Build Thread: TKERacer619's 600gal SPS Tank
- Thread starter tkeracer619
- Start date
Marriage...:uhoh3:
tkeracer619
New member
Thanks Darth!
Not only did she not leave, she tried to give me cash to buy the tank and helped move it! Definitely a keeper.
Speaking of keeping... 2 months until training starts and t-4 months until I can take the field again
Not only did she not leave, she tried to give me cash to buy the tank and helped move it! Definitely a keeper.
Speaking of keeping... 2 months until training starts and t-4 months until I can take the field again
tkeracer619
New member
One More Task Out of the Way!
One More Task Out of the Way!
The landing is complete and very sturdy!
This afternoon loaded up on Scotch (got dragged to a bridal show) I figured there was no better time than now to use power tools. I framed out the rest of the support for the top sheets.
Put down the first 1/2" sheet of ply and screwed it into place. I just used rough measurements here.
I wanted the top layer of 1/2" ply to be a better fit so I cut this one larger and shaved it down until it fit in place. Took two tries.
Once it had a snug fit I marked the side for the right and longer notch, cut the notch out, then repeated the task with the left side. I had to use a scrap 2x4 and hammer to beat it into place. Fired in a few screws and it's solid as a rock!
No more gap to mind! Exciting stuff!
I went over the parts cost and what it would cost in shipping to do my light fixture, it's a bit more than I was expecting and I feel like I need to do another revision on my design. Due to other big purchases unless I want to push back stocking and transfer dates I think I am going to need to alter my course of action.
I'm going to fill about half way with salt water, add the sand, some ammonia, and a bottle of Bio Spira this week.
Since I am re-using sand from my last house it is going to need some time to reduce nutrients. I'll fill the rest of the way the following week, add a dozen or so rocks from my current display, and get my phosphate reactor running. Hoping it doesn't take too long to get my water quality in check!
One More Task Out of the Way!
The landing is complete and very sturdy!
This afternoon loaded up on Scotch (got dragged to a bridal show) I figured there was no better time than now to use power tools. I framed out the rest of the support for the top sheets.
Put down the first 1/2" sheet of ply and screwed it into place. I just used rough measurements here.
I wanted the top layer of 1/2" ply to be a better fit so I cut this one larger and shaved it down until it fit in place. Took two tries.
Once it had a snug fit I marked the side for the right and longer notch, cut the notch out, then repeated the task with the left side. I had to use a scrap 2x4 and hammer to beat it into place. Fired in a few screws and it's solid as a rock!
No more gap to mind! Exciting stuff!
I went over the parts cost and what it would cost in shipping to do my light fixture, it's a bit more than I was expecting and I feel like I need to do another revision on my design. Due to other big purchases unless I want to push back stocking and transfer dates I think I am going to need to alter my course of action.
I'm going to fill about half way with salt water, add the sand, some ammonia, and a bottle of Bio Spira this week.
Since I am re-using sand from my last house it is going to need some time to reduce nutrients. I'll fill the rest of the way the following week, add a dozen or so rocks from my current display, and get my phosphate reactor running. Hoping it doesn't take too long to get my water quality in check!
BigBlueTang
Active member
I swear, the only reason I read your build thread is for these tiny tidbits that crack me up.
And the aquarium stuff too, I guess.
Looks great buddy!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
tkeracer619
New member
I've been debating on exactly how to do that but I'm definitely going to rinse it. I already went through it with a collender and removed all the shells, frag plugs, rubble, and other junk that finds its way into our tanks. The sand has been dry for a couple years.
Normally I would just use the hose but I'm not so sure I trust that with the level of chloramines in my water supply.
The tap water is also 50deg right now... I've thought about using my 20bb sized chlorplus filter off my ro or just use rodi.
It's a crap ton of sand so right now I'm leaning towards just dumping it in the tank, pumping 100gallons of ro in there, and then using a python to suck out most of the sediment. I'm thinking that would be the easiest way to get the sediment out of it and the use of that much RODI doesn't make me flinch. Any thoughts?
Maybe doing it in a 50 gal Rubbermaid tub would be easier instead of putting it directly in the tank.
Last edited:
tkeracer619
New member
Thanks!
dave.m
Active member
The only effective way I know to rinse sand is to fill a bucket 1/3 full of sand and start a slow flow of water from the hose into it. Keep the bucket tilted at a shallow angle and roll it back and forth while turning the sand with your other hand. The sediments will float and eventually wash out.
