Travis L. Stevens
Active member
Ah, that helps a ton. Thanks for the clarification
Cement Reef Take #2
- Thread starter dugg
- Start date
Dugg,
Looks good. Got a question though. The RIT dye... added to give color to the Ce-Ment? Will this last as a "surface" treatment? Couldn't it be added with the final portland layer?
Next time you see Wayne tell him I'll be in probably next week with a myraid of stupid questions. Mostly about building the tank and related equipment for now.
Oh and tell him I'm totally confused now that first 4 chapters of the book I got from him.
Looks good. Got a question though. The RIT dye... added to give color to the Ce-Ment? Will this last as a "surface" treatment? Couldn't it be added with the final portland layer?
Next time you see Wayne tell him I'll be in probably next week with a myraid of stupid questions. Mostly about building the tank and related equipment for now.
Oh and tell him I'm totally confused now that first 4 chapters of the book I got from him.
dugg
New member
Not sure how the dye is going to work out yet. When i mix it in the cement it just disappears. If i put it in the water used to mix it, it overwhelmes it and becomes solid dark like those navy blue returns in the corners. I was just wanting some accents so i sprayed it on the wet cement after i applied it. It looks like it is gonna highlight the texture like i am wanting. We'll see?
dugg
New member
Well, the curing process has begun. I filled the tank with water today after running a few hundred gallons through it to rinse off the excess rit dye. I put one package of dry active yeast and 1/2 cup of sugar in to get the process started. It should take about a week to cure the cement out before i can set up the system. Possibly a little more because i made rock out of the rest of my cement and crushed coral, so there is 94 lbs of cement and 40lbs of crushed coral curing in a 30 gallon tank. It is just a little bit full lol. The water is too cloudy to get any pictures right now, but if it clears up before it is done curing i will post some pictures. If not i guess you will all have to wait lol. Trust me it looks reallllllllllly nice, and is flowing great.
dugg
New member
Wayne makes them, you could build your own for 10 bucks probably. It hooks in to the downpipe from your overflow. I have one for this tank. Wayne's skimmer makes 1/2 gallon of thick black skimmate every 2 weeks. He has his on a 140 gallon with 1000 gph measered flow at the return in the tank. I am setting one up on a 30 gallon with a cap1800 which i figure is pumping around 400gph, not sure what it's rated at. So we will see how good it is without the 1000gph. Mine is hooked up in the test sytem now and when it first got filled this morning when all the dye was leaking out, it was actually skimming fresh water!!!! It took about a quart of purple slime out before it stopped skimming, in case you never tried before, freshwater don't skim, it's not dense enough to foam up. I was shocked to see it pumping out skim from fresh water, so i am very hopefull that it is going to work just as good for me as it does for Wayne 
The inlet and the exit tubes are 2inch pvc.
Just make a box with 2 holes in the top , with the exit end of the box being about 2 inches shorter then the rest of the panels to let the water flow out. You can order one from Wayne for $29.95 or i can measure mine out for you if it works out.
The inlet and the exit tubes are 2inch pvc.
Just make a box with 2 holes in the top , with the exit end of the box being about 2 inches shorter then the rest of the panels to let the water flow out. You can order one from Wayne for $29.95 or i can measure mine out for you if it works out.
dugg
New member
My opinion of why it works so good, is that all of the air has to exit through that tube so when the skimmate reaches near the tube it is vacumed off of the top of the foam instead of riding around until it falls over the side like a regular skimmer does. When the top of the foam reaches the end of the tube it races to the other end from the vacume created by the air release. You control how much it skims by how far the hose is stuck in it. It also skims evey last ounce of your water every time it passes through the sump instead of a pump sitting in the sump getting random intake.
Travis L. Stevens
Active member
I remember seeing a thread with that type of skimmer a while back. I wonder if it will work on smaller tanks.
dugg
New member
Here is a picture of my skimmer. The purple water is rit dye . The skimmer is producing skim in fresh water with the tank being supplied by a powerhead about half of the flow of the pump that will be on it when it is set up. There is no air being added, all of the air is produced by the dropping water from the overflow.
Here are a few pics of the tank, still taken from the top though. I can't get a good picture from the front because the tank has no lighting and the sun glares on the glass.
the dark blue or black looking places in the back corners are the returns. All of the water returns from the bottom pointing up and to the middle. Three returns on each side.
. The skimmer is producing skim in fresh water with the tank being supplied by a powerhead about half of the flow of the pump that will be on it when it is set up. There is no air being added, all of the air is produced by the dropping water from the overflow.
Here are a few pics of the tank, still taken from the top though. I can't get a good picture from the front because the tank has no lighting and the sun glares on the glass.
the dark blue or black looking places in the back corners are the returns. All of the water returns from the bottom pointing up and to the middle. Three returns on each side.
Travis L. Stevens
Active member
That is just too awesome Doug. Keep up the good work. You might have inspired me to do something similar with my tank at work. So how does the tank smell? Like freshly baked bread?
dugg
New member
Doesn't have a smell, but i have been having a time getting this dye out. I have done several water changes trying to get the dye out of the system, so it hasn't had time to activate the yeast yet. The dye really makes the tank look nice but it is proving to be almost not worth it. Also i need to go talk to Wayne and see if i am supposed to be cirrculating the water or just letting it sit stagnant. Right now i am running the system with a powerhead (maxi-jet 1250) pumping the water about 4 feet high then to the bottom of the tank so i'm sure it's not much in GPH, but it is moving.
