monkiboy's 265g build thread

[monkiboy]

Why don't you just add some salt and a power head and start cycling ????

the tank isn't full yet - that's why!

this tank is being plumbed together with my nem/clown tank upstairs so there won't be much of a cycle at all.

i need to finish the external overflow box, get that on and cured, then plumbing, install sump, get return pump, add salt and a heater to the 265, then get all the water flowing throughout the entire system for both tanks and my frag/nem propagation tank in the background, then slowly start adding my rock structures to this tank to allow the bacteria to catch up to the new load.

going to take it nice and easy.

 

[Civicdemon]

Well if its all going to be plumbed toghether being as this tank is oviesly more volume that your other tank, wont that in it self cause a mini cycle at the very least on the entire system ??? It would kinda be like using 50 gallons of already running salt water on a 200 gl system Yes there will be some Bacteria but not nearly the amount needed to skip a cycle. unless you some how make it so that at first you could control the amount of flow into the old tank slowly or something. But hey I might be wrong, only ben doing this for about 1 year and a half now and you seem to know what your doing better than me.

 

[monkiboy]

there is very little nitrifying bacteria on glass and in water. by increasing the volume, there should be no cycle since i will have no rock in the tank, decomposing matter, or anything that requires cycling. then i will slowly add my rock structures allowing the biological filtration to expand and populate. thanks for the questions.

 

[Big K]

I plan on doing something similar when adding a sump tank to my setup. Although I will be adding dry rubble and let it naturally turn into live rock.

 

[Civicdemon]

there is very little nitrifying bacteria on glass and in water. by increasing the volume, there should be no cycle since i will have no rock in the tank, decomposing matter, or anything that requires cycling. then i will slowly add my rock structures allowing the biological filtration to expand and populate. thanks for the questions.

AHHH ok now I understand better. so when you add your rock work your going to add it a little at a time or use cured dry rock ?? or cured Live Rock ??

 

[monkiboy]

AHHH ok now I understand better. so when you add your rock work your going to add it a little at a time or use cured dry rock ?? or cured Live Rock ??

it's all going to be custom synthetic ceramic rock structures. having figured out if i want to do more of a "bonsai" look or tall sharp edges and overhangs, yet tho. definitely minimalistic with a lot of negative space but homes for LOTS of fish. it will be heavily stocked.

 

[monkiboy]

she's filling up fast!

 

[buddy08]

Go go go goooooo water gooooo!

 

[AnthonyTheNewbie]

Yaaaay! :^::bounce::sfish::sfish::bounce::^:

 

[monkiboy]

neighbors typically love the sound of table saws in the late night hours, right?



got some work done late tonight. build a box frame for the external overflow. carefully taped up my glass for some nice clean lines.


the dow 795 require you remove the tape about five minutes after application. any more than that it is just too tacky and gets very stringy and messy.



the pups that were a good entertainment break were more tired than i apparently and passed out in the middle of the process.


slightly annoying was losing three pencils during the night. resorted to using a sharpie that i clipped to my shirt. how does that happen?


then put the 795 along the edges that were touching and on the inside seam. will allow to dry/cure and then mount to tank and do outside seams for giggles maybe.

time for bed, finally. got an early morning tomorrow!

 

[monkiboy]

my first piece of custom-made ceramic rock has been made and shipped. eager to see how it arrives and lives up to my expectations!

 

[AnthonyTheNewbie]

Lots of nice placement for corals! Looks like it was well worth it! :)

 

[monkiboy]

external overflow box came out clean and really nice. so far i'm really happy with the dow 795 sealant. it takes a while to fully cure (7-14 days) but is tack free in 1/2 hour so easily workable and then leave in place to dry/cure accordingly.

we mounted the box to the back of the tank and made some templates for some supporting legs. one on each end that reach to the stand. then i have 3 4"x4" 3/4" glass triangles that i will mount to support the external overflow as well. definitely overboard but i do not want any surprises.

i also sealed the outside of the overflow box with the same 795. i am letting that dry a bit before getting the overflow tank installed which should be today presuming i have enough time.

 

[monkiboy]

my first rock structure has arrived!



the box looked flawless - thank you fedex! it was a 36" cube which seems like a really large box for a significantly smaller structure but once opened you realize why.

the box was stuffed with expanding foam that one sprays during packaging within plastic bags which fill all the voids in the box safely securing the item from movement and damage.

and once out of it's foam cocoon i noticed no damages even to some of the thinner branching sections or base - fantastic!

i feel good about the process, shipping, and the final product that i will be ordering a few more pieces. having this piece in the tank, i realize it's not as tall as i need for my aquascape so i'm going to get a slightly taller piece and some more in between sizes then figure out how it will all go together. exciting stuff seeing rock in the tank, though!

 

[RockStacker]

Very nice.
Does the rock have any internal bracing? or is it just one solid piece of ceramic?

 

[monkiboy]

Very nice.
Does the rock have any internal bracing? or is it just one solid piece of ceramic?

thank you. it does not have any internal bracing. it is not solid as it is very porous by design but yes "solid" as in not in pieces.

 

[buddy08]

where did you have this made at? not to be to nosy but is it pricey?

 

[monkiboy]

where did you have this made at? not to be to nosy but is it pricey?

it's cerameco vidarock. it's custom made. or you can buy premade pieces at premium aquatics or aqua-tecture.com it's about $8-10/lb but incredibly porous and light so good bang for buck and if custom made to your taste, you really can't beat it.

 

[AnthonyTheNewbie]

I'm going to pick up a few barnacles and some arches from them. Thanks for the source! :)

 

[monkiboy]

I'm going to pick up a few barnacles and some arches from them. Thanks for the source! :)

sure thing!