A very large aquarium in a very small condo!

[captngreg]

Quote: DNA

Did you think about noise levels in the flat below?
The humming of the pumps can be more annoying on the other side of the walls then next to the tank.

I've always wanted to be a good neighbor this is one of the reasons I picked the Dolphin pumps, first they are very reliable and second they are the quietest pumps I'm familiar with.
Each Dolphin pump is mounted on its own Anti Vibration Noise Dampening Pump Pad.

My building is constructed out of reinforced concrete. It is almost sound proof when compared to wood construction.

I foresee no problem with the new pumps. These pumps are quieter than the reeflo pumps I'm using now and the reeflo pumps cannot be heard or felt in any other room.

My new stereo system is installed, and even at a high volume it can barely be heard outside of my condo. I got together with my neighbors one day to test just how loud I could play my music without disturbing them.

With a little luck the tank will be water tested at the end of the month and I'll get back to you on this issue. Thanks for you concern it's something everyone should take into account on any build.

 

[ibmgeek]

it's looking good, when finished and establish it's going to be amazing. Question on post #51 I see what appear to be mechanical gate valves who is the manufacture, where did you get them, how much +-? thanks

 

[captngreg]

ibmgeek

it's looking good, when finished and establish it's going to be amazing. Question on post #51 I see what appear to be mechanical gate valves who is the manufacture, where did you get them, how much +-? thanks

All valves in this build are Hayward true union valves. I stick to only one manufacture to keep the fewest numbers of spare parts on hand. Remember I just can't have a part or a valve delivered next day like people who live in the US or Europe.
I believe the valve you are referring to is a Hayward 2" CPVC/EPDM HCTN2050STE Three-Way Socket/Threaded Ball Valve Equipped for Actuator Mounting $329.00

and a Hayward Actuator EJM2S2T Voltage = 115VAC(Standard) $476.00
I bought them at Big Brand Water Filter, Inc.
www.bigbrandwater.com

The combination of the three-way valve & the Actuator on the closed loop will enable me to simulate the back and forth motion of waves on the reef. The actuator will be controlled by my Apex controller. Once we do the water test, I will experiment with the timing of the actuator to achieve the best wave motion.

 

[captngreg]

StaghornE

I especially like that no one wears shoes. Very laid back! Great tank

Wouldn't have it any other way :beachbum:

 

[Elliott]

ibmgeek


All valves in this build are Hayward true union valves. I stick to only one manufacture to keep the fewest numbers of spare parts on hand. Remember I just can’t have a part or a valve delivered next day like people who live in the US or Europe.
I believe the valve you are referring to is a Hayward 2” CPVC/EPDM HCTN2050STE Three-Way Socket/Threaded Ball Valve Equipped for Actuator Mounting $329.00

and a Hayward Actuator EJM2S2T Voltage = 115VAC(Standard) $476.00
I bought them at Big Brand Water Filter, Inc.
www.bigbrandwater.com

The combination of the three-way valve & the Actuator on the closed loop will enable me to simulate the back and forth motion of waves on the reef. The actuator will be controlled by my Apex controller. Once we do the water test, I will experiment with the timing of the actuator to achieve the best wave motion.

the actuator is made from aluminum alloy, which contains aluminum, copper and other metals be careful not to allow contact with tank water, aluminum and especially copper are caustic to coral

 

[captngreg]

Elliott

the actuator is made from aluminum alloy, which contains aluminum, copper and other metals be careful not to allow contact with tank water, aluminum and especially copper are caustic to coral

Good point, the actuator is not mounted above any water.
I have a friend who has had one inside his aquarium cabinet for five years now, without any observable oxidation. This unit is quality built & is powder coated similar to a GIESEMANN

 

[captngreg]

:bounce1:Aquarium construction :bounce3:

The glass arrived today.

the front piece of glass is the low iron, low lead glass.
You can see the difference in the pics

 

[chingchai]

Let the fun begins!

 

[nineball]

Now that the Olympics are over we can all watch this!!!!

Peter

 

[captngreg]

Day one of aquarium construction.

I've had a few problems show up putting the tank together. :headwalls:
The bottom of the aquarium was supposed to be made out of two pieces of 1/2" tempered glass laminated together with a special plastic film in between.
The glass people showed up with two pieces of glass and the plastic file and intend to laminate the glass bottom themselves! "Not sure about this!":idea:

The bottom glass fits into a S/S frame. The S/S frame had a 3/4" piece of plywood that we used as a stand in for the bottom glass & for the pluming. The glass people took the plywood as a template for the position for the thru hole fittings and the size. Unfortunately they made the bottom glass the exact size as the plywood not taking into considerations the slight curve in the S/S angle frame. The glass fit so tight into the frame I was worried about pressure points. Had the glass people go find a gasket material to keep the glass elevated above the frame. The gasket material they came up with was for the bottom of doorways. 1/4" high 1 1/2" wide. " Not happy with this either but need to stay on schedule. I am going to use the new aquarium filled with 12" of saltwater as a temporary holding tank to house the old tank's fish & coral while we move the tank to the other side of the room. The plan is to have the new tank in place & filled with salt water before I have to go back to sea in three weeks!" If I fall behind it will put my time table back by 3 months and my living room will still be a major construction zone during the holidays.

Brought in a new supervisor! Need all the help I can get:dance:

Next problem and I can't blame the glass people on this one. I have always used Bulkhead Fittings I bought from AquaticEco.com they are great strong and made from a softer plastic that resist cracking. Unfortunately you can not use them on one inch thick glass.

