A reef grows in Brooklyn

russianmd · 03-06-2007, 11:47 AM

My biggest thanks to Jim and Russ from House of Fish – these gentlemen went above and beyond the call of duty in installing and setting up this tank!

So to start:

This is the space for the tank. Originally, I was going to go with custom-built, but was priced out. Fortunately, smoknreefrs had a tank he made me an awesome deal on, which fit the space pretty perfectly (and if you ask Russ and Jim, they’ll say just a little too perfectly).

The wires on the bottom is also where all the plumbing will go to the basement.

The original stand (just a bit of foreshadowing)...

Here’s the equipment:

120g AGA reef-ready tank with two mega-overflows
75g sump
Skimmer - Bermuda Aquatics BPS-5C
4ft Maristar Fixture Kit: 500W HQI & 2-54W T5
Pumps: Mag 9.5 (skimmer)
Gen-X PCX-55HT (return)
Tunze 6025 (2)
Heater - Finnex 500w with controller
ESV Titanium Ground Probe

About 140 lb of liverock
ESV aragonite sand (mix of coarse and fine)

More pics and a narrative of the set-up later.

scarf_ace1981 · 03-06-2007, 11:56 AM

looks like you found the perfect spot for it. 75g sump? wow

digitalreefer · 03-06-2007, 11:58 AM

C'mon, at least a empty tank shot! The stand is just a tease!

russianmd · 03-06-2007, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by digitalreefer


	C'mon, at least a empty tank shot! The stand is just a tease!

Here 'tis, in all it's AGA-bestickered glory on the floor!

prattreef · 03-06-2007, 12:23 PM

Slow, methodical, psychological torture. Is that what they teach you in Med School with all those rats and stuff???? I however, in true soothesayer fashion know the story to be told... its a good one

Randy

masterswimmer · 03-06-2007, 01:37 PM

I'm familiar with the story too

I'll concur, it is a 'good' one.

Nice to see the progress shots. Looking forward to seeing some water

R

russianmd · 03-06-2007, 02:54 PM

Saturday was D-day. Jim and Russ came over, things were all set, we were ready to go:

Here are the gents in the basement drilling the sump:

Here's the tank with only sand and lights on:

Here's the tank full of water - notice near-perfect clarity using Russ's patented 'trash bag on the sand' technique:

And here are the three of us about five minutes later as we hear a very ominous creaky/crackling settling sound:

My wonderfully talented carpenter Patrick built the stand so that only about 1/8 of the frame of tank rested on the top sheet of plywood. None of us could see that because there was also 1.5" of styrofoam on top of that. Plus, about 4" of the tank in the back were not supported AT ALL!

So when the tank was full, it started tilting backwards.

What happened after that can only be described as heroic: we drained water into brutes, scooped out sand, disconnected plumbing, took tank off stand, pretty much remade the stand on the fly, and started over.

Needless to say, when I say 'we', I mean Russ and Jim - I was along for this very rocky ride. And this is why I say that these guys are the real thing, true gentlemen, amazing human beings. I expected them to walk away and say - call us when the tank is fixed. They truly went above and beyond the call of duty.

So this is what the tank looked like at the end of this 13 hour day - yes, live rock is in the tank at this point:

The tank is pretty clear by now, and I am playing with aquascaping. It also no longer makes any unexpected noises, and my skimmer is pulling awesome skimmate.

My hat is off to the men of House of Fish!!!

nijunet · 03-06-2007, 02:59 PM

They always do go above and beyond

they did the same with me. Looks good, can't wait to see it finished.

Tonyscoots84 · 03-06-2007, 07:06 PM

more pics

TimberTDI · 03-06-2007, 10:47 PM

Hey Russ is that a tool belt?

03-06-2007, 11:47 AM	#1
russianmd Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 331 Reefer Ratings: (15) Friends: (2)	A reef grows in Brooklyn My biggest thanks to Jim and Russ from House of Fish – these gentlemen went above and beyond the call of duty in installing and setting up this tank! So to start: This is the space for the tank. Originally, I was going to go with custom-built, but was priced out. Fortunately, smoknreefrs had a tank he made me an awesome deal on, which fit the space pretty perfectly (and if you ask Russ and Jim, they’ll say just a little too perfectly). The wires on the bottom is also where all the plumbing will go to the basement. The original stand (just a bit of foreshadowing)... Here’s the equipment: 120g AGA reef-ready tank with two mega-overflows 75g sump Skimmer - Bermuda Aquatics BPS-5C 4ft Maristar Fixture Kit: 500W HQI & 2-54W T5 Pumps: Mag 9.5 (skimmer) Gen-X PCX-55HT (return) Tunze 6025 (2) Heater - Finnex 500w with controller ESV Titanium Ground Probe About 140 lb of liverock ESV aragonite sand (mix of coarse and fine) More pics and a narrative of the set-up later.

