otterpop510
New member
wow.. its inspirational to follow this thread, great stuff sean!!
A First Plywood Project...
- Thread starter Sean : EbN
- Start date
Sean : EbN
New member
Hey guys...
guntercb : Thanks a LOT! I'm not sure if they will give me tank of the month since I am a retail "pet shop" but your comment was flattering anyways
I'll post more pics as I can!
pepsi69taste : No problem... I'll try to keep to it a little better!
Covey : Yes the green PCX 40 is running the Euro Reef, however this is a recirculating ER so there is no air being injected with/by the PCX 40. I love this skimmer... mega dollars but a SWEET piece of equipment! I guess they are still cheaper than Deltec? HAHA As for the MRC stuff... I love it! I really like that feel that Andy gives that all the products are handmade and "custom". I think the service that I have gotten from him has been the best yet (followed by Oceans Motions). I have the CR6 Dual, the Nilsen and then I have an MR3 Skimmer on my rock curing tanks. That skimmer is fantastic. It hasn't taken much tinkering to get it good. They are really never "dialed in" though, ERs definitely work that way. My ER RC500 is just set and forget, all I have to do is wash the cup. I really like that. I think the expandability of the MRC skimmers is a great selling point! He uses Blue Line but Pan World is the same exact thing.
otterpop510 : Thanks a lot! I always loved reading threads like this on here so I'm glad I can contribute with my own!
A quick update... I completed the corner "rock rack" today and decided to try lacing small pieces of rock to the PVC pipes around the perimeter of the shelves to hide the structure of the rack. It worked pretty well! This Fiji Totoka live rock that I got is really airy, it has a ton of tight passages and holes in it so it was easy to use the 18" cable ties I had to bind the small pieces to the rack. I think it came out GREAT! I will post a pic later tonight of the main rack that was photo'd earlier in this thread. I took it out of the tank and laced it up with rock as well.
I'm off to put a little more rock in the tank so I'll try to post later!
Thanks!
guntercb : Thanks a LOT! I'm not sure if they will give me tank of the month since I am a retail "pet shop" but your comment was flattering anyways
I'll post more pics as I can!pepsi69taste : No problem... I'll try to keep to it a little better!
Covey : Yes the green PCX 40 is running the Euro Reef, however this is a recirculating ER so there is no air being injected with/by the PCX 40. I love this skimmer... mega dollars but a SWEET piece of equipment! I guess they are still cheaper than Deltec? HAHA As for the MRC stuff... I love it! I really like that feel that Andy gives that all the products are handmade and "custom". I think the service that I have gotten from him has been the best yet (followed by Oceans Motions). I have the CR6 Dual, the Nilsen and then I have an MR3 Skimmer on my rock curing tanks. That skimmer is fantastic. It hasn't taken much tinkering to get it good. They are really never "dialed in" though, ERs definitely work that way. My ER RC500 is just set and forget, all I have to do is wash the cup. I really like that. I think the expandability of the MRC skimmers is a great selling point! He uses Blue Line but Pan World is the same exact thing.
otterpop510 : Thanks a lot! I always loved reading threads like this on here so I'm glad I can contribute with my own!
A quick update... I completed the corner "rock rack" today and decided to try lacing small pieces of rock to the PVC pipes around the perimeter of the shelves to hide the structure of the rack. It worked pretty well! This Fiji Totoka live rock that I got is really airy, it has a ton of tight passages and holes in it so it was easy to use the 18" cable ties I had to bind the small pieces to the rack. I think it came out GREAT! I will post a pic later tonight of the main rack that was photo'd earlier in this thread. I took it out of the tank and laced it up with rock as well.
I'm off to put a little more rock in the tank so I'll try to post later!
Thanks!
Sean : EbN
New member
Here is a quick photo update...
Here is the tank with about 3/4 of the rock that is going in it. I will have a little extra rock from the 300 lbs. bunch that I got in. The rock racks sure did save on rock. I wish I had done this years ago. The rack in the left corner is completely covered and I think it looks really good. The right rack is just barely covered other than the rock that I strapped on with the cable ties. Not all the rock is compeletely cured so I didn't want to add too much to the tank.
Here are a couple of pics of the setup with the canopy fully lifted. You can see the aluminum light box with the PFO reflectors with the socket mounted LED moonlights. I really like those things!
Here is the right rock rack when I finished straping the rock on with the cable ties. The really branchy form of this rock made it really easy to do this. The drill is just there for a size comparison. I started to drill holes in the rock but I broke a few pieces so I decided to just string it through the natural holes.
Thanks for looking...
Here is the tank with about 3/4 of the rock that is going in it. I will have a little extra rock from the 300 lbs. bunch that I got in. The rock racks sure did save on rock. I wish I had done this years ago. The rack in the left corner is completely covered and I think it looks really good. The right rack is just barely covered other than the rock that I strapped on with the cable ties. Not all the rock is compeletely cured so I didn't want to add too much to the tank.
