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

[dgasmd]

Louey:

Great progress. Good work on the electrical stuff. HOwever, the moment I saw the first picture of the outlet's locations I thought the same thing that gschiemer said. One thing I did in my current set up different from the previous one was to isolate the electrical stuff from the water. I seriously hope it does not cause you any problems, but I can guarantee you will live to regreat it. Maybe putting some sort of cover over it will help.

Also, will choice of pumps (iwaki 100) are pretty good for raw power, reliability, and pressure situations, but they will prove to be a huge heat addition to your water. I live in FL too and my 2 iwaki 100 put in more heat into the water than the 5 sequence barracudas I have together. That means more chiller time and more electricity, and less money for something else I am personally getting rid of them for that reason alone.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks dgasmd.

I thought the Iwaki's had a reputation of not really heating the water much.

Oh well, it's too late now.

Same for the electric. The outlets under my 5 year old 75G tank still are not corroded at all. Why you all insist that this time they are going to fall apart immediately baffles me. But none the less, if ya'll are right you can say I told you so when I redo them in plastic. I'll be sure and start a thread about it.

Louey

 

[dgasmd]

It is not corrosion what I would be concerned with, but rather the electrical dangers associated with water falling on electrical devices and connections. Electrocution and fires come to mind

 

[Anonymous]

You guys are some sloppy assed reefers. I can assure you that I wan't be spilling any water on these receptacles.

And even if the outlets were in PVC boxes and installed in PVC, they still wouldn't be safe from water spills unless you used "weather-proof while in use" covers. No one has suggested that..........yet.

Louey

 

[GSchiemer]

You guys are some sloppy assed reefers. I can assure you that I wan't be spilling any water on these receptacles.

And even if the outlets were in PVC boxes and installed in PVC, they still wouldn't be safe from water spills unless you used "weather-proof while in use" covers. No one has suggested that..........yet.

Louey

Actually I did suggest water resistant receptacles a while back. Normally they wouldn't be necessary but your outlets are directly in the path of typical spills. If that were my setup, I'd have shorted those outlets and probably electrocuted myself 100 times over by now.

Greg

 

[Anonymous]

Greg Schiemer wrote:

Actually I did suggest water resistant receptacles a while back.

Yes, you did. You didn't go so far as to say "weather proof while in use" covers for the receptacles, but you did say water resistant.

Most people think that a standard weather proof outlet is water resistant, but they are not if a receptacle is plugged in.

For the people who don't know the difference, here's a picture of each type of cover:

 

[Anonymous]

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

I use them outside, where my sprinkler timer is plugged in. It's outside and subjected to heavy thunderstorms all the time. My well pump is also plugged into one. My outdoor pond is also plugged into one.

These type covers are not needed in my aquarium stand.

Do I need to post pictures of the outlets that have been operational underneath my 75 for 5 years to prove my point?

Louey

 

[GSchiemer]

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.

 

[dgasmd]

You guys are some sloppy assed reefers. I can assure you that I wan't be spilling any water on these receptacles.
Louey

You are very welcomed. It is always nice to see the rare one these days that can stand out in the crowd for being able to appreciate constructive criticism.

I am also impressed to know you are above and beyond the rest of us humans that have spilled water, have had a hose with running water slip off your hands, had a container spill that you put behind your feet and did not see when you moved, have had plumbing leaks, etc.

Best of luck to you, but then again, you don't need it :wink: :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

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.

Uhhhh

I have one of those extension cord strip things laying next to my display, I think it has 6 outlets, then there is one under my display laying next to my sump, I think that has 6 and then there is one directly under the hole in the bottom of my cabinent and the hole in the floor under the display and I think that has 1

that would be 13 unprotected outlets wouldn't it

Do I qualify???


Yeah!!!! I qualified for something!


I really ought to get around to running a GFI outlet for all that shouldn't I?

