Pirate's Reef

[sadielynn]

your experience and expertise is showing through :mrgreen:

 

[skipm]

I enjoy each update you give us just to see where you are taking things, you have shown some very creative ideas on this project.

 

[Anonymous]

Sadielynn & Skipm, how are your projects coming? Have you had a chance to start yet? I would like to see your projects too. Post pics here, if you like.

 

[sadielynn]

Pirates
Unfortunately I have not got to get the order around yet but hope to in the next few days then I will post a pic for you

 

[Anonymous]

Pirates
Unfortunately I have not got to get the order around yet but hope to in the next few days then I will post a pic for you

I can relate to not being able to get to things I really want to do. Hope you get some free time soon. I think a 1 gallon tank would be fun. We will see how this project goes, maybe I can do a normal pico reef some day - without going overboard....

 

[skipm]

I have getting mine started on the list but some other dogs are baking louder right now, including my labrador retreiver, lol. :lol: I'll get some pics when I get it started, hopefully real soon.

 

[Anonymous]

A little more work on the tank tonight. Actually finally finished the aquarium itself. Added the overflow and drilled another hole for the closed loop prefilter - that's 6 holes total Also got the back and sides painted black. Also thinking about using the Tahitian Moon Sand black sand in the tank also. Thought everything would look cool with black background & substrate. Would be a nice contrast to some colorful corals. Not sure about the sand yet though. Just a thought at the moment.

Also, Jeff at LifeReef sent me pictures of my completed sump / refugium & skimmer for the 140. Thought you might like to see some real craftsmanship. I think this is great work.

 

[aromano]

WOW,

This is the nicest, and most unique tank project I have ever seen.
Thanks for sharing PiratesReef. What a brilliant setup that you're putting together.

Excellent Work! :thumbup:

 

[skipm]

Again I am impressed, I really like the way you designed your overflow (I had never thought about a glass one like that). That sump/refugium is just out of this world. I am going to have to get on some of my projects soon!

 

[Jordan8008]

Looks great you should try some of that black caribian moon sand, I think thats what it's called,,,,lol it Black obviously I am shure you have heard of it, personally I think its awsome and i am going to be using it on my newest tank

Thanks

Jordan

 

[Anonymous]

Looks great you should try some of that black caribian moon sand, I think thats what it's called,,,,lol it Black obviously I am shure you have heard of it, personally I think its awsome and i am going to be using it on my newest tank

Thanks

Jordan

Yeah, that's the same stuff I am talking about. It is put out by Carib Sea and is called "CaribSea Tropic Isle Tahitian Moon Sand." It is inert, as it has no buffering properties. So, I am also considering installing a "Sandbed in a Bucket" (albeit, a little bucket) for denitrification and buffering purposes. Read about it on RC in an Anthony Calfo Q&A. Here is part of the thread:

Originally posted by Anthony Calfo
no worries... theres a mention of DSB buckets in threads on RC here (this forum too I think) as well as in my coral prop book.

But it is as literal as it sounds: having your DSB in a large bucket or garbage can rather than in a display. It can stay unlit and needs little or no servicing. Just a stream of water flowing atop it. The vessel is to be filled nearly to the top with only a few inches of water running above it. A five gallon bucket will hold about 60lbs of oolitic sand and service perhaps a 90-120 gallon aquarium (larger tanks with lighter bioloads too). Big displays often use a non-toxic plastic garbage can (or food barrel) with more sand of course.

 

[Jordan8008]

yea thats the stuff I was talking about, I think it looks awsome. I have seen some really nice tanks use it, and in all the pictures you see, the black contrasting asgainst the coral makes everything just pop. Not to mention, it would kinda hide any algae growth that always tends to happen along the sandbed.....I wont be able to get somthing like that where I am at my LFS so I am gonna have to order it.....just hate waiting lol :mrgreen:

Thanks

Jordan

 

[Anonymous]

A couple more pics. I am starting to like this thing "naked." I was going to build a cabinet around it to hide all of the plumbing, but now I am having second thoughts. I would have to address the waterline showing if it is left like this though. I would have to put some sort of molding around the top, bottom and corners. Just a thought. Always thinkin' on this project.

 

[Anonymous]

I have had a tons of other stuff going on and I haven't had the chance to do much to the set up, but today I started working with some ideas for the tank enclosure. This is what I have come up with so far - in a very rough form. these pieces are just sitting in place. At least you can get the idea of what I intend to do. There will be a canopy on top also, so the light and all the plumbing will just be sitting inside a black box. It will look a little like an in-wall installation. I hope to be able to work on it a little more and finish it soon. Sure would be nice to see something inside

Also got a moon light for it. Going to look pretty cool at night.

 

[reefman23]

I like the look, but is there a way to use one piece of wood with the opening sut out? I think this might look more finished.

That is a nice moonlight too...which one did you use?

Jesse

 

[Jennie]

Wow! Can't wait to see how your tank is going to look once you start to stock it!

Have you decided on which sand you are going to use?

 

[Anonymous]

I like the look, but is there a way to use one piece of wood with the opening sut out? I think this might look more finished.

That is a nice moonlight too...which one did you use?

Jesse

Well, it doesn't look finished, because the panels are just sitting in place. Once I get done with it, I don't think the seam will be very noticeable. I wanted nice crisp lines on the cut out and I think I will come out better this way. I don't believe I am going to stain it. Thinking satin black finish to match the inside of the tank. The only color will be what is placed inside.

I think the moonlight was an Orbit. I threw away the box.

 

[Anonymous]

Wow! Can't wait to see how your tank is going to look once you start to stock it!

Have you decided on which sand you are going to use?

Thanks Jennie. The new pictures weren't really worth posting, but it's the only progress I have made in the last couple of weeks. If I only didn't have to work - and then I have the big tank project going on. I am back to waiting on parts for that one.

I am still going with the black sand. Black seems to have evolved into the dominant background color. The only color will be the rock and corals - and a few small fish. I ordered a bag of the sand last week. I am going to have a remote aragonite sandbed, so I am not worried about using the non-buffering "moon sand".

 

[Anonymous]

very sweet! been watching your progress intently, i like the "naked look" too - the picture frame seems to make it look smaller......IMO

 

[skipm]

This project just amazes me every time I see an update on it. I can't wait to see it in action. I can relate to your comment about work getting in the way of important things like reefing and the never ending list of things that need to be done around the house.