My 120 built in with updates

[Rob Top]

To me its worth it though

It's all in your perspective. And $100 is a drop in most cases when you look at all that is spent on the system. BTW I wish I had $100 electric bills on average it's closer to $200

 

[trido]

Ya, the "other" web site has an electrical calculator that put me at about $80-$90 bucks a month for my 120. After I get the 90G up and running I'll be setting at about $200 a month for the tanks on top of the norm. Add that to about 7000 x-mas lights, a few inches of snow and Im sure my wife will be freaking out come january when my work is at its slowest. Considering the long run. It is just a drop in the bucket. Its a small price to pay for the ability to slowly seed a tropical reef into the puget sound after global warming takes it effect and kills the rest. Well maybe oregon coast then? :wink:

 

[Rob Top]

That calculater is off, or com ed is cheaper here. My total bill averages $180. I have 8 iwaki pumps, 4 mags, a dozen powerheads, enough heaters to keep 500 gallons warm, 2-400w MH and a 250mh, plus a bunch of pc's. I'll see if I can find the equation my accountant gave me for my taxes. That might give a differant reading. Before we go that far though how much is a killawatt? I'm paying .08275. Have no idea if that is cheap or not.

 

[trido]

IMO that is cheap. Where I will be living in Seattle area the electric is actually one cent higher than the calculator at 13 cents a kwh. I sure hope that calculater is wrong because I hope to put a mag 18 in the front yard for the koi pond.

 

[trido]

Just thought Id post a few pic from the latest trip north. Six more weeks until I move in and begin the plumbing. It should go quite fast as Ive had nine months to create the blueprints in my head.

 

[trido]

Doesnt everyone have a sink next to the tank for testing?

 

[FragMaster]

OMG that is the worst craftsmanship I have ever seen in my life.
You sholuld be ashamed!



NOT!!!

EXCELLENT PROGRESS MY FRIEND!!!
Looks realy realy nice!!!
[/b]

 

[trido]

ROFL.... haven't had a chance for the finish carpentry yet.
I textured the walls at 10:00 am and was almost finished painting at 6:00PM. I was Installing cabinets and countertops the next day.
I would recomend hiring a real contractor to anyone who wants to remodel a house 900 miles from home.

 

[FragMaster]

HAHAHA!!!!
Coming along nicely never the less my young padewan!
BTW check your Pms dork! :lol: :lol:

 

[trido]

So. Im back in Seattle again and actually had time to complete the plumbing. It took about 6 hours. Seems to work just fine.
One question. Where do I drill the holes in the sump returns and how without them turning into a venturi?
I will post pics wedsneday.

 

[Anonymous]

Drill the holes even with the bottom of the slots in the overflow. This way they will be under water when the tank is running. If those are megaflows drill them even with the top of the inner part of the overflow.

 

[LA-Lawman]

looking good.

Can u get a close-up pick of wood work to the front of your tank. I need to finish my project up and am looking for ideas...

what did you decide for lighting and have you made a skimmer purchase yet?

good job! i want a tank room also....

 

[trido]

Only a short 13 1/2 hour drive and I,m back in California.
Other than a very noisy closed loop pump. Im ready for live rock and sand. I also still have to attach my VHO retro fit kit to something and plug it in. Here is a good before and after pic of the laundry/tank room. there is still plenty of painting to do to finish. There are rosettes on the bottom corners that need painted to highlight them.

 

[trido]

I could post pics all day if your interested. Just let me know. Here are a few of the plumbing. I am tempted to raise the skimmer (ASM G-3) up a foot and plumb the collection cup directly into the house as well. I will then never have to empty a collection cup on that tank anyway. My direct drain into the house works but unless i redesign my sump it seems to only be good for about a quick ten gallon water change. Im sure i can do something to get that to 20 as I had hoped.
The closed loop has an ocean motion super squirt. I want to run about 2500 GPh through it to get a 30x turnover. Unfortunately I bought a mag2400 for that job and it is way too noisy. If i cant quiet it down I will be forced to throw it in my future koi pond in the front yard. Any one know of a good quiet pump rated at 2400GPH at 2' of head? Also as you can see in the pic i have four jets up topside.I am going to change it to six. Also, I have two spray bars that wrap around the mega flows. Seems to work well. I may have to drill a couple smaller holes facing the sand bed later. We'll see.
As for lighting. Half of it is in use above my 30 right now. It will have to wait until i move on the 28th of this month. I have two PFO 250 pendants and two 110 VHO's. That will be a quick hanging. Maybe

 

[Anonymous]

Nice. You are further along than I am. I managed to order my tank and that's it.

 

[Anonymous]

Nice work!

I run my skimmer plugged into a float switch with the float in the external waste container DIY'd to the skimmer cup. That way if the skimmer goes wonky, it can only 'drain' about 5 gallons or so. If you plumb the collection cup right to the sink...

 

[trido]

If you plumb the collection cup right to the sink...

Thank god you said that... I did FW for 18 years. I'd hate to involuntarily have one of those again. If it happened do you think i could just throw some ciclids in right away? :lol:

Maybe i'll just stick to the original plan of a three or five gallon semi sealed container and dump it once a week. Some times fully automated isnt the best way to go. It promotes carelessness. The float switch/valve idea is a great one! Thanks again.

 

[spaulr]

The tank setup and the house look great. It's pretty cool to see all your hard work paying off. Can't wait to see that baby up and running!!! How'd you manage to keep all that PVC primer from going everywhere? My pipes look like Barney the dinosaur .

 

[torombolo]

Looking good trido88,
can you give me some info on your closed loop system, where did you get all the components, etc. would a Maxijet 900 work for that?
Sorry newbie here with a 90 gallon in process.

 

[trido]

Just thought I'd give an update on my latest set up aquistion. Two pieces of LR. My original budget for the tank was $250. Then reality set in and it went up to 350 just to get started. Of course after over 18 yaears in the hobby(FW)I tend to frequent the LFS just because............and after discussing the randomness of ordering on line with Righty. I had to talk with the wife about spending right the first time, and not saying "I only wish I had". I decided to by the rock I was eyeing. A 40 pounder I called castle rock (all these years and never even named a fish, let alone a rock). BTW the LFS has some of the cheapest LR in the east bay of S.F. area. It still hurts. About $400.00.. for 55lbs. of tonga select. After tax of course.