Dave's 90gal build

[archer8681]

Time to start the thread.

THE TANK!!!!

THE SUMP/FUGE PLAN

THE SUMP - Step 1

THE SUMP - Step 2

I know, I know, I cant silicone if my life depended on it, so I just put it on fairly heavy. I'll leak test the duiffwerent chambers in a few days. I wanna give all that silicone some time to properly cure.

More to come! I'll finish the sump tomorrow, I'm sorta stoned from all the silicone right now. (Yes, I was foolish enough to do this in my dining room with the windows closed!)

Ordering my ASM G3, Eheim 1262, 2x Tunze 6060, and an RO/DI system this Friday.

Dave

 

[xxxbadfishxxx]

nice, what kind of tank is it? I am also researching a 90 gallon, do you think the 1262 will be too much flow? If you want to save a lot of money, a lot of people are using Maxijet 900's with the MJMods kit, www.mjmods.com, just something to think about. I will def. be tagging along. Any chance of getting a pick of the stand? What kind of lighting?

Jeff.

 

[archer8681]

Its an AGA 90 gal RR on the pine stand from AGA. I'll get a pic to post soon.

The Eheim1262 will probably be more flow than I need, but I will control it by putting a tee on the return and a valve to return some of the flow back to the sump, instead of restricting the flow to the tank. The tank is rated at 600 gph flow from the overflow. At 4' the 1262 will be just under 800gph. The next model down is about 550 gph at 4'. So I went with the 1262. I'm going with the Eheim because I know it is a good pump with solid performance, and its a name I have known for a long time going back to my FW days.

For lighting I'm still not 100% sure yet. Right now I have a simple light fixture with 3x 32 watt bulbs. I got it when i purchased the tank when I was originally planning a FOWLR setup. I have been corrupted by RC and all the beautiful pic of tanks I have seen, so I gotta go reef! I have some time still. I am leaning towards the Solaris LED setup. I know it's new, but from what I have seen in other threads, people that have it are pleased with it's performance. I like the idea of 40% less electricity, no real heat issues, and the way it has built in programing to control when and which lights turn on and off.

Dave

 

[TA]

Just a suggestion FWIW.....

The megaflow can't handle very much flow (the 'teeth' aren't wide enough) - and even less as the tank ages. Get a dremel and widen each opening at the top. Easy to do (I did it to mine ). There's quite a bit on RC about this problem...and some fixes too...do a search.

 

[archer8681]

Didn't know that. Thanks! I'll look into it!

Dave

 

[xxxbadfishxxx]

I am planning on the Eheim 1260, seems like thats the way to go as far as pumps go. TA is right, i have heard about Megflows being hard to handle a lot of flow, if you go with the 1262 you will want to do this mod. Havent heard anything about the Solaris LED yet, i will have to look into it. Look into T5's as well, use less electricity, and bulbs only need to be changed every 2 years. If your not going to do reef, which we both know you will now, there really is no need for Tunze and that big of a return. The ASM G3 is the way to go, from what i have heard and read. Keep us updated.

 

[reefD]

i used a mag 9 for my return pump from my sump and its way to powerful . its been on a valve (which retricts its flow rate) for about a year now and i still havnt increased its flow. good advice to go with something less powerful/flow rate.

 

[Lakeside518]

Curious to why you made the return pump section so large? Would have made the Fuge alittle bigger and the return pump section say 8x12" Not sure what other equipment you maybe adding in that section so its possible you planned it that way for a reason.

 

[reefD]

by the way ..dont worry about the silicone being sloppy. in a month you wont be able to even see it as it gets covered with coraline/algea. looks great ...

 

[reefD]

yeah unless you want to leave room for equipment in there like a heater.

 

[jallard]

Ill be taggin along....your setup will be like mine. Im upgrading to a 75rr soon w/aga stand

 

[archer8681]

Lakeside518

Curious to why you made the return pump section so large? Would have made the Fuge alittle bigger and the return pump section say 8x12" Not sure what other equipment you maybe adding in that section so its possible you planned it that way for a reason.

