A Great Way to ruin a perfect wall; My 400 Gallon Project
- Thread starter SERVO
- Start date
. I am trying to see what I can do about that.
extinguishfire
New member
Residential fire sprinklers are an awesome idea for any home. A lot of cities now are requiring them in homes over a certain square footage like 4 or 5000. I tried getting my builder to let me put one in my home during the construction but the ****ants wouldn't let any outside contractors come in until closing. The only real good way to do it is preconstruction. But it can be retrofitted after the fact if need be. Although it can be at time a bit more expensive cause you have to demo then finish it out again. Also I found out in researching that for most systems you will need a 3/4 inch meter and most residential construction the standard meter installed is 1/2 inch. I recommend to anybody building a home to check into residential sprinkler systems cause it will make a big impact on life safety, property damage and out of house time.
SERVO
New member
The system is triggered off by heat. (At least that is my understanding). The risk of the room getting 160 degrees is minimal. You can purchase heads that trigger off of different temperatures.
I would rather risk having the sprinker go off and ruining a pump than the risk of an electrical fire in my fishroom ruining my home. The value of what is in my home far exceeds what is in the fish room! If I would retrofit such a safety net for the other sensitive equipment.
It is currently just a thought that I am kicking around. The first thing I do is install a home natural gas generator. That should happen in the next 2 years. Those things are mucho dinero!
I would rather risk having the sprinker go off and ruining a pump than the risk of an electrical fire in my fishroom ruining my home. The value of what is in my home far exceeds what is in the fish room! If I would retrofit such a safety net for the other sensitive equipment.
It is currently just a thought that I am kicking around. The first thing I do is install a home natural gas generator. That should happen in the next 2 years. Those things are mucho dinero!
"The first thing I do is install a home natural gas generator."
Have any more info on this? I'm thinking of a home digester like I used to run at the treatment plant?
... or a can of beans? :lol:
Also, check with your insurance company on the sprinklers. Some will give you a discount, but some will charge you MORE, since if they go off you will claim water damage. Geez.
Have any more info on this? I'm thinking of a home digester like I used to run at the treatment plant?
... or a can of beans? :lol:
Also, check with your insurance company on the sprinklers. Some will give you a discount, but some will charge you MORE, since if they go off you will claim water damage. Geez.
SERVO
New member
H20eng, here is a great generator. I never have to worry about not having power. The unit has the ability to run my home's electricity by using natural gas or LP gas to carry up to 15,000/13,000 watts.
http://store.elitegenerators.com/15kw-guardian-model-4390.html
The problem with these units is that they are VERY expensive to install. I hear that the instillation can cost as much as the units!
(BTW, I have a friend who could run his house off of his own natural gas without beans).
You know, every single business and department store have sprinkler systems installed in order to follow code. Antecdotally, you never hear of a department store that has lost all of their merchandise because the sprinkler system went off! I think that these things misfiring sounds more like a urban legend. The security that these items can offer are priceless. Unfortunately, they are REALLY expensive items and not very practical to obtain.
http://store.elitegenerators.com/15kw-guardian-model-4390.html
The problem with these units is that they are VERY expensive to install. I hear that the instillation can cost as much as the units!
(BTW, I have a friend who could run his house off of his own natural gas without beans).
You know, every single business and department store have sprinkler systems installed in order to follow code. Antecdotally, you never hear of a department store that has lost all of their merchandise because the sprinkler system went off! I think that these things misfiring sounds more like a urban legend. The security that these items can offer are priceless. Unfortunately, they are REALLY expensive items and not very practical to obtain.
melev
Well-known member
A long time ago at Burger King, the fire suppression system went off for no reason. All you saw was a huge cloudy puff of smoke come out of the food prep area, and employees soon thereafter. It would require the store close for half a day at least to clean up the mess, and it was everywhere. This happened three times during the five years I worked for them, and not in the same store.
You're right that I've never heard of water sprinklers going off for no reason. I wonder why that is.
