A Reefaholic's 1000+ Gallon Mixed Reef System Build

[Dustin1300]

I've thought about doing that too. My ultimate plan was to have my refugium with DSB, mangrove garden, chaeto grow out and then carbon and GFO or Bio Pellets. I've looked at turf scrubbers but my only worry is that the algae stops growing because phosphate/nitrate goes down. Any probs with that Steve?

 

[SPotter]

as long as you keep feeding your tank the algae will continue to grow. The original systems were set up based on tank size and now some people are setting them up based on how much you feed per day. Take a look at the thread in the advanced topics forum if you haven't already.

 

[Dustin1300]

I'll take a look but it's a long one! Maybe I can come up with a design that can accommodate the mangrove garden and scrubber.

 

[SPotter]

Yeah its really long. the basics are on the first page of each thread. some guys on there believe its the be all solution but I don't. I will say that I havent had my fuge running or used gfo for 7 months now.

Steve

 

[Dustin1300]

I'm thinking that I'll go this route Steve. I'll likely put the turf scrubber above the sump and hang from the second tier of the stand because I have lots of room under there for equipment as of now You happen to have pics of yours? I've got to do some more reading but looks like it'd be a very easy design to nail.

 

[SPotter]

I will send you some pictures of mine...i went way over board with mine because I was board and wanted a challenge. I built an acrylic box out of black acrylic and went with LED's instead of t5's of cfl's which has been the norm for lighting. There have been a lot of people switching over and trying out different types of leds. I used 3w LEDS and they are just too strong for such a close application and I had to move them as far away as possible. My new scrubber will use 1w red and blue leds. I will send you some pictures of my current set up but also look at these sites for additional information.

algaescrubber.net (santamonica 100 scrubber)
inlandaquatics.com (they are in terre haute....close to you?)

Both of them will build you a very nice unit that is completely enclosed and very clean looking. However, they are VERY VERY VERY expensive and you will find a lot of DIY plans on algaescrubber.net. I know someone that built one for under $75.

 

[Dustin1300]

I'll look these up and see what kind of design I come up with. I like the idea of LEDs just for the fact that I could buy cheap ones and conserve space and just use such large bulbs that take up space. I've got some research to do and will try to do a lot tonight....

 

[Dustin1300]

Steve, thanks a lot for the idea and honestly think that I'll go a cheaper route with the ATS at first to see how I like the results by just using plumbing, screening, and CFL lighting. Once I'm happier with the results and have done extensive research on the topic I'll look at building something more permanent with LED lighting and might possibly replace the mangrove garden with ATS.

I'm kicking myself for not making it the latest local club meeting as they got a tour of inland aquatics a couple Saturdays ago but I was unable to make it! I've been reading threads for a couple hours now and is quite interesting as I ignored the topic in the past because I did not have the room with my system to have an ATS and keep it aesthetically pleasing. Now that I've got a room dedicated for my fish, I'll have no problems testing something out! Let me know when you get pics of yours and if you have a thread of your build it'd be great.

Thanks again!

 

[Dustin1300]

Update...

Update...

I've not posted many pictures lately because I've been trying to think through things and have not had a chance to do any plumbing since Monday. Anyways, I got 'MY LAST' order of plumbing from BRS and finally got the Weld On in I ordered a couple weeks back to work on the sump and put a layer of #16 on all seems to make sure they don't leak in future. Right now I had a small leak from the return section to he main section and is why I purchased the weld-on. Once I get all the return plumbing in place I'm going to pull the sump out to drill/seal up!

For the picture junkies!

Plenty of Weld-On 16 for the future projects I have in mind (Possibly a 3d Turf Scrubber):

Last plumbing order:

Return section over to the frag tank:

3/4" lines coming off the 6 3/4" lines on the 2" manifold. Each one has a 3/4" ball valve to adjust flow to the four returns in the frag tank and then one for the refugium and another for the expansion of a mangrove garden OR ATS:

Lastly, I picked up some screening at Hobby Lobby last night to make an ATS for my sump that I'm going to give a test run. A whole $1.25 investment and I've got the PVC/valves so other than that I'll just have to purchase some bulbs/fixtures to hang on each side of the screen to light it which is easily worth the gamble.

