600 gallon Acrylic Reef
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Travis L. Stevens
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....the fun of taking more pictures for us?..... 
Travis L. Stevens
New member
Oh that is AWESOME looking!!! Are you going to put some sort of waterproof coating over it? I know it is "powdered", but what about many coats of some varnish? Would that deter scratches?
Don't forget a coat out in your garage there. It looks a little chilly.
Also, you have PM
Don't forget a coat out in your garage there. It looks a little chilly.
Also, you have PM
While working on the designs for this tank I really needed to get a feel for how I was going to plumb it all and where all the power was coming from etc...So..I decided to draw a picture. Having plenty of time to spare I thought it would be cool to draw one like Twize and other people have done for their large setups. Before I began I always assumed that they did these just for show. I have to tell you, I learned a lot that I hadnt thought about regarding the layout of the "fish room". Below is what I came up with. There are still modifications to be made to this basic layout:
Once I had the layout figured I began running through my head what I would need for this to work as I designed. The reservoir tank is there to make water changes easy. The basic idea is to isolate it from the sytem at the two valves in and out of it drain the water refill it with RODI add salt, heat it up and reopen the valves. I then realized I hadnt added a drain to the reservoir nor a feed from the 200g storage drum. Ok..so its no big deal, but by doing that now on paper I save myself headaches down the way.
Plus....I know how many bulkheads to buy before I begin.
The system incorporates an auto top off on the main receipt/return tank. This keeps water levels constant. The flow is split, most goes thru the chiller to the tank. Part gets routed up the wall to the chaeto tank, from there the oxygen rich water goes through my shallow frag tank to flow down into the reservoir or receipt tank. I was thinking of adding an extra barrel in there full of rock rubble to help in filtration....im still undecided about that one.
P.
Once I had the layout figured I began running through my head what I would need for this to work as I designed. The reservoir tank is there to make water changes easy. The basic idea is to isolate it from the sytem at the two valves in and out of it drain the water refill it with RODI add salt, heat it up and reopen the valves. I then realized I hadnt added a drain to the reservoir nor a feed from the 200g storage drum. Ok..so its no big deal, but by doing that now on paper I save myself headaches down the way.
Plus....I know how many bulkheads to buy before I begin.
The system incorporates an auto top off on the main receipt/return tank. This keeps water levels constant. The flow is split, most goes thru the chiller to the tank. Part gets routed up the wall to the chaeto tank, from there the oxygen rich water goes through my shallow frag tank to flow down into the reservoir or receipt tank. I was thinking of adding an extra barrel in there full of rock rubble to help in filtration....im still undecided about that one.
P.
Knyght
New member
Nice drawing Paul, just one question though. Why are you feeding the chaeto and frag tank from the return? Why not just tee it off the tank drain line, wouldn`t that increase the return pump`s volume back to the display, instead of taking away from it to feed those tanks?
:beachbum:
:beachbum:
the drawing is misleading in that both the tank return and feeds do not go "up" the wall but through the wall at ground level. Thats why the tanks need to be fed from the return pump.
The idea is tank water hits the skimmer first, hopefully removing most of the crud. The skimmer outflow will drain over a basket to catch large waste particles, before hitting the main reservoir tank. From there the main pump feeds back to the show, or up to the chaeto.
The idea is tank water hits the skimmer first, hopefully removing most of the crud. The skimmer outflow will drain over a basket to catch large waste particles, before hitting the main reservoir tank. From there the main pump feeds back to the show, or up to the chaeto.
Im also of the opinion that its better to remove a little water from the tank through the overflows than a lot, that way you concentrate the ratio of surface film to water hitting the skimmer. Improves the overall skimmer efficiency.
Im not concerned about flow in the main tank being created by the return pump, thats the job of the CL and tunzes.
Im not concerned about flow in the main tank being created by the return pump, thats the job of the CL and tunzes.
An update on my lack of progress.....
My Bulkheads have arrived, 16 1.5inch bulkheads and 2 strainers for the main CL intakes.
The larger Sch 80 Bulkheads have come from Savko and are ready for the overflows.
Heres a pic of what they look like. If you have not seen the Sch80s they are much larger in construction and consequently require a larger hole for them to fit through. FWIW...glass cages tanks are drilled for sch80 bulkheads. Regular bulkheads will not work....just thought I would pass that along.
and without the strainer fitted so you can compare sizes...
I can begin the drilling and placement of the bulkheads ready for installation of the rest of the plumbing.