You're right that I've never heard of water sprinklers going off for no reason. I wonder why that is.
Well Duh! :hmm2:
Here I'm thinking you want to generate natural gas! I need to quit reading so much about alternative energy!
I hear you on the sprinklers. Its frustrating how much grief insurance companies can cause.
There is some great CPVC sprinkler stuff out there now, even PEX stuff that your domestic water flows through. It really gets expensive if you need a booster pump, but for a couple heads it shouldnt be too bad. The big expense is that most codes will only let certified installers put them in, even though its no harder to do than plumbing a faucet.
We get the NFPA Journal at work, and there are a ton of stories about one sprinkler head saving whole buildings. A nice peace of mind if you can afford it.
There are a lot of common sense electrical safety issues that I see on a lot of tanks. Yours looks pretty good already.
Mark,
Resturants use a dry powdered agent or a foam with a nitrogen propellant, and thats why they are such a mess. Ours gets serviced every 6 months, and has never gone off unintentionally.
Its a cable based setup, so that fusible links melt and let it go, or a pull station relases it.
Here I'm thinking you want to generate natural gas! I need to quit reading so much about alternative energy!
I hear you on the sprinklers. Its frustrating how much grief insurance companies can cause.
There is some great CPVC sprinkler stuff out there now, even PEX stuff that your domestic water flows through. It really gets expensive if you need a booster pump, but for a couple heads it shouldnt be too bad. The big expense is that most codes will only let certified installers put them in, even though its no harder to do than plumbing a faucet.
We get the NFPA Journal at work, and there are a ton of stories about one sprinkler head saving whole buildings. A nice peace of mind if you can afford it.
There are a lot of common sense electrical safety issues that I see on a lot of tanks. Yours looks pretty good already.
Mark,
Resturants use a dry powdered agent or a foam with a nitrogen propellant, and thats why they are such a mess. Ours gets serviced every 6 months, and has never gone off unintentionally.
Its a cable based setup, so that fusible links melt and let it go, or a pull station relases it.
SERVO
New member
I would love to have solar as an adjunctant energy source. The set up cost is way out of my range. If I ever become a millionaire I do it, but untill then I'll wait .
The attractive aspect of the gas generator is security. We get pretty nasty storms out of the blue and to spend 4K on a generator when I have spent more than that on the tank is a good investment IMO.
I would love to be able to give the gas company the bad finger. I hate OPEC and their evil influence on the other energy companies. :mad2: The problem with Solar is finding someone experienced and truly knowledgeable. I would not want to be someone's first set up. From what I understand, the solar panels are much better now then they ever have been. I want to make sure whom ever puts the system together has done it a few hundred times. But for now, I continue to use these boards as a medium to keep dreaming!
.The attractive aspect of the gas generator is security. We get pretty nasty storms out of the blue and to spend 4K on a generator when I have spent more than that on the tank is a good investment IMO.
I would love to be able to give the gas company the bad finger. I hate OPEC and their evil influence on the other energy companies. :mad2: The problem with Solar is finding someone experienced and truly knowledgeable. I would not want to be someone's first set up. From what I understand, the solar panels are much better now then they ever have been. I want to make sure whom ever puts the system together has done it a few hundred times. But for now, I continue to use these boards as a medium to keep dreaming!
Morgandy
New member
Ryan, I haven't kept up since, gosh, maybe when you changed that old awesome avatar out!?!?!? (or maybe when you stopped posting the all important pictures!) First the important stuff, which none of the gents seemed to digest fully.. congrats on the mer-baby!! February is coming soon, hope you guys are psyched!
The tank looks great, the dangling corals are like sea dragons so it's a 'lovely' effect. After hearing how you did the backside, I'm considering peeling off the too-bright blue paint and doing the velcro deal with a deeper blue acrylic.
I hope the tank comes together for you again with the problems you've had..it's looking great from the recent shots.
