Come with me on my Custom 77 Gallon setup

I'd look for a good used pressure rated pump. Sequence has really nice Pressure rated pumps and Pan-world has good ones too. I am not sure if the flow rates on the Pan-world are high enough to get the flow you need.

I wouldn't buy a cheap return pump. If it breaks/leaks, then it will drain your tank quite a bit and make a huge mess. Might as well buy a good one now.
 
xtrstangx,

I absolutely agree! And I will probably go with a new one. Just need to do more research into which pump would be best.

Keith
 
I've heard alot of good things about the panworld pumps. I know a guy using one in his stand and it's quieter than my Magdrive is submersed.
 
Well I am definately going to plumb to the garage and set up two 70 gallon Rubbermaid Stock Tanks. One as a Fuge and the other as a Skimmer and return section. I have also pretty much decided that I'll go with the Pan World 150ps pump for the return.

Only one snag to my plan. The garage that I am going to plumb to isn't built yet. :D Ok, ok, you're thinking that I'm crazy. But the plans are drawn we are just waiting on the contractor. (I think I mentioned before that we were remodeling our house, right?)

So in the mean time I am going to use two 11 gallon plastic tubs under the tank and run the return with a Quiet One 3000.

Which means that I should be water testing this weekend and working on the wood skin for the stand very soon.:bounce1: :bounce2: :bounce3: :dance:

I can hardly wait to get water in this thing.

Its only been like 9 months.

Stay tuned I will post plans for the under tank plumbing and garage plumbing, along with pics of the water test.

Keith
 
If you are building a new garage, you can definitely incorporate a fishroom in those plans, and still leave enough room for parking. Your stuff could be built in a way to let you do some really neat stuff, with cubby holes and more.
 
That's definatley the plan, I hope to include a frag tank, space for a QT (although I have to becareful with that as it would not be hooked up to the chiller, so I would only be able to run it at certain times of the year).

I converted our coat closet into a mini fish room a while back. Not really for equaipment but for storage of random fish stuff, plus brewing Phyto, etc. So when I proposed the idea to the wife I made sure to mention that she would get her coat closet back. Needless to say she now more excited about giving up some space in the garage!!

Keith
 
Well, I had a slight mishap with my current 29 gallon last night.

I turned off the return pump to feed, and about 10 minutes later my wife and I heard that tell tale sound of water trickling. She looks at me and we both say "What's that?":eek:

I dive toward the tank and see water running out the cabinet door. I look up at the water surface and notice the water level is getting lower than the overflow. I switch the return pump back on and everything goes back to normal.

I know that I am going to get blasted for this, but I am still using a check valve to stop a siphon when the return pump is off.

It lasted over a year :D

Well you have probably guessed what I will be doing tonight :D

Take water out, drill hole in return, put water back in!!

Just thought I would reenforce what I have always heard, check valves fail eventually.

Keith
 
Ok, so its obvious...you don't need to show off....we all know now that you have every tool available to man.:lol:

Great job! I cut a 29 like you did and after two weeks of running...CRACK!!!! So, good luck!

Mike
 
I also did a 29 this way and its been up for over a year, so far no problems, except for the check valve.

I have cut the weir on the one end not the back, the shorter span of glass is quite a bit stronger than the longer span.

As far as the tools go, I have a few things, not nearly the shop I would like to have. But the good thing is whatever I don't have my Dad does!!!



I do have a question, has anyone used uniseals on a tupperware? Or does the unisea need more meat in the wall to work?


Thanks
Keith
 
I used some Uni's on a rubbermaid trash can- worked fine. Make sure the holesaw is not wobbly so it stays tight.

A tip: If a uniseal leaks, remove it and wrap teflon tape around it about 5-6 turns, then try again. Eventually the super thin tape will build up to the perfect thickness and the pliable tape will seal your Uniseal. :D You can also shim it up with some gasket material, acrylic, whatever. Just make a ring that the Uni fits into. Even 1/8" will get you to the bigger flare at the bottom.

Also, 2 pumps in series will have the same flow rate at twice the pressure. You were right.:)
 
Cool, thanks for the info about the pumps and the uniseals. I should have test water in my new tank this weekend.

Keith
 
Just curious as I may have missed it, besides a few SPS up high, what are you planning on keeing in this tank?

Looks good so far and dont worry about how long it's taken, I've had an empty 180 sitting in my dinning room for almost 4 months. If it's not done soon, my wife will have me sleeping in it :D :D
 
Pretty much a true mixed reef. clams, some sps, a few lps, a few fish.

To be honest I really haven't planned out a stock list yet. My local LFS isn't to well stocked and shipping corals and fish just seems SO expensive. I should really start thinking about it.

Any cool suggestions (with pics)?

Keith
 
Yup, did it last night on the 29 gallon. Couldn't take the chance on a 3-4 gallon flood on my wood floors.

Keith
 
So the plan for the weekend.

1) Join the two tupperware sump/fuge together with 2" pvc and uniseals

2) Put the tank on the stand in the garage

3) the closed loop plumbing

4) The drain and return plumbing

5) Fill tank with tap water and test for leaks.

6) after it tests ok for leaks I will pull the skimmer from the rocks and increase the output pipe from the skimmer to 1 1/4" to get more through put

7) run the plumbing through the skimmer

8) let the system run for several days and test for any problems


I think I have a idea how to reduce bubbles, using part of Randy's dual tupperware bubble trap and an isolation of the return input.

Well see this weekend. Good thing it is a three day.

Next thing on the list is the wood work around the stand. Then move it inside.

Keith
 
Last edited:
So question time for all the lighting experts out there, at least more experienced than me.

During the whole setup and buying of things, I knew that I would be short on light. Currently I have 4 x 55 watt PC 10k, and 2 x 95 watt VHO actinic, which totals at 410 watts over a 77 gallon tank, or 5.324 watts per gallon. My tank is also 22.25" deep so I am a little worried about penetration.

As a result I got a wild hair, and started looking at MH.

Man is that stuff confusing:confused:

What is the difference between regular ballasts, Pulse Ballasts, EYE ballasts?

Now all of these are PFO. Is IceCap better or worse than PFO? If so, how much?

I figure I will go with 2 x 250 watt 14k. How do people feel about 14k? I read that the 20k are bluer.

The icecap would run $506 for Marine Depot, and the PFO would run $437.

What I would end up with is 2 x 250 w MH 14k, 2 x 55 w PC 10k and 2 x 95 w actinic, total of 800 watts, or 10.389 watt/gal. Is that overkill or under or just about right?

What would you guys and gals suggest?

Thanks for the Recommendations,
Keith
 
Also what do you guys and gals think of the MH retrofit setups from Hello lights?

Here is a link

Total here even when getting the 14k bulbs from Marine Depot would be $340 instead of $506.

Opinions?

Keith
 
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