You could really make a nice piece out of a small tank like you said you are putting in your office. You won't even need the acseterator for that small of stuff, just a drier mix on the cement and several layers. I also used a few sheets of needle point backing to form some of the ledge work. The cement builds up on that stuff real nice. Just coat it on both side and let it sit over night then stick it in place and build it up to the shape you want. Needle point backing is the plastic sheet granma uses to do needle point pictures on lol. You can buy it at wal-mart or any craft store for .75 a sheet.
Also i left a gap all the way around the floor on mine because i plan to use sand anyway, but looking at the cemant floor now, i wish i had left the front foam stip out and poured the floor to meet the bottom tank edging with only the plastic between it and the glass. It would make an awsome barebottom tank.
You could really make a nice piece out of a small tank like you said you are putting in your office. You won't even need the acseterator for that small of stuff, just a drier mix on the cement and several layers. I also used a few sheets of needle point backing to form some of the ledge work. The cement builds up on that stuff real nice. Just coat it on both side and let it sit over night then stick it in place and build it up to the shape you want. Needle point backing is the plastic sheet granma uses to do needle point pictures on lol. You can buy it at wal-mart or any craft store for .75 a sheet.
Also i left a gap all the way around the floor on mine because i plan to use sand anyway, but looking at the cemant floor now, i wish i had left the front foam stip out and poured the floor to meet the bottom tank edging with only the plastic between it and the glass. It would make an awsome barebottom tank.
dugg
New member
This skimmer is amazing. I have had a hard time getting the dye out of the water, so today i went ahead and salted the water so the skimmer could do it's job. With not more that 250 gph of flow this thing has almost cleared the water of dye completely. It is going crazy on this stuff. There is close to 2 gallons of dark red water in the skim bucket already. Dark enough it looks re usable. I do have it set to catch the skim fairly early since i am trying to scrubb the water really well. I can't wait to see how it works with the regular pump running the system instead of a powerhead. I also can't wait to unplug the 2 powerheads and one luft air pump that will no longer be needed due to the design of this skimmer.
WayneSallee
In Memoriam
dugg said:
Yes, run the pump so that it circulates over the cement. (need to add that to my instructions)
I don't get around here verry often so If someone asks me a question and I don't answer, it's because I haven't seen the question, being so bussy with the shop, and all.
Wayne Sallee
Last edited by a moderator:
dugg
New member
I spent the day today building a stand and hood so i'm ready when the cement cures. Here are a few pics of the stand. Still have lots of sanding and finishing to do but it is built.
This was $188 total cost including hardware, so i am in this around $350 including tank, stand, plumbing, and hardware,
I had to build the stand a little big due to having the same size sump and tank, and also for a little storage space for the skimmer overflow.
This was $188 total cost including hardware, so i am in this around $350 including tank, stand, plumbing, and hardware,
I had to build the stand a little big due to having the same size sump and tank, and also for a little storage space for the skimmer overflow.
dugg
New member
It's almost done. The tank is almost cured, and the cabinet is as finished as the pins in my shoulders will finish it. The cabinet is made with furniture grade plywood and poplar facings. It is stained with a mix of 2/3 cherry and 1/3 brazilian rosewood stains, with 3 coats of tung oil. It's really needs a light sanding and 1 more coat but my pins say NO, so i'm calling it done. I can always sand and add another coat later when i heal lol.
I am hoping to set this thing up for fish tomorrow night, if not it may be Monday or so before i can do it, due to my schedual this weekend.
I am hoping to set this thing up for fish tomorrow night, if not it may be Monday or so before i can do it, due to my schedual this weekend.
dugg
New member
It's done!!!! It is all finished curing and set up now, running 8.23 ph. I just kind of piled the rock in tonight, until it is all cleared up tomorrow and i have a litlle more energy. I ended up miss measuring the base trim just a little 
, so i had to pull it. I will repair it next week. Other then that everything worked out perfect. Here are a few cloudy pics. Keep in mind that the rock is just thrown in, and there is actually more rock in there then what will be staying. Everything in the tank except the rocks that have corals on them are cement. I will get some better pictures after the rock is all set up and the water clears.
, so i had to pull it. I will repair it next week. Other then that everything worked out perfect. Here are a few cloudy pics. Keep in mind that the rock is just thrown in, and there is actually more rock in there then what will be staying. Everything in the tank except the rocks that have corals on them are cement. I will get some better pictures after the rock is all set up and the water clears.
I have to be honest I was really skeptical about how your cement tank would turn out, but I have to say I am really impressed. This is something I haven't ever seen, unless it is a large aquarium like at the Mirage in Vegas. The possibilities would be endless.
Very nice work, keep on keeping us posted on how it is working out.
Very nice work, keep on keeping us posted on how it is working out.
Dugg.
Looks great. Bad news on my front. Found out yesterday that my tank is Tempored so I can't drill for overflow/returns.
Going to have to rethink my plans on a live reef tank. Possably just set up a simple salt tank to "get my feet wet" while I gather more experience then get another tank and set up a live reef.
Looks great. Bad news on my front. Found out yesterday that my tank is Tempored so I can't drill for overflow/returns.
Going to have to rethink my plans on a live reef tank. Possably just set up a simple salt tank to "get my feet wet" while I gather more experience then get another tank and set up a live reef.
Lago
Premium Member
Hi All...Been following this thread although I'm a far cry from OK(NJ). It's an amazing project that looks awesome!
I'm actually just posting for Schmit ... though most larger tanks are tempered on the bottom, the back glass is usually not. I'm not sure if you checked it out but that's certainly an option.
--JJ
I'm actually just posting for Schmit ... though most larger tanks are tempered on the bottom, the back glass is usually not. I'm not sure if you checked it out but that's certainly an option.
--JJ
Travis L. Stevens
Active member
Why not see if there is someone that will trade you for a replacement tank. Just a thought
