Another 225 Tank Project!

[minfinger]

You know now that I see all the doors on it, that's very similair to the cabinet I designed for my 180G.


I like yours better than mine, I may have to copy it Good JOB!

 

[capescuba]

Well platapus, it looks VERY slick!!!!!!:eek1:

Mine is slowly coming along - Off on vacation for a while, so hopefully when I get back it's full steam ahead !!!

Your will be done by then no doubt!

 

[SUMMERS]

lol - ................ the surge, lighting, and lunar cycles using a java applet called eLightMaster in conjunction with X-10 firecrackers .

Thanks for the info on this program. I was going to run timers for my Lights. But since I have a couple of old comps in the closet I can use this method.

Here is a link to anyone else that is interested in this program.
http://www.mv.com/users/besposito/download3.html

Thanks Again

Larry

 

[Foster]

Thanks Everyone!

Minfinger - that is a very close design. No need for the dead space in the upper right cornerIMO, could be at minimum , storage. I used that space for a surge.

Capescube - how long you going on vacation? I still have a little ways to go...paint, pull electrical, add floor supports, drill out wall for plumbing........ it never ends!

Summers - that is a great little program, I have been testing it out...I have moonlight in my office everynight.

UPDATE - I have finished the cabinet work....couple snips here and there, but it is basically done. Time to dismantle, everything and to convert half of my garage into a spray booth!

<img src=http://bluechunks.net/reef/225reef/cabd2.jpg>

<img src=http://bluechunks.net/reef/225reef/cabd1.jpg>

 

[ozfish]

G'day Platapus!
Been following your thread from the start: AWESOME and very inspirational!
Just a couple of Q's: what are u going to use to seal the MDF. I've yet to try a method I'm totally happy with as far as waterproofing goes.
Also are you going to seal the back interior wall of the cabinet or paint the back of the tank? I personally like the look of your carpentry skill's but it may detract from the look of your corals and fish! : )

By the way the marsupial creature you have used as your nick name is spelled: Platypus. Just to be anal! They are an awesome critter, they have one at the Sydney aquarium and me and the missus spend hours at a time checking it out. Even more than the reef tank!!!!
Cheers!

 

[Reefrunner262]

I was wondering.... Are you going to Finish off everything by yourself (Paint/staining/whatever you choose) or are you going to pay someone to do it? I know on the projects i have finished myself came out like crap lol. btw everything looks great, i really would like to have a Surge device like you do. Wouldnt that have an effect on a Auto-top off system? Cant wait to see everything working. Its a whole fish room, withought the room :lol: . Goof luck with everything and keep us posted!

Thanks for your time
Travis

 

[Foster]

G'day Platapus!
Been following your thread from the start: AWESOME and very inspirational!
Just a couple of Q's: what are u going to use to seal the MDF. I've yet to try a method I'm totally happy with as far as waterproofing goes.
Also are you going to seal the back interior wall of the cabinet or paint the back of the tank? I personally like the look of your carpentry skill's but it may detract from the look of your corals and fish! : )

By the way the marsupial creature you have used as your nick name is spelled: Platypus. Just to be anal! They are an awesome critter, they have one at the Sydney aquarium and me and the missus spend hours at a time checking it out. Even more than the reef tank!!!!
Cheers!

Hi ozfish - Im still investigating the what paint, so far, Im going to prime everything with Zinssner (sp) B-I-N primer (52% soild) 2 coats, with a 220 - 320 gt sanding between. Then, black paint (not sure what kind, still researching) probably a polyurathane clear sealer, mutiple coats of both, for that polished look I have my own spray equiptment, so Im going to spray everything on.

As far as the back of the tank goes, the back panel will be packed with foam board. The back of the tank has a dark blue background that will be installed. Additionally, The back of the inside of the tank will be black eggcrate, and infront of that will be the rock work, which will cover almost the entire back. I designed the rock work layout before anything else, the who tank design caters to it, flow and what not.

I know platapus is the wrong spelling, the name originated from playing online games such as doom, quake, counter-strike,AC, AO.. and many others, I have a couple of friends that I would always play online with, so keeping that same name in all games was essential....If you have ever tried to create an online name, you will notice that most words are all used up....frustrated with this.....platypus was somewhat unique, but not enough....hence the misspelling.....I have been using it for years now, It has just kinda stuck additionaly...if you have ever read most of my post you will see that I just cant spell

I was wondering.... Are you going to Finish off everything by yourself (Paint/staining/whatever you choose) or are you going to pay someone to do it? I know on the projects i have finished myself came out like crap lol. btw everything looks great, i really would like to have a Surge device like you do. Wouldnt that have an effect on a Auto-top off system? Cant wait to see everything working. Its a whole fish room, withought the room :lol: . Goof luck with everything and keep us posted!

