Doing it right... from the start (for a change)

[mille239]

I got the stand primed and painted, as well as got the under tank lights hooked up... Next step is plumbing.

That powerstrip is a godsend, I recommend it to anyone. John, I haven't got the skimmmer running yet but hopefully it will do dishes as well as the laundry. I originally was going to have the tank drilled by the retailer, but if you remember the mix up in ordering the tank, (which delayed it 3 weeks) it would have been another month if I wanted All-Glass to drill it for me.. so I just did it myself.

 

[89GTA]

I dig the under-stand lighting- nice touch. I am going to copy that idea at some point... the old Mag flashlight routine ive been doing is getting SOOO old.

 

[mille239]

TONIGHT::::

I didn't do Jack. Maybe tomorrow. :lol:

 

[mille239]

updates comming with pics!!!!
got the tank in place, and have been tackling the plumbing...

goal: have water in it this weekend!

 

[mille239]

Well I'm not quite as far as I would like to have been at this time, but have definately made some progress. There are always little hang-ups that come along unexpectedly which slow a project down.

The first one was the baffles I ordered for the sump were cut to the wrong size, so it took a couple extra days to get them replaced. They are now fine and all glued into place.

The second thing was, I couldn't find anyone around when I was ready to move the tank into place. So while I was ready to get going on the plumbing, it was another two days before the tank was installed. Nevertheless.. it is in!

As far as plumbing goes, I started out kinda back-asswards and decided to plumb the closed loop first. The only reason being, I wanted a break from crawling under the stand :rollface:

To support the 1" flex-outputs that I ordered with the OceansMotions 4-way, I cut triangles from some 1/4" acrylic stock I had lying around, and positioned them in the corners.

I don't think I need to secure them in any way because thy are held in place by the plumbing, but if need to, a couple dabs of silicone should hold them while still allowing for removeability in the case of maintanence or repair.

I did also start the return plumbing manifold as well, but didn't get a chance to snap any pictures because it was too late. They're comming next. Let me know what you guys think so far!

 

[gkarshens]

Looks great! How many gallons is your sump?

 

[mille239]

Thanks! The sump is a standard 90 gallon, (an old display tank I re-sealed) hence the back is painted black too

 

[gkarshens]

That's great. you will have plenty of room in there. I have a 30g sump and it is driving me crazy. I can barely get my skimmer in there.

 

[143gadgets]

Nice!

 

[mille239]

A few more plumbing pictures... I still have to do the drain for the refugium, and the 3/4" secondary drains. I also have to finish up the closed loop, but ran out of 1" PVC (time for trip number 1 billion to home depot)

I received my two phosban reactors from Drs. Fosters & Smith; one for phosban media and one for carbon. They have a sale, so I figured why not. I may use one or both depending on the water conditions. Most likely I will at least run carbon constantly. Can these be hooked up in series, or should I run them independently?

The last few photos below show the plumbing for the skimmer. I am running it gravity feed off one of the drain lines.

 

[mille239]

Well, I started to fill the system (pictures to follow...) on Monday, and of course there were some inevitable leaks :mad2:
I pretty much expected them, as I am no professional plumber by far. The first leak was in the tank return (an O-ring was missing from one of the unions) this was a quick fix.

The second leak was from the closed loop intake (luckily by the pump and not behind the tank) where one of the unions was not tightened enough. I also have a very slow drip from the Dart (closed loop) output at the threaded fittings. I have always been nervous about over tightening, but I thought I really snugged that bad-boy down, and used LOTS of teflon tape. Does anyone know just how tight these fittings should be and how much tape to use? I don't want to crack the housing. Other than that, everything else seems to be fine so far.

The filling is a slow go, because my RO only produces about 65 gallons per day, and I didin't want it filling while I was at work or sleeping. right now as it stands, the substrate has been all rinsed and is in the tank, the sump is full, and the tank about 1/3 full.

Any help/advice with the pump leak would be appreciated.

I also ordered two 10K XM bulbs (gota love gift certificates) to replace the two 15K XM bulbs after reading the article on PAR output showing how low the 15K's fare as far as PAR.
I love the color of the 15k's but just like me leaving out the O-ring, just didn't think they were all that bright. Hopefully with the VHO actinics, the 10K's won't look too white.

 

[SunnyX]

Great work on the tank!!

Love you attention to detail and Im sure it will be a killer system.

Let me know when you want to fill the tank up with frags

 

[Beartooth Ranch]

Um Yeh, I think some duct tape over a gererous glob of silicone should stop the leak. They you won't have to wory about the wood floor..

Tank looks great.

I wouldn't wory about leaving the water filling while you are not home.

At the Beartooth Ranch, we've upped our standards, so up yours!

 

[mille239]

Thanks Sunny, I can't wait to get all the kinks out and get rolling!

Beartooth Ranch.. <ahem.. Graham...> [welcome]


Somehow I don't know about the whole duct tape job... tryin to stay clear of the ghetto-fabulous look.. but thanks for playing.

 

[mille239]

Oh, and graham... how are those guppies doing in your slimy bowel? ha ha ha

(sea monkeys are a nice touch as well) :fish1:

 

[krismist]

great set up. i can't wait to see what it looks like when you finish. You are a jack of all trades

 

[Beartooth Ranch]

We have a very nice crop of sea monkies all living happily in the "Sea Monkey Flooded City". One might even argue that they are a salt water invertibrate...Not as much care required as real reef tank, but you do have to feed them, give them light, if the water all dries up, you have to put more water in (up to a year later, according to sea monkey experts) in order to bring them back to life. The biggest challange is keeping the cat from drinking all the water and marine life...

 

[mille239]

Those sea monkeys can be a real hand full, I know.

 

[55Reef]

Sweet setup!
I'm in the planning stages of a 120. You are definatly giving me some ideas.

Keep up the great work!

 

[mille239]

UPDATE:

Well I finished the rest of the plumbing, and working out the leaks... nothing too serious thankfully and all is up and running, and no more leaks!

I then started work on my auto top-pff system, by cutting an access in the top of the reservoir with a jig-saw. I then installed the Kent float valve (which will be fed from my RO unit in the laundry room.

I then drilled an outlet port on top of the reservoir where water will be drawn out of a 1/4" hose by the peristalic aquamedic pump.

Eventually it will feed through a Kalk reactor into the sump, operated by a relay-dual float switch assembly I am currently building on the side, but for now it will simply feed RO water into the sump to maintain the levels.