Okay, its been such a busy time, and i've honestly been slack in updating this journal... So, I might as well get stuck in on the updates :) The tank is now in and running!
As with most things, there were some hiccups. Luckily nothing huge.
1. The 5 foot tank I was planning to use as a sump got cracked by my son while we were scraping the old backing paint off. An urgent message later, and my fantastic tank builder was starting a new sump within the hour :) Plans were changed to a 4 x 2 sump, with basic compartments, including a media area to be filled with marine pure balls. I originally had planned to have the sump, ATO tank and chiller in the stand, however now plans have changed to plumb the chiller outside, so really could have gone with a 6 foot sump, which is now on the shopping list before the end of the year! aaarrrggghhhhh!
2. The tank was delivered a week late, as the truck bought just to fit it on, hadn't finished being fitted out, but it gave me an extra week to finish the stand :)
3. Change of lighting. I had been using a Maxspect R420R over the old 4 foot tank, and honestly I hummed and ha-ed continually over whether I wanted to fork out more than a grand on the new unit, then add supplimentary T5s down the length as I knew the R420R, just wouldnt be able to cut it with the width of the tank. Luckily i was able to snare a great deal on a 5 foot T5 ATi unit, which i planned to use with supplimental LEDs on either end.
4. I was offered a great deal from someone who wanted to buy the R420R, so jumped at it, unfortunately though... The timing of the tank being delayed, also resulted in my new LEDs also being delayed, and my 4 foot tank was left without a light for 4 days, and I lost my beautiful clam and some other really nice pieces of coral.
5. The fantastic ATi unit, was accidentally dunked in the old owners tank as they took it down! I ended up still purchasing the unit, even if I would just use it for parts, as the 4 brand new fans, and new tubes were still a bargain, but I will need to put new ballasts into the light. Plus some parts are still missing, but hopefully i should have them in the next 2 weeks to start working on it. However, I dont think im going to end up using the unit, so will probably fix it up, then either use it over a future frag tank?
6. During all of this happening, my ex turned back up on the scene (now gone again), and my father who was diagnosed with untreatable cancer in December suffered a huge stroke, and is now in Pallative care and i have been doing a lot of travelling to see him, so the tank has taken a bit of a backseat in setting up, and aquascaping etc.
But whats a new tank without issues right? So lets get some pictures happening!
Okay, this is the "bar" side of the stand as we were adding the tongue in grove, we insulated between the two panels to reduce noise in the living area.
My son Jim is my greatest helper!
![IMG_2179[1].JPG](/data/attachments/41/41145-60658bdfd54dc110650112c5c1d7e403.jpg)