Thanks for your time
Travis

Thanks reefrunner262 - Look at this thread.......who do you think is going to do the do finish :lol: (Im just being a smart@$$) Of course Im going to spray it...I have the equiptment, so why not, plus I would be affraid someone would just screw it up!

The surge causes the water in the sump to flux about 8"... If you look at the auto topoff design, it has a start float, and a stop float, these are adjustable from up to 16", that allows me to lose about 8" in evaporated water ( about 37 gallons.. Each inch of water level, is about 4.6 gallons in the sump area) my top offs will be less that 37 gallons to keep the salinity from fluxing to much.

 

[waverz]

Platapus, could you stop posting pics of your setup? Couple of reasons....you are making my setup look like a beta bowl also my keyboard isnt working right because of the drool.
Just kidding, it is looking AWESOME!!
Good job so far!

 

[Forestal]

I'm glad I found this thread.
Amazing job on the planning/plumbing/electric and carpentry. I am in awe.
I am in the process of building a 390 plywood/glass, my first "big" tank and you explained & documented things so well, if you don't mind I may use some of your ideas for topoff/water flow etc.

Can't wait to see how it turns out painted.

 

[Foster]

Knock yourself out! I got alot of these ideas from RC, and other reefers project threads.....I just put it together to work for what I wanted. Lte me know if you have any questions!

Dont forget to post a prject thread on RC

I'm glad I found this thread.
Amazing job on the planning/plumbing/electric and carpentry. I am in awe.
I am in the process of building a 390 plywood/glass, my first "big" tank and you explained & documented things so well, if you don't mind I may use some of your ideas for topoff/water flow etc.

Can't wait to see how it turns out painted.

 

[Foster]

Platapus, could you stop posting pics of your setup? Couple of reasons....you are making my setup look like a beta bowl also my keyboard isnt working right because of the drool.
Just kidding, it is looking AWESOME!!
Good job so far!

lol - I was just looking at you stand thread, very nice, I like what you did with the doors. What are the dimensions of your tank?

 

[Mexican Hermit]

WOW, If you ever want to build another I will give you a room here in Mexico!! Awesome!!

Would you happen to have a diagram on how the surge tank works? Looks interesting...

 

[Foster]

If I understand your question........

Thanks MH, does that room come with a wheelbarrol of money too for the project?

It is called a Carlson Surge Device (CSD). If you search RC you will find some info on them.

Here is the original how to for it.....at least the one that got me started:
http://www.breeders-registry.gen.ca.us/Reprints/MFM/v11_aug96/simple_surge.htm

 

[Mexican Hermit]

I'm still looking for the barrel of money. LOL

Thanks,

 

[Foster]

hehe - is that link the info you were looking for?

 

[gumbybc]

platapus: Awesome setup. I am thinking I might steal your design, just on a smaller scale. I am looking to upgrade soon, and really like your setup. It is looking awesome. Has all the components I am lookin for, and it is encoporated into one stand!

You mentioned plumbing through the wall...is that for the RODI system?

 

[Foster]

I would consider it an honor if you steal that design I think it has a very clean look with plenty of room for a large sump/fuge, equiptment, electrical compartment, surge, and a nice roomy canopy that allows for ample space for cooling, access, and light height adjustment!

Yes - the side of the side cabinet is against an exterior wall on my back yard, on the out side of the wall is a soucre that supplies my spinkler system, Im going to tap into that for the RO/DI topoff, and the drain from the inside of the tank stand will also go out that wall, just incase of a leak, additionally the drain pipe is big enough to run the waste RO/DI water line through....which will go to a flower bed that I will be planting peetmoss, along with some other fast growing plants that can use up the water.

platapus: Awesome setup. I am thinking I might steal your design, just on a smaller scale. I am looking to upgrade soon, and really like your setup. It is looking awesome. Has all the components I am lookin for, and it is encoporated into one stand!

You mentioned plumbing through the wall...is that for the RODI system?

 

[Mexican Hermit]

Yeah, But does the pump work all the time? How does it not over flow?

 

[Foster]

I think in most applications the pump will constantly run, but mine will only run during the daytime (nsync with the light)

The way it works is that you use a small pump. My surge tank is 52 gallons. The pump for it pumps at a rate of about 10 gpm (600 gph) so it takes about 5 mins to fill, when the surge tank is almost full, it starts the siphon/surge out the 2" PVC and is under pressure, the entire tank empties in about 50 seconds, once the water level in the surge gets to the intake of the siphon, it breaks the siphon and starts the whole process over again. My tank surges every 5 mins.

I might over flow if I used something like an ampmaster 3000 to fill the surge tank. :eek1:



....did that make any sence?

 

[Skipper]

This is most excellente! I love it!