Addiction wins, 450 gallon system begins
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Lincutis
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Ok Hop...I have been watching this thread in silence, but no more. Your tank is outstanding. 
You better have a big surprise for your wife for letting you mortgage your future to put that together.
Seriously though, I see a lot of good ideas put to work in your set up. If I ever go that big, I will definately look back at your work for reference.
I'm not ready to go at mine with a hammer yet.....but thier are some clownfish that might take a ride in the blendor if they don't stop stirring sand in my calaustrea::hammer:
You better have a big surprise for your wife for letting you mortgage your future to put that together.
Seriously though, I see a lot of good ideas put to work in your set up. If I ever go that big, I will definately look back at your work for reference.
I'm not ready to go at mine with a hammer yet.....but thier are some clownfish that might take a ride in the blendor if they don't stop stirring sand in my calaustrea::hammer:
jnarowe: Thanks... I hope that the hammer is for construction and not destruction. Unless the destruction is the beginning of construction... Ah heck I hope you know what I mean!
Lincutis: Thanks. I'm really riding on a wing and a prayer here. This has been about two years of reading and then implementing what I saw others do here on RC. I don't think that there is anything glamorous about the tank. There are some incredible tanks here on RC and I envy the technical marvels some have created. I wanted a bigger tank, but on a budget. We'll see if it works in the end. I'm sure there are going to be a ton of glitches to work out,, I'm just not an engineer. This was one heck of a learning experience and I enjoy documenting it here. Unfortunately the people I call friends where I live think it's an odd hobby, so I have to retreat here to share. I guess not that bad of a deal
I think my wife was just happy having a night to ourselves!
Lincutis: Thanks. I'm really riding on a wing and a prayer here. This has been about two years of reading and then implementing what I saw others do here on RC. I don't think that there is anything glamorous about the tank. There are some incredible tanks here on RC and I envy the technical marvels some have created. I wanted a bigger tank, but on a budget. We'll see if it works in the end. I'm sure there are going to be a ton of glitches to work out,, I'm just not an engineer. This was one heck of a learning experience and I enjoy documenting it here. Unfortunately the people I call friends where I live think it's an odd hobby, so I have to retreat here to share. I guess not that bad of a deal
I think my wife was just happy having a night to ourselves!
sellout007
New member
Hop said:
Just curious on this. I just attatched an external pump for my closed loop and the entire thing is NOSIEY as hell. What did you do to quite everything down?
Someone suggeested I cut about a foot of pipe off of each inlet/outlet close to the pump and add pool tubing instead.
sellout007: Depends. just sitting here I can think of several different scenarios, each with a different solution.
1. Humming noise caused by the pump vibrating on mounting surface... Solution would be to put the pump on foam or a mouse pad. Two of my pumps sit on a doubled up piece of underlayment I had left over from doing my pergo floors. And the last pump sits on a 1/2" piece of hard foam.
2. The drain and/or return line are hitting something causing a humming noise. Adjust PVC pipe.
3. The PVC is too short or too long causing the any number of issues and the pump hums. Replace with a piece of spa-flex.
4. No known reason but the motor hums through the pipes. Again use a couple feet of spa-flex.
5. And in my case, do to the fact that the water falls down about 5' into the crawlspace and hits two 45s real quick, I could hear water noises. I insulated the pipes with foam and it cut the noise down by 75%.
I'm sure there are more possibilities and solutions, I just can't think of any right now. I will tell you that I have a hum from the return pump that is noticeable in the downstairs bathroom and upstairs in the kids bathroom and our bedroom. It's not too bad, traffic outside is louder, but I am going to replace about 5' of my hard line PVC with spa-flex to cure the problem, which is that the return pump sits on the wood as it enters the crawlspace from the wetroom. I just can't seem to get it up and off the wood without causing another vibration.
1. Humming noise caused by the pump vibrating on mounting surface... Solution would be to put the pump on foam or a mouse pad. Two of my pumps sit on a doubled up piece of underlayment I had left over from doing my pergo floors. And the last pump sits on a 1/2" piece of hard foam.
2. The drain and/or return line are hitting something causing a humming noise. Adjust PVC pipe.
3. The PVC is too short or too long causing the any number of issues and the pump hums. Replace with a piece of spa-flex.
4. No known reason but the motor hums through the pipes. Again use a couple feet of spa-flex.
5. And in my case, do to the fact that the water falls down about 5' into the crawlspace and hits two 45s real quick, I could hear water noises. I insulated the pipes with foam and it cut the noise down by 75%.
I'm sure there are more possibilities and solutions, I just can't think of any right now. I will tell you that I have a hum from the return pump that is noticeable in the downstairs bathroom and upstairs in the kids bathroom and our bedroom. It's not too bad, traffic outside is louder, but I am going to replace about 5' of my hard line PVC with spa-flex to cure the problem, which is that the return pump sits on the wood as it enters the crawlspace from the wetroom. I just can't seem to get it up and off the wood without causing another vibration.
Well I have yet to get any good pictures other than the one that I posted. I'm going to have to get my work camera out later and give that a try. My home camera is acceptable for basic shots, but really has a hard time focusing for in-tank related shots. I guess for a PHD (Push Here Dummy) camera it does OK.
The tang and FF are doing pretty well. I was concerned for a few hours after I got them in the q-tank as the tang was OK, but the FF just sat in one spot with his "I'm Stressed" camo going. But this morning everyone's coloring is better and the FF took a couple flakes. I'm going to add a small piece of nori a bit later and see if they will start on that. Also still slowly lowering the salinity. Got it down to about 1.019 now.
