375 Gallon Tank Project Under Way

[The R/C Man]

Hey Amanda!

Not a problem.... The one that enters the top is the input side from the pump. The other returns the skimmed water back into the sump.... Hope that helped...

 

[Psyire]

Awesome setup! I like full system diagrams, it's much easier to plan things out before jumping in. I see you are in Spokane.. it must be nice to have someone as talented as Brent nearby for all your equipment. Most of my stuff is all done by Barr Aquatic as well, great work he does.

 

[Chaotic Reefer4u]

awesome rc man...

 

[The R/C Man]

Thanks Guys!

Here is a pic of the opening for the overflow box. It has been router with a 1/8" round over bit since this photo. There will be four counter sunk and tapped holes for the addition of the gutter gaurd lined plates. The other option is to make a channel for the pieces to slide into. I am still undecided on which way to go.

 

[jnarowe]

Tell me about the routing...what bit and speed? I have had to slow my router down siginficantly but I sure could use some tips. Any pictures of finishing the edges?

 

[Crusty Old Shellback]

Looking good. Nice job on the tank, except for that little bearing mishap. Don't you just hate it when that happens.

Question on the lights. Have you thought about just running two lights and using a light mover to cut down on power comsumption?

My 400 has the same setup on the top, 4 openings but they are a bit bigger. I am currently running 3 X 400 W DE MH but was thinking of cutting back to two and using a light mover to have them slowley move back and forth over the tank. That way I could run them longer at the same cost of running 4 on a shorter light period. Plus with the mover, every inch of the tank would get light.

I ask this as I'm wondering if you've thought about the power consumption of your tank. I found out the hard way after I had mine set up. My bill jumped about 250 bucks a month just for the tank. I've since changed pumps to hammerheads which cut my current draw in half compared to my other two pumps and currently run the three MH's on a cycle. each one only being on for 4 1/2 hours but they overlap each other by 1 hour. It kind of gives a sun moving across the tank type of effect and has lowerd my power consumption by over 100 bucks a month so far.

Just some thoughts.

Good luck on the project. Looks well thought out and planned.

 

[jnarowe]

check out my thread for how I have used light movers.

 

[Crusty Old Shellback]

Got a link? Thanks.

I see that Fosters & smith now carry some in their catalog.

 

[The R/C Man]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6846578#post6846578 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jnarowe
Tell me about the routing...what bit and speed? I have had to slow my router down siginficantly but I sure could use some tips. Any pictures of finishing the edges?

Hey!

Well, we use the router at full speed. The bit used for this part of the project was 3/4" flush trimming bit with a 3/8" shaft. The larger shaft reduces vibration and translates to a smoother cut. Also the bit should be inserted into to the router about 1/8" from where the machining portion starts.

Here is a fuzzy picture of the inside radius of the top panel. Pretty smooth. I will get a better pic this weekend.

 

[jnarowe]

Very smooth. I am having trouble getting that kind of result.

blown63chevy: If you are asking for a link to my thread, just click on the red House!

 

[The R/C Man]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6846747#post6846747 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by blown63chevy
Looking good. Nice job on the tank, except for that little bearing mishap. Don't you just hate it when that happens.

Question on the lights. Have you thought about just running two lights and using a light mover to cut down on power comsumption?

My 400 has the same setup on the top, 4 openings but they are a bit bigger. I am currently running 3 X 400 W DE MH but was thinking of cutting back to two and using a light mover to have them slowley move back and forth over the tank. That way I could run them longer at the same cost of running 4 on a shorter light period. Plus with the mover, every inch of the tank would get light.

I ask this as I'm wondering if you've thought about the power consumption of your tank. I found out the hard way after I had mine set up. My bill jumped about 250 bucks a month just for the tank. I've since changed pumps to hammerheads which cut my current draw in half compared to my other two pumps and currently run the three MH's on a cycle. each one only being on for 4 1/2 hours but they overlap each other by 1 hour. It kind of gives a sun moving across the tank type of effect and has lowerd my power consumption by over 100 bucks a month so far.

Just some thoughts.

Good luck on the project. Looks well thought out and planned.

Hey!

Yeah the bearing thing sucked. (first time I have had a bearing come off.... figures it would now ) Good thing it was on the bottom and near the corner. We used #40 to fill it and you can't even tell it is there unless you are looking for it.