I still need to order the OM 4 way and a reef flo pump, but Im guessing it will be a few weeks before they are needed.
The next step is to mark out my dining room and get the edge of the tiles cut ready to take up. I had laid tile in this room a while back not thinking that i would be doing such a large tank.....Im glad I hadnt grouted them in. I hate grouting and I would be mad if I had wasted my time doing that.
Here is a shot of my dining room, as it stands right now:
As you can see, it is quite long. The chest thing on the left side is the housing for my current sump. That will be going. You can see the window on the right which is where the false wall will be going in front of and the door for access at the left.
As I said, next job is to mark the tiles where the stand and false wall will be and get them up.....
thats my task for the weekend.
Paul
My Bulkheads have arrived, 16 1.5inch bulkheads and 2 strainers for the main CL intakes.
The larger Sch 80 Bulkheads have come from Savko and are ready for the overflows.
Heres a pic of what they look like. If you have not seen the Sch80s they are much larger in construction and consequently require a larger hole for them to fit through. FWIW...glass cages tanks are drilled for sch80 bulkheads. Regular bulkheads will not work....just thought I would pass that along.
and without the strainer fitted so you can compare sizes...
I can begin the drilling and placement of the bulkheads ready for installation of the rest of the plumbing.
I still need to order the OM 4 way and a reef flo pump, but Im guessing it will be a few weeks before they are needed.
The next step is to mark out my dining room and get the edge of the tiles cut ready to take up. I had laid tile in this room a while back not thinking that i would be doing such a large tank.....Im glad I hadnt grouted them in. I hate grouting and I would be mad if I had wasted my time doing that.
Here is a shot of my dining room, as it stands right now:
As you can see, it is quite long. The chest thing on the left side is the housing for my current sump. That will be going. You can see the window on the right which is where the false wall will be going in front of and the door for access at the left.
As I said, next job is to mark the tiles where the stand and false wall will be and get them up.....
thats my task for the weekend.
Paul
Well...i did the task I set myself this weekend:
Some pics for those who may be interested.
I laid out the wall and the base of the tank in painters tape on the floor. I dont have tile laid where my sump currently sits (on the LHS) do only one side of the wall and the tank are laid out.
The tank sticks out from the false wall by 6 inches.
So....tile saw in hand I cut the line at the front so I dont need to re-lay those tiles. Then, 14lb hammer in hand and a cold chisel and pry bar....i began stripping tile.
Next job, layouit the base struts of the stand and remove every tile that touches the stand.
then clean up....(I hate that part)
If anyone is wondering why I left some tiles down, it makes it easier to realign the tile on the day I come to re-lay the tile when I may sell my home. Hopefully not for a while.
Next step....Get the current sump for my 225 moved and then get the stand in and positioned.
Paul.
Some pics for those who may be interested.
I laid out the wall and the base of the tank in painters tape on the floor. I dont have tile laid where my sump currently sits (on the LHS) do only one side of the wall and the tank are laid out.
The tank sticks out from the false wall by 6 inches.
So....tile saw in hand I cut the line at the front so I dont need to re-lay those tiles. Then, 14lb hammer in hand and a cold chisel and pry bar....i began stripping tile.
Next job, layouit the base struts of the stand and remove every tile that touches the stand.
then clean up....(I hate that part)
If anyone is wondering why I left some tiles down, it makes it easier to realign the tile on the day I come to re-lay the tile when I may sell my home. Hopefully not for a while.
Next step....Get the current sump for my 225 moved and then get the stand in and positioned.
Paul.
Travis L. Stevens
New member
Beautiful, Paul. Thank you for sharing. I assume your wife was kind enough to play into taking pictures of you geared up to make us think you were working on it? :lmao: We know you contracted someone else out to do your dirty work 
Seriously, it looks great and it seems to be going along smoothly. Did you hit any "pot holes" while working or planning anything?
Seriously, it looks great and it seems to be going along smoothly. Did you hit any "pot holes" while working or planning anything?
Thanks Tony....
If anyone needs tile laying....I have done a fair amount.
I will be laying tile once I have that sump moved. Im not looking forward to that job, It shouldnt be a major task, but its heavy even when drained, so it may need a couple of hands extra.
Paul.
If anyone needs tile laying....I have done a fair amount.
I will be laying tile once I have that sump moved. Im not looking forward to that job, It shouldnt be a major task, but its heavy even when drained, so it may need a couple of hands extra.
Paul.
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