Chasdb Starfire 225g economic stimulis build
- Thread starter CHASDB
- Start date
CHASDB
Member
Yes, I got the tank 7/17. It turned into a big headache so I stopped posting. It took quite a bit longer than expected and I don't want to bash anyone on this thread so I wont go into detail. Lee-Mar did a great job, everything as ordered, no chips or scratches and a nice job on the silicone. I want to thank Tom and his dad@ So Cal Tropical Fish for helping me get this thing delivered and loaded into my trailer. I don't think I seen myself with a smile this big since my wedding. I'm so happy with the tank!
CHASDB
Member
I built the sump so it could fit under the stand if I needed to change my system in the winter. It's 48 long x 26 wide and 18 tall. 97 gallons full but I'll only run about half that. I wanted the skimmer area roomy so I could easily get the skimmer in and out or upgrade if necessary. the return area is slightly smaller and I added a bracket for the top off float and some ph/ orp probe holders. There is enough room there where I could put my kalk and calcium reactors in sump if I had to, or drop in a tank for a refugium if I start to battle nitrates. The table saw sure makes it nice when I get to build something for myself. Nice clean square cuts. I do want to thank Melev for his great website. It has been a huge influence to my acrylic fabrication abilities. This is my second sump and my seams are getting better. The bottom and sides are 3/8 cast and the top is 1/4. I kind of miss calculated and was happy I had enough material laying around to finish the job.
CHASDB
Member
I set the sump up on my 120 and added a 60 gallon frag tank to the system and plumbed in my 1/2 hp chiller to see how it would run. I was worried about microbubbles even though my baffles are 26" wide, I want to push 1200gpm plus to make sure I can cool the tank on a hot humid day. I have been doing almost all of my cooling with fans and my evap is about 5 gallons a day. I had a heck of a time drilling holes thru the stucco to run my drain and returns but it's worth it. No more chiller heating up the room on a 95+ degree day, my wife is much happier. I'm running a snapper and flow is around 1000gpm, I'll probably have to run the dart as the new tank will be a longer run. I will eventually build a shed or some kind of enclosure to protect it from the elements. I am getting alot of hair algae and some bryopsis and am wondering if it's from getting direct sunlight or just from phosphate leaching from the eggcrate in the frag tank. I'm gonna try running the skimmer a little wetter. And yes, this is a work in progress and plan to clean up and organize the wiring better....one day 
CHASDB
Member
I ordered the steel for the stand a while back but finally got to fabricating it last weekend. I went ahead and did this at work since I worry about welding at home with all the saw dust I have going on, last thing I need is a garage fire. It's nice to work there on the weekends, no bosses or customers asking questions interrupting the work process. I used a cold saw to make all the cuts. I mitered most corners so there will be no way for water to enter the tubing, I don't want this stand to rust from the inside out. The stand I built for my 120g was of 1 1/2" angle and stood up fine for the small 5.0 earthquake we had a few weeks ago. For the new stand I'm using 1 1/2" square tube .120 wall. Materials were about $175 but I spent a full day cutting and welding and much more time prepping for paint, priming and painting. I built the stand a little deeper to make sure I clear the bulkheads in the back. After it's all built I'll add a piece of 3/4" plywood top and bottom it will be 36" tall.
This old saw was a cheep import from china and we have been using it for 10 plus years, it cuts more accurately than our new band saw.
this is all the steel cut, a little less than 60 feet of tube
our full time welder had a nice 90 deg jig that made set up alot easier
I moved the entertainment center over and moved the stand in, to get a feel for how the room will be. Part of the tank in the corner will not be easily viewable so that's where the wave box is going. It's gonna look like a LFS for a while while everything cycles.
I moved it out and started priming and painting. I will try to get it set up this weekend. This is the front of the stand but it's upside down. I got to go outside and spray another coat of paint.
This old saw was a cheep import from china and we have been using it for 10 plus years, it cuts more accurately than our new band saw.
this is all the steel cut, a little less than 60 feet of tube
our full time welder had a nice 90 deg jig that made set up alot easier
I moved the entertainment center over and moved the stand in, to get a feel for how the room will be. Part of the tank in the corner will not be easily viewable so that's where the wave box is going. It's gonna look like a LFS for a while while everything cycles.
I moved it out and started priming and painting. I will try to get it set up this weekend. This is the front of the stand but it's upside down. I got to go outside and spray another coat of paint.
hawaiian_boi
undercover reefer
looks like its coming along..... i thought you wanted to go with a taller stand?
the 240 is coming along. i talked the boss into turning our laundry cabnit into a "fish room " for all my stuff .
now hurry and get some water in there
the 240 is coming along. i talked the boss into turning our laundry cabnit into a "fish room " for all my stuff .
now hurry and get some water in there
Mr. Brooks
MASVC Member
Looking good Chas! How do you like your BK so far? I'm going to leave room in my stand for a BK in case I want to upgrade from my Deltec in the future.
CHASDB
Member
I wanted to go taller but this will allow me enough room to have a tall canopy with MH/ lightmover and be able to use a linear actuator to lift the canopy up 18" without hitting the ceiling.
Your fish room is going to work out great. It will be so much easier than trying to cram everything under the stand and figure out what's this cord for or where's the leak?
I'm making water right now....changed my filters yesterday.
Hope you have good news and found your dog.
CHASDB
Member
I really like the BK. After going to the Coral Farmers Market and seeing them all lined up and talking to Jose Casas my wife and I were sold. I've been adjusting it weekly and feeding the corals more. It's alot of skimmer for my small system right now. I'm probably around 220 gallons with 4 tangs(5" plus) and 13 small fish. When I first started skimming dry it smelled so bad I almost lost it, a little wetter and I don't gag. The auto cleaning head would be a nice addition but RE is crazy if they think they are going to sell lots of them at that price. I've got room for the SM300 but I'm sure my pic would be on a milk carton if I brought that home.
Eels&Lions
New member
I can't wait to see the finished tank.
Your in Socal too. Haha hopefully we Socal people can check out the tank once its finished.
Your in Socal too. Haha hopefully we Socal people can check out the tank once its finished.
JOSE CASAS
New member
Nice Charles!!!!!!!!!!! Does that make me a bad influence? LOL! Oh btw now I know who to ask to make my stands
CHASDB
Member
Eels&Lions- One thing I've learned is these tanks are only finished when you sell them :rollface: When things are stabilized and I have some growth I'd be happy to show it.
Jose, you are bad...so bad I will not take your money if I build it, only frags, hard part will be trying to decide which ones.
Jose, you are bad...so bad I will not take your money if I build it, only frags, hard part will be trying to decide which ones.
JOSE CASAS
New member
Cant wait .................talk to you soon Charles.
tmantaylor18
Active member
Nice man, I think I saw you at Tom's tonight. haha
CHASDB
Member
Any time Mario, I'm a pretty good DITYer, Jack of all trades. Here is a pic of my garage when I was living in Anaheim a couple years ago, I was doing kitchens/ cabinets full time. I bought our starter home in Fullerton and I'm still trying to get organized. The garage is a few feet smaller and the machines tend to get in each others way. This is why I can't have my sump/ tanks in the garage, between getting saw dust/acrylic in the water and tools rusting there just isn't the room.
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