lines to the basement through my cold air return. This has been a blessing allowing me to enjoy the tank without carrying buckets up/down stairs every week.

Next is the conundrum that my current tank doesn’t fit well, so I picked up a standard 75g to fit the space. I eventually want a 150+ in the basement once I finish the space but that may be years out.

New Tank:

75g Aqueon
Modular Marine overflow
Custom Bashsea sump (in progress)
BK Mini 160
2 MP40QWD I’ve had NIB for a year
Same 6x36 Dimmable Sunpower for now

Starting the stand with a slightly modified Rocket design to accommodate the equipment under the stand. Went with Douglas fir vs pine as you can find much straighter, dryer boards. I will skin in red oak to match the Craftsman style of my 1926 home.

Squaring 2x4 masterclass:



Frame all finished:



Oh and here is the current tank, humming along just fine. Lost a couple big colonies in the move but otherwise went well.

 

[RSnodgrass]

Nice write up, exciting to see it all coming along!

 

[Redwinger]

Very nice!

 

[cathorn]

Looks like a great new start.

 

[spsick]

Thanks guys! I’m pretty excited to make a build the way I want without the confines on being “rental-ready”. Not that I’m doing anything crazy like a basement sump, but still.

The internal struggle I’m having right now is Sand or Barebottom?

The tank has been barebottom since the Dinos a year ago, but I really miss the look of the sand. It has been doing well considering all the destabilizing events so not sure if it’s a fare shake for the method. I have less PE and I think growth is not quite as good on the acros, but again several destabilizing events. I’m leaning towards BB being I’m on AWC now so vacuuming the sand would add back weekly maintenance.

 

[OldNemo]

Looks good! Yeah I am upgrading as well and decided to go BB. While I do like the look of sand I really struggled with it blowing away in a couple areas with the flow I wanted. Plus, its easier to add sand to tank as opposed to removing it after the fact.

 

[acharpenter]

I really did consider going BB with my current build. I really liked how it looked with just the rock but in the end - had to go with sand as I love sand digging inverts.

Makes a big difference in how bright the tank is overall with the reflection off the sand - not sure how well the pics show that

Also - congrats on the house!!!!

 

[spsick]

Plus, its easier to add sand to tank as opposed to removing it after the fact.

very good point!

 

[Redwinger]

SPS+BB=Greater chances for long term success

 

[spsick]

I really did consider going BB with my current build. I really liked how it looked with just the rock but in the end - had to go with sand as I love sand digging inverts.

Makes a big difference in how bright the tank is overall with the reflection off the sand - not sure how well the pics show that

Also - congrats on the house!!!!

that does look much better of course! I will use a sheet of starboard but then it just gets covered with coralline.

 

[spsick]

Stand is built, stained, and finished. Doors are built but still need finish, which I can do while the tank trial run takes place. Top Coat boat paint for the inside of the stand as usual. I went with water based finishes due to our house being small and the last piece of furniture I built with oil based poly smelled for like 2 months.

I went with General Finishes black cherry water based stain, which was very stressful as it dries very fast and is easy to blotch. I think going forward I will use oil based stain and just let it dry for a few days as the stain doesn’t smell as much as poly.

The finish was General Finishes Enduro-Var, an oil modified water based poly. I like it because it’s very low VOC but still gives that yellow glow of oil based. Turned out great!





Painting the back of the tank today, basic flat black. Then I can start plumbing.

I’m going to run this system for a month in the basement with just heated RO water to pull out any tin from the plumbing, plastics, etc. Hopefully this will save me the nightmare of losing most of my acros again.

 

[Fishfoo]

Great work! I love the skirt or whatever it’s called around the actual tank, very clean.

 

[spsick]

Great work! I love the skirt or whatever it’s called around the actual tank, very clean.

Thanks! The top rim will have a matching one, and I’m leaning towards making a matching hanging canopy to cut down on light spill vs my current ATI fixture which is horrendous.

 

[acharpenter]

Damn - well done - looks awesome Ben!!!!

 

[RSnodgrass]

What do you think you'll do/not do for doors? 2... 1 big one... folding... none?

 

[spsick]

What do you think you'll do/not do for doors? 2... 1 big one... folding... none?

Shaker style with a faux vertical support attached to one.

 

[spsick]

Okie dokie plumbing is done and she’s running with RO water now! Ideally I would run it 2 months but I think 1 is more realistic to my patience level.

The Modular Marine overflow was MUCH easier to tune than my Shadow v1, but not sure how I’ll like that you have to remove the whole inner box to clean the weir unless it’s just a quick tooth brushing.

 

[jlanger]

I have three of the Modular Marine overflow kits and removing the entire weir box is a much better solution than just a removable weir. You're able to clean out the inside of the weir box which may collect detritus and be home to some algae or baby snails and stars.
Just remember to make sure that the water level in the display is below the bulkheads of the overflow kit before removing the weir box. #firsthandknowledge

 

[spsick]

I have three of the Modular Marine overflow kits and removing the entire weir box is a much better solution than just a removable weir. You're able to clean out the inside of the weir box which may collect detritus and be home to some algae or baby snails and stars.
Just remember to make sure that the water level in the display is below the bulkheads of the overflow kit before removing the weir box. #firsthandknowledge

Ope yeah that sounds like either:
1. Fishies taking a ride down the overflow
2. Sump overflowing

 

[jlanger]

Ope yeah that sounds like either:
1. Fishies taking a ride down the overflow
2. Sump overflowing

*** Almost 2; almost.