Here are a couple of pics of the setup with the canopy fully lifted. You can see the aluminum light box with the PFO reflectors with the socket mounted LED moonlights. I really like those things!
Here is the right rock rack when I finished straping the rock on with the cable ties. The really branchy form of this rock made it really easy to do this. The drill is just there for a size comparison. I started to drill holes in the rock but I broke a few pieces so I decided to just string it through the natural holes.
Thanks for looking...
Covey
New member
If the Euro-Reef is an RC model you should try run the feed water straight off one of the overflows. You should get much better skimmer performance. PCX-40 is like what 1100GPH that is a bit brisk for a skimmer feed pump. The point of the RC skimmers is to increase dwell time. Just a thought.
The racks and rocks are looking pretty sweet.
The racks and rocks are looking pretty sweet.
Sean : EbN
New member
Hello Covey :
First off... the location of the skimmer on the shelf makes it impossible to run any type of overflow line through it, except for the refugium which is fairly low flow.
Second... ER recommended running at least double the system volume through the skimmer. The system is nearly or slightly over 500 gallons so having a pump that is 1100 gph is about right? I'm not against slowing the skimmer down at all. Anyone reading this that has an RC model... please let me know what type of flow you are running to it. That old green PCX 40 may die soon and I want to replace it with the best thing possible.
Thanks!
First off... the location of the skimmer on the shelf makes it impossible to run any type of overflow line through it, except for the refugium which is fairly low flow.
Second... ER recommended running at least double the system volume through the skimmer. The system is nearly or slightly over 500 gallons so having a pump that is 1100 gph is about right? I'm not against slowing the skimmer down at all. Anyone reading this that has an RC model... please let me know what type of flow you are running to it. That old green PCX 40 may die soon and I want to replace it with the best thing possible.
Thanks!
fishamajiggle
New member
tagging along
I have a quick question for ya. Are you a Christain? I am a "Born Again" Christain and by the way that you write and thank people for the reply's somethng just reminds me of myself and the way I would do things. You can PM me if you want to answer in a more private manor.
I don't mean to offend anyone with this post.
Respectfully
Ryan
I don't mean to offend anyone with this post.
Respectfully
Ryan
landscapen
New member
a lot of work
Sean : EbN
New member
Hey everyone,
fishamajiggle : Welcome to the thread!
rkezo : Interesting observation! While I won't get into religious discussions because I'm here to talk about our right to keep and bear marine tanks not our OTHER rights as Americans ... I think you've brought up something interesting. We (my girlfriend and myself) make a living by dealing with the public. Our business has developed both locally and nationally based on our relationship with others. Most customers/people like a polite, well mannered and spoken (or written) approach from their merchants. The internet is an amazing tool that can be helpful to countless numbers of people. I remember joining ReefCentral the first time which was MANY years ago and there were like 2500 members, no that number is over 100,000. That is 100,000 people that are seeking or sharing information on what they have loved, lost and learned. There will always be that out spoken person that thinks because they are protected by an ISP and in the safety of their locked home far away that they can act however they want with no recourse. We encounter this CONSTANTLY on the reptile forums and chatrooms on the internet as I'm sure it happens here quite a bit.
So here I am with my "little" 500 gallon system that I'm darn proud of, trying to share with others. I get new ideas from advice given to me. I give others good ideas with the information that I've posted. I love to thank each and every person that takes the time to compliment me on this tank because that means a lot to me. Its not about the "do onto others" approach, its about the decency of humanity approach!
The point of my little toem... BE NICE! BE FRIENDLY! Most importantly respect everyone, even those that know more and less that you do! Forums are no place to show the world that you are a bad ***! Good luck to you Ryan!
landscapen : HA! No Kidding!!
fishamajiggle : Welcome to the thread!
rkezo : Interesting observation! While I won't get into religious discussions because I'm here to talk about our right to keep and bear marine tanks not our OTHER rights as Americans ... I think you've brought up something interesting. We (my girlfriend and myself) make a living by dealing with the public. Our business has developed both locally and nationally based on our relationship with others. Most customers/people like a polite, well mannered and spoken (or written) approach from their merchants. The internet is an amazing tool that can be helpful to countless numbers of people. I remember joining ReefCentral the first time which was MANY years ago and there were like 2500 members, no that number is over 100,000. That is 100,000 people that are seeking or sharing information on what they have loved, lost and learned. There will always be that out spoken person that thinks because they are protected by an ISP and in the safety of their locked home far away that they can act however they want with no recourse. We encounter this CONSTANTLY on the reptile forums and chatrooms on the internet as I'm sure it happens here quite a bit.
So here I am with my "little" 500 gallon system that I'm darn proud of, trying to share with others. I get new ideas from advice given to me. I give others good ideas with the information that I've posted. I love to thank each and every person that takes the time to compliment me on this tank because that means a lot to me. Its not about the "do onto others" approach, its about the decency of humanity approach!