The tank looks great, the dangling corals are like sea dragons so it's a 'lovely' effect. After hearing how you did the backside, I'm considering peeling off the too-bright blue paint and doing the velcro deal with a deeper blue acrylic.
I hope the tank comes together for you again with the problems you've had..it's looking great from the recent shots.
srfndoc
New member
What is this plastic stuff called and can you get it in different colors besides black?
Thanks
All I did was take some industrial strength Velcro, place it on the back of the tank and stick the board up. It will come off easy to inspect the back of the tank. Unfortunately, the overflow boxes were black, so I was stuck with the black hole. What do you guys think?
:
Thanks
All I did was take some industrial strength Velcro, place it on the back of the tank and stick the board up. It will come off easy to inspect the back of the tank. Unfortunately, the overflow boxes were black, so I was stuck with the black hole. What do you guys think?
melev
Well-known member
Coroplast Signs
Coroplast is a corrugated plastic material. It is light weight and is excellent for low-cost short-term signs. It is 1/8" thick. The base color is white but can be coated-out with any vinyl color to provide almost any colored background. Because of it's translucent properties, it is not well suited for double sided signs unless it is coated-out. It is available up to 4' x 8' maximum size. Ideal for special events, directional signs and short-term sale and real estate signs.
You can get it from any plastic supplier where acrylic can be purchased, such as Regal Plastics or Allied Plastics. Places like FastSigns will have it too, and probably places like Hobby Lobby as well.
You can get huge pieces for very little money.
Coroplast is a corrugated plastic material. It is light weight and is excellent for low-cost short-term signs. It is 1/8" thick. The base color is white but can be coated-out with any vinyl color to provide almost any colored background. Because of it's translucent properties, it is not well suited for double sided signs unless it is coated-out. It is available up to 4' x 8' maximum size. Ideal for special events, directional signs and short-term sale and real estate signs.
You can get it from any plastic supplier where acrylic can be purchased, such as Regal Plastics or Allied Plastics. Places like FastSigns will have it too, and probably places like Hobby Lobby as well.
You can get huge pieces for very little money.
BAJA272
Premium Member
Marc:
The fire sprinkler is highly effective. It is exceptionally rare for them to discharge without some form of mechanical impact. They function when a predetermined temp is reached and only when that sprinkler head is affected. Some people think they all go off at once like in the movies (deluge system used in high risk occupancies like factory spraying operations). The reality is a typical fire is extinguished or at least held in place (does not spread) by one or two heads. The typical residential head flows far less than your smallest pump for your reef tank, so the reality is your at a higher risk of water damage is from the tank. The plumbing is very simple and if you want to, NFPA allows a six head or less system to be attached to your domestic water supply. The use of "CPVC" has made it as simple as your basic fish tank plumbing.
The fire sprinkler is highly effective. It is exceptionally rare for them to discharge without some form of mechanical impact. They function when a predetermined temp is reached and only when that sprinkler head is affected. Some people think they all go off at once like in the movies (deluge system used in high risk occupancies like factory spraying operations). The reality is a typical fire is extinguished or at least held in place (does not spread) by one or two heads. The typical residential head flows far less than your smallest pump for your reef tank, so the reality is your at a higher risk of water damage is from the tank. The plumbing is very simple and if you want to, NFPA allows a six head or less system to be attached to your domestic water supply. The use of "CPVC" has made it as simple as your basic fish tank plumbing.
SERVO
New member
Thanks for the input BAJA272.
