Building My 375gal Glass Reef
- Thread starter JohnL
- Start date
Dave's Reef
New member
Tom,
Do you have any updated photo's??? It'd be nice to see some new shots of your tank now that it's been up for a while!
Hope you're enjoying all the hard work, thought and effort that went in to it friend! :beer:
Do you have any updated photo's??? It'd be nice to see some new shots of your tank now that it's been up for a while!
Hope you're enjoying all the hard work, thought and effort that went in to it friend! :beer:
Hi everyone ....
Well, I could probably come up with a lot of excuses about why I haven't posted for the last couple of months.
Closest to the truth is the fact that I've been busy with other things - plus the subscription to my own thread seems to have gone lost, again! I just thought that everyone had moved on to the next interesting build.
For those of you who have posted comments since my last appearance:
Sikryd, Financial Panth, stealle, strout, creinkster, Algae Growwer, Demonic, cobra77, chippy70, Fishel, AgentSPS, Dave's Reef, Autodave, and Squirrel,
thank you very much for the kind compliments and words of encouragement. Just sorry I didn't respond sooner.
For creinkster, who ask:
1. The hefty bulkheads you use are haywards I believe, if this is true, where do you get them and what type do you use? I've only seen thread X thread or slip X thread, I can't find slip X slip. If you use the threaded ones have you had any problems with them leaking?
Yes they are Haywards. I used slip X thread - I don't think they make a slip X slip. I bought them at savko.com
2. What type of UV sterilizer is that? Where did you get it? How is it plumbed?
The UV is an 80 watt Smart High Output unit from Emperor Aquatics. I bought it from BRS (bulkreefsupply.com). I runs off a manifold located just after the Fuge/Frag return pump (Dart Gold). I run about 300 gallons per hour through the unit, as I want to have maximum effect on protozoa. Secondary effect is that it keeps my ORP at about 400mV.
3. Is it necessary to have the two Eheims supplying the skimmers or could they be directly fed from the overflow or directly from the sump?
They could be fed directly from the overflow. It was just easier for me to take water directly from the overflow section of the sump, pass it through the skimmers and then to the return section.
4. I noticed you use ozone, did you purchase the special ReeFlo ozone safe seal kit for the orca pump from reefspecialty.com or was this not necessary?
I originally used the ozone in a DIY reactor. The seals in the skimmer pumps took a beating anyway. I then bought the the ozone proof seals - then I thought, since I have the special seals I might as well put the ozone through the skimmer. Works fine - no leaks, at all.
5. I believe you state on the very first page you would be using 3 DC 8's for the AC III but I only saw the one on your light hub. Where are the other 2 and what do they control.
My original plan called for 3 DC8s. I later amended that to 1 DC8 and 1 DC4HD.
6. Have you worked on or have plans for a way to raise the light rack straight up like Untamed12 did with the actuator?
Yes I will be constructing an actuator driven mechanism to raise the light rack, much like the one Untamed12 made.
Returning to my lack of updates: after I got my tank running a stabilized, I felt it was time that I begin a big project that my wife had been asking for, a 16ft long cabinet/bookshelf unit along a wall in our living room. We had agreed that as soon as the fishroom was completed, the livingroom would be the next priority. So, I've spent the last 3-1/2 months in the shop.
Here's what I was working on:
The pic was taken just after I had finished the project, so my wife hadn't had time to completely decorate it yet.
Here is a pic showing a little of the construction detail:
For those of you who are interested in woodworking, the cabinet was constructed using 3/4" ash plywood with solid ash trim. I used ash because I knew I would be painting the the finished cabinet, but I wanted to used a coarse grained wood so that the grain would show through the paint. Turned out pretty well - at least my wife likes it
and that's the most important thing. 
Well, I could probably come up with a lot of excuses about why I haven't posted for the last couple of months.
Closest to the truth is the fact that I've been busy with other things - plus the subscription to my own thread seems to have gone lost, again! I just thought that everyone had moved on to the next interesting build.For those of you who have posted comments since my last appearance:
Sikryd, Financial Panth, stealle, strout, creinkster, Algae Growwer, Demonic, cobra77, chippy70, Fishel, AgentSPS, Dave's Reef, Autodave, and Squirrel,
thank you very much for the kind compliments and words of encouragement. Just sorry I didn't respond sooner.
For creinkster, who ask:
1. The hefty bulkheads you use are haywards I believe, if this is true, where do you get them and what type do you use? I've only seen thread X thread or slip X thread, I can't find slip X slip. If you use the threaded ones have you had any problems with them leaking?
Yes they are Haywards. I used slip X thread - I don't think they make a slip X slip. I bought them at savko.com
2. What type of UV sterilizer is that? Where did you get it? How is it plumbed?
The UV is an 80 watt Smart High Output unit from Emperor Aquatics. I bought it from BRS (bulkreefsupply.com). I runs off a manifold located just after the Fuge/Frag return pump (Dart Gold). I run about 300 gallons per hour through the unit, as I want to have maximum effect on protozoa. Secondary effect is that it keeps my ORP at about 400mV.
3. Is it necessary to have the two Eheims supplying the skimmers or could they be directly fed from the overflow or directly from the sump?
They could be fed directly from the overflow. It was just easier for me to take water directly from the overflow section of the sump, pass it through the skimmers and then to the return section.
4. I noticed you use ozone, did you purchase the special ReeFlo ozone safe seal kit for the orca pump from reefspecialty.com or was this not necessary?