03-06-2007, 11:56 AM	#2
scarf_ace1981 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NYC Manhattan Posts: 4,856 Reefer Ratings: (67) Friends: (0)	looks like you found the perfect spot for it. 75g sump? wow __________________ Finch breeder

03-06-2007, 01:37 PM	#6
masterswimmer www.saltwatercritters.com Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Orange County Posts: 9,234 Reefer Ratings: (88) Friends: (16)	I'm familiar with the story too I'll concur, it is a 'good' one. Nice to see the progress shots. Looking forward to seeing some water R __________________ House of Fish (845) 610-3114 www.saltwatercritters.com Serving all your saltwater critter and reef needs

03-06-2007, 07:06 PM	#9
Tonyscoots84 Soon To Be Nano KiNg ;) Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Staten Island Posts: 7,037 Reefer Ratings: (22) Friends: (0)	more pics __________________ B & A Computers Got Computer Problems? We Can Fix Them! (We Come To You For What It Would Cost For You To Bring It To The Store) Stop Getting Ripped Off and Start Saving Money On Tech Services! We Are Here For All Your Computer Needs. We have have helped hundreds of people save alot of money in Manhattan,New York,Bronx,Queens,Brooklyn,Staten Island and New Jersey. (718) 689 - 0662

03-06-2007, 10:47 PM	#10
TimberTDI Recovering Lurker Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Monroe, NY Posts: 1,665 Reefer Ratings: (7) Friends: (2)	Hey Russ is that a tool belt? __________________ . as soon as I come up with something thought provoking I'll put it here. and yes pedro nuno ferriera is a google bot.

03-06-2007, 11:58 AM	#3
digitalreefer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Park Slope Posts: 1,235 Reefer Ratings: (26) Friends: (0)	C'mon, at least a empty tank shot! The stand is just a tease!

03-06-2007, 12:23 PM	#5
prattreef Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 2,955 Reefer Ratings: (17) Friends: (15)	Slow, methodical, psychological torture. Is that what they teach you in Med School with all those rats and stuff???? I however, in true soothesayer fashion know the story to be told... its a good one Randy

03-06-2007, 02:54 PM	#7
russianmd Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 331 Reefer Ratings: (15) Friends: (2)	Saturday was D-day. Jim and Russ came over, things were all set, we were ready to go: Here are the gents in the basement drilling the sump: Here's the tank with only sand and lights on: Here's the tank full of water - notice near-perfect clarity using Russ's patented 'trash bag on the sand' technique: And here are the three of us about five minutes later as we hear a very ominous creaky/crackling settling sound: My wonderfully talented carpenter Patrick built the stand so that only about 1/8 of the frame of tank rested on the top sheet of plywood. None of us could see that because there was also 1.5" of styrofoam on top of that. Plus, about 4" of the tank in the back were not supported AT ALL! So when the tank was full, it started tilting backwards. What happened after that can only be described as heroic: we drained water into brutes, scooped out sand, disconnected plumbing, took tank off stand, pretty much remade the stand on the fly, and started over. Needless to say, when I say 'we', I mean Russ and Jim - I was along for this very rocky ride. And this is why I say that these guys are the real thing, true gentlemen, amazing human beings. I expected them to walk away and say - call us when the tank is fixed. They truly went above and beyond the call of duty. So this is what the tank looked like at the end of this 13 hour day - yes, live rock is in the tank at this point: The tank is pretty clear by now, and I am playing with aquascaping. It also no longer makes any unexpected noises, and my skimmer is pulling awesome skimmate. My hat is off to the men of House of Fish!!!

03-06-2007, 02:59 PM	#8
nijunet Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Manhattan Posts: 180 Reefer Ratings: (8) Friends: (0)	They always do go above and beyond they did the same with me. Looks good, can't wait to see it finished.

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