a miracle delivery... need advice

[superkat]

Jon, i'm really glad you think so...because i liked them there as well...i know those dudes are pretty powerful.

 

[zooman72]

Are you concerned that the dry box for the Vortech motors won't "bleed" off enough heat into the surrounding water of the overflow quickly enough? It looks kinda small....hopefully that is not an issue, because I think their placement is interesting! Good luck!

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

If it were me, I would not be concerned. Acrylic is a pretty good insulator, compared air. You'll get a nice little convection current carrying most of the heat up and out of that box (assuming the top is open!). Worst case, a tiny little fan will create more than enough airflow in the box to negate any heating of the water in the overflow.

 

[Willistein]

The motors in the overflow would make me nervous, but it could work fine too. How will you assure they won't get wet? These are low wattage so heat is no issue. I'd worry about the flow in the tank as Gary is alluding to, and them getting wet. Good thing is, you can change them later.

 

[solRNY]

Re: those chairs. Yeah, I was daydreaming. I'd never spend that much on chairs (at least not with kids running around wrecking everything) but a friend has that exact recliner and it's an absolute dream.

A Dart will be worthless on 13ft of head, especially when you T off a few reactors. They're really low-pressure, high flow pumps at heart. A Barracuda would probably work fine, or one of the Reeflo UNO pumps depending on how much flow you wanted.

thanks for the info, i will get a barracuda instead, i do too much day dreaming too

Jeez. Finally took the time to ready through this whole thing from front to back. Amazing looking setup here! Consider me a part of the "following closely" crowd for this thread.

hi there, i am glad this thread got your interest, hopfully you didnt get bored for the first parts was slooow... thanks for the compilments

Well if you are in Orlando swing on by. I am in the process of redoing the rock work to help with the flow (btw its a long process for me and may take weeks lol). There are a lot of dead spots due to my "pile of rock" in the back. I love that dry box in your overflow that is really a cool idea! Alright so I can't wait to see it with water.

i am excited to see your new scape; cant wait, get going

i think its hard to scape cubes to have three really interesting viewing sides and have then all connected, i actually thinking of going rockless and scaping with sweeping acrylic waves, maybe some thing like a sweeping infiniti crossing, not sure if sps will grow on them, lots of question still..

 

[solRNY]

Lang, I personally like the design/placement of the Vortechs attached to the overflow. I don't think you will have any issues, especially with those flashy MP40W ES's and the new 'nutrient export' mode! I like it, a lot...
Thanks! If you ever make it out this way, feel free to stop by! Hopefully I'll get my ATI fixture by then and I can put all of the T5 haters to shame!

hi jon! thanks for the compliments the ATI fixture is going to rock over your rimmless beauty, cant wait to see all the colors pop even more!

Jon, i'm really glad you think so...because i liked them there as well...i know those dudes are pretty powerful.

i am pretty powerful too as i helped move the tank, j/k i actually got in the way more than anything

Are you concerned that the dry box for the Vortech motors won't "bleed" off enough heat into the surrounding water of the overflow quickly enough? It looks kinda small....hopefully that is not an issue, because I think their placement is interesting! Good luck!

i have not actually thought of the heat from the mp40s, have not played with one yet, a concern too if i mount them on the bottom pane, i really dont know, hopefully it wont amount to much, i will find out the hard way

If it were me, I would not be concerned. Acrylic is a pretty good insulator, compared air. You'll get a nice little convection current carrying most of the heat up and out of that box (assuming the top is open!). Worst case, a tiny little fan will create more than enough airflow in the box to negate any heating of the water in the overflow.

thanks der, the top will be open, for the heat and all the evaporation that i dont know how to handle yet

The motors in the overflow would make me nervous, but it could work fine too. How will you assure they won't get wet? These are low wattage so heat is no issue. I'd worry about the flow in the tank as Gary is alluding to, and them getting wet. Good thing is, you can change them later.

i cant assure they wont get wet

the dry box was design in such a way that it "should" divert overflow water to the sides and not travel up, i might have to tweek this a little, will have to test this before installing the mp40s, i also have a emergency drain and will have a float switch to turn off the return pump if the water level rises too much.

yeah, gary got me worried now too!

 

[zooman72]

The "wetness" concern is quite valid, but heat is still one for me. They may be relatively low-wattage, but they still get warm, and that is outside the tank with all the convection that is allowed in the "open" environment. These will be enclosed in acrylic (good insulator) in a relatively small space, and I might anticipate heat to climb in there. These pumps have an auto shut-off for overheating, so it must have been considered during design. Low-wattage compact flo. bulbs still get very hot (thank you Coralife!) - even my 9" 18W PC (2x9W) on my 2.5g reaches over 140 degrees F on the outer casing. I just don't think these were meant to be enclosed, and of course I could be wrong (and I hope I am), but would hate to see you go through all this and not have them fuction long! Maybe one of their techs could help?

