Flip's 120g NBBB (1 Viewer)

[flipside]

Okay, I'm getting back into the hobby. I was only out for a little over half a year, but it felt a lot longer.

I'm trying to stick to a certain budget, and I plan on tracking everything I spend. As a matter of fact: HERE'S THE RUNNING TALLY <--Clicky

I'll keep that updated as I go. I know it may look like a lot to some of you (mainly new folks) but keep in mind I'm starting completely from scratch. Wait... that's a lie... I had a handheld TDS meter.

Just a little background... I'm in a new "lease" house that I plan on living in for only a year. Well... maybe two, because I'm pretty lazy and hate moving. After this, I plan on buying/building my own place nearby; but meanwhile, my landlady doesn't want a honkin' setup in here. So, no going through the walls, and no wiring in extra outlets. Compact, small footprint, nothing too crazy. I searched everywhere. Some of you guys, selling your tanks here and on CL, have awesome setups! They were either too much for my pocketbook right now, or there was something about it that didn't appeal to me. It was nothing personal. I just know what I can't live without.

You know... I've always loved the footprint of a 120g!

So, a 120g fit the bill. I got it from Midwinter, here on the site. I've never been much of a haggler, so I gave him whatever is on that Google spreadsheet. It's absolutely scratchless and RR, so that's all I cared about. He also broke down with a skimmer that almost killed his little puppy, a pail of dirt to build stinky sand castles, and some other stuff that is completely slipping my mind right now. He was very generous! Thanks Vincent (that's what they called him at his house, which I found odd).

I'm trying to think what else I bought from MARSHians... Oh, coolname1's ATI light, just in-case my cheapy sucks too much. I think that's all for now. Oh, I also renewed my membership here (I was a few months late this year, I believe) and I plan on getting back on Aquatic Log because I find that tool beneficial. OH YEAH!!! And, I can't forget my buddy Dennis/FJW offering up a tank for me to get started back in the game. You're aces, Dennis, but this tank I got will work out for now.

Any way... here comes a bunch of pictures with summaries of what I've done thus far... I don't have a fancy, schmancy camera. It's packed somewhere and I'll probably leave it there the whole time I live here.

Reef AWN!

 

[flipside]

Oh yeah! "NBBB" is my acronym for "New Beginnings Budget Build."

So, day one for me was on 08/01/2014. I ordered all of my RODI accessories from Ebay. Here it is all hooked up under my rented sink:

Don't make fun of that heavy duty garbage disposal. It takes care of bidnaz!

Here's the dual DI setup that I purchased separately.

I really needed the drinking water attachment. Water here is over 300 TDS. Not terrible, but what reefer isn't spoiled, due to their water knowledge?

That's really it. There was an issue with a missing valve, but I just picked one up at a hardware store, and notified the seller. He shipped me one quickly.

Here's my testing:

That staging area, and my son's cute arm.

Tap

RO (I believe it was around a 93% rejection rate, and climbing. Still breaking in).

Duh...

And for fun, my brand new, top of the line, Samsung Refrigerator's filter. HA! At least my ice don't taste like chlorine, I guess...

That's the water making doo-hickey. More coming!

 

[flipside]

Next up is my top of the line, bad to the bone, lighting! Well, I'm sure in some country it is.

Pardon the background mess, but I just don't care.

A box, in a box.

Sliders on the mounting legs.

Trying to show how they slide on.

Sliding thingy, with no leg on there to show what I mean.

Wound up stripping that screw, where the leg is off. Not a good start. I contacted the seller and he sent me 4 brand new legs.

Ballasts.

Picked up some hardware to Jerry-rig that leg on there.

Used a vice and clamped that slider in there. Then Dremmeled it out to recess a nut in there.

After shot. Please note the very thin wallet in the background.

Blue Moon.

T5's

Flipped the switches!

BLING!

And that's how it's been sitting for a few days.

The light took "one" day to get to me. The FleaBayer is out of Stafford, TX. Whoever you are, thanks brah!

 

[flipside]

On the 9th, I got another order in. It's starting to get nit-picky now. Still keeping my budget in mind, but I also know that some things are worth the extra money. Like a Mag Float vs. an Algae Free. No brainer to me. NO offense!

Anywaz:

We all know what that stuff is.

 

[flipside]

Also, grabbed this thing up, as mentioned, on the same day. Thanks Huy! Great seeing you and your family again!

Yes, I stole his pictures.

 

[Diesel]

............

 

[flipside]

Yesterday, I got another order in. This one from Premium Aquatics because they were "pennies" cheaper than the competition.

Professionals.

Another box in a box.

Oh! And here's them four legs dude sent me:

That's it so far. I have more shipments (hardware) coming in slowly, some of it you can see on the spreadsheet. Well, what I've updated. I also have a metal stand that should have been delivered tonight, but my welder had to go to the ER. Apparently he got some metal in his eyes

. OUCH!

 

[flipside]

There you are..............

Good start Leo.
Looking forward to what direction you go but as always I have a slide idea but than again I'm all too!
Sand....... reef floor........... bottom............substrate........... I have a trashcan full of that Ocean gold.
It's a mix of Caribbean Sea floor and Tropic Eden Reef flakes.............. come pick it up please!!

Can I expect this time around another Roll......... too?

Glad to see you back at it again.

Thank ya' sir!! Yeah, this one's been fun because it's been pretty cheap (well, all things considered).

