A Reef Tank in the Desert - +/- 1,400 gallon system

danfeig said:
Michael from SEA will be designing and building a rack system utilizing Ecotech's new Radion hanging kit. I wanted some type of rack though that could be raised an lowered.
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Interesting. Ive seen a few different methods. A popular method is to use linear actuators, that way you can control the rack remotely. One guy did a whole counterweight rig, where the guy could actually lift a 300lb canopy with two fingers, but I haven't seen that done anywhere else. Ive also seen a few people here on RC use pulleys, so I'm excited to see what Michael comes up with.

BTW, I claim page five. :D
 
danfeig said:
.... I am hoping that by going with LED's, I am not going to have as much algae buildup on the glass ....
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Looking great so far. Will be following along. :thumbsup:

Can you elaborate more on your statement above regarding less algae build up on the glass due to having LED's?

Thank you
 
Plumbing Done!!!

Plumbing Done!!!

As I have posted a few times before, things are moving along like clockwork. Everything that SEA scheduled has gone on without a hitch. Because of my work schedule, Michael scheduled the plumbers to work on Sunday. Who ever heard of plumbers willing to work on a Sunday morning?

Saturday it was the drywall guys, yesterday the plumbers....

Back to plumbing. So we designed a closed loop system. Below is the cad drawing of what we had predrilled to make our lives a little easier.

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So at 8:30 yesterday morning Michael showed up with his box of bulkheads and lock line. Previously, I made the trip to the Home Depot to pick up all of the pvc, pipe fittings, elbows, couplings, unions, etc.

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The plumbers showed up shortly after 9:00 and immediately began inspecting everything and discussing the plumbing plan with Michael and me. After about a half our of going through everything, these guys went to town! I can not speak highly enough about these guys. They were maticulous, professional, careful and clean. There was not ONE DROP of glue or pvc cement anywhere! Everything they glued was primed first and then immediately wiped off. Rather than using all of the 90 degree and 45 degree couplings I bought, they heated the pvc pipe to make it more pliable.

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Here is a great shot of Rick after installing some of the lock line. Trapped in the cage!

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Finally a pic of the completed "closed loop" system. Check out how clean all the fittings are!

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I had no idea that PVC could be heated and bent like that. I'll keep that in mind for a future build.

Following along....
 
I belive its spa flex, that is how I get my spa flex to bend anyway. I usually use a heat gun so I don't get any black marks.
This is on awesome build. I thought I was a big spender dropping 6k on my 240. Maybe one day I can do a 50k build.
 
If they heated the PVC to make those 'flex' connections, that's a first I have seen and it's very impressive.

Being a backseat driver here, in the photo of the sump in place, it appears that the filter sock holder sits flush to the top of the sump. I would be very concerned that if a filter sock clogs up, the water will overflow out the top of the sock, across the filter sock holder and over the side of the sump.

In my experience the filter sock holder should be an inch or 2 below the sides of the sump to avoid such a situation.

If i interpreted this photo wrong, I apologize for critiquing your project -- It's an impressive project that I am enjoying watch develop.
 
thor109 said:
I belive its spa flex, that is how I get my spa flex to bend anyway. I usually use a heat gun so I don't get any black marks.
This is on awesome build. I thought I was a big spender dropping 6k on my 240. Maybe one day I can do a 50k build.
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Raptor72 said:
I had no idea that PVC could be heated and bent like that. I'll keep that in mind for a future build.

Hey guys... No, it was regular Schedule 40 1 1/2" PVC. They heated it up using a blowtorch and it became incredibly pliable.

It reminded me of one one those pool toys..."noodles". It stays like that for a minute or so before it cools. It is hot and you need to very careful not to burn yourself or to melt anything it touches.

Glad you are both following along!
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danfeig said:
I think that the lights will be one of my greatest investments for my system. That and my protein skimmer! The lights are going to save me a ton on electricity, not to mention that I most likely will be able to avoid using a chiller.

Thanks for joining in!
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cheers...hopefully one day, I will able to make the jump LOL...financially, I'm not quite there yet....a few more years and some hardworking and maybe a little luck


take more pictures! ..i love desert state
 
Holy Cow! Awesome build! I might have missed something somewhere, but the last pic in post# 72 looks like that door handle is in a really serious place were it to ever be opened with a little too much force.
 
DaveinKY said:
Holy Cow! Awesome build! I might have missed something somewhere, but the last pic in post# 72 looks like that door handle is in a really serious place were it to ever be opened with a little too much force.
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yes i questioned it too and he said something about extended doorstops as well as hinged doorstops. with a house like that i would go for the right sized solid decorative piece behind the door like a bronze elephant or a brass fish along with the doorstops.

do they make doors with slightly lower handles? that may be too awkward though
 
husslr187 said:
yes i questioned it too and he said something about extended doorstops as well as hinged doorstops. with a house like that i would go for the right sized solid decorative piece behind the door like a bronze elephant or a brass fish along with the doorstops.

do they make doors with slightly lower handles? that may be too awkward though
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Thanks. I missed that somewhere. Good idea about the decorative piece behind the door. A really nice fish would be fitting.
 
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