Craftsman's 150 gallon/567 litre Tank (4ftx2ftx2.5ft)

[craftsman]

Hi everyone. Have been in the forum for a while, but have never posted before. This is my virgin post so to speak! While many of the world leaders descend in Singapore this weekend for this year's APEC summit, I'll be busy setting up my new Marine tank when it gets delivered this Saturday!

I thought hard about posting and had doubts about whether my tank would be good enough to share with everyone, but finally decided to "share the love", take constructive criticisms and hopefully that would benefit not only myself by building my experience, but also others who might stumble by and learn. So... thank you in advanced for swinging by my thread and giving me your comments.

Stay Tuned!

[craftsman]

I recently moved into a 2 floor Maisonette apartment in Hougang, and negotiated with the wife for a permanent lease of the balcony. Lovely! This is how the balcony looks like.

And the balcony area from inside the house.

What you see here is my de-commissioned 3 foot fresh water planted tank. By October, the tank had matured nicely, and was no longer a challenge.

At about the same time, I caught the marine bug from a colleague of mine, when I visited LCK where I saw for myself the first time the beautiful Goldflake angel. What a beauty.....

So, last month, I sold off my 3 foot tank and placed an order for a new 4 foot tank!

A picture of the 3 foot tank being de-commissioned...

[craftsman]

Ordered the tank from Aquamarin back in October, and have been eagerly waiting for it since!

I don't think Janet or Steve would mind me posting their quote (minus prices) Free advertisement right? By the way, they didn't ask me to do this. I just thought that it would add gravitas to others who are setting up tanks from scratch.

[craftsman]

Equipment List:

Tank:12mm thick grade 1 glass tank 48x24x26 Custom 150G with IOS

Stand: Custom Solid Chengai wood stand and cabinet

Canopy: Custom Hood

Sump: 30G

Lighting: 2 x 250w Lumenbrite with 2 x 54w ATI Light Tubes.

Chiller: Arctica 1/4hp

Flow:1 x Koralia 5

Skimmer: Skimz Monster 180 by Aquamarin

October 27th

Bought some live rocks from Lim Chu Kang. Came back and put them in some pails and a styrofoam box.

[craftsman]

When I discovered that the Styrofoam box was leaking, I decided to go get myself a 100 litre tub to cure the rocks in. After this exercise, I would then use the tub for water changes.

[craftsman]

Decided to keep a cycling log to track progress.

Day 4

Day 8 - Everything spiking

Day 13 - Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate coming down

Day 16 - Everything coming down....

[craftsman]

My cabinet was delivered 2 days ago.

The cabinet was real heavy... and the space is a tight fit...

Cabinet finally in its place. I've got to remove the small acrylic roof to make space for the tank soon...

[craftsman]

ok... Brought you guys through the last 16 to 18 days.... Now, we're ready for tomorrow's tank delivery and a weekend of setting up.

In other news, my Frangipani started flowering finally!!!!

[craftsman]

Do let me know your comments. Hoping to learn from everyone as well...

[kelvin70]

My cabinet was delivered 2 days ago.

The cabinet was real heavy... and the space is a tight fit...

Cabinet finally in its place. I've got to remove the small acrylic roof to make space for the tank soon...

Hi Bro,you place your tank at belcony if rain how ??? will get wet ???

[Peihao83]

bro, i think sunlight will shines onto yr tank.. and yr chiller will keep in more often..

[craftsman]

Do let me know your comments. Hoping to learn from everyone as well...

Yup... thought about that long time ago. When I had my 3ft FW planted tank, I had a roof built. I had to remove it as the new tank is much taller. Once the tank is completely set up, my contractor is coming in to build the awning above the tank that will shelter the tank from the sun and the rain. Already, the tank in this part of the balcony does not get direct sunlight.

[craftsman]

bro, i think sunlight will shines onto yr tank.. and yr chiller will keep in more often..

When I had my 3 ft tank there, temperature always fairly constant at 29 degrees or so. I don't think it will be extra strain for the chiller... to be honest. Having experienced the 3ft tank on the balcony for 6 months, I've had the benefit of being sure how the tank would react to a slightly more bright environment.

[comycus]

Nice looking setup! Just 1 k5 as wavemaker? I would prefer 2 pumps to create more random flow and more flexibility in placing them.

[ReDDeviLs]

u din get the aquatronica or the hydor controller?

[ReDDeviLs]

Nice looking setup! Just 1 k5 as wavemaker? I would prefer 2 pumps to create more random flow and more flexibility in placing them.

hellbliss was using 1x K5 in his 3x2x2.was quite strong liao,but i think he selling it off now.

but 1 more is bettter to increase random flow.

[zorden]

cant wait for more pic...

[comycus]

hellbliss was using 1x K5 in his 3x2x2.was quite strong liao,but i think he selling it off now.

but 1 more is bettter to increase random flow.

pAiseh I meant 2 smaller pumps, k5 is enough for your tank, but you will find the area in front of the k5 too strong to put any corals

[craftsman]

Nice looking setup! Just 1 k5 as wavemaker? I would prefer 2 pumps to create more random flow and more flexibility in placing them.

Yeah... going to get some more. Let me see how.

u din get the aquatronica or the hydor controller?

Not yet! Ha ha ha.... Just spoke to Steve about aquatronic controller. Lets see how long I can tahan....

[craftsman]

The tank makers came this morning....

Heres the sump, all wrapped up and nice.....

Another view from the side.

Heres the ATO tank... will be kept to either the side or front of the sump, to create more space in the cabinet. Hmmm.... I asked Steve for a refugium compartment, but can't see it. Will ask him about it later when he's here.

Sorry for the crappy photos. They're all taken from my iphone. The guys bringing in the sump. Nice black oyama on the back of the tank.

Bringing it to the balcony.

Relatively easy to put this into the cabinet. Its super light compared to the tank that is to follow. :AddEmoticons04232:

The ATO with its glass cover. I like it!

The overflow compartment in the sump with the glass cover. Good way to keep salt creep to a minimum.

Heres how the cover opens up...

[sunny03]

Yeah... going to get some more. Let me see how.

Not yet! Ha ha ha.... Just spoke to Steve about aquatronic controller. Lets see how long I can tahan....

Deep Pockets

[craftsman]

ok... after the sump, the display tank's turn. This is going to be heavy and tough due to the restricted space I have.

Heres the tank... you can see that it's braced at the bottom of the tank too... Will show another picture on this later.

They wanted to push the tank in using their trolley, but I said no as I've got parquet floor in the house, and the wheels would damage the floors if they are dragged across the floor. My wife would kill me. :AddEmoticons04232: So, they had to carry it in... feel so bad...

Ready? 1, 2, 3 go!

Can't get it up. The space is really tight such that it doesn't allow maneuvering around the tank. Guys taking a pause to think through how to get it up.

ok... one more try...

Some more difficulties... change places....

ok.. hold on...

Argghh... have to find space. I got really nervous when one of the blokes decided to climb up the balcony parapat.... He better not fall...

Finally using the suckers to carry the tank from this awkward angle.

Almost there....

[craftsman]

Finally in!!!! But in the process, they damaged a little of the underlying foam beneath the tank. Not a big problem, really....

Immediately, set one of my princesses to work....

Heres a view of the bottom brace as I promised earlier.

Heres a view of the internal overflow compartment...

Thats it for now....

[craftsman]

Deep Pockets

No lah... broke leow... everyday eat peanut butter sandwich... ha ha ha ha ha

[ReDDeviLs]

Deep Pockets

agree