1,200 gallons of fun!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14734186#post14734186 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by erics3000
That is a real sweet light rack
Click to expand...

Thanks, I’m somewhat surprised that more ppl haven’t taken a look at the video of it.

Lighting Video Link




chilwil84, Good points I almost forgot to put in the trap.

I hope this works.


<a href="http://s150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/?action=view&current=dcp_2372.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/dcp_2372.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>


This is the sump pump with check valve installed.

<a href="http://s150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/?action=view&current=dcp_2361.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/dcp_2361.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

This is the line that will be coming off of the dart (return from tank sump). The ball valve will be used during water changes to dump the water from the tank. The fitting to the left will feed the Ca reactor.

<a href="http://s150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/?action=view&current=dcp_2368.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/dcp_2368.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/?action=view&current=dcp_2369.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/dcp_2369.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>


Testing the lines for leaks. This is the water level in the floor sump just before the pump starts up.

<a href="http://s150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/?action=view&current=dcp_2364.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/dcp_2364.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>


The floor sump installation and plumbing is compleat. :D
I still have the permanent wiring of this to do.


I have built the sink stand, but will need to coat it in the future.
I have also installed some new water supply lines. I removed a 1/2" line restriction in the house plumbing and started on the RO feed water. I'm planing on finishing the majority of the RO installation this week and will post pic of the other progress at that time.
 
Sorry I haven't updated.

I had a death in the family and I'm now putting in a lot of time at work.

I probably will not get much more done in the room till July.

I will update with more pics between then.

<a href="http://s150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/?action=view&current=dcp_2449.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/dcp_2449.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
 
how are you getting away with using copper pipes? i thought id seen a thread where some guy's corals were dying because of he dropped a piece of copper into his water. and id heard of another guy that ran a 90 gallon system with all copper pipes and couldnt figure out why he couldnt keep any corals alive and sold the tank. the buyer knew immediately what the problem was and now he has a complete reef ready 90 gallon with corals out growing the tank.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15077918#post15077918 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tyler6508
how are you getting away with using copper pipes? i thought id seen a thread where some guy's corals were dying because of he dropped a piece of copper into his water. and id heard of another guy that ran a 90 gallon system with all copper pipes and couldnt figure out why he couldnt keep any corals alive and sold the tank. the buyer knew immediately what the problem was and now he has a complete reef ready 90 gallon with corals out growing the tank.
Click to expand...

The copper pipes feed the RO/DI unit, which in turn purifes the water. The water should be clear of anything harmful in the copper pipes.
 
ehh idk if it were me i wouldnt take the chances. thats alot of copper pipe and like i said that one guy dropped only a 3/4" 1 and half inch long piece into his sump.
 
As long as they're before the RO/DI, I don't see any issues. My house is almost all copper and I don't have any problems. If its new plumbing you just have to make sure you flush it well before hooking everything up.
 
take it easy, i was only saying. this is just like any other hobby. u learn as you go. and no matter what everyone still has their own opinion and 50,000 ways of doing this hobby. no reason to talk like some ones dumb when your not even sure of the name of your fish in your own tank. but either way from everyone i've seen so far with a big setup like this is doing all pvc pipe. not assuming that its wrong to use copper. ive just always seen people go straight to pvc instead of copper. ive heard and read that copper wasnt great for corals but fine for fish and it made me wonder how that was possible if it was bad for corals. i figured he'd have to run some heavy duty stuff. just tryin to gain some here ha..
 
straight PVC? what are you talking about???? those copper lines you see are house cold/hot lines. has nothing to do with the aquarium. his ro/di is tide into the cold line like everyone else.
 
tyler,i was just saying that most houses use copper pipes and for you to check to see what yours is,i wasnt talking to you like your dumb,i dont know why you think everyone is jumping on you. I see alot of the new houses that use peks pipe instead of copper lines, i dont know if thats what your talking about, but as long as you dont have the copper pipe sitting in your tank and deteriorating then it would be fine,Some people use tap water that little amounts of copper in it with no problems.Also if you think everyone is jumping all over you then no one is going to help you much if you keep taking everything the wrong way.
 
If I may, I'd like to suggest you chew on the idea of creating a linear flow tank. It will give you tremendous water flow with less pumps/electricity than what you have planned currently. Another benefit is that you won't have to work so hard aquascaping to hide the plumbing. If you want to shake it up a bit you could always add a carlson surge device.
I have used both methods and am very happy with how they function.
 
The past couple of weeks I have been shopping for parts and putting in a lot of time at work. Not much else done on the system.




Tyler6508, All the plumbing for the tank and support system will be PVC. I would not take the risk of copper in the system. The copper lines are the water supply of the house and pre water purification.




<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15096369#post15096369 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by john rochon
those copper lines you see are house cold/hot lines. has nothing to do with the aquarium. his ro/di is tide into the cold line like everyone else.
Click to expand...

This is close, look carefully in the pic you will see a MIXING valve.


It takes the hot and cold lines and mixes them to an adjustable temp. I currently have it set for 74 F coming out of the RO reject line.

The water coming into the house is @ 44 F and 45PSI. The RO system would not make much water with that type of feed water.

I’m also thinking of adding a booster pump to bring the pressure up.




WDLV, Do you have more info on linear flow tanks and there setup? Any links?

I believe that my system has more of a linear flow then random or chaotic flow. I don’t think that the power use, for water movement, for a 1,200 gal system is that high. I’m expecting 300W â€"œ 400W total power consumption or < .33W/gal. My current 125 uses > 1.25W/gal.

If you can come up with a way to run the system more efficiently I’m open to suggestions and willing to change my plans.
 
You can do a search on linear flow or gyro tanks but it's sort of like centrifical force. It is usually run in one of two directions either top and bottom are separated or front and back are separated by a partition of sorts. The output of the CLs or powerheads are directed in one direction. In my case my reef was mostly hollow underneath or suspended on small pillars. It's not the perfect scenario for thhis style of tank but it's the best I have to show you. A guy in my local club did a presentation a few years ago. I'll see if I can dig it up.
In any event in this case the water was being directed over the top from left to right. As you will see in this video the bottom portion where the anemones were is blowing in the opposite direction. Essentially there's a clockwise flow of water.
My old tank.

I guess a picture is worth a thousand words.
Jan122008002arrows.jpg

I had a CL on the other side that could be used to reverse the flow or just turn both on at once for a storm effect.
 
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I would say I have about 80% of the parts needed for the build.

This is a shot of the skimmers as I'm working out the sump layout.

That's a 5 gal bucket on the right.

<a href="http://s150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/?action=view&current=dcp_2546.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/dcp_2546.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

and a bottle in the skimmer.


The skimmers came in under my budgeted amount.

I had $1,500 planed with a total of about $1,275 spent. :)
 
Nice to see you back Mr. Biggs! It's been a while since you're last post...was thinking you'd put it on hold. I'm just curious... i've read, alot on RC, that multiple skimmers don't work better than one single one. I'd like to know, for curiousitys sake, what is your mindset of that? Why not just go with a big...Bubbleking or something? No disrespect whatsoever...just wanted to get your perspective.
 
My wife would have kicked me out if I did half the stuff you just did. Me and my tank would be living in a motel.
 
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