700gal Reef Initial Setup 
Full view of the 10 foot long side, November 2004
Full view of the 10 foot long side, November 2004
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End view, 4 foot side, November 2004
End view, 4 foot side, November 2004
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Fish room plan top view
Fish room plan top view
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System rear view
System rear view
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Sump above view
Sump above view
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Highlight for Album: The Big Move
Album: The Big Move

What is 10 feet X 4 feet x 32" and weighs a thousand pounds? Why, an empty 700gal acrylic aquarium, of course! Herein is the saga of how to get a 700gal aquarium moved into an impossibly-situated cliffside house.
Last change: 07/29/2008
Contains: 20 items
Viewed: 2195 times.

Front view from living room
Front view from living room
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3-fish-B59A2164.jpg
3-fish-B59A2164.jpg
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The former dining room viewed from the music room. The casement is 9 feet wide. The 125 in the casement will be quaranteen for new big tank inhabitants introduced over the course of the next year. The big tank will be set back about 4.5 feet into the room, and have a fish room about 4.5 feet wide behind it.
The former dining room viewed from the music room. The casement is 9 feet wide. The 125 in the casement will be quaranteen for new big tank inhabitants introduced over the course of the next year. The big tank will be set back about 4.5 feet into the room, and have a fish room about 4.5 feet wide behind it.

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me next to rk2 skimmer.  For reference, I am 6'2".  This model is capable of processing 25gpm with a full 2 minutes of dwell time.  Skimmer is currently running on the 125gal quaranteen tank while I wait for the stand and main tank to be delivered.
me next to rk2 skimmer. For reference, I am 6'2". This model is capable of processing 25gpm with a full 2 minutes of dwell time. Skimmer is currently running on the 125gal quaranteen tank while I wait for the stand and main tank to be delivered. *
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Sump - 330gal total volume with integrated 150gal refugium.
Sump - 330gal total volume with integrated 150gal refugium.
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125 Quaranteen, beginnings of fish room construction behind
125 Quaranteen, beginnings of fish room construction behind
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Aquarium after being lifted by crane to the side yard, where it sat for 4 months while waiting for stand to be built and delivered. I made the mistake of ordering the stand from Mitch at Bow Valley Aquarium.  Never again.
Aquarium after being lifted by crane to the side yard, where it sat for 4 months while waiting for stand to be built and delivered. I made the mistake of ordering the stand from Mitch at Bow Valley Aquarium. Never again. *
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Stand with sump in place.  Stand designed in 4 parts so that it would fit through the door and entry hall.
Stand with sump in place. Stand designed in 4 parts so that it would fit through the door and entry hall.
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Me next to the new tank
Me next to the new tank
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fishroom progress as of early July 04
fishroom progress as of early July 04
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Initial aquascaping - left angle view.  Capt. Jer at ReeferRocks.com was super helpful with my dry base rock order. I sent him a sketch of my aquascaping plan and he built the exact structure at his shop and sent me pictures before I even placed the order!
Initial aquascaping - left angle view. Capt. Jer at ReeferRocks.com was super helpful with my dry base rock order. I sent him a sketch of my aquascaping plan and he built the exact structure at his shop and sent me pictures before I even placed the order!
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Added a greenhouse cycle timer and actuated ball valve to automate washdown of the riser column interior.  Looks like the skimmer will finally be truly maintenance free.
Added a greenhouse cycle timer and actuated ball valve to automate washdown of the riser column interior. Looks like the skimmer will finally be truly maintenance free.
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Maya exploring the aquarium.  Aquarium sand looks and feels unfortunately similar to cat litter.
Maya exploring the aquarium. Aquarium sand looks and feels unfortunately similar to cat litter. *
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Hmmn.  What's wrong with this picture?
A suggestion: if you're going to take several months between adding sand and adding water, and your sand choice looks a lot like cat litter, and you have a cat, consider sealing the top of  your aquarium.
Hmmn. What's wrong with this picture?
A suggestion: if you're going to take several months between adding sand and adding water, and your sand choice looks a lot like cat litter, and you have a cat, consider sealing the top of your aquarium. *
Viewed: 813 times.

Rosie the Porcupine Puffer.  After 2 small puffers succumbed to death by Tunze Stream intake, we found Rosie, who at 5" is big enough to handle the Streams.  In fact, she loves to swim in front of them and get blown about.  Rosie came to us from a 40gal tank she had outgrown.  She seems quite happy in her new 700gal home, if a bit frustrated by her inability to catch any of the tasty-looking Chromis who live with her.
Rosie the Porcupine Puffer. After 2 small puffers succumbed to death by Tunze Stream intake, we found Rosie, who at 5" is big enough to handle the Streams. In fact, she loves to swim in front of them and get blown about. Rosie came to us from a 40gal tank she had outgrown. She seems quite happy in her new 700gal home, if a bit frustrated by her inability to catch any of the tasty-looking Chromis who live with her.
Viewed: 1383 times.

Rosie Smooch (okay, actually it's her trying to swim _through_ the tank wall to get at the food I'm holding)
Rosie Smooch (okay, actually it's her trying to swim _through_ the tank wall to get at the food I'm holding)
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Rosie 2
Rosie 2
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filling_the_tank
filling_the_tank
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under_tank_mess2; teal cannister in back right is a pressurized bag cannister filter good for 50gpm through a 25micron bag filter.
under_tank_mess2; teal cannister in back right is a pressurized bag cannister filter good for 50gpm through a 25micron bag filter.
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View from the right end of the tank.  Left to right: teal cannister in rear is a pressurized bag cannister filter from FSI; GEO 8" Nilsen reactor in front left; MyReef fluidized bed reactor for Rowaphos; 5200gph Sequence pump that powers cannister, UV, skimmer, and sand bed flow nozzles; lower right is 3600gph Sequence pump that feeds 2 Seaswirls and fluidized reactor; above second Sequence is osmolator freshwater source reservoir; visible through the freshwater reservoir is a Barr Aquatics CR2200 calcium reactor.
View from the right end of the tank. Left to right: teal cannister in rear is a pressurized bag cannister filter from FSI; GEO 8" Nilsen reactor in front left; MyReef fluidized bed reactor for Rowaphos; 5200gph Sequence pump that powers cannister, UV, skimmer, and sand bed flow nozzles; lower right is 3600gph Sequence pump that feeds 2 Seaswirls and fluidized reactor; above second Sequence is osmolator freshwater source reservoir; visible through the freshwater reservoir is a Barr Aquatics CR2200 calcium reactor.
Viewed: 841 times.

Distribution manifold for 5200gph sequence pump.  Triple redundant to prevent back siphon overflow from sandbed-level output nozzles.  Top to bottom: 1) first reverse mounted check valve that will open to allow air input and break siphon in event of power loss; 2) redundant reverse check valve; 3) primary return water line with forward-mounted check valve to prevent water back flow; 4) hose bib for attaching reverse-vacuum wand used to blow detritus off the rocks (imagine giant turkey baster with no need to squeeze the bulb).
Distribution manifold for 5200gph sequence pump. Triple redundant to prevent back siphon overflow from sandbed-level output nozzles. Top to bottom: 1) first reverse mounted check valve that will open to allow air input and break siphon in event of power loss; 2) redundant reverse check valve; 3) primary return water line with forward-mounted check valve to prevent water back flow; 4) hose bib for attaching reverse-vacuum wand used to blow detritus off the rocks (imagine giant turkey baster with no need to squeeze the bulb).
Viewed: 580 times.

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