The tang and FF are doing pretty well. I was concerned for a few hours after I got them in the q-tank as the tang was OK, but the FF just sat in one spot with his "I'm Stressed" camo going. But this morning everyone's coloring is better and the FF took a couple flakes. I'm going to add a small piece of nori a bit later and see if they will start on that. Also still slowly lowering the salinity. Got it down to about 1.019 now.
sixxer
In Memoriam
Hop,
Your tank is coming along beautifully. I am anticipating arrival of my new 96x48x30 in the next couple of weeks.
Question for you. I notice you are only running the Closed loop thru the top of the tank. Do you feel you are getting enough flow with that set-up?
I have to decide rather quickly if I want my tank drilled on the bottom for a closed loop (already having the top drilled). and just wanted to see how satisfied you are with your current flow?
Thanks
Your tank is coming along beautifully. I am anticipating arrival of my new 96x48x30 in the next couple of weeks.
Question for you. I notice you are only running the Closed loop thru the top of the tank. Do you feel you are getting enough flow with that set-up?
I have to decide rather quickly if I want my tank drilled on the bottom for a closed loop (already having the top drilled). and just wanted to see how satisfied you are with your current flow?
Thanks
sixxer: Wow nice sized tank you are planning :thumbsup:
Hmmm.. My flow. You made me sit and think about this one Yeah I like my flow, but it's probably too soon to give you a definitive answer. As of right now I really like it. I think everything is moving about quite nicely and stuff seems to remain suspended... But I'm doing a mixed reef with my goal being SPS on the highest parts only. Some LPS and softys for the rest. I have a bit of a vision so bare with me here.
If I was going to do a SPS dominated tank, I think I would have added four more returns and added a second 4-way, most likely through the back and/or bottom. I mention the second 4-way as I feel that I would have received more chaotic movement that way, rather than with a single 8-way.
Especially with a 48" wide tank, I think I would be adding some additional returns. Easier to plug them now and that way if you decide to up the flow later, you can make it an easy job
Thanks again!
Hmmm.. My flow. You made me sit and think about this one
Yeah I like my flow, but it's probably too soon to give you a definitive answer. As of right now I really like it. I think everything is moving about quite nicely and stuff seems to remain suspended... But I'm doing a mixed reef with my goal being SPS on the highest parts only. Some LPS and softys for the rest. I have a bit of a vision so bare with me here.If I was going to do a SPS dominated tank, I think I would have added four more returns and added a second 4-way, most likely through the back and/or bottom. I mention the second 4-way as I feel that I would have received more chaotic movement that way, rather than with a single 8-way.
Especially with a 48" wide tank, I think I would be adding some additional returns. Easier to plug them now and that way if you decide to up the flow later, you can make it an easy job
Thanks again!
sixxer
In Memoriam
Thanks for the info. Hop,
My vision is actually a lot like yours, SPS high and everything else down low.
I may just go with 2 OM 4-ways plumbed thru the top like yours and have a false wall built into the end where the overflow will be to house 4 or 5 Tunze Streams or Seio's. I just don't like the idea of a possible leak in the bottom of my tank from a closed loop return.
Keep up the good work.
My vision is actually a lot like yours, SPS high and everything else down low.
I may just go with 2 OM 4-ways plumbed thru the top like yours and have a false wall built into the end where the overflow will be to house 4 or 5 Tunze Streams or Seio's. I just don't like the idea of a possible leak in the bottom of my tank from a closed loop return.
Keep up the good work.
jnarowe
New member
Sixxer:
The tank I got has 3 holes in the bottom of each corner. Since it will be an in-wall installation, I can close the front holes and use piping going down from the top. The back corner holes will probably have to be used so that there isn't any pipes to see. The real problem I see with your tank as well as mine (96 x 60 x 35) is flow in the bottom center. It will be very difficult to get any flow there from jets on the surface so I am planning to use an off-center diagonal rock structure that will hide pipes coming from one of the corners. That way I'll be able to get the flow down low. There are many examples of this on RC, and you really need to think this through carefully and plan your aquascaping and plumbing as one job.--J
The tank I got has 3 holes in the bottom of each corner. Since it will be an in-wall installation, I can close the front holes and use piping going down from the top. The back corner holes will probably have to be used so that there isn't any pipes to see. The real problem I see with your tank as well as mine (96 x 60 x 35) is flow in the bottom center. It will be very difficult to get any flow there from jets on the surface so I am planning to use an off-center diagonal rock structure that will hide pipes coming from one of the corners. That way I'll be able to get the flow down low. There are many examples of this on RC, and you really need to think this through carefully and plan your aquascaping and plumbing as one job.--J
sixxer
In Memoriam
That's a good idea Jnarowe. I could have my external overflow drilled with a four holes for 2 drains and 2 closed loop returns, and then have the overflow end of the tank drilled so that I could run two spray bars underneath some rocks down the center.
Do you have a set-up thread on your set-up yet? That's a huge tank.
Do you have a set-up thread on your set-up yet? That's a huge tank.
Saltwater Guy
New member
In the best words that I can put....My Dream. Very nice tank and setup the filter is amazing cant wait to see what it looks like up and fully running. Hopefully in a few years I will be able to build off your model.
sixxer: Your welcome, but I wish I had a better answer to have given you.
M0E: Thanks
Saltwater Guy: Thanks and I hope to see yours as a build log here
OK quick pic of the two new guys int he q-tank. Poor quality as I didn't want to startle them... Better pics to follow later...
M0E: Thanks
Saltwater Guy: Thanks and I hope to see yours as a build log here
OK quick pic of the two new guys int he q-tank. Poor quality as I didn't want to startle them... Better pics to follow later...
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