Amy; Tammy and I are excited about our first edition to our family!!! We will find out what we are having in only 2 months. Last New Years eve "childless". Until then we wait with a hand full of names and a bulging belly
I changed my avatar because someone complained that it wasn't appropriate for the site. No sense of humor I guess
I guess either I am too sick and twisted or not sensitive enough. I am waiting to finally finish cooking that BIG rock that I took out filled with algae. That is the oddest thing. Not a single rock had any problems except that one. There was no algae on it when it went into the tank. I kept it in for about 6 weeks and it never spread. Since the tangs didn't do much to it in the first two days, I pulled it out. I have had it out of the tank for about 2 months now. Half of my indolent outlook to putting this rock back into the tank is based on a few factors; 1st, the thing weighs 50 pounds and lifting it 6 feet off the ground and back into the tank is a task that I'd rather put off for another day. 2nd, I want to be totally sure that I have leached out as many phospates as I can given the fact that 4 tangs are S*** machines. Plus, I haven't been a good boy with the cooking technique. I have only changed out the water 4 times
Anyway, Once I get the rock back into the tank, I will lose my Sea dragon effect. I will dremmel all of the live tissue off of the skeleton base and eppoxy the remaining pieces onto my massive rock! I anticipate that I am going to get some really cool frags to put into my tank.
BTW: Every single coral in my tank has come from a frag. I don't believe in wild caught colonies for ecological reasons, risk of parasites and of course you select for hardy corals
. In three years when it actually looks good....tbooher:
The coroplast is cheap and looks good. I was concered that you could see the ridging when looking through the tank. I can't appreciate that unless the lights are off, so who cares! Again, I had to go with black because of the over flows, but since a sheet of the material is only $30 bucks, I could pick up different colors (Red and White in December, Green in march, Red, White and Blue in July) Just kidding. I wouldn't mind seeing what I deep sea blue looked like, but I think that the three big black overflows will look awkward. THe problem is that it took me about 5 months to finally get my primary backing on the tank. Do you think I'll go out and get a second sheet anytime soon? :lol:
I love the convience of it. I can easily peel off the back and look thru the tank, check out the status of my closed loop drain, look into the bottom of the tank behind the rocks. Its cool!
So I used the 10K Coralvue Reeflux bulbs. Unfortunately, one burned out after only having it for 3 weeks. Anthony at Reef Excotics has been great to work with. He sent out a replacement without any problems. The bulbs are fantastic. They are the best thing that I have done for my reef! It looks stunning with that spectrum over it! I think that the 12 K would look way too blue.:rolleye1: Not for me.
"thats ok if you like your tank to look like Papa Smurf pee'd in it" {Sanjay Joshi}
So now I'm at the point of just adding odds and ends that I didn't buy up front. I really want an aquacontroller. I would love to know what is up with my tank when I am out of town. I travel a fair amount for conferences, and would love to log on to see the status of things. A couple of local reefers here have web cams hooked up and set so you can manipulate where the camera is looking. I don't feel like I need to go that extreme.
For now I just add corals and wait for it to mature into total beauty! Like a crack addict looking to score, I search for premium high quality rare SPS
SERVO
New member
Welcome to Reefcentral JPA!
That is the beauty of this site, you can pick and choose what others have done and pick the best of all ideas for what is right for you.
This thread has been alot of fun to continue to put together. When I had so many logistical problems in the beginning, it was somewhat therapeutic for me!
It is nice to laugh about it now.
The tank is comming along really nice, I'll post an updated picture soon with my rock back in and new frags.
I hope that you can have an in wall that is perfect for you. Feel free to post any questions that you have. If I don't get to them first, someone else will!
The bottom line to learn from all of these posts is that a beautiful reef takes time and careful planning, while a ton of patience is paramount. A little bit of spare cash (sometimes a lot of bit
:lol
helps too!
Good Luck!:rollface:
That is the beauty of this site, you can pick and choose what others have done and pick the best of all ideas for what is right for you.
This thread has been alot of fun to continue to put together. When I had so many logistical problems in the beginning, it was somewhat therapeutic for me!
It is nice to laugh about it now. The tank is comming along really nice, I'll post an updated picture soon with my rock back in and new frags.
I hope that you can have an in wall that is perfect for you. Feel free to post any questions that you have. If I don't get to them first, someone else will!
The bottom line to learn from all of these posts is that a beautiful reef takes time and careful planning, while a ton of patience is paramount. A little bit of spare cash (sometimes a lot of bit
:lol
helps too!Good Luck!:rollface:
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