240 SPS build

[fishdoc11]

Actually, Once you get further into his build you will see that he has half of my 185 with some large colonies already in place, But i just talked to him about you today as Dustin is wanting to get some of your Frags that we already talked about. Figured to mention you to him also as he likes quality SPS and you have just that.
I'll get with you shortly about those frags for Dustin.
Have a great Evening.
Bill:wave:

Sounds good Bill, just LMK.

thanks, Chris

 

[New Wave]

Thank you supertech!

 

[New Wave]

ok... and we're moving on... so now that the sump is mostly installed... its time for the goodies... calcium reactor... i know its kinda dumb... but i decided to paint the c2 tank... hey! it had to match

and that was hung on the wall above the sump

you can see the sl1 the sl2 and the net module mounted there behind the reactor

 

[New Wave]

and the reactors... i have 2 so far... one carbon... and one gfo

 

[New Wave]

i build a skirt and legs to dress up the tank stand... and put the mp40's in their final postions

you can see that the back of the glass is tinted... is awesome... ill add another photo so that you can see... from the front... you cant see thru to the back... it looks black... but from the back you can see in the tank... killer!!!

and of course.. you can see under the tank is the deluxe model top off container

 

[New Wave]

speaking of top off... im using a float switch controling a powerhead in the top off drum

and we added a Digital water meter and a auto shut-off to the RODI

 

[zef004]

wow love your build mel. you and bill are doing a great job.

 

[New Wave]

Thank you zef! I'm trying to get it all up... There's still more to come

 

[NeedBiggerTank]

This is like reading a great book... can't wait for the next chapter! :reading:

But must say, makes my lil' old 90 gallon converted tanganykian cichlid tank w/ its good old reliable Ehiem canister filter seem, uuuuhhhhh, somewhat - no totally - inadequate!

Is it possible to have "tank envy"? LOL

 

[poolkeeper1]

The build

The build

wow love your build mel. you and bill are doing a great job.

Thanks, But Mel is the one doing all the work all i have done is help with guidance steering him in the right direction. His dedication to perfection far exceeds my capabilities as you can see he is a master woodworker and has the patience of a saint! He already had a very good understanding of salt water just not with SPS. But IMO he has also got the touch because he hasn't killed anything after the transfer of my old tank to his care, Which was a scary thought when you just don't know how things will work out in another persons care.
In other words he will have a great tank in short order!
Bill:dance:

 

[Pickupman66]

Looking great. I like the tinted idea. very ingenious!

 

[poolkeeper1]

Tint

Tint

Looking great. I like the tinted idea. very ingenious!

Actually the Credit for that goes to mVlk as he did it first and that's where the idea came from.
Bill

 

[supertech99]

how do you like the ATO thru the RKE? Because of the disaster a malfunctioning ATO could cause I have been hesitant to switch it up thru my RKL from my JBJ.

 

[New Wave]

how do you like the ATO thru the RKE? Because of the disaster a malfunctioning ATO could cause I have been hesitant to switch it up thru my RKL from my JBJ.

yeah... i hear ya... ive already had one malfunction... and the PC dumped the entire top off into the system... i'm keeping a close eye on it... im hoping the malfunction was a fluke and wont happen again... thats something that DA needs to kinda fine tune their "fail safe"

i have the float switch wired to a SL1 and then controling the outlet to a maxi-jet...

it is REALLY convienient... however... not cool with the "malfunction" on the other hand... i have about 25 gallons of water in the top off container... my system is 400 gallons... so... even when it did dump the top off.. it only dropped my SG from 1.025 to 1.024 over a 2 hour period... so.. not "IDEAL" but also not the end of the world... my sump was able to hold the extra 25 gallons...

HOWEVER... in a power failure... with the system syphoning the return and the overflow back to the sump... it would not be able to hold the extra 25gallons... the "optomisim" in a power failure, the top off pump could not run... so... EXCELLENT question... and please DA... Could you fix this please

 

[New Wave]

This is like reading a great book... can't wait for the next chapter! :reading:

But must say, makes my lil' old 90 gallon converted tanganykian cichlid tank w/ its good old reliable Ehiem canister filter seem, uuuuhhhhh, somewhat - no totally - inadequate!

Is it possible to have "tank envy"? LOL

thank ya! keep tagging... it gets better

 

[Mr Coffee]

Great thread I love the MP40 placement but would worry a little about water on those controllers they a very cool and I do like the placement other than the scare with the water but I am messy. What are the tank dimensions? The overflows are intresting as they may not be as noticable as some thing large on the back. Plesae let me know what you think of them once you live with them a while. I am tagging along here.

 

[New Wave]

nice to meet you mr coffee thank for tagging... youre not ther first person to express the concern for the mp40 controller placement.... it s probably not the perfect spot considering that it is possible that they could get wet... i may at some point place them behind someacrylic covers... kinda like what youd place over your ac thermostat to keep children from messing with them... i just havent gotten that far yet... in the mean time.. im jut conscience of where they are... and keep them dry... no issues yet... most of the accessing the tank is done from the front... and the water mess in the back is limited to the sump...

the tank dementions are 8' length 2' depth and 2' tall

i put the overflows on the side for that very reason... i didnt want big 'ol blocks poking out from the back... and i dont regret doing that in the least... the only drawback from that... its a little more difficult to get the proper circulation in the center of the tank... i adjusted that by running (4) 3/4' returns turning aprox 1200 gph thru the sump and 4 MP40's... so far... it seems to be appropriate... we'll see as time goes forward

look forward to meeting ya!
-mel

 

[New Wave]

heres a little something that i like... it helps alot with water changes... i change out 50 gal a week... so i made myself a little water level stick so i can see how much water is being removed it also helps me visualize that the top off is working properly

i just took a piece of pvc.. started with an empty sump... added 5 gal at a time... and drilled a hole where the level was... its kinda korny... but VERY useful

 

[New Wave]

now for the really fun stuff.. i wanted a fuge/frag/more water volume... so i decided to keep adding.. i built myself a couple of different stands... and added more tanks.. first a 75 gal... it was a 65 sump... Bill was nice enough to exchange my old 65g sump with baffels for a brand new 75g... SWEET!!!

storage is a big problem... it seems there is no such thing as too much... heres a cool idea for smaller tanks...

these two tanks run on their own loop from thesump... still powered by the dolphin... the overflow of the smaller tank is gravity fed to the lower tank... and the lower tank...and that one overflows back to the sump... i really dig this setup... its easy and added omost 100gal to the system
and now the big view with the 3 250W hqi lights... i still havent finalized this part yet... but the concept is cool

 

[New Wave]

so.. the view from the door to the work room...

and the view from the frag tank...