The point of my little toem... BE NICE! BE FRIENDLY! Most importantly respect everyone, even those that know more and less that you do! Forums are no place to show the world that you are a bad ***! Good luck to you Ryan!
landscapen : HA! No Kidding!!
fishamajiggle
New member
I agree with this approach. You have taken your time to do a step by step on how to build a insane plywood tank, forcing yourself to take pics when you would probabley rather go to bed and such. If a person came on the thread and started blasting anyone it would ruin the whole mood and inspiration factor. this tank is inspirational for me, I am a diy type of guy and would love one day to have the room in my house to build something that crazy. keep up the good work, it looks awesome.
Sean : EbN
New member
Hello everyone,
fishamajiggle : Thanks man! I'm glad you think the tank is insane. I was rather bummed that I didn't make it larger but now that it is getting somewhere FINALLY, I'm really happy with it. I'm glad I can be inspirational as I am inspired by countless numbers of tanks displayed here on RC! Glad to have to sticking around this thread
scottp : Thanks for the kind words! Would I do it again? YUP! Honestly... Had you asked the same question shortly after I completed the tank's epoxy topcoat I would have said NO WAY. However now I compare the tank build to the building of everything else (i.e. framing, plumbing, electrical, drywall, plumbing, plumbing, plumbing & did i say PLUMBING??) If I were to buy a custom tank of this size it would most certainly cost a good mit more than I invested in the tank itself. This is an inwall design made to be serviced from the front and only have the front panel viewable. This is a PRIME example of a plywood tank being PERFECT! It is strong, easily manuvered (when empty of course), inexpensive and its design is EXTREMELY flexible. It can be made from parts obtained locally with little effort. If I were to do an installation similar to this one again but MUCH larger maybe 1500 gallons or so, I wouldn't hesitate doing the plywood again. Can you use my design? Well as far as I know I'm using someone else's design. I recently saw in another thread on here that the infamous Sanjay Joshi is designing a tank similar to this and other continuos overflow designs in order to have a place to acclimate new fish and nurse sick/damaged fish back to health and he plans on doing it all right inside that overflow trough! I think it is a great idea. Just let me know when you do it because I want pics.
Leon are you still reading?!? How are you feeling and if you are feeling better we want more pics of your project!! Take care buddy if you're still tagging along!
LATER!
fishamajiggle : Thanks man! I'm glad you think the tank is insane. I was rather bummed that I didn't make it larger but now that it is getting somewhere FINALLY, I'm really happy with it. I'm glad I can be inspirational as I am inspired by countless numbers of tanks displayed here on RC! Glad to have to sticking around this thread
scottp : Thanks for the kind words! Would I do it again? YUP! Honestly... Had you asked the same question shortly after I completed the tank's epoxy topcoat I would have said NO WAY. However now I compare the tank build to the building of everything else (i.e. framing, plumbing, electrical, drywall, plumbing, plumbing, plumbing & did i say PLUMBING??) If I were to buy a custom tank of this size it would most certainly cost a good mit more than I invested in the tank itself. This is an inwall design made to be serviced from the front and only have the front panel viewable. This is a PRIME example of a plywood tank being PERFECT! It is strong, easily manuvered (when empty of course), inexpensive and its design is EXTREMELY flexible. It can be made from parts obtained locally with little effort. If I were to do an installation similar to this one again but MUCH larger maybe 1500 gallons or so, I wouldn't hesitate doing the plywood again. Can you use my design? Well as far as I know I'm using someone else's design. I recently saw in another thread on here that the infamous Sanjay Joshi is designing a tank similar to this and other continuos overflow designs in order to have a place to acclimate new fish and nurse sick/damaged fish back to health and he plans on doing it all right inside that overflow trough! I think it is a great idea. Just let me know when you do it because I want pics.
Leon are you still reading?!? How are you feeling and if you are feeling better we want more pics of your project!! Take care buddy if you're still tagging along!
LATER!
Sean : EbN
New member
Hey guys,
Kimo : Thanks! Sometimes being detail oriented is a real drag! I wish I was one of those guys who says, "Uhh that's good enough!"
Johnic : That is flexible PVC called "SpaFlex". It is sold in Home Depot and Lowe's but Savko online has it MUCH cheaper!
THANKS!
Kimo : Thanks! Sometimes being detail oriented is a real drag! I wish I was one of those guys who says, "Uhh that's good enough!"
Johnic : That is flexible PVC called "SpaFlex". It is sold in Home Depot and Lowe's but Savko online has it MUCH cheaper!
THANKS!
Sean : EbN
New member
Johnic : Good luck with your plumbing! That SpaFlex is the STUFF!!
javatech : The shipping was surprisingly low! I ordered 100ft of 1" Spa Flex and 25ft of 1.5" Spa Flex and the frieght to me was $15.00
Good luck!
javatech : The shipping was surprisingly low! I ordered 100ft of 1" Spa Flex and 25ft of 1.5" Spa Flex and the frieght to me was $15.00
Good luck!
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