 

[Anonymous]

I think, and correct me if I am wrong, that if your outlets are GFCI protected, your are protected from electrocution of you have a spill, a short, or whatever.

If the above statement is true, then all we are really discussing here is whether or not I will someday have to redo the electrical work or not. That horse is beat to death now. And I am not redoing it now in fear that I may have to redo it later. That wouldn't make sense to me.

 

[Anonymous]

Greg Scheimer wrote:

Louey wrote:
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'll take it that you don't use "in-use" covers either.

All of my outlets are GFCI protected.

Louey

 

[Anonymous]

dgasmd wrote:

Louey wrote:
You guys are some sloppy assed reefers. I can assure you that I wan't be spilling any water on these receptacles.
Louey


You are very welcomed. It is always nice to see the rare one these days that can stand out in the crowd for being able to appreciate constructive criticism.

I am also impressed to know you are above and beyond the rest of us humans that have spilled water, have had a hose with running water slip off your hands, had a container spill that you put behind your feet and did not see when you moved, have had plumbing leaks, etc.

Best of luck to you, but then again, you don't need it

I should have added a few more :wink: 's and a :lol: or two. I don't mean to come off as not being able to take criticism.

I just think it's funny that I have 5 years experience as a reefer and I am a licensed master electrician with 18 years in that field and the thing that everyone wants to pick on about my new setup is the electrical. I have a pretty good idea what's going to be going on under my tank.

I have already conceded that PVC would have been a better installation. But anything shy of using in-use covers would not change anything about my setup in regards to safety. Actually, in-use covers wouldn't add any more safety either, they would just stop an outlet from getting wet, thus preventing the GFCI from tripping.

Let me retinterate that all of my outlets are GFCI protected.

Let me alse reinterate that I will redo the electrical later if it becomes problematic.

:wink: :wink: :wink:

Louey

 

[Anonymous]

:wink: You do know Louey that the only thing 3 reefers will agree on is that a 4th guy is doing it wrong, but for 3 different reasons :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

Lwadawg wrote:

:wink: You do know Louey that the only thing 3 reefers will agree on is that a 4th guy is doing it wrong, but for 3 different reasons :lol:

Tru dat. :lol:

Louey

 

[Anonymous]

I may redo the outlets that the ballast plug into anyways 8O . The appliance timers are not as easily accessible as I had thought they would be. And of all the outlets, these are most likely to come into contact with a spill.

As a show of good faith and sportsmanship, I shall redo them with PVC boxes and PVC conduit. 8) . I think I'll finish building everything else first.

Louey

 

[Anonymous]

Less arguments

so Louey can get some more work done

so he can show us pics


we want water


we want water


Actually I want to see a pic of you swimming in that tank during the testing phase, its big enough isin't it?

 

[Anonymous]

Knucklehead wrote:

Actually I want to see a pic of you swimming in that tank during the testing phase, its big enough isin't it?

I would easily fit in there. The eurobracing would be in the way, but I think I could do it.

Less arguments

so Louey can get some more work done

We're not arguing. We're just having "spirited" discussions. :wink:

Louey

 

[GSchiemer]

I have one of those extension cord strip things laying next to my display, I think it has 6 outlets, then there is one under my display laying next to my sump, I think that has 6 and then there is one directly under the hole in the bottom of my cabinent and the hole in the floor under the display and I think that has 1

that would be 13 unprotected outlets wouldn't it

Well that explains how you got the name "knucklehead."

I hope your life insurance is paid in full. Can I be your beneficiary?

 

[Anonymous]

I plumbed the overflows today.

Here a pic showing the left side overflow with the overflow cover removed.

I like removable overflow covers.

Those four penductors are fed from one of the Iwaki 100's.

I did not glue the fittings that the penductors are installed in so that I could rotate them or change the conduit out for a different lenght of conduit. I'm not sure how to get the best flow pattern with the penductors coupled with the Tunze 6200. I'll play around with it I am sure.

Louey