I checked out the light movers but dismissed them pretty quickly. Although the concept is good there are some major downs. First space. To get optimal use from a system such as this it seems you need quite a bit of space and a really big tank. (mine needs to be in a canopy) An in-wall set up my be a better option. Second, the light passing over acrylic bracing constantly heating then cooling it seems as though it would premeturally cause the acrylic to craze and ultimately fail. Since the braces keep the panels from bowing I don't want to take that risk.. Third my tank is going to be SPS dominated so the more light seems to better in this case. On the plus side. Being able to move the lighting back and forth even a foot or two will allow light to reach both sides of a coral colony equally helping to improve the overall coloration as well as growth symetry. As you said, it could also save on the power bill. Fortunately for me that isn't too much of a concern right now but I did figure a power bill into the equasion of maintanence costs. This tank is about as big as I can go with my budget. Just some thoughts....

 

[jnarowe]

Greg, you are absolutely correct about the MH light crazing the acrylic. When I got my tank I found severe damage to one of the braces. It took a long time to sand it out.

The way I have my movers set up is so that they do not move over any acrylic. In fact they just move about 1-1/2' fore and aft (I have 5' of depth) to give nice coverage of the tank and my center lamp is in a large dish type reflector to spread the light and lower the intensity in the center of the tank. That center lamp covers the entire tank except for about 8" on either end so when it is on by itself the entire tank is well lit.

I am taking some tips from oregonreef in that I will be doing a curved valley and want to draw the fish into the valley area while allowing lots of light for corals on either side. So far I am very happy with the arrangement, butI will not really know how effective it is until the reef has been up and running for quite some time.

 

[The R/C Man]

Jonathan,

I would love to come over and see your set up first hand. I'll bring Krispy Cream....

 

[Crusty Old Shellback]

Interesting.

Jonathan, yes it was a link to your tank. Thanks, I'll check it out.

As for the light over acrylic, I haven't seen any problems yet. But I have only had the tank for a little over 7 months. The previous owner didn't use MH as it was set up as a FOWLR. I do have the lights about 18" from the top of the tank right now.

Also when I move the tank from my garage into it's permanant room, it will be enclosed so I'll have more room above it to place a light mover. My tank is 7' long and so I'm thinking of two lights and letting them move the full distance of the tank. we'll see what happens. I'm going to have monti caps for SPS but will have them mounted up higher in the tank.

Have fun and I'll be watching. Mine is on a bit of a hold right now. Got a big trip coming up so I can't move the tank until after I get back.

 

[jnarowe]

The R/C Man Anytime! Those babies are like gold out here!!

blown63chevy 18" is fairly high up and so you may not see much affect. The lamps that were over this tank were very close and that's what did the damage. I also blow the air between the bracing and the lamps so that helps too.

 

[Crusty Old Shellback]

Yea, right now it's just a temporay setup in my garage. I bought a complete up and running system INCLUDING some nice show fish. I added in the Mh as I got a deal on them and also had to move a couple of my corals into it since they got to big for my 45G tank. My toadstool I moved in there is now 15 + inches across.

I finally have the room just about done so after my trip, I get to start the move planning. The lights will be lower once it's moved and set up. I do plan on having air cirlucation to the outside in the upper portion of the encloseure.

Thanks.

 

[RedEyeReef]

Greg,
Nice to see that acrylic in the shape of a box finally instead of sheets lying against the wall. I can't wait to see water in it. Let me know when you are ready for some frags.


blown63chevy,
We are lucky to have relatively cheap power here in the NW. I run similar power consumption to what Greg is planning and my reef adds about $75 a month to my electrical bill.

 

[The R/C Man]

Tell me about it! Boy, that acrylic has been sitting for a year just waiting for me to transform it into a glass house for sea creatures. lol Now that it is getting close to being completed I am getting anxious.

I guess the repair on the boo boo worked great. As soon as I receive a pic I will post it......

 

[Crusty Old Shellback]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6851035#post6851035 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RedEyeReef
blown63chevy,
We are lucky to have relatively cheap power here in the NW. I run similar power consumption to what Greg is planning and my reef adds about $75 a month to my electrical bill.

Yea we know things aren't cheap down here. :lol:

But you can't beat the weather. Almost year round riding weather here.

 

[RedEyeReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6855052#post6855052 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by blown63chevy
Yea we know things aren't cheap down here. :lol:

But you can't beat the weather. Almost year round riding weather here.

Oh your killing me... I tried to ride last weekend but it was barely above freezing, yesterday was snowing, today is about 45 and fairly clear but I am stuck in the office...

You got me there.