Honestly thats just the way it worked out. I do plan on putting 2x 200 watt heaters in the sump. I tried to work off of one of melev's sumps as far as the design. His Model G

http://www.melevsreef.com/acrylics/sumps/g/sump_model_g.html

I asked a few people and they advised that the 8" ref should be enough. Hopefully it will, I really wont be able to get the sump out once there is water in the tank to make any major modifications.

xxxbadfishxxx

..... Havent heard anything about the Solaris LED yet, i will have to look into it. Look into T5's as well, use less electricity, and bulbs only need to be changed every 2 years...

I was also looking this the Outer Orbit Pro Series HQI/T-5/LED Lights 48" 716 watts 2-250 watt HQI, 4-54watt T-5 HO, 9 blue & 9 white LED Lunar Lights.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=15486&N=2004+113175

I like the 'all-in-one' fixture. I still have probably 8 weeks or more before I really need the light fixture, so I'm all ears when it comes to this.

Dave

 

[reefD]

ur doeing it the right way. slow, with patience, and research...bravo!!

 

[scorp1on]

Re: Dave's 90gal build

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8499156#post8499156 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by archer8681
I know, I know, I cant silicone if my life depended on it, so I just put it on fairly heavy.

As a few of us who have been in the group for awhile can attest, we have seen silicone applied alot heavier hande. right Joe, Matt, etc? :lol:

 

[TA]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8500178#post8500178 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lakeside518
Curious to why you made the return pump section so large?

Water level in this section will drop as water evaporates.

So, unless you set up an auto topoff in this section to maintain a good running level, its not a bad idea to keep this area a bit on the large size.

 

[archer8681]

If i did my math correctly, the intake section holds approximately 7 gal, the return section just over 5 gal, and the ref just over 4.5 gal. So almost 17 gal of operational sump from a 30 gal tank. This should leave me with enough room for when the pump is turned off so I don't overflow the sump.

Dave

 

[archer8681]

more pics!

Sump with some rough plumbing

Intake side. I created a small intake section open on the bottom with slotted pvc. Copied from the AGA Megaflow sump designs.

Return & fuge side. I made a spray bar for the fuge that will sit under the water level, and you can see the beginning of my return with a tee to divert extra flow back to the sump.

I also made a cover for the sump with eggcrate. I cut out for the to intake sections, and will cut out additional spaces for the skimmer and the return line.

Using the extra egg crate in my tank to keep the rocks off the glass. I'll have more eggcrate pieces when I cut the sump cover for the skimmer and return, then i use small wire ties to connect the egg crate pieces together.

Dave

 

[gary greguire]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8500434#post8500434 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by archer8681


I was also looking this the Outer Orbit Pro Series HQI/T-5/LED Lights 48" 716 watts 2-250 watt HQI, 4-54watt T-5 HO, 9 blue & 9 white LED Lunar Lights.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=15486&N=2004+113175

I like the 'all-in-one' fixture. I still have probably 8 weeks or more before I really need the light fixture, so I'm all ears when it comes to this.

Dave

personaly I think 6x54 t5 set up would be all you need if you over drive them on IC ballasts you could keep sps on the sand. If you stay with normal driven you could keep sps at the top and work down to lower lite corals at the bottom

 

[xxxbadfishxxx]

Dave,

That is a really nice fixture and should let you keep anythin you could ever want. I plan on getting the Aquatinics 5X54watt T5 HO kit, It comes with individual reflectors, cooling fans, and from what i have heard/read is a really awsome fixture. If your concern is saving on electricity, and not heating the water on the tank, you might want to look into it, just a suggestion. http://www.aquactinics.com/Store/T5_HO_Lighting_Systems.htm
Its around half the price as well, only thing is they currenlty do not come with moonlights, but i talked to the manufacutrer, and they plan on adding them in the future.

The Sump looks good, Melev has a really nice site that is really helpful. WIll you be adding an auto top off? Keep the pics coming.

Jeff

 

[archer8681]

Auto topoff will probably be added at a later date. I'll look at those lights!.

Thanks,

Dave