Tank Build
10/03/2011
Well you guys wanted pics. While I will not have my tank until next week, I did get started on the sump today. All cleaned out and up on platform. Water in it now just testing (was sitting for about 1.5 yrs in basement).
If you see the window on the right, that is actually where the plumbing will go through into the DT. The pump will be about 8 foot of total head on it +/- a foot. There is another platform behind the sump where my water change buckets will go along with any reactors.
I plan to keep this sump pretty full and I will just build a stand for the skimmer to get at optimal height. I plan on being able to do a water change with sump water alone (not fuge section) I will plumb a tee into the main pump with a hose to the slop sink, so just turn it off to the DT and open to the sink to empty the sump and then fill back up. Next I have to get foot print of the skimmer so I can make baffles, going to got the local glass store and have pieces cut.
Well with a little advice from Rich, I have designed the chambers in the sump. I am not 100% set on the size of the skimmer area and the return area, since I need to get footprint of skimmer I am getting and that will determine the size of that chamber.
I may either drill both the skimmer section and the return section and tie them together (for water changes only). Or I will just drop a pump in the skimmer section to do water change. Have not decided yet.
10/11/2011
Well here is the beauty! Tank is ready to get moving now. Now I gotta get the sump drilled and the baffles installed. I also need to order the main pump, probably going to go with a Blue Line, not sure which on yet...
I also got my RO/DI from BRS today!!
MP40 (only 1 for my tank, other one belongs to Thirty6)
Skimmer, Reef Octo Internal SRO XP-2000 cone Skimmer
10/15/2011
Well today I installed my RO/DI and nice to report that water is coming out at 0 TDS.
I also painted the back of the tank black. I really like the black, I am also considering all black sand right now, but not sure yet. It will at least be black and white mixed.
I taped off the tank and the sprayed it with Black Rustoleum Paint. It does peel off pretty easy after it dries, so I will have to be careful. I really like the covered overflow really makes it a nice neat package!
10/18/2011
Today, I installed 2 of the baffles in the sump. Hopefully tomorrow I will install the other 2. I should have my pump this week and then I will drill the tank prob this weekend. My rock should also be here end of week. Ordered from reefrocks.net stuff looks nice. I will be sure to photograph it when I get it. I also ordered a piece of acrylic which should be done today for some custom rock work.
10/20/2011
Yesterday I started some acrylic work for inside the tank. Info to come later on that. I also put another baffle in the sump, but ran out of silicone so picked up another tube.
I also picked up a BlueLine 55 High Pressure pump last night that I found on Craigslist, pump has never seen water. I also got a TLF Reactor (GREAT PRICES).
Today I am going to tweak the acrylic and finish the baffles. Hopefully rock should be in by the end of the week. Tomorrow might drill the sump.
10/21/2011
Well today I drilled the sump, went very easy and quickly with no problems. I drilled 2 holes which will be used for return pump (second hole used only for water changes).
Here is a pic of the sump with the baffles and then with the holes drilled. I also included next a video of the hole being drilled to show that it really is pretty easy to do.
VIDEO:
10/27/2011
My rock came in today from reefrocks.net I am very happy with it. It was nicely packaged and only a very few small pieces broke off which is fine with me, not bad to have a few small pieces of rubble to attach frags to.
I ordered 2 50 lb boxes for total of 100 lbs. I know that dry rock is lighter than other rock so I will have extra!
10/29/2011
Well today I plumbed the sump with the return pump, I have not plumbed the drain from the DT yet.
It looks like that there is alot going on....
Blue Line 50 piped into both the return section of the pump and the skimmer section (will only be used for water changes). All 1 inch plumbing with multiple valves, unions outside the pump on both sides.
From the pump goes up to the DT and then breaks off to a manifold with 3 valves.
One is for allowing for too much flow and to break it off and back into the skimmer section. I didn't want to put back into the return section and create bubbles.
The next 2 are for future use for reactors.
You will see on the right side another valve that will goto a hose to drain the sump for water changes. I will open both valves leading to the pump, and then close all the others which will then push all water to the slop sink for changes.
10/30/2011
Yesterday I was able to get my rock work done, not only the sound of my angle grinder but the sound of snapping trees in the background.
Well here are some pics.
