Matt`s Tank Build, Year 2.... and counting

I have some plywood that I'm painting black to throw on the back of it, had to make it removable so that I can see into it from the fish room. Just letting the paint air out before I bring it in.

 

It's starting to look like the real thing, got some rock in there now and time to let it get started.

 


The water has cleared up nicely.  I'm having some problems with microbubbles, I think I didn't leave enough room between bbaffles in the bubble traps in my sump, the panels are an inch apart and the flow looks like it is just to fast for the microbubbles to rise to the top.  Any ideas on that or is my thinking off and they come from somewhere else?

 

I plan on keeping softies and lps eventually.  I'm not running a skimmer yet, the live rock that I just put in came right out of another tank and I don't want to starve it off.  I have a red sea berlin turbo XL skimmer hooked up for now, just not letting any air into it yet.  I haven't seen any cycle start yet, ammonia is at .25 and everything else at 0 so I will give it some time and see if they calm down.  How do tanks normally empty into sumps anyway?  I have mine coming in at a 70 degree angle with half the return submerged and half above the water line so that the air doesn't gurgle up big bubbles, but it seems to be making a lot of bubles and some surface foam and I think that's where I'm getting the bubbles from.   Here is a picture of the water coming into the sump and you can see what I mean.  Any suggestions or comments much appreciated.

 

Thanks for the input, I'll construct a reverse durso this weekend. The micro bubbles have tapered off as the tank cycles and the only source now seems to be from dumping into the sump, the reverse durso should fix it. The piece of rock on the right is about a 25 lb piece my wife brought back on a plane fifteen years ago, she's happy to see it in a tank again.

I'm trying to decide between getting a couple of powerheads and a wavemaker or constructing a surge device out of a ten gallon tank to change up the flow a little bit. Has anyone built one with success or is the safer bet to go with the electric wavemaker?

 

Here's an update and some new pics, full tank shot first

, but they are coming up with water changes with RC and B-Ionic.  My hats off to Drs F&S by they way for sending the right stuff without hassle quickly after their mistake.
I did find this guy in my tank and have no idea how he came in, must have been in the live rock, anyway, he made a dinner out of one of my astrea snails and moved into his home which earned him a permanent place in my refugium, but he is the prettiest small hermit crab that I have seen so far.

Thanks for looking and all of the great input!

 

OK, so it's been awhile..... time to continue my quest to own the slowest build thread on this board, we all have our goals in life.  Here is the most recent full tank shot October 5th after installing my 8 bulb TEK t5's and another 120lbs of rock. 

As you can see, my tank has now passed up the abilities of my camera.
I would like to say thanks to everyone who has helped me and those who have sold to me.  This club is definately the difference between success and failure in the hobby.  The advice has been invaluable.