280 Gallon Acrylic Tank
- Thread starter izzy_real
- Start date
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
That is where you aluminum frame (bedposts?) come into play.
I just finished up with dry locking all the cinder blocks. My back is killing me. I'm going to bed, I'll take pics tomorrow, if you really wanna see white cinder blocks. I picked up another pump the other day from a buddy of mine. So now I have two 4600 GPH pumps to run this bad boy. I'm hoping to build the canopy tomorrow.
If I can, I have to round up some help to get this thing on its bricks and stand, that way I can drill holes for builk heads, and put the sump underneath, OMG, so much work!
But it's worth it. I'm really excited.
izzy
If I can, I have to round up some help to get this thing on its bricks and stand, that way I can drill holes for builk heads, and put the sump underneath, OMG, so much work!
But it's worth it. I'm really excited.
izzy
Closed Loop Manifold
Closed Loop Manifold
Ok guys....
Here it goes: I picked up another Sequence pump. Its rated at about 4600 GPH. So that makes two in total at 4600 GPH. I'm planning on plumbing in an OM on one side of the tank (remember it's 8ft long), and just your normal closed loop in the other. The pump will feed itself with a 1 1/2" bulk head and input, and I'm wondering if I should drop the out put down to 1" to make the loop work on the other side, or should I just keep the loop at 1 1/2"?
According to Sequence, there's a possiable 2" input/output, but I wouldn't get enough extra flow to warrant 2" pvc/hose.
Well, what do you think?
izzy
Closed Loop Manifold
Ok guys....
Here it goes: I picked up another Sequence pump. Its rated at about 4600 GPH. So that makes two in total at 4600 GPH. I'm planning on plumbing in an OM on one side of the tank (remember it's 8ft long), and just your normal closed loop in the other. The pump will feed itself with a 1 1/2" bulk head and input, and I'm wondering if I should drop the out put down to 1" to make the loop work on the other side, or should I just keep the loop at 1 1/2"?
According to Sequence, there's a possiable 2" input/output, but I wouldn't get enough extra flow to warrant 2" pvc/hose.
Well, what do you think?
izzy
woz9683
Premium Member
There's no reason to drop the output down to 1" unless you only wanted to buy a 1" bulkhead. I think I'd put a 1.5" bulkhead, then make a small pvc structure inside the tank with multiple nozzles on it to help disperse the flow. Like what Steve Weast did on his closed loops.
woz9683
Premium Member
Michael, you are a source of links! Thank you for your help. When I get this up, I'm going to use it for Christmas cards.
Very busy day. Mowed the lawn, finished up a canopy for Overtsilence, and even lifted the tank up off the ground finally. We (Jason and I) used a motorcycle jack to lift the tank up a little at a time. All in all, it has three cinder blocks under all four corners, and three in the middle at two different locations, to equally distribute the weight of the water.
I'll post pics tomorrow, because my back is killing me, my leg is numb, and I need to hug on my lady. She's being very patient with this process.
Pics to come!
izzy
Very busy day. Mowed the lawn, finished up a canopy for Overtsilence, and even lifted the tank up off the ground finally. We (Jason and I) used a motorcycle jack to lift the tank up a little at a time. All in all, it has three cinder blocks under all four corners, and three in the middle at two different locations, to equally distribute the weight of the water.
I'll post pics tomorrow, because my back is killing me, my leg is numb, and I need to hug on my lady. She's being very patient with this process.
Pics to come!
izzy
Second Attempt!
Second Attempt!
I spent almost an hour two weeks ago, uploading pics, and typing updates to this thread, all for the server to crash upon my submit attempt!
So, I shall try again!
Sorry for the delay in my posting, and keeping this thread up and going. I suffered a back injury two years ago, and have struggled with it since, along with all the pains of Worker's Compensation, and asking the AWESOME friends I have to come help me with this tank, as I cannot lift anything, including this large system I've been building for it seems an eternity now.
After placing this monstrosity on it's deck-like sub frame, a buddy of mine borrowed his father's motor-cycle jack to lift one end at a time until we had it level under the Dry-Locked cinder blocks:
Second Attempt!
I spent almost an hour two weeks ago, uploading pics, and typing updates to this thread, all for the server to crash upon my submit attempt!
So, I shall try again!
Sorry for the delay in my posting, and keeping this thread up and going. I suffered a back injury two years ago, and have struggled with it since, along with all the pains of Worker's Compensation, and asking the AWESOME friends I have to come help me with this tank, as I cannot lift anything, including this large system I've been building for it seems an eternity now.
After placing this monstrosity on it's deck-like sub frame, a buddy of mine borrowed his father's motor-cycle jack to lift one end at a time until we had it level under the Dry-Locked cinder blocks:
Things not seen!
Things not seen!
Some of things I've not take pics of include: the frame that you see in the pic of Jason and the hose, is now stained black, with a coat of polly, because the treated lumber is treated with arsenic. It rises above the tank 40 1/2". I wasn't allowed to drill a hole in the ceiling (my fiance' didn't like it, you guys know how that goes!), so I built a frame that goes around the tank, and then has a 104" 4X4 across the top center of the frame, that way I could use pulleys to lift and lower the canopy for maintenance of the tank, and lighting system.
