Mel's 4' x 2' x 2' Tank

[Melvyn Tan]

Bro, U can order fro Xglare, our sponsor. Believed he can sent to yr place for free. Else this weekend we go cheong lfs then buy from ###### lor...

This weekend will be great tigger !

[Melvyn Tan]

Ok setting up the piping works

[Melvyn Tan]

another pic

[Melvyn Tan]

A friend helping out the fixing of the pipings

[Melvyn Tan]

Piping works almost done

[Melvyn Tan]

Sealing-up the joints

[Melvyn Tan]

Connection to my 1260 return, there is this one way flap device to prevent back flow and spoiling of pump due to power failure.

[Melvyn Tan]

Will update some more pics of further set-up tomorrow.

Comments if any for further improvement greatly welcomed.

[Melvyn Tan]

Pic of tools for setup

[auberon]

Got one comment - Clearer Pics! Just Kidding....

Anyway intersting to see your tank set-up from start to finish..

Am I right in assuming that you tank is place on the white cabinet top which is in turn in contact with the stand top below. So the weight of the tank is not only supported by the stand below but also the cabinet surrounding it?

Err... seem to be a bit low on headroom...

Nice cabinet by the way... more pics!

[Melvyn Tan]

Hi hi, the stand is wrapped and covered by the cabinet. The stand is free standing and the tank rest directly above it.

Headroom slightly more than 1 feet, i thought i told the contractor to make it at 1 1/2 ft aiya! what to do? still can access to do stuffs so still ok.

Today will be making of holes, filling up water, mixing salt. Anyone uses those tablet/liquid form of stuffs that takes away chloromine & chlorine? does it work?

[auberon]

Is there a tablet form? What were you using for your previous tank. Presently I am using Easy Life. Recomended when I was having some rot on my LR. Cleared after a week. Does other stuff too... anti-stress, chloromine and chlorine remover etc.

On your cabinet, maybe can remove top shelf for more space... Unless it will incur the wrath of the financial controller!

Can wait to see you start cycling. Curious on how to start a refugium.

[Melvyn Tan]

Refugium? I have one comprising of a thin layer of bio-sediments, live rocks and plants full of tiny teeming life. In this sump i will try out having 2 compartments - 1 with sandbed with bio-sediments the other with aragonites. Main tank will just have sand.

Had plenum system in my 3 ft main tank works great (all in about 10 over fishes with 2 tangs and they seem happy) - but need some months for plenum to be established. This time round trying out a silly method - hope it works !

Previously used poly filter + carbon in cycling and thereafer top-up with RO water.

[auberon]

Uuu.. why silly? SOunds like you are doing a refugium.

Err. whats a plenum?

[Melvyn Tan]

Uuu.. why silly? SOunds like you are doing a refugium.

Err. whats a plenum?

This time round i will have a little variation to my normal refugium.

Plenum is another form of filtration system where 2 layers of bacterias are found - on the bed and under the bed (cavity starved of oxygen) nothing lives between the sandbed. It need time to establish the plenum system though.

[Melvyn Tan]

Water mixed with kent marine salt and nutrafin chloramine remover

[Melvyn Tan]

1st day cycling with 1/2 market prawn

[Melvyn Tan]

Another clearer pic of the prawn

[Melvyn Tan]

The sump with its filtration media. The live rocks compartment and the sandbed compartment.

[Melvyn Tan]

After about 1 week cycling rocks + fishes added on Saturday 31 July 2004

[Melvyn Tan]

Another view

[Melvyn Tan]

Closer view, tomorrow will be adding t5s

[Melvyn Tan]

And there was light !

[Melvyn Tan]

Another view

[Melvyn Tan]

Side view