CT 400 Build
- Thread starter ca1ore
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sfsuphysics
Active member
Sorry for the late reply, it's been a busy week...
but can you support them in tank as well? Because the magnet holds the wetside to the tank wall too.
Of course you can test it right now, just get a 1" thick piece of wood (actual 1" thick not 1 by material) and see if the impeller will spin. Of course there will be a lot more resistance in the water but if it can't do it in air, there's no way it's doing it in water.
True, though the dryside is obviously much heavier. I'm actually going to test them with the thick MP60 spacer which when added to 12 mm glass will approximate 1". As long as torque will transfer I can rig an in tank support if needed. But if it doesn't, or the whole thing seems like too much trouble, I can find another use for them.
sfsuphysics
Active member
You can be that super awesome reefer guy that runs MP40s on your QT tank 
sfsuphysics
Active member
I joke because I've been in the same boat of using whatever I have handy, I used to use Tunze stream pumps to mix saltwater, controllable ones!
A few folks have asked me via PM some variation of 'Isn't a 265 big enough?' The quick answer, of course, is NO! :lol: I view a fish tank like I view storage - crap will proliferate to fill the available space!!!!
So, why am I getting a bigger tank?
1. I am maxed out in the 265 and would like to keep some fish for which 265 is too small.
2. I enjoy the build process more than I enjoy the maintain process - so it's also about not getting bored.
3. I always like to have a major project every year - 2016 it was building a new master bathroom, 2017 a bigger tank.
4. My sons are now old enough to help with a project like this, and that's both a good experience for us and great learning (structural, woodworking, plumbing, fluid dynamics ..... OK, may be that's a stretch).
5. Most importantly ..... just .... because!
So, why am I getting a bigger tank?
1. I am maxed out in the 265 and would like to keep some fish for which 265 is too small.
2. I enjoy the build process more than I enjoy the maintain process - so it's also about not getting bored.
3. I always like to have a major project every year - 2016 it was building a new master bathroom, 2017 a bigger tank.
4. My sons are now old enough to help with a project like this, and that's both a good experience for us and great learning (structural, woodworking, plumbing, fluid dynamics ..... OK, may be that's a stretch).
5. Most importantly ..... just .... because!
Desert Sea
Member
Does the new tank come with a stand or are you building one yourself?
sfsuphysics
Active member
Wait... third garage?
Ok the question now isn't why are you getting a bigger tank, it's why did you wait this long to get a bigger tank?
Ok the question now isn't why are you getting a bigger tank, it's why did you wait this long to get a bigger tank?
Yes, that was 2009's 'boredom' project. Had a buddy dig and set the foundation and I did the structure. Wife, at the time, was fed up with all my woodworking tools cluttering up the 2 bays.
Debating with myself what, if any, additional floor reinforcement will be required for this new tank. Current 265 is in this same spot, holds 240 gallons and weighs about 2,700 lbs. The new tank will hold 400 gallons and weigh about 4,100 lbs, a not inconsequential difference. Current tank is on the ground floor above the basement, so it's a joist floor. It straddles a weight bearing cinder block foundation wall with a sistered 2x4 room wall; the front length of the tank is sitting on a parallel 10" joist that is supported to the basement slab by a 2x4 room wall. Both ends of the tank are also supported with a jack post. I'm thinking it's more than sufficient. Had an engineer buddy look at it before and was told is was way overkill. He lives in England now ....
Tank is ordered (96x36x30) and will arrive nominally end of July. It'll likely sit in the garage for a bit so I can pre fit all the plumbing and makes sure the stand is made and the floors reinforced. Went with a 36" modular marine overflow with 1 1/2" triple drain system. Sump is in the basement so I am going to take advantage of gravity an use the siphon drain to feed my ATS and standalone refugium. This will allow me to use the full capacity of my PanWold 200. I'm going to upsize the return plumbing to 1 1/2" also to squeeze as much flow from the pump as possible. Guessing I will get about 1300 gph give or take.
I've acquired a second MP60, so intank flow will be dual MP60s and a Vectra M1 running a closed loop. Still haven't tested my MP40s on 1" thick sides, so they may not work. Still undecided on whether additional lighting will be required. Probably I will setup the tank and then decide.
I've acquired a second MP60, so intank flow will be dual MP60s and a Vectra M1 running a closed loop. Still haven't tested my MP40s on 1" thick sides, so they may not work. Still undecided on whether additional lighting will be required. Probably I will setup the tank and then decide.
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sfsuphysics
Active member
So did the woodworking tools go back to the 2 bays? Because if not you're going to want a 4th garage as I know first hand how much corrosion can happen in tools, even in an adjacent room to a tank.
Planning Plumbing
Planning Plumbing
Going to have the main MM overflow, a two-output closed loop and a single return. Began dry fitting the overflow this week. From left to right, siphon to ATS, emergency, main siphon to sump, open channel, and then siphon to refugium. Pipe to the outside of the overflow is the suction for the closed loop. Really outstanding work on the overflow. I've upsized the standpipe on the emergency to 3", although the bulkhead and subsequent plumbing is 1 1/2". Two siphons for the ATS and refugium are 1"; main siphon and open channel are 1 and 1 1/2". I've concluded with a bit of work I can get about 1,300 net gph out of my PanWorld 200, so more than enough drain capacity. The closed loop will be 1 1/2" on the input and dual 1" outputs form my Vectra/OM combo.
Planning Plumbing
Going to have the main MM overflow, a two-output closed loop and a single return. Began dry fitting the overflow this week. From left to right, siphon to ATS, emergency, main siphon to sump, open channel, and then siphon to refugium. Pipe to the outside of the overflow is the suction for the closed loop. Really outstanding work on the overflow. I've upsized the standpipe on the emergency to 3", although the bulkhead and subsequent plumbing is 1 1/2". Two siphons for the ATS and refugium are 1"; main siphon and open channel are 1 and 1 1/2". I've concluded with a bit of work I can get about 1,300 net gph out of my PanWorld 200, so more than enough drain capacity. The closed loop will be 1 1/2" on the input and dual 1" outputs form my Vectra/OM combo.
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It's hard to stay away. I dropped out in 2009 after almost 20 years in salt water and reef tanks. Sold off my venerable 180 and swore the whole thing off. Missed it though and as my kids got older they expressed interest. Got a 90 in 2013 ..... what was I thinking! 265 less than 6 months later. Now 400 four years on.
Funny story. When I was thinking about a 180 or a 265 in 2013, I was perusing the FS adds here on RC and found my old 180 up for sale. Not from the guy I had sold it to in 2009, but one more owner on. He was selling the tank as 5 years old - when it was actually 25 years old. He was not misrepresenting it intentionally, but caveat emptor.
Funny story. When I was thinking about a 180 or a 265 in 2013, I was perusing the FS adds here on RC and found my old 180 up for sale. Not from the guy I had sold it to in 2009, but one more owner on. He was selling the tank as 5 years old - when it was actually 25 years old. He was not misrepresenting it intentionally, but caveat emptor.
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