Custom 160 Build Thread - Finally!!

[Jgoal55]

Hey Jorge just fill the tank add salt and mix in the tank.. Then all you salt will be done and you could do the sand and rock work all i one day..

if you need a hand you have my number...

Thanks Marcos, thought about this but wanted to avoid as much "sand storming" as possible....if i put the sand in first i can pour the water in slowly so as to avoid that. Also, I wont have to worry about calculating the displacement of water from the sand and rocks. And yes I have your number and on a sidenote yes, I still OWE you big time....lol

Chuck, is this true for all three standpipes? the main channel is only in about 3/4 of an inch but the other two are in about 1.5inches. The overflow is functioning well but it does take a long time for the air to purge out (about 15minutes after which it is dead silent......almost. I had a brief discussion with Bean and for some reason it seems that the main channel is sucking in air from somewhere and and every once in a while it shoots out bubbles into the sump. This created a pretty annoying popping noise. At any rate, I think I figured out what was causing the air to be taken in but I wont know for sure until the tank is filled back up.

Al, I dislike you.

 

[illal]

Lmao!

 

[Jgoal55]

ok, so I got nothing done today other than adding cabinet magnets to my doors. woo hoo!

I will FOR SURE be placing the rocks and sand in tomorrow though and if I don't, I give all of you permission to come punch me in the face!!!!

 

[coralfragger101]

STANDPIPE LENGTHS:

Jorge, I would say that you should have the main (siphon) and the secondary durso only barely below the water surface. The main needs to purge every time the system is is started up. The secondary pipe normally only has a little bit of water draining through it so it would technically work fine if submerged more. BUT if you think about it, in an emergency situation, when the water level is rising fast and too high in your overflow area, that pipe is supposed to turn into a full siphon as well (when the airline gets submerged). In an emergency you will only have seconds (not minutes) for it to purge and start helping out the main drain. So you want as little back pressure as possible on this pipe as well.

Now the third pipe (Emergency drain) is another story. This drain will work either way as well. Personally I cut this pipe off just above the water line so that it will act somewhat like an alarm for me. Depending on back pressure and other things, this pipe will be used on start up for a short bit of time on some set ups and on others it won't. One of mine does rise above this level before the main gets purged so it IS utilized at start up. In either case, when the system is up and running fine, no water should be coming through this drain. With it cut off higher than the water level I can visually see water coming out of it AND I can hear the water splashing into the sump from it. That's what makes it an alarm for me. If I can see and hear it - Something is wrong!

I'm also not sure what's going on with yours but it definately should not take minutes to purge the main drain pipe. It should be a matter of seconds once the water level in the overflow area rises too high. You mentioned that you "think" you fixed this so I guess we'll wait and see before I strain my brain for possible solutions

Sorry bout the long post.

HTH

 

[Jgoal55]

Thanks Chuck that definitely helps quite a bit. Smart to have the emergency a little bit over the water....out of curiosity, has it even come on because of an emergency?

Im gonna recut the pipes today as well.

 

[coralfragger101]

Luckily no, my 3rd pipe has never kicked in due to an emergency but it sure does help me sleep better at night.

 

[Jgoal55]

sweet, thats what I wanted to hear......

on another note, I think avoided anyone punching me in the face because there is now sand, rocks, and water in the tank.....pictures to come.

Anyone have a MAG 24 I can borrrow?????......this Mag5 Im using to fill the tank is taking way toooooo long...lol.

 

[Jgoal55]

Ok, well.....2hrs later and the tank is as filled as it's gonna be until there is more water. In there now is about 90 gallons of fresh SW, a 50% live sand bed and 50% dry sand, and some eco rock from BRS that I got with a coupon I won about a year ago.

Im obviously not done with the rock work but Im out of rock so for now thats it. Im also hesitant to add too much more rock because I still have a bunch of corals in my old tank at my brothers house that are attached to some nice pieces of rock. I do however, want a couple of nice shelf pieces.

Anyway, the pics:

Sand

Rock

Front view:

Side View:

And finally SW (with some temp power heads and a heater):

 

[illal]

very nice! your cruisin right along now!

 

[coralfragger101]

Jorge,

You should see if anyone near you has a diatom filter that you could borrow for a day. It will clear up that tank in no time. I love mine for new set ups. Plus you know that all the cloud you are seeing is removed and not just settled somewhere in your tank.
If you were closer, I'd lend you mine but I don't think you want to make the trip.

 

[Jgoal55]

very nice! your cruisin right along now!

Hell, it only took me exactly five months to the day from the start of the thread......lol. That's not too bad. :sad2:

Hey Chuck, I was going to throw in one of those Marineland Penguin filters once it was all filled up. But yeah a diatom filter would be awesome. Ill ask in another thread.

My RO/DI has been working overtime. It still has about another 45-55 gallons to go. tick, tick, tick, tick, tick.....

 

[gasman059]

Nice going!
As far as the filters naaaah just be patient is the only way to go!@

BTW great that u have some space behind the rockwork for circulation, as far as rocks looks to me that you are there.:dance:

 

[Jgoal55]

Thanks Manny.

Yeah, I wanted no rock up against any of the glass panels to help with both circulation and to minimize scratches.

Also, its a cool view b/c when the fish think they are hiding you're peeking in from the side.

As for the filter, I forgot to post about so patience wins out this time. Also, Im leaving for a week so when I get back it'll hopefully be all cleared up.

Gonna throw a dead shrimp in to start the cycle.....no chromis' this time around.

 

[coralfragger101]

I hope you are happy with leaving the room behind the rock work (you should be). I did it but wasn't happy about it. While it did help with circulation, etc, it took away from my front substrate real estate. I don't have much room at all now to put LPS down there.

I see that your tank is 28" wide where mine is only 24" so that should give you some extra room. Most folks don't have the luxery of that wide of tank.

 

[Ocean Mang]

Everything looks great! I love the stand and tank. I can't wait to see it LIT up!

 

[Jgoal55]

Yeah...chuck so far I feel I have plenty of room on the substrate. What I dont like about the rock work right now is that it is not very coral layout friendly...the structures themselves dont have a lot of depth and are not very vertical so I dont too many places to put the corals.......So im probably gonna change that aspect of it.

Thanks for the compliment ocean mang......i cant wait either. Unfortunately, its definitely gonna be a while before the lights come on. Im leaving for a week now and when I get back Im gonna have at least a week of catch up work. Unfortunately not everyone goes on vacation at the same time as me

Then my first move is to organize the inside of the stand and get all the electrical and components figured out. This will all be while the tank is cycling anyway and If I remember correctly, you don't need lights to cycle anyway so by the time Im ready to put lights Ill actually have a cycled tank!!

Its actually all filled up now and the sump is running. Ill snap a pic in a sec and post it later.

 

[Jgoal55]

And she's up!!!

One big screw up on the Carpenters end is that he didnt let the canopy fall enough so you can see the water line......really bothers me. He is supposed to come by and fix it in a couple of weeks. Hopefully it comes out nice.

 

[gasman059]

truly a beautiful tank!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[brians4671]

jgoal have you ran it with the return pump as it will raise the water line due to lag. i know you know this its just the picture is screaming stagnant water.

 

[illal]

very VERY nice!