This is a long, slow process. The more sand, the longer it will take. It needs to be done with new sand, too, not just old re-used sand, although the re-used sand is much filthier.
Dave.M
This is a long, slow process. The more sand, the longer it will take. It needs to be done with new sand, too, not just old re-used sand, although the re-used sand is much filthier.
Dave.M
CrayolaViolence
New member
I put about a gallon or two at a time in a 5 gallon bucket and run the hose water into it and stir the sand with a huge plastic ladle. Then when the water clouds, tip and drain the water. Repeat as necessary until the water is mostly clear. Water here is cold too. In the winter I do this in the sink, less sand though. A colander is an excellent way to wash the sand off as well, especially if you have really good water pressure.
McPuff
New member
I agree with this for sure. I've re-used old sand in the past and had good luck with it. I recently tried to do it again and was a bit peeved to find that after 11 or so rinses, there was still a nasty smell and lots of debris kept coming out of the sand (not originally mine). So I ended up trashing it and buying new sand. I'd recommend saving yourself a lot of time and water and just get new sand.
whyamisofly
New member
Congratulations Mark!!! Good to know that she is in to it as much as you are - helping hands are always appreciated.
tkeracer619
New member
Thanks for the replies and thanks whyamIsofly for the congrats!
I know it's a pain in the butt, I've dreaded this day. Truth be told I'd need about 450lbs to give me the depth I want. Looking to do about 1.5" which will still only be .75" deep around the bottom braces and plates I used to cover the holes.
Considering I already own this sand and have already sifted it of the junk I would rather spend a day cursing in agony than spending another $500 on something I already have. Going to have to get creative!
I've been eyeing a concrete mixer rental at lowes :lol:
I know it's a pain in the butt, I've dreaded this day. Truth be told I'd need about 450lbs to give me the depth I want. Looking to do about 1.5" which will still only be .75" deep around the bottom braces and plates I used to cover the holes.
Considering I already own this sand and have already sifted it of the junk I would rather spend a day cursing in agony than spending another $500 on something I already have. Going to have to get creative!
I've been eyeing a concrete mixer rental at lowes :lol:
sus
Premium Member
Concrete mixer sounds like a great idea. Home Depot even rents them for like 50$ a day...
tkeracer619
New member
Yeah, I think it would work well. Throw some gravel in there and run it for half an hour to clean it out... I bet nothing would be left. Never really know what has been in the thing before which is my only concern. The one they rent at home depot has a plastic drum and my guess is if it's been used any considerable amount any paint that was going to wear off already did.
You can get new ones at harbor freight for $130 after 20% coupon but they're metal. I'd be concerned that I would end up with some lead paint in the sand :lol:
tkeracer619
New member
And Then There Were Two!
And Then There Were Two!
I've been scouring craigslist daily for at least 3 or 4 months for a matching QT aquarium. The current QT is an older 48x18x16h 60gal SeaClear (or TruVu, I don't really know). I was about to give up and go get a 55gal from Petco...
Last night I hit the jackpot! I was the 3rd in line but it must have been meant to be since the first two were no shows and the guy got fed up. It's a 75gal SeaClear System II (48x18x20h). I'm not sure if I will use the built in spray bar or drill some holes for a traditional return setup. The front has some minor scratches so I ordered the stuff to sand and polish them out. Once full I doubt they would be obvious but it's probably worth the time to polish it out. Otherwise the tank is in mint condition.
:bounce1::bounce3::bum:
And Then There Were Two!
I've been scouring craigslist daily for at least 3 or 4 months for a matching QT aquarium. The current QT is an older 48x18x16h 60gal SeaClear (or TruVu, I don't really know). I was about to give up and go get a 55gal from Petco...
Last night I hit the jackpot! I was the 3rd in line but it must have been meant to be since the first two were no shows and the guy got fed up. It's a 75gal SeaClear System II (48x18x20h). I'm not sure if I will use the built in spray bar or drill some holes for a traditional return setup. The front has some minor scratches so I ordered the stuff to sand and polish them out. Once full I doubt they would be obvious but it's probably worth the time to polish it out. Otherwise the tank is in mint condition.
