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Thanks for this Olivier- I'm gonna need it on my tank too . . . time to go look for some black acrylic . . . and netting!

and the start of the thorite/sand mix. I made a slurry which I glopped (is that a word?) on the pipes, then added sand in chunks then more thorite. In past experiences, the sand will wash away exposing a hole where it once was. I continued to do so until I got the rough shape of what I wanted...

so while I was watching NCIS yesterday, I got pretty bored so I looked at my box of PVC and decided to somehow create an island using some scrap and leftover PVC pipes. I had a few odds and ends and so I decided to try something a little different. In the past, I have used crushed oyster shell...

Here are some pics with the better camera- Eh, no more need for the olympus- let me just sit it down on the edge here while I . . . . ooooops...... Just kiddin..... the camera's waterproof ;D

that's it for now. I have to wait for the tank to fill up with RO/DI booooooooooooooooooo!!!!!! This build deserves a little break, so I'm gonna stare at the white white sand for now. Something new to me, sand. LOL (Go bare-bottoms!) Next update should hopefully have...

and then I said: LET THERE BE LIGHT!!! then nothing happened.... ;D ;D ;D I hit the wrong switch on the panel ;D ;D ;D one more time: LET THERE BE LIGHT then I proceeded to drain the tank so I could work on more...

oooooooh..... almost there!!!!!!! closeup of the plumbing maze that makes the returns and sump feed.

thanks guys (blush) few pics from yesterday- no pics today, finally filling it up with the real deal (RO/DI water)- ughhhhh........ it' taking soooooooooooooo looooooooooooonggggggg!!!!!!! (I don't have my brute cans with me) the light fixture hanging from the pipes: some...

more pics/updates tomorrow, gotta go sleeeeeep :D

next tackle of the day were the lights I placed a piece of styrofoam to prevent metal from going in the tank and also just in case I drop my drill while drilling the conduit, see below: "I may" drop it because I have the drill on my right hand, and the camera on the left!

also cut out the refugium cover to eliminate salt spray and reduce noise. (yes I cracked the right one!)

I'm foregoing the filter socks for now, I can always add it down the road in the area under the fuge overflow- so here's the sump being water tested 2 days ago- I cleaned it out last night and worked on it all day today. I got pretty much almost all of the major components of the tank done...

yes they will- depending on how deep your mud is, they will eventually hold themselves up and you can remove its styrofoam training wheels

It's an Eshopps skimmer- PSK100 I think- got it at the group buy earlier this month I can give pointers :D

my old one will be looking for a home soon.... what's your address again? LOL

thanks! Prior to 4 weeks ago, no experience whatsoever. Trial and error and an overactive brain and lack of custom sump builders that will fit my needs spurred that! Some folks here recommended me some tools and gave some ideas that helped me along the way- I'm willing to pass that along...

That sump is Sexay!

and here's the sump at 99.99% done. I threw in the skimmer in there to see how much space I had left for future upgrades or for ease of maintenance. Now I just need to wet-test, make a stockman standpipe to go in the fuge bulkhead, maybe find a way to install a filter...

I couldn't help myself so I peeled off all the remaining plastic protective film. I guess this means the sump is 99.98% done! here are 2 areas of the sump that the router did me dirty! basically, after all said and done, I need a new bit! The ball bearing quide got clogged up with...

thanks mike, lol. artisan? maybe. still have more skills to obtain and that's done through practice! and it keeps the ugly dirty looking macro algae growing area out of sight (except the side windows) bubble box installation: the mess pictured here is the for the installation...