I took a piece of acrylic sheet and bent it to match the curve of the overflow. I created a jig out of wood to get the right shape. Then the shelves (supplied by ReefRocks.net) were cut to match the shape and then secured to the acrylic. They are very very secure and you will see small pieces of rock on the shelves to hold the vertical weight to the bottom. I plan on having my nicer zoa frags on these shelves and maybe even a few SPS even though I say I am not getting them!
11/3/2011
I was hoping to have my lights today to actually be able to mount them. But they did not come in with the group buy, but I built the mounts anyway.
I used 3/4 electrical conduit, 3/4 pipe mounts, rubber leg covers (for chairs)
I first had to mount a new piece of wood at the outer ends of the back of the tank, then sprayed it black.
Drilled Holes for the brakcets, and put them on with wing nuts from the inside (painted them black on the outside)
I then bent 2 pieces of the conduit so they went over the tank from the back and then bent them again to go across the tank and meet in the middle. They were then sprayed black.
I used 2 rubber caps (used for chair legs) to cover the ends of the pipe, I cut the ends off so they only go around the pipe. This pipe will also serve as conduit for the wires for the lights.
After fine tuning they mounted very nicely. The benefit of mounting them this way is that I can actually move the whole unit up and down, just by loosening the wing nuts from the inside.
Now to just get the lights and actually mount them.
11/16/2011
Well here it is set up in its new location. It looks really nice if i have to say myself. Now to just get the rest of the plumbing done (drains) and then get water in this bad boy.
Lights are still a work in progress, but since no lights needed for the cycle then no big deal. I hope to have water in it by this weekend.
11/18/211
Today I finished up the plumbing on the sump. Have to just connect the hoses to the tank itself. I had 28 gallons of water on hand that I put into the tank and it is currently filling with the RO unit as we speak. Have to turn it off before I leave for work tho
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Up early tomorrow morning to get it running again. I should have it totally filled with water on Sunday I hope.
11/19/2011
Today I filled the system with water. It is currently still filling up in the sump but there is so much water that the tank can actually run without the sump being full. When I get home tonight from work, the sump should be filled and the temp should be up to where it should be (have 2 heaters on right now). I will then add salt in the morning to get it up to where it should be. Then I hope to start cycling monday. I also built a stand out of eggcrates for my skimmer since I need to get it almost 14 inches from the bottom of the tank. It all fits well together. No updated pic of sump, I will get that tomorrow. It was very easy to fill the tank, just turned on the pump and filled the tank without a problem. Since the sump is bigger than the DT I was able to fill it all the way.
I just found out that my lights will be delivered on Tuesday! Can't wait to get them mounted.
11/21/2011
All filled and cycling as we speak. Lights come tomorrow, I am gonna try to get them mounted on Wed. I had to do some adjustments to the plumbing on the sump. I also installed all the hoses to drain right into slop sink. I need to tidy them up a bit, but they are ok for now.
11/23/2011
Well yesterday I got my lights! The AI Sol in "BLACK" Love them!!!
I first drilled holes into the heat sinks on all 4 corners and installed plastic tubes to hang the lights from. I did not want the wires to be on the threads of the screws. I used 3 strands of stainless steel wire and spun them to make one wire. The wires were then attached to the tubes.
I then found where I wanted the lights by putting eggcrate on the tank to simulate the lights. I then used a plumb-bob to find were the outer holes should go.
I then drilled the holes and tapped them. I then ran string through the conduits and mounted them on the tank at the right height (can adjust more later). I then pulled the wiring through the conduits through holes that I cut into the conduit. I then used rubber grommets to protect the wires.
I then screwed in eye hooks into the holes that I tapped earlier and then hung the lights with the wires. Cleaned it all up with some cable ties and all done!!
I have to say that they came out better than I expected!!!
I have a video below to show the lights it is a about 2 mintues.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=TTJ1KWhtU0A
12/06/2011
Well tank is cycled!! Have outbreak of diatoms and by tomorrow my Ammonia will be 0.....
Going to order CUC from reefcleaners.org to get them in there to start to clean up the ugliness!!!!
12/8/2011
Well got my CUC today, you can see it floating in the tank.
here are some pics of the tank today. Hope those snails do the job!!!