:bounce1::bounce3::bum:
BigBlueTang
Active member
Still cannot believe you scored that deal... Just awesome! When are you planning on getting some fish in QT?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
tkeracer619
New member
Yeah, he definitely hooked it up on price
The top one is ready per the API test kit but when it shows zero on API it still shows .5 on the Jungle test strip. I trust those Jungle strips over any other ammonia test kit at this point. I'm still dosing up to 2ppm ammonia per day so my guess would be if I chill out for a day the strip would register 0.
I have to be careful with the budget right now but want to get some butterflies in QT soon. I'd like them to be ready to go into the display when I do the transfer. Thinking 3 pyramids and a Copperband. Now that I have both QTs I'll run the fish in the Sunburst tank through a proper QT as well since they all came in from another system and never were QTd. It's a pain to avoid water transfer and since that tank will be next to my coral flat it needs to go fallow and have the fish QTd. I've never seen a hint of a disease in that tank but... I don't trust crypto :lol:
The top one is ready per the API test kit but when it shows zero on API it still shows .5 on the Jungle test strip. I trust those Jungle strips over any other ammonia test kit at this point. I'm still dosing up to 2ppm ammonia per day so my guess would be if I chill out for a day the strip would register 0.
I have to be careful with the budget right now but want to get some butterflies in QT soon. I'd like them to be ready to go into the display when I do the transfer. Thinking 3 pyramids and a Copperband. Now that I have both QTs I'll run the fish in the Sunburst tank through a proper QT as well since they all came in from another system and never were QTd. It's a pain to avoid water transfer and since that tank will be next to my coral flat it needs to go fallow and have the fish QTd. I've never seen a hint of a disease in that tank but... I don't trust crypto :lol:
tkeracer619
New member
It's Running!!
It's Running!!
Last night I cleaned the tank one last time. These tanks use black egg crate as overflow "weirs" but I am going to have an actual set of weirs made up. I haven't had them done yet but since I am not going to have livestock in this tank for a bit I went ahead and removed the egg crate.
In an effort to get the loop running today I started filling last night. My RODI has been running for a few days at this point and my two 200gal storage tanks are full. I needed to pump some water into the tank to make room for the RODI to make water overnight. I measured the returns based on how fast the sump level dropped, getting about 2000gph.
BigBlueTang came over today (thanks dude!) and we rinsed a 50gal rubbermaid full of sand. It took about 2.5 hours. We did about 2 gallons worth in each bucket for a total of 25 buckets worth. The sand came clean pretty quickly. Teamwork FTW! The aftermath...
We went to Elite Reef and picked up a few LocLine parts to complete the returns and glued them in place, added the last 60 gallons of RODI, and cranked up the return pump.
I'm running 5 micron filter bags right now but surprisingly enough the tank didn't get too cloudy. Atul did a great job rinsing!
We added a bunch of salt and after just a few hours the tank was mostly clear. I did dose some prime to deal with any chloramines that were in the sand.
Until tomorrow, this is where we are :bum::bum::bum:
I'll smooth the sand out, add ammonia, dose some biospira, and add a cup of sand as well as some rocks from my current tank tomorrow.
It's Running!!
Last night I cleaned the tank one last time. These tanks use black egg crate as overflow "weirs" but I am going to have an actual set of weirs made up. I haven't had them done yet but since I am not going to have livestock in this tank for a bit I went ahead and removed the egg crate.
In an effort to get the loop running today I started filling last night. My RODI has been running for a few days at this point and my two 200gal storage tanks are full. I needed to pump some water into the tank to make room for the RODI to make water overnight. I measured the returns based on how fast the sump level dropped, getting about 2000gph.
BigBlueTang came over today (thanks dude!) and we rinsed a 50gal rubbermaid full of sand. It took about 2.5 hours. We did about 2 gallons worth in each bucket for a total of 25 buckets worth. The sand came clean pretty quickly. Teamwork FTW! The aftermath...
We went to Elite Reef and picked up a few LocLine parts to complete the returns and glued them in place, added the last 60 gallons of RODI, and cranked up the return pump.
I'm running 5 micron filter bags right now but surprisingly enough the tank didn't get too cloudy. Atul did a great job rinsing!
We added a bunch of salt and after just a few hours the tank was mostly clear
. I did dose some prime to deal with any chloramines that were in the sand.
Until tomorrow, this is where we are :bum::bum::bum:
I'll smooth the sand out, add ammonia, dose some biospira, and add a cup of sand as well as some rocks from my current tank tomorrow.
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