 

[SPotter]

Looks awesome Dustin. I am still looking for some pictures of my led ats that I built. Just make sure you really "rough" up the screen before using it. If its too smooth you won't get good growth on it. I used a hole saw bit and when I thought it was roughed up enough....I roughed it up even more. Probably the hardest part will be cutting the slot in the pipe....too big of an opening and too much water will come out and too small not enough.

 

[Dustin1300]

Today's To Do List!

Today's To Do List!

With that all being said I'm shackled to being by a computer this weekend as I'm on call for work so I should be able to make good progress. This is what I'm hoping to accomplish:

- Finish drain plumbing
- Finish return plumbing minus a 3/4" ball valve I'll probably pick up from PA next weekend along with another order which I hope to be a descent order
- Drill filter sock holes on sump
- Drill bulkhead holes in sump
- Seal sump

If I get this all done I've got plenty of other things to accomplish!

 

[Dustin1300]

Looks awesome Dustin. I am still looking for some pictures of my led ats that I built. Just make sure you really "rough" up the screen before using it. If its too smooth you won't get good growth on it. I used a hole saw bit and when I thought it was roughed up enough....I roughed it up even more. Probably the hardest part will be cutting the slot in the pipe....too big of an opening and too much water will come out and too small not enough.

I'll probably not make the ATS for a couple weeks but I've got dremel I'll use for the slot so if I clamp it down and have it all marked off I don't see that it should be too bad. Time will tell I guess Hopefully I have more pics of completion soon. Next weekend I want water in the system!

 

[SPotter]

I ended up doing it a couple of times before I got one that I was happy with. I ended up running the pvc over my table saw with the blade barely touching the pvc so I could score a straight line. Then I marked off the area I wanted to open up and went at it with the dremel. I did it on a very low speed so I had more control over it. You definitely seem like you know what you are doing around tools and in the shop so I am sure it will be perfect. I might call on you to cut my next pipe for the new ats I have to build.

 

[Dustin1300]

I ended up doing it a couple of times before I got one that I was happy with. I ended up running the pvc over my table saw with the blade barely touching the pvc so I could score a straight line. Then I marked off the area I wanted to open up and went at it with the dremel. I did it on a very low speed so I had more control over it. You definitely seem like you know what you are doing around tools and in the shop so I am sure it will be perfect. I might call on you to cut my next pipe for the new ats I have to build.

Let's not get crazy here...I'm no professional We'll see how it turns out and should find out in a couple weeks.

Manifold made that will currently feed fish QT tank, frag QT tank, and the ATS. That leaves three open for chiller, reactors, etc in future.

***On the feeds to QT tanks I'll just have it so I can easily get water in tanks at temp from the larger system. It will not be tied into the system but will just be there to easily spin up the QTs with a flip of a valve.

 

[BDean]

That's one crazy manifold!

 

[Dustin1300]

That's one crazy manifold!

Agreed

Everything that I'll attach to it should be rather low flow on the four that could be constant considering the QT tanks will just be flipped open when I need water in those tanks. ATS will just be on it while I test out a model and then after that it will likely be gravity fed from frag tank/dt tank so it has the appropriate flow. Still moving along but just came up to grab a drink:bounce3:

 

[Dustin1300]

My list is dwindling away that I hoped to accomplish today I've still got to drill the holes in the sump for bulkheads/socks as well as seal it but I'm calling it a day as I don't do my best work after working over 8 hours on plumbing! Water test next weekend is easily possible as I have very little to do.

- Finish drain plumbing
- Finish return plumbing minus a 3/4" ball valve I'll probably pick up from PA next weekend along with another order which I hope to be a descent order
- Drill filter sock holes on sump
- Drill bulkhead holes in sump
- Seal sump

I'll try to get some pics up later tomorrow after I've done some cleaning as my fish room is a mess as I've been securing all the pipe and drilling through the concrete walls a lot.

 

[Dustin1300]

Light at the end of the tunnel...

Light at the end of the tunnel...

I got what I set out to do finished this weekend and have the drain/return plumbing done and the sump has been drilled for the high water bulkhead, and two low water bulkheads to drain the sump for cleaning periodically.

That leaves only a little plumbing left! (drains off sump, drains/return section to QT tank)

Pic of sump with holes and also flame polished so we don't cut ourselves on sharp edge again ('we' being my wife who has cut herself twice when helping move it!)

 

[oflaherty21]

looks like its coming along great, cant wait to see it fully up and running

 

[Dustin1300]

looks like its coming along great, cant wait to see it fully up and running

You can't wait? What about me! :bounce1: