cmcneil's reef savvy build thread

CMcNeil

New member
well its that time again,you all know i cant keep a tank too long without setting up a new one.this will be the last tank i do for a while and hopefully forever.the tank is on order now from reef savvy and the delivery date is set for late july/early august.it will be 3 sides starphire with polished and beveled edges,black back wall,black silicone,with external overflow.i believe this will be the first time Felix has ever added an external overflow to a rimless tank so im kind of excited about that.the tank will measure 30" long x 24" wide x 16" deep making it roughly 50 gallons in size.here is a quick run down of my equipment list for the tank.

Tank=reef savvy 50g custom starphire(30"x24"x16")
Lighting=36-48 LED's from reefledlights.com(thinking ill go 48 but not 100% sure yet)
Sump=custom PVC 26"x16"x14"(approx 25g)made by me
Return pump=new marineland pump(not sure of which model but something around 600gph)
Skimmer=I-Tech 100
Flow pumps=2 vortec MP-10 WES's
Reactor=custom made by me
Heaters=one 150w ehiem jager,one 50w eheim jager
Cooling=10"fan mounted over the sump
Controller=AC Jr with DC8,temp probe,PH probe
Top off=tunze osmolator with custom top off tank

the tank will be a mixed LPS/SPS reef with alot of acans,some chalices,several scolys,and lots of nice acros.i plan on having a fair amount of fish considering the tanks size.here is a list of the fish id like to have and plan on getting.im sure the list will change some but this is what im thinking.

Fish list
one yellow coris wrasse
one randals goby with pistol shrimp
two bluestriped pipefish
two tail spot gobys
one copperband butterfly
two redhead gobys
two cleaner gobys

i have a cool idea for a way to dress up the stand and make it look classy.it will be a wood stand with frosted glass pieces that wrap around the sides of the top perimeter.i have found these metel standoffs a a local plastics supply house that will hold the glass off of the stand and allow me to have LED lights under the glass.it should make the glass glow and add a nice touch.im also thinking of getting glass doors for the stand but not 100% sure of that yet.

here is a google sketchup drawing of the tank/stand however i didnt draw the LED lit glass pieces on that i mentioned above.

sketchupof50g.jpg
 
here is my new sump,its made from 1/4" grey PVC and 1/4"clear PVC sheet all hot air welded and bent where it could be bent.

water enters here
IMG_3867.jpg


and exits here,which is the left bottom side of the box
IMG_3866.jpg


water flow goes from left to right.
IMG_3868.jpg


and passes through 3 bubble traps before hitting the return pump
IMG_3868.jpg
 
but of course :D
i like running my vortec pumps in short pulse AKA "wave mode" so sand doesnt work well with that.also i feel that sandbeds just detritus traps and become problems down the road if you dont clean them often which i dont have time to do.
 
That's what I like to hear! I have been playing around with my MP60's, and have managed to produce a ridiculous short-pulse wave in the tank that runs during NTM. It's tough to explain, like a sine wave that moves side-to-side and front-to-back at the same time. Like nothing I've seen before, they are awesome pumps. I'll try to get a vid up at some point.

I always like how you utilize the aesthetics of plastic and glass in your builds. Get us more pics ASAP!
 
That's what I like to hear! I have been playing around with my MP60's, and have managed to produce a ridiculous short-pulse wave in the tank that runs during NTM. It's tough to explain, like a sine wave that moves side-to-side and front-to-back at the same time. Like nothing I've seen before, they are awesome pumps. I'll try to get a vid up at some point.

I always like how you utilize the aesthetics of plastic and glass in your builds. Get us more pics ASAP!

I will post pics as I get things done,I think I'll go ahead and start my stand in the next few days.I need to buy the 2x4's and then I can start building the stand.I'm still unsure of what I'm going to skin the stand with or how fancy I'll get but I'm thinking of using glass doors or possibly plexiglass for the stand doors.whatever I do I want it to look clean.I'm kind of thinking of doing an Elos style stand,simple but classy.
 
here is my new sump,its made from 1/4" grey PVC and 1/4"clear PVC sheet all hot air welded and bent where it could be bent.

water enters here
IMG_3867.jpg


and exits here,which is the left bottom side of the box
IMG_3866.jpg


water flow goes from left to right.
IMG_3868.jpg


and passes through 3 bubble traps before hitting the return pump
IMG_3868.jpg


Did u build this yourself? Sweet
 
jmking,yes i built the sump myself.i do custom plastic fab work for a living so the sump is a cake walk for me.i think it took me 4-5 hours total to cut,bend,and weld it together.
 
looking good, but then so did your last system, so I expect nothing less. :D

if you liked the elos then you will LOVE this one,im really going all out this time.i want this tank to be my last tank for years to come so i wont skimp on anything at all.the stand will be a masterpiece before im happy with it and all equipment will be the best i can build or buy.i have a few ideas in my head for the stand and hope they pan out and look like i think they will.
 
........Update........
i got some wood today and started my stand,as of now its just a 2x4 frame but you have to start somewhere.i think im going to make the stand fancy like my old 150g stand.it had alot of nice trim work done to it.i might go with a cherry stain to finish it off but ill decide on that when i get to that point.

cut up and ready to assemble
2c360b5f.jpg


base frame,needs the center beam still
ac6f6d7a.jpg


top frame,needs the center beam still
93e1089b.jpg


uprights added
59a2133a.jpg


top frame on
834dcc2a.jpg


notch for the plumbing to pass through
9f3a1662.jpg


here is a pic of my old 150g stand for those who never saw it,this is what i might do to this stand.obviously i wont be putting a canopy on the reef savvy :)
Picture1067.jpg
 
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