I originally used the ozone in a DIY reactor. The seals in the skimmer pumps took a beating anyway. I then bought the the ozone proof seals - then I thought, since I have the special seals I might as well put the ozone through the skimmer. Works fine - no leaks, at all.
5. I believe you state on the very first page you would be using 3 DC 8's for the AC III but I only saw the one on your light hub. Where are the other 2 and what do they control.
My original plan called for 3 DC8s. I later amended that to 1 DC8 and 1 DC4HD.
6. Have you worked on or have plans for a way to raise the light rack straight up like Untamed12 did with the actuator?
Yes I will be constructing an actuator driven mechanism to raise the light rack, much like the one Untamed12 made.
Returning to my lack of updates: after I got my tank running a stabilized, I felt it was time that I begin a big project that my wife had been asking for, a 16ft long cabinet/bookshelf unit along a wall in our living room. We had agreed that as soon as the fishroom was completed, the livingroom would be the next priority. So, I've spent the last 3-1/2 months in the shop.
Here's what I was working on:
The pic was taken just after I had finished the project, so my wife hadn't had time to completely decorate it yet.
Here is a pic showing a little of the construction detail:
For those of you who are interested in woodworking, the cabinet was constructed using 3/4" ash plywood with solid ash trim. I used ash because I knew I would be painting the the finished cabinet, but I wanted to used a coarse grained wood so that the grain would show through the paint. Turned out pretty well - at least my wife likes it
and that's the most important thing.
The progress of my tank, over the last couple of months has been satisfactory. SPS growth has been noticable, but nothing special. I haven't really decided where the problem might be. Haven't lost any corals. Did lose a female Anthias (Lyretail) - have no idea why - one day the fish was healthy, the next he was covered with Nassarius snails. 
I finally got the frag tank hooked up. Some of you might remember that I was a little worried about how well the overflow and drain pipe from the tank back to the sump would work out - everythings fine. Totally quiet and there's no backup at all.
I guess it's time for a FTS. First here's the tank back in July:
and here's the tank last week:
You can see that I haven't been very diligent with keeping the back wall free of coralline, hmmm ...
I finally got the frag tank hooked up. Some of you might remember that I was a little worried about how well the overflow and drain pipe from the tank back to the sump would work out - everythings fine. Totally quiet and there's no backup at all.
I guess it's time for a FTS. First here's the tank back in July:
and here's the tank last week:
You can see that I haven't been very diligent with keeping the back wall free of coralline, hmmm ...
Thanks Elliott! I finally got some things done on the tank that I had been putting off. I'll get some pics up this afternoon. How are things with your setup?very nice Tom, looks like you have had significant growth, FTS looks outstanding! Your woodworking skills, like everything you do, are excellent. Thanks for the update, was a little worried
Thank you.
I've been working with wood for quite a few years.
EnglishRebel
Retired Rebel Reefer
Beautiful cabintery Tom. Are you going to take a chain saw to it when that new 60" flat screen arrives? :lolspin:
Hi Alan - thanks. Coming from you, that means something! That's funny about the TV's size. Actually I left enough room for a 58" Panasonic monitor - but - then, after I started the unit, I saw their 65" model.
Thanks Mark. I ended up with the Radiums. My final assessment - the ReefLux 12Ks provide a little better growth, but the Radium 20Ks make the colors better.
BTW guys - I'll be back on the boards much more often now, so I'll be heading over to your threads to catch the latest with your tanks!
turned my CR into a Sulfate reactor and started dosing using BRS pumps, Ca, Alk and Mg (idea taken from your thread
), things ere much more stable, thanks!also implemented LaCl dosing using a pool DE filter, still working out the qinks before I post my results, but so far it has worked out quite well
Walter Costa
New member
great tank. Amazing really!
I'll be subscribing to this tread for sure. Lots of excellent references for a future tank.
I'll be subscribing to this tread for sure. Lots of excellent references for a future tank.
turned my CR into a Sulfate reactor and started dosing using BRS pumps, Ca, Alk and Mg (idea taken from your thread
also implemented LaCl dosing using a pool DE filter, still working out the qinks before I post my results, but so far it has worked out quite well
Elliott, how is that sulfate reactor working out? I had halfway decided to build one then, somehow, got sidetracked. I'd definitely be interested in your results with LaCl. Theoretically, it should have one up on GFO/GFH,
Hasn't changed much:
1 mated pair of ORA Perculas
6 Lyretail Anthias - had 7 but one died, no idea why. My only loss so far. The Supermale is a real beauty - deep purple!
1 Canary Blenny
1 Starry Blenny
3 Yellow Tangs
1 Purple Tang
1 Kohl Tang
1 Flame Hawk Fish
3 Blue/Green Chromis - tried adding 7 more but it didn't work out, Spent almost a full day trapping them out.
1 mated pair of Gramma Loretos
1 Leopard Wrasse
1 Gold Line Wrasse
I've got a weird thing going on with the Kole Tang. His flanks, just ahead of his scalpels are often scraped raw. The fish is approx. 5" long - the scraped areas are about 1/2" in diameter. The injuries started shortly after I got the fish - maybe 5 months ago. At first I thought the Purple was giving the Kole a hard time, but it became obvious that the injuries were scrapes. I assumed the problem was occurring at night (I'd never seen anything during the day), but after considerable effort with a red filter and flashlight, I was never able to determine what was causing the scrapes. They are fairly deep - deep enough so that the entire area is bright pink. They heal in a couple of days - the fish never shows signs of pain, stress, etc. - but they always return. Sometimes on both sides of the fish, sometimes only on one side.
I would be interested in knowing if anyone else has ever had this kind of a problem.
