3 tank,2600 gal. system room build
- Thread starter searey
- Start date
You have to wonder how long you feel the OM discharge pipe would take to clog, given the the size 1 1/2 I think you will be fine as far as clogging these up. The only place I have seen coraline growth is on the outlet and that breaks very easy because of the smooth surface of PVC. It grows thier because of the light.
Pumps are OK but they fail and some even discharge the inner body fluid contaminating your tank.
They are making better pumps today low wattage, less heat magnetic driven but they come at an expensive price also.
Pumps are OK but they fail and some even discharge the inner body fluid contaminating your tank.
They are making better pumps today low wattage, less heat magnetic driven but they come at an expensive price also.
jnarowe
New member
I understand...that's why I mentioned the "T" method of decision making. It helps a LOT with reef decisions. But, first and foremost, you must establish your reef philosophy to use as a Mission Statement. Then all decisions can be filtered through that.
In other words, why are you building each tank, and what do you wish to accomplish with each project?
a. What kind of animals will you keep? SPS, LPS, Mixed reef?
b. What general reef keeping philosophy will you employ? Balling Method? Zeovit? Skimmerless? Bio-tope?
c. Will each tank be for guests' pleasure, research, breeding, personal accomplishment, etc?
All of these questions lead to new questions, and ultimately answers that will create your mission.
In other words, why are you building each tank, and what do you wish to accomplish with each project?
a. What kind of animals will you keep? SPS, LPS, Mixed reef?
b. What general reef keeping philosophy will you employ? Balling Method? Zeovit? Skimmerless? Bio-tope?
c. Will each tank be for guests' pleasure, research, breeding, personal accomplishment, etc?
All of these questions lead to new questions, and ultimately answers that will create your mission.
I like what was wrote above, if anything about this hobby I think to many people like what they see in someone else's tank and want to duplicate it. That will never happen as no two tanks are alike.
dean as you have read reefski's thread it took over a year before it come together for him, If you rush this through you are heading for disaster in my thoughts. Not fair to your animals or yourself.
Your doing the right thing by asking questions and traveling to look at diffrent systems, being patient it will ultimatley create your mission on quote
dean as you have read reefski's thread it took over a year before it come together for him, If you rush this through you are heading for disaster in my thoughts. Not fair to your animals or yourself.
Your doing the right thing by asking questions and traveling to look at diffrent systems, being patient it will ultimatley create your mission on quote
serpentman
part time superhero
Just thought I would drop my 2cents. I agree with Jnarowe, personally, although I like the clean look of a tank with no pumps, etc, I think a close loop presents a lot of potential issues such as leaks at the bulkhead, etc. Granted, most CL users will argue that leaks are few and far between, I hate to temp my friend Murphy.
As technology changes, IME, powerheads give you a lot more flexibility down the road.
As technology changes, IME, powerheads give you a lot more flexibility down the road.
jnarowe
New member
I wish I had traveled to see other systems, but at the time, I was a shut-in. I never got to see a Neptune controller in use, nor many other things I bought and built, but I did spend a great deal of time studying DIY projects, husbandry issues etc. and distilled my plan from that. That is in no way meant to belittle your extensive aquarium experience, and mind you, I don't think you need a PhD., but you may get one by the time you are done! :lol:
Let me tell you, it was a VERY tough decision between in-wall and in-room. I really wanted a look-down as I stated before, but there were just too many issues on the "-" side of the T, plus I had a very convenient place to build an in-wall system.
Some of you have read my thread and may even recall a tank room fire I had, but for those of you who don't, I will recap...
I had a blowout of a reactor seam that was carefluuly mounted ABOVE my sumps just in case of a leak, but the pressure made a jet of water that just weaseled in between the sump lip and the walk deck...literally a couple of inches, and was landing in an electrical outlet, also very carefully mounted under the tank out of harm's way.
So a fire ensued, my tank room flooded popping all my circuits, and blowing out a couple of Neptune Power modules. When I say blowing out, I mean melting down, and when I say flooded, I mean at least an inch of water on the floor.
When I got an email warning (yes, the ACIII is on a UPS) I ran down to the tank room, skuttled through the water and of course, re-set a couple of breakers, which immediately popped and more smoked billowed out from under the tank. (Hey at least I had shoes on right?)
So I re-grouped, figured out the problem, shut down the reactor, shop-vac, yada yada... Once I had the electrical re-routed and equipment back up and running, I closely inspected the damaged areas. What I found was disturbing. One of my 1000W ballast cords had melted down and was very close to burning through one of my return lines. It was blackened enough that I couldn't get the black off, but fortunately not melted through.
That was extremely close to losing it all. The good news is that my breakers did their job, I didn't get electrocuted, and I learned a couple of valuable lessons:
1. Use only CAST acrylic when building reactors;
2. Tank Penetrations? Not again.
Live long and posper.
Let me tell you, it was a VERY tough decision between in-wall and in-room. I really wanted a look-down as I stated before, but there were just too many issues on the "-" side of the T, plus I had a very convenient place to build an in-wall system.
Some of you have read my thread and may even recall a tank room fire I had, but for those of you who don't, I will recap...
I had a blowout of a reactor seam that was carefluuly mounted ABOVE my sumps just in case of a leak, but the pressure made a jet of water that just weaseled in between the sump lip and the walk deck...literally a couple of inches, and was landing in an electrical outlet, also very carefully mounted under the tank out of harm's way.
So a fire ensued, my tank room flooded popping all my circuits, and blowing out a couple of Neptune Power modules. When I say blowing out, I mean melting down, and when I say flooded, I mean at least an inch of water on the floor.
When I got an email warning (yes, the ACIII is on a UPS) I ran down to the tank room, skuttled through the water and of course, re-set a couple of breakers, which immediately popped and more smoked billowed out from under the tank. (Hey at least I had shoes on right?)
So I re-grouped, figured out the problem, shut down the reactor, shop-vac, yada yada... Once I had the electrical re-routed and equipment back up and running, I closely inspected the damaged areas. What I found was disturbing. One of my 1000W ballast cords had melted down and was very close to burning through one of my return lines. It was blackened enough that I couldn't get the black off, but fortunately not melted through.
That was extremely close to losing it all. The good news is that my breakers did their job, I didn't get electrocuted, and I learned a couple of valuable lessons:
1. Use only CAST acrylic when building reactors;
2. Tank Penetrations? Not again.
Live long and posper.
jnarowe
New member
Long term damage? Yeah, I am missing 1/3 of my brain. Does that count??
The outlet that was getting a bath was a DC4HD Neptune unit and I do not have waterproof covers for them. That's why they are mounted well out of reach of water...well, normal water, not horizontal spray under the tank.
The tank penetrations thing is just a preference I guess. The point being is that the hose, pipe, valves, and bulkheads are all points of failure in some respect, and I would not want them on my next build.
Reefski's
Active member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14953294#post14953294 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jnarowe
Long term damage? Yeah, I am missing 1/3 of my brain. Does that count??
yow, it must be the motor part as the cognitive part seems be be functioning fine.
will there be a next build?
i am collecting ideas and plans for my next build too!
mustang51js
New member
when are you buildng the stands,lets see some pics of ........whatever