No, I'm probably going bare bottom on this tank. I got my best success with no substrate, in the past. There are trade-offs, but I can always add some later. I appreciate the offer though! You're a d@mn good guy for offering that, as a matter of fact! You can probably get a pretty penny for that awesome sand (we all know what it costs new)!

I don't think I'll do that "roll" again. That site is awesome, but my fingers are getting tired. I am still a moderator on a pretty slow site, that I'm putting more detail into. Our site over there has really died down a lot since I was last there. Ah well... there's a lot of reefing sites out there these days.

With this tank, I do plan on doing some microscopy, though. Something that I'm starting to get into thanks to a buddy in Dallas. It's crazy what you see under the old scope! But... I'm digressing...

I should be getting more stuff tomorrow. Hopefully, one being my stand! See ya!

 

[Diesel]

............

 

[d2mini]

Woot! MH/T5! Obviously an experienced reefer that knows what he's doing.
Welcome back, Leo!

 

[BigRick]

Still counting who has more build between felix and Leo..... I think Leo is winning right now. Unless we count all the tanks Felix takes care of LOL....

Great Job Leo, let me know if you need anything bro..... I had that exact sump in the box..... with matching skimmer..... U talkin pennies lol.

 

[inigomontoya]

It's weird, when I tried to view the spreadsheet it asked me a security question before I could view it, "Is this Leo's wife?", strange...
Congrat's and welcome back. Looks like a good start- seriously that ss could be cool for newb's wondering how much it costs to get into the hobby. Could get some of us in trouble though.
Ben would have to increase the size of the cells to fit in the zeros for "rare corals"

 

[Lord Spice]

Welcome back! Who built your metal stand if you don't mind me asking?

 

[RR-MAN]

Okay, I'm getting back into the hobby. I was only out for a little over half a year, but it felt a lot longer.

Are you sure man. I thought it was yesterday.

The tank has excellent footprint. You can do enough fish and corals to enjoy. I regret selling my previous 120...now the obsession does not stop. Tank is getting bigger and bigger.

 

[flipside]

So, I've been working on cleaning up and painting the stand. It's not the greatest, but it serves the purpose. I actually sold off all my welding gear a long time ago, and wish I could have just done this myself, but I digress...

My main goal was to get all the strength any wooden stand would give me, but with minimal obstructions (aka MORE SPACE) when doing maintenance and what-not... not that I ever do maintenance...
This cost $400, but I gave him $75 to deliver it.

Here's a shot that Clifton (welder) sent to me from his yard. His yard frightens me.
Meh... but who cares. Good kid, decent job, sturdy as all get out.

Here it is in my little garage.

I may change those leveling feet out later... I'm not sure yet. We'll see how they hold up.

You can't really see it, but I sprayed it down with some green stuff that's supposed-to degrease, or something...

When given the chance to use my power tools! ::grunt::

After I was done pressure washing it.

Here's the paint I used.

First coat.

That's all the stand work I did tonight. I sure do hope it's strong enough. It's 1" square tubing, before you all ask. LOL!

More coming...

 

[flipside]

I also got some acrylic stuff in today.

Ugh...

Not too shabby for the price.

That's all that went down today.

 

[flipside]

It's weird, when I tried to view the spreadsheet it asked me a security question before I could view it, "Is this Leo's wife?", strange...
Congrat's and welcome back. Looks like a good start- seriously that ss could be cool for newb's wondering how much it costs to get into the hobby. Could get some of us in trouble though.
Ben would have to increase the size of the cells to fit in the zeros for "rare corals"

Thanks man! Great to be back.

Welcome back! Who built your metal stand if you don't mind me asking?

EDIT*** PM'd you his number. My stand is not perfectly square, and that kinda' makes things difficult. If anyone's interested, hit me up backchannel.

Are you sure man. I thought it was yesterday.

The tank has excellent footprint. You can do enough fish and corals to enjoy. I regret selling my previous 120...now the obsession does not stop. Tank is getting bigger and bigger.

Thanks man! Yeah, I read about your newer setup! Wow man! Congrats! I was actually going to go after that sweet Elos light you had, but I was too late (like always). I really gotta get out there and see your setup one of these days.

 

[flipside]

Still counting who has more build between felix and Leo..... I think Leo is winning right now. Unless we count all the tanks Felix takes care of LOL....

Great Job Leo, let me know if you need anything bro..... I had that exact sump in the box..... with matching skimmer..... U talkin pennies lol.

LOL! Well, Felix is better at this than I am, and that's all that counts in the end.

Yes... this is a "pennies on the dollar" build for sure, brutha! When I get my house, I'll get a bit more permanent about things. I really like how lesd set everything up.

I tried that multiquote function to reply to everyone but A) I suck at these forum tools, obviously and B) much post count.

 

[flipside]

Woot! MH/T5! Obviously an experienced reefer that knows what he's doing.
Welcome back, Leo!

I don't know about all that, but thanks bro! Glad to be back!

 

[RR-MAN]

Thanks man! Yeah, I read about your newer setup! Wow man! Congrats! I was actually going to go after that sweet Elos light you had, but I was too late (like always). I really gotta get out there and see your setup one of these days.

Always ask still have the elos light fixture and for you I would've discounted it. the only way to close a thread is to mark it sold. You know me I love MH and always have few fixtures.

You are welcome to stop by anytime.