My 300G Built-in Reef - UPDATE - Tear down thread

[GSchiemer]

You NEVER reduce the intake of a pump to cut back on the flow. You can severely damage the pump. You ALWAYS restrict flow on the output side of a pump. I guess plumbing isn't your strong suit either.

 

[Anonymous]

Greg Schiemer wrote:

I guess plumbing isn't your strong suit either

Plumbing is definitely not my strong suit. I hate plumbing to be honest with you.

Louey

 

[Anonymous]

You NEVER reduce the intake of a pump to cut back on the flow. You can severely damage the pump. You ALWAYS restrict flow on the output side of a pump. I guess plumbing isn't your strong suit either.

What he said. Low pressure and restriction = cavitation.

 

[Anonymous]

My single Iwaki seems to rattle a little bit now. I did not notice that noise when I had both pumps hooked up.

I wonder what caused that?

Or is it that when both pumps were running the noise of the air cooling drown out the rattling noise.

The rattling is coming from the intake area.

Hmmm?

Louey

 

[Anonymous]

Hey Galleon, in about a month I'll be ready for you to send me one of your special 9 for $99 frag packs :lol:

[ass kissing mode on]I still have a CD for you in my glove compartment.[/ass kissing mode off]

Louey

 

[Anonymous]

Yesterday I also hooked up my new 130G water storage container that will store RO/DI water for water changes. The tank has a 16 threaded lid and also a 4" threaded lid that is vented. I like it.

I installed a Kent float valve that is the bulkhead type of fitting.

You can see the fittings at the bottom where I will connect my pump (same pump that I use to drain the sump) and pump water to the sump through the underground lines I put in.

You can also see the other RO line that also goes underground and connects to my 32G brute Kalk reactor.

Louey

 

[Anonymous]

Well, since I have nothing better to do on a Sunday afternoon, and since some of you are constantly begging for more pictures , here's a picture of my new RO and my old RO.

Louey

 

[WRASSER]

At least you are doing it right :wink: , It really looks geat the way it is coming along. Keep up the good work :!:

 

[flanders]

this looks fantastic so far.. i dream of a project like this in the next 4-8 years

where are the pictures of you in the tank?????

 

[Rinaldo Fontenele]

Congratulations!!!!!

Very bealtifull......

 

[Anonymous]

Great. That kent float valve didn't shut off last night when the tank filled. So I had my second mess. This one was alot worse that the first one. Had to break ut the shop vac this time.

Fixed the valve. It wasn't snapped into place properly.

I added an overflow hose to the mop sink to prevent this type thing from ever happening. I had done that to my 33G brute can and it never overflowed once in the years that I have had it. That's why adding the overflow hose wasn't that high on my to-do list. :lol: Opps. Friggin Murphy will get you every time.

Thanks for the kind words everyone.

Louey

 

[garagebrian]

Id' like a show of hands as to how many people actually use the "weatherproof while in use" type covers?

I'd like a show of hands of those people that have a dozen unprotected outlets attached to the side of their marine aquarium stand and the top of their sump.

I don't want to take your thread too far off topic, but it does amaze me the number of people that do this that are AWARE of what electricity can do around water. There is one less person to hold up his hand for this because a local reefer I know in Houston get a free 75 gallon reef tank setup when his neighbor died from electrocution...guess what...no GFCI.

$25 or less and one hour to make your line GFCI and if you are afraid of electrical stuff you can pay someone I think around $100. Best money I spent on my reef tank setup.

Btw...Louey I've been lurking, LOVE the setup, makes my 75 gallon look like a fishbowl. MORE PICTURES

B.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks garbagebrain. Shame about the guy in Houston. There are probably 1000's that are just plain lucky that they haven't been killed by circuits without GFCI protection.

Here's some more pics. Had the carpenter over yesterday to re-frame the wall, hang drywall, and do trim moldings/casings. He made real good progress for one day.

That fluted molding standing up beside the tank is what we are going to use around the tank. The square piece at the top will go on the four corners.

We still haven't quite figured out exactly what we are going to do to get a hinged door above the tank that looks good. I just have to have access from the front on a tank this size. Otherwise, I might end up hating it. Any suggestions on how to do the door?

Louey

 

[WRASSER]

Hey louey, Are you going to stain that trim?

 

[Anonymous]

I was thinking I would just paint it white to match the rest of the trim in the house.

Louey

 

[WRASSER]

Maybe paint it the color of the rocker, it will really bring out the tank and the rest of the room :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

Anybody got an idea why my Ikawi 100 is crushing the pipe that feeds it?

It's like it's trying to draw in more water than the vinyl pipe will allow.

The pump has a 1" inlet. I used 1" ID vinyl hose and 1" fittings.

Any sugguestions?

What's funny is the feed pipe is only being crushed on one side of the ball valve. The pipe between the sump and the ball valve is fine.

Louey

 

[WRASSER]

maybe there is a restriction at the ball vavle :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

The ball valve is open. There shouldn't be any restriction there.

I wonder if this vinyl tube is just too flemsy for the job. Maybe I should change it to schedule 40 flexible conduit. That would be much more rigid.

 

[GSchiemer]

The pump is not getting enough flow. Generally it's best to oversize the intake of pumps. I'd suggest plumbing the intake with rigid 1 1/2" PVC and use a bushing at the intake to convert it to 1".