280 build has begun.

Updated pics

Updated pics

Heres a pic of my home made agrocrete rock. I am going to use them as a platform to build my rock structure off of. I made it with crushed coral and portland cement. It's soaking now to lower ph, but it came out really well, water pours right through it.

a83dcd32.jpg


I stole the control panel off the other tank. One timer is still in use. I still need to mount my aquacontroller and the wavebox controller to it. I use timers instead of the acjr because they are easier to manually turn off. Every electrical componet will be controlled from here. It's on a hinge so I can fiddle with the plugs if needed. I ran 3 dedicated 20 amp circuits to run the tank
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The UV

My specs called for a 80 watt UV but the 114 watt was actually more compact so I went with it. I also put a check valve in place so the water level would not fluctuate. The sump will be able to handle the volume should the check valve fail.
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.

In case you were wondering if rock cooking works. This is what was left after the 3rd water change. When it settled I had 1/8" of crap on the bottom.
soup.jpg


I need to get some wide angle pictures but time is tight!
 
Boy that control panel looks like crap!

The room is now sheet rocked, and the last couple of fittings for the closed loop will be here tomorrow. My goal is to start filling on Turkey day!
 
This is the Gen X 70. I originally said it was an Iwaki but I ended up getting this one because it was on sale.

Mounting it was a challenge. I wanted to be careful not to restrict the intake too much so I didn't get cavitation. The output is on a slant, for some strange reason, which was also a challenge. I came up with the nifty idea to mount it upside down. It's going to be pushing 2 eductors - one high and one low to hopefully create circulation to the overflows.

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The second pic shows the intake plumbing. Can't really see it well, but the flexible PVC is awesome to work with.

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Hung the sheetrock and started the first coat of mud. It's amazing how a 280 gallon tank looks like a 75 in the wall and a 55 in pictures! The wood strip under the tank is the beginning of the "bar" that is going to be on the front.

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Next up is another coat of mud, finish the closed loop plumbing, and start filling it on Turkey Day!
 
looking good man...ah muddin', Just finished muddin' my bathroom, what a lovely job..no, fillin the tank..that is going to fun...PS it takes forever to get that much RO water made...took me 3 days to fill my 240!!!
 
Steve did you test the pump out to make sure that the vibration wasn't too much? My pcx-55's vibrated alot until I used an old foam mouse pad. "They" say it's even worse when it's bolted down to something.

I'm eyeing a pcx-70 for my skimmer.
 
also I spoke with the pump manufacture about restricting the input of the pump and they said it was the worst thing to do.

I guess they're real good at pumping and not so good at pulling. When I went from 3-90's to my pump to straight in, the difference was night and day.

How restricted is your pump?
 
No vibration without water, I may have to add a foam insulator if it does once water is added. The pump does have foam feet and I used rubber washers under the screws. I have 2 90's and about a foot of hose on the intake side. The drain is on the back of the tank about 4" from the bottom. With the layout of this pump and the fact that my drains are on the back on the tank that's really the path of least resistance. I do have a spare drain that I could T off if need be. The pump will only be pushing 2 eductors so it will not be a lot of volume, just a lot of pressure.
 
NoSchwag said:
Steve did you test the pump out to make sure that the vibration wasn't too much? My pcx-55's vibrated alot until I used an old foam mouse pad. "They" say it's even worse when it's bolted down to something.

I'm eyeing a pcx-70 for my skimmer.
Click to expand...

159.99 at liveaquaria, you can't beat that for a new pump!


I still need to see your tank!
 
Those rubber feet do absolutely nothing for the vibration, not sure how the rubber washers will work out. After towels and Styrofoam, a mouse pad was the best for my situation. I might try some dynamat.

159.00 is what I paid for my damn pcx-55.

My tank is sexy... It's the corals that arn't doing so well. :)
 
NoSchwag said:
Those rubber feet do absolutely nothing for the vibration, not sure how the rubber washers will work out. After towels and Styrofoam, a mouse pad was the best for my situation. I might try some dynamat.

159.00 is what I paid for my damn pcx-55.

My tank is sexy... It's the corals that arn't doing so well. :)
Click to expand...

I know I thought I got a deal at 179.99. I may mouse pad it from the start. I don't want any headaches once I start her up. I am sure your corals will learn to love you. If not bring them to me. :)
 
your right in the wall it does look like a 75, better tell your wife you need to order a larger tank.
LooKs great so far
 
Aint that nutz? No more upgrades until we upgrade the house. Honestly I don't have enough live stock to make this one look good!
 
MY camera stinks!

MY camera stinks!

Finished with the tank trim and the "bar". I also added the "cooked live rock". The first livestock as well, a bristle worm that survived the cooking process! :) Just purchased a high top pub table, and some matching bar stools for in front of the tank.

Before trim....

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With trim....

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Ok, obviously the couch is NOT going in front of the tank, but my wife likes this picture (???)!

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Just fininshing off the room - Pergo floor and new molding/trim. Also have to stain the trim around the tank.

More to come....
 
Last edited:
My mounting scheme for the pump also turned he stand into a large turning fork. I added 1/2" of rubber which helped but I need to further reduce the vibration/noise
 
Re: MY camera stinks!

Re: MY camera stinks!

SteveDohoney said:
Finished with the tank trim and the "bar".

Just purchased a high top pub table, and some matching bar stools for in front of the tank.
Click to expand...

Damn I'm jealous.

I would be even more jealous if you had a nice TV down there with NFL Sunday ticket..
 
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