320 litre diy balcony build

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stefanm
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320 litre diy balcony build

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Ok, my build has been going on for a year, still more to due, I'll post what's done and the things to do, then the pics etc. still a fair bit to complete, fingers crossed I'll be up and running by June.

The background, I emigrated from England around 9 years ago, I did have a 16,000 litres Koi pond which I built and fibreglassed myself, I had kept the water to a very high level, I actually made a profit on the livestock when I sold up, I actually broke even with all the equipment and livestock.

So why marine, firstly I don't have the space to build a koi pond and secondly I've not seen any koi of the quality that I was buying via Japan from the top breeders. Thirdly growing up I was intrigued by a lfs that had a couple of marine tanks in the eighties, so this has become a father and daughter project, she wanted a dog, honestly I don't have the time or patience for a dog, plus the house ends up stinking.

So Christmas eve 2015 I bring the tank home, the Mrs is livid, she's finding it way to big for the house, so anyway I build the sump and test the system with a sunsun jtp5800 pump. One night after a few extra beers, I get the tape measure out and quickly figure it'll fit perfectly on the balcony, plus being on the ground floor I can install the sump in the garden. The decision was made, chapter two to follow....
stefanm
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Re: 320 litre diy balcony build

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Chapter two,

I already had a steel stand made, I then installed a bean animal drain system, made a housing for the sump, all working great, I order the LED's for the lighting, then the liquor ban hits my catering business, so everything on hold.

So after struggling for 9 months things are catching up, I've got my lights running with a diy version of the coralux storm x controller, I have also made diy rocks and finished my scape, right now running well water, I will be running NSW (natural sea water) probably soon. I also knocked up a cover for the tank to keep predators out and fish in, we get plenty of birds, cats, mongoose and snakes etc.

So what's left, I need a battery backup, heater, for the chiller I'll be fitting a second hand window A.C. I'll be using kapelan's controller for heating, chilling, PH monitoring and dosing, I have the controller working, just need to install the probes etc. Other things I'm pretty much going to run an ATS, need to get a wavemaker, I'm also going to add another 100 litres to the sump, I'll be making some filter socks, not sure if I'll use them long term though, I've got a skimmer bubble magus c6, intending to run it part time only, I got it second hand from the U.K. Had a friend carry it. Also got to sort the electrics out, make a cover for the sump and clad the stand, sump lighting and a quarantine set up, the list seems endless lol...
The lights
https://youtu.be/QXnFikclHPw
stefanm
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Re: 320 litre diy balcony build

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More to follow, need to reduce the picture sizes.
stefanm
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Re: 320 litre diy balcony build

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Pics coming up, so far a year in the making......
first test.jpg
coast to coast.jpg
disp sump stand 1.jpg
disp sump stand 1.jpg
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stefanm
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Re: 320 litre diy balcony build

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More......
IMG_20170302_160126-1040x780.jpg
IMG_20170302_160126-1040x780.jpg
IMG_20170302_160444-780x1040.jpg
IMG_20170302_160457-1040x780.jpg
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stefanm
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Re: 320 litre diy balcony build

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And some more...
IMG_20171206_192035-1040x780-676x507.jpg
IMG_20171206_192035-1040x780-676x507.jpg
IMG_20171127_214910-800x600-780x585.jpg
2017-11-04-20-10-41-1024x768.jpg
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stefanm
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Re: 320 litre diy balcony build

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The last for now...
IMG_20171120_000526-800x600.jpg
IMG_20171205_192737-1040x780.jpg
IMG_20171109_164212-1040x780.jpg

Not in any particular order, I did try though, lol
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aquascapist
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Re: 320 litre diy balcony build

Unread post by aquascapist »

nice diy build. i like the liverock placement as well. waiting to see the final tank:)
Warm Regards,
Aditya
stefanm
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Re: 320 litre diy balcony build

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Thanks, currently working on installing the lights, 50 more wires to solder, hopefully within the next few days, lot of work and not much time...
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sushant
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Re: 320 litre diy balcony build

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Great build, liking forward to see this project completed and stocked.

Would love to know more about the Less.

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Sushant
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