 

[solRNY]

The "wetness" concern is quite valid, but heat is still one for me. They may be relatively low-wattage, but they still get warm, and that is outside the tank with all the convection that is allowed in the "open" environment. These will be enclosed in acrylic (good insulator) in a relatively small space, and I might anticipate heat to climb in there. These pumps have an auto shut-off for overheating, so it must have been considered during design. Low-wattage compact flo. bulbs still get very hot (thank you Coralife!) - even my 9" 18W PC (2x9W) on my 2.5g reaches over 140 degrees F on the outer casing. I just don't think these were meant to be enclosed, and of course I could be wrong (and I hope I am), but would hate to see you go through all this and not have them fuction long! Maybe one of their techs could help?

you make a valid point, i know nothing of these mp40s when i considered using them, didnt even know they turn off when hot, sounds like i might need a small fan or something but this can be difficult, thanks for the advice

i thought this pic is interesting, the foam being crushed on the bottom of the 500lb tank which took 3 person to move, or is it?

 

[matt & pam]

Nice tank.

What is your plan for landscaping in the tank? How do you plan to address humidity in the display room? If heat becomes an issue for the votechs, perhaps you could have a false back created to enclose the dry side of the pumps and just tint the two exposed sides of the back. The dry sides/wiring could remain hidden but also outside of the overflow.

Will this be barebottom or do you plan any sand?

Matt

 

[Pacific Reefs]

I think you may end up putting the vortechs on the back of the tank, near the top and near the corners. If you have 2 that close it might be too much flow in that area imo. That would also solve any heat issues. Oh and maybe you can cut the top on the dry box and make it a mangrove holder?

 

[solRNY]

Nice tank.

What is your plan for landscaping in the tank? How do you plan to address humidity in the display room? If heat becomes an issue for the votechs, perhaps you could have a false back created to enclose the dry side of the pumps and just tint the two exposed sides of the back. The dry sides/wiring could remain hidden but also outside of the overflow.

Will this be barebottom or do you plan any sand?

Matt

hi matt, thanks for the kind words

as for landscaping... please dont laugh, i am thinking i want to try and use acrylic sheets to make "sweeping waves and arches", something like a 3D infiniti symbol, something 3D... not sure at all... not sure if i can even form the acrylic sheets,

regarding humidity, were planning to add a "Heat Recovery Ventilator" unit to the home at some point, not sure if this will be the fix all...

this will be a BB with will be very little sand, just enough to give some texture from the sea of black

great idea about the false back, thanks! have to compile all these ideas together and see which will work out best

 

[solRNY]

I think you may end up putting the vortechs on the back of the tank, near the top and near the corners. If you have 2 that close it might be too much flow in that area imo. That would also solve any heat issues. Oh and maybe you can cut the top on the dry box and make it a mangrove holder?

thanks for the input tom, i think your right, in the end the mp40s probably be in the corners, two mp40s might be too much for the center,

i like mangroves, i like green petals, actually we have lots of orchids in the house probably not helping with the humidity issue, have to get rid of the redundants

hows your rock scaping coming along?!! cant wait to see what you come up with

 

[matt & pam]

I've seen some who create an acrylic "pathway" and ziptie small liverock to create a "floating" architectural reef. Sounds like an excellent idea for your tank.


Here is an example of one idea:

 

[matt & pam]

http://media.photobucket.com/image/acrylic reef structure/Basilesim/Pegging club/DSC05388.jpg

 

[shawna1972]

Tank is jaw dropping! Love your attention to detail on this build! I love the island placement as well. Cant wait to see this tank up and running!

 

[solRNY]

http://media.photobucket.com/image/acrylic reef structure/Basilesim/Pegging club/DSC05388.jpg

this i believe is the famous "bonsai inspired" scaping, its truly one of a kind! it does have a 3d effect... probably end up with something similar

Tank is jaw dropping! Love your attention to detail on this build! I love the island placement as well. Cant wait to see this tank up and running!

thanks for the compilments shawna! i think we will stick with the island placement even though the tank is not ideal for it-missed that detail, arg



going to begin the basement framing soon, so there wont be anything exciting for a while... besides receiving some new toys

took this picture becuase my wife pointed the difference to me, i now can see.... just thought it was interesting

 

[superkat]

the tint in the glass?

 

[iamwrasseman]

okay to the basement with you and get the floor supported !

 

[Capt_Cully]

the tint in the glass?

Starphire front and sides, regular glass on back.

 

[Pacific Reefs]

this i believe is the famous "bonsai inspired" scaping, its truly one of a kind! it does have a 3d effect... probably end up with something similar


thanks for the compilments shawna! i think we will stick with the island placement even though the tank is not ideal for it-missed that detail, arg



going to begin the basement framing soon, so there wont be anything exciting for a while... besides receiving some new toys

took this picture becuase my wife pointed the difference to me, i now can see.... just thought it was interesting

Its definitely a big difference!!!