Go Big OR Go Home! Construction of a 1000 gallon System!!

[simonmr]

so what are you goimng to do with all those outlets. you mentioned for some streams b4 I belive are you going to also have a 4 way or somthing to ramdomize the current

 

[simonmr]

OFF TOPIC: Lunchbucket your occupation keeps getting longer and longer

 

[Lunchbucket]

simonmr - LOL hasn't gotten longer since May!!! but it might get longer if i get to be out local high schools Weight Strength Coach what can i say...long name long...... :lol:

Lunchbucket

 

[newfishguytom]

Nice Tank

Nice Tank

That is 1 hell of project! looks like you got it handled pretty well!! PROP'S on the planning you realy did your homework.
FEW thing i would just like to say is
1st metal plug boxes is a nono with salt water reason is the salt will eat through them in no time at all
2nd not sure if you sayed your going to do this or not but u may want to use all gfi plugs, you may wana use all green board and not drywall even on out side face (viewing wall).
3rd for your ceiling fan or fans RUBBER OR PLASTIC coat ever part of them (THEY WILL BE THE MOST EXOSED TO THE ELEMENTS)
and last is this may sound silly but plz think about it!!!
YOU may wana pull out all your screws,bults,nuts and dip them in glue then rerun them in this way they will not back out over time

THANKS FOR LISTENING

GOODLUCK and plz post a few more pics of your stock you allready have ..

 

[brian3]

Awesome project - what do you do with that one though when you get bored of the hobby one day?

 

[jnarowe]

I'll chime in...some suggestions I have gotten are to turn it into a jaccuzzi or mount an outboard motor on it and give glass bottom boat tours.

One of my buddies calls my tank the "lap pool".

 

[Cathy8424]

I know I am a little slow with this post, but I use all three, DC8, DC4HD and X10 modules. It seems to me that I have more reliability with the DCs than the X10s. The most noticeable difference is with some of the electronic ballast.

As for the electrical, if you go to an electrical supply store, they do have a silicone like substance that they use to fill underground electrical boxes with; like boxes for underground lights that would shine up on an office building or what ever.

I have not decided for sure how I will do my electrical yet, but I will not use metal boxes. I will use either the fiber glass or the plastic. I like the fiber glass better. Your fish room is well ventilated and climate controlled, I donââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t think you will have that much problem with condensation in the boxes. Your boxes are mounted straight up and down so even if there is some condensation, it will not be dripping into the outlet. And as suggested previously, if you are concerned, you can wrap the outlet terminals a few times with electrical tape.

I really appreciated the ventilation thread. I got some good ideas form it.

 

[jnarowe]

I am not too concerned about it on my project since I am using all plastic. I also installed gaskets on all outlets and switches, and I have baby proofing inserts for any outlets that won't be in use. I too figure the DC's will be more reliable, but I have heard horror stories that the fuses blow easily, which would be a real bummer because I got the DC4HD units just to handle my 1000W MH lamps which draw 9.2amps each. We'll see, but I will go into orbit if the fuses blow!

 

[Cathy8424]

I have two friends that recently got new DC4s and have had trouble with the fuses blowing. I haven't checked throughly, but it looks like the DC4HD uses the same fuse as the DC8? If that is so, what is the point of getting a DC4HD at a much higher price than a DC8? So far, I haven't had one blow yet, knock on wood.

I like your idea about using the baby proofing inserts, I never would have thought of that.

 

[jnarowe]

As it was explained to me, the DC8 outlets can't handle the amps of a DC4HD:

DC8--each outlet can control up to 6A, total 15A
DC4--each outlet can control up to 8A, total 10A
DC4HD--each outlet can control up to 12A, total 15A

So the DC4 has a unit max of only 10A, which is quite low. If someone has a lamp or 2 plus a pump or 2, that could easily blow a fuse when they are switching on. If you are using it to make waves, that's a lot of on and off, and if lamps and pumps all come on at the same time, that's a definite blown fuse I would think.

 

[Cathy8424]

Do you know, do the individual outlets have a seperate fuse? What happens if you over load one outlet? So, hypoghetically, on a DC4HD you could only run one 12 amp device and one 3 amp device? Heck, some coffee posts pull nearly that much.

With this information, I'm thinking maybe the other X10 devices are a better investment in the long run?

 

[bstone]

Update:

The drywall is all up and I am in the process of taping and mudding. I hope to have it sanded and painted the first week of January!

I bought some of the equipment. Pumps, Sea Swirls, Reflectors, and the skimmers (Two Euro-Reef RC-1000's). I also bought most of the plumbing supplies. I hope to start plumbing in the next week or two! That is when the fun starts!!

I will post some pictures soon!

 

[jnarowe]

ugh! I hate the taping and mudding!!! Good to hear you are making progress. I have re-installed my utility sink, added a psrayer, routed the slots in the back of the tank, built the refugium stand and will start on the plumbing soon.

 

[bstone]

I have also installed a utility sink, they are the best for a tank room! Makes cleaning a skimmer much easier then outside wioth a hose or inside in a tub or sink...

I can't wait to start plumbing. Man, I spent way to much on plumbing supplies!! I also goto Savko.com, good prices!

 

[jnarowe]

Yeah, be careful about the prices though. Large BHs like 3" and up are cheaper at US Plastics, and many parts are cheaper at Lowes/HD like unions and some ball valves. I suppose when you are buying a whole bunch at one time, the tax issue comes into play though.

 

[scrmbld33]

great project!!! cant wait to see it up and running!!! i see that the metal housings for elect. are coming under fire, would painting the houses work better than bear metal? or pvc conduit for the wiring? should be ok for a while i would think though.. i look forward for the finished project and how many lbs of rock you putting in and from where?

 

[asnatlas]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6398092#post6398092 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bstone
I can't wait to start plumbing. Man, I spent way to much on plumbing supplies!! I also goto Savko.com, good prices!

I agree, Savko is awesome... I love being local to them...

 

[asnatlas]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6398144#post6398144 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jnarowe
Yeah, be careful about the prices though. Large BHs like 3" and up are cheaper at US Plastics, and many parts are cheaper at Lowes/HD like unions and some ball valves. I suppose when you are buying a whole bunch at one time, the tax issue comes into play though.

Hmm, Savko is like 1/2 as much as HD and Lowes around here... I went to HD to get some 3/4" ID tubing (10ft) and it was 10.00 (1.00 per ft)... I went to Savko and got 1" ID for $0.50 per foot... Larger size for 1/2 as much... I have compared quite a few things from HD / Lowes with Savko and the cost have been on avg at least 40-50% less...

 

[asnatlas]

DP

 

[jnarowe]

Shawn, I wrote that "certain" things are cheaper at Lowes/HD. The flexible PVC tubing certainly is not. In fact I own a marine business and can by that wholesale, and it is still cheaper from SavKo. But, as I said, you will find better prices sometimes on ball valves, unions, and other PVC fittings. They just don't carry enoughg to do an entire job of course.

I need more BHs and will place another order with Savko this week. Since I found out the Rubbermaid ones are crap!!!