Another list of equipment to be used:
MRC 3R Skimmer
2 - Sequence Barracuda Reeflo pumps
MRC Large Reef Sump (48"X20"X20") with built in Fuge
2 - Hamilton Tech. 250 HQI 10K (for growth)
2 - PFO 250 Moguls (20K for color)
And just in - Two 250 watt Ice Cap electronic ballasts, but no pendants yet. May hook them up to the mogul sockets for now, and order new HQI's later.
I still need some 3/4" lock line to improve on the closed loop, and water return manifolds.
I'm heading over the DIY form to post something about pulleys, so if you guys are physics gurus, or just plain smarter than me, I hope you'll chime in.
-izzy
Things not seen!
Some of things I've not take pics of include: the frame that you see in the pic of Jason and the hose, is now stained black, with a coat of polly, because the treated lumber is treated with arsenic. It rises above the tank 40 1/2". I wasn't allowed to drill a hole in the ceiling (my fiance' didn't like it, you guys know how that goes!), so I built a frame that goes around the tank, and then has a 104" 4X4 across the top center of the frame, that way I could use pulleys to lift and lower the canopy for maintenance of the tank, and lighting system.
Another list of equipment to be used:
MRC 3R Skimmer
2 - Sequence Barracuda Reeflo pumps
MRC Large Reef Sump (48"X20"X20") with built in Fuge
2 - Hamilton Tech. 250 HQI 10K (for growth)
2 - PFO 250 Moguls (20K for color)
And just in - Two 250 watt Ice Cap electronic ballasts, but no pendants yet. May hook them up to the mogul sockets for now, and order new HQI's later.
I still need some 3/4" lock line to improve on the closed loop, and water return manifolds.
I'm heading over the DIY form to post something about pulleys, so if you guys are physics gurus, or just plain smarter than me, I hope you'll chime in.
-izzy
melev
Well-known member
I think your platform should have a 3/4" sheet of plywood on top of it, and then a sheet of foam, then the acrylic tank.
From a couple of pictures, I think you oriented the cinder blocks the correct way. They are strong when they are stacked with the holes going down the center (invisibly as if you had to hide your beer stash). :beer:
It looks really nice. I'd like to see you add some acrylic to the ends as well. You've stopped the long runs from bowing, but the ends will bow a little, I'm sure. It would be best to keep the tank square.
From a couple of pictures, I think you oriented the cinder blocks the correct way. They are strong when they are stacked with the holes going down the center (invisibly as if you had to hide your beer stash). :beer:
It looks really nice. I'd like to see you add some acrylic to the ends as well. You've stopped the long runs from bowing, but the ends will bow a little, I'm sure. It would be best to keep the tank square.
I want to add something for today. I went over to Izzy's today and man he was really excited about adding the final touches before filling this bad boy with tap water for a final trial run. What I saw was a true reefkeeper!!!! I have been around the reef block a few times and man what I saw today will stay in my mind for the rest of my life. When tank builds and prep work are working solely for the animals you want to house then that is what this hobby is supposed to be about.
Going to all means to give the animals their best chance to survive.
Thank you Izzy for including me in this project and watering my reef loving eyes.
Matt
Going to all means to give the animals their best chance to survive.
Thank you Izzy for including me in this project and watering my reef loving eyes.
Matt
Hey Ognid! Melev! Snulma1!
Thank you guys so much for posting on this thread. Sometimes I think it gets lost in the shuffle with all the really nice tanks that are on reef central.
Thanks to Ognid, and LEB, everything is right on schedule. LEB came over tonight and helped me hang the canopy, and get the pulleys going the right way! You should see it lift! It's amazing!
After LEB left at around 1030pm, I finished up plumbing, gluing, and hanging pipe underneath the tank. It's 230 am, and I'm beat! I still need to plumb a water change method, and I want to plumb a rock wash system. Probably a spray bar that I can turn on every other day or so for an hour or two, that way nothing settles in the rock that shouldn't.
After those two things are plumbed, I'll do another fresh water test, drain, and transfer every one to their new home.
I still can't thank Acrylics enough for helping me with those euro braces. This is hobby is so important to me, and I love that I'm not the only one that has it bad!
-izzy
PS I'll post pics of the pulley system.
Thank you guys so much for posting on this thread. Sometimes I think it gets lost in the shuffle with all the really nice tanks that are on reef central.
Thanks to Ognid, and LEB, everything is right on schedule. LEB came over tonight and helped me hang the canopy, and get the pulleys going the right way! You should see it lift! It's amazing!
After LEB left at around 1030pm, I finished up plumbing, gluing, and hanging pipe underneath the tank. It's 230 am, and I'm beat! I still need to plumb a water change method, and I want to plumb a rock wash system. Probably a spray bar that I can turn on every other day or so for an hour or two, that way nothing settles in the rock that shouldn't.
After those two things are plumbed, I'll do another fresh water test, drain, and transfer every one to their new home.
I still can't thank Acrylics enough for helping me with those euro braces. This is hobby is so important to me, and I love that I'm not the only one that has it bad!
-izzy
PS I'll post pics of the pulley system.