So I ordered a regular Bulkhead Fittings from Marine Depot. they are made from hard plastic and noway as strong looking as the Bulkhead Fittings I'm used to using.

 

[captngreg]

chingchai

Let the fun begins!

:deadhorse1: FUN ?????? Just started !!! I'm lucky I don't own a gun!:headwalls:
Chingchai can I fly your aquascape team to Peru? Your rockwork is so great, it's one of the most important pieces of any aquarium design and I'm not sure of my artistic abilities will be up to the challenge. This is my greatest fear for the build.

nineball

Now that the Olympics are over we can all watch this!!!!

I hope thing go better than the opening ceremony: :blown:
I envy you; you have such a knowable team supporting you. Here in Peru it's a solo endeavor. This is the first aquarium the glass people have ever put together. I thank you, Chinghai and the rest of the Reef Central community for all the knowledge and advice I'm using during this build. My biggest problem has always been knowledgeable support personal & suppliers.

A physiatrist asks a patient why he kept hitting himself on the head with a hammer. He replied it feels so good when I stop. :ape:

 

[captngreg]

I arrived in Peru a few days before the aquarium construction began. I was externally excited to take a look at the new acrylic refugium-filter boxes. These boxes where started when I was in Peru two months ago, but could not be finished before I had to go back to work. About a month ago the acrylic refugium-filter boxes where finished and delivered to Naplo. Naplo is the town I live in. I asked Abraham to water test the boxes, and they leaked. Abraham call the person who built the refugium-filter boxes and requested he come to Naplo and repair them. A week later I was informed they had been fixed. I had expected the leaking joint would have been repaired by the use of addition acrylic bonding agent, unfortunately the builder used silicone to make the repairs. As most of you know, you cannot use silicone on acrylic. Here in Peru the warrantee on most jobs expires with the final payment. The silicone repair, made the refugium-filter boxes useless; I'm going to have to have two more built.

I have found a company that does acrylic manufacturing. I have ordered 12 acrylic boxes that I plan on repotting my mangroves, they will replace the plastic containers now in use that have becoming very brittle. This job will give me the opportunity to see first hand the quality of their construction before I place an order for two more refugium-filters.

Most of the jobs related to the construction of this aquarium have no president here in Peru.

 

[A Reef Scene]

The hayward ball valve will work great. I just did the same thing with a hammerhead gold pump. Just make sure what ever controler you use that you wont short out the actuator. I used a JBJ controler, just made a stop to prevent both plugs turning on at the same time.

 

[captngreg]

A Reef Scene;

The hayward ball valve will work great. I just did the same thing with a hammerhead gold pump. Just make sure what ever controler you use that you wont short out the actuator. I used a JBJ controler, just made a stop to prevent both plugs turning on at the same time.

Very good point; I plan on using my Apex controller to alternate the on off of the two sockets that will switch the 3-way Hayward valve back & forth. I have not yet looked into the Apex's control menu to see how I'm going to do this. If anyone has programmed an Apex controller to turn on one electrical socket while turning off another, I would really appreciate if you could post those settings.
Thanks for your post.
captangreg

 

[AQUA DAVE]

Very cool build... Tagging along

 

[captngreg]

AQUA DAVE

Very cool build... Tagging along

Thanks;
I've been reading your new thread, & following your build as well. I'm envious of all the space you have to work with. It's a first-class build.
You are currently tackling the one task I fear the most, namely the rockwork. I have followed chingchai build closely and have taken inspiration from his tank & rockwork as well and will soon be forced to undertake, at least for me the dreaded aquascaping task.
Can't wait to see more
captngreg

 

[Sugar Bear]

Subscribed.

 

[o2manyfish]

For controlling the two sides of the actuated ball valve I would build a small relay system. By using a Double Pole Double Throw Relay, you connect each side of the relay to one side of the valve.

First this insures that you can never activate both sides of the valve at the same time.

Next, you connect the relay to your apex. When the relay is activated the valve will switch one direction, and when the apex shuts off the relay the valve will revert back to the other direction.

This makes it impossible to short the relay, and very simple to activate it with the apex.

You could wire the relay to a pair of outlets, so the valves plug in, or you could hard wire the valve cords to the relay and mount it inside an enclosure.

Dave B

 

[captngreg]

o2manyfish

For controlling the two sides of the actuated ball valve I would build a small relay system. By using a Double Pole Double Throw Relay, you connect each side of the relay to one side of the valve.

First this insures that you can never activate both sides of the valve at the same time.

Next, you connect the relay to your apex. When the relay is activated the valve will switch one direction, and when the apex shuts off the relay the valve will revert back to the other direction.

This makes it impossible to short the relay, and very simple to activate it with the apex.

You could wire the relay to a pair of outlets, so the valves plug in, or you could hard wire the valve cords to the relay and mount it inside an enclosure.

Dave B

Thank you; sounds like an elegant simple solution to a potential serious problem

captngreg

 

[captngreg]

Time to move the old aquarium to the other side of the room :celeb1:

We put 8" of new saltwater into the new aquarium.
Using a small Ehime pump and an a temporary 8" overflow pipe we started mixing the new saltwater in the new aquarium with the water in the old aquarium.
After 24 hours the saltwater in both aquarium are thoroughly mixed.
I can now use the new aquarium as a holding tank for my coral & fish while the old tank is broken down & moved. :dance:

All the live rock is cleaned and stored in large garbage cans with new saltwater, waiting on the move.

The old tank is thoroughly cleaned.