Golan's 90G Reef

[luckycat]

Pics as promised

Pics as promised

HI Gooliver and others who may be watching...

So as I indicated earlier I've redone my sump entirely, this time out of rubbermaid containers purchased at Wal-Mart for $6.99 a piece.

Each container can hold about 22g, that is taking off about 1-2" in height for my drainage on the elevated right/left containers that feed the return. Previously I was trying to divide up one 29g into three chambers..at this point I've almost tripled my capacity.

I used all 1.5" PVC in the sump area (except for the 1/2" holders for the media tray).

Still to do is to add some sort of baffling system to eliminate micro bubbles from the protein skimmer portion, to add a spray bar to both the refugium and proteim skimmer section feeds and to complete the drain portion below the return tank. I think I should have tried using some union couplers that I just saw at Lowes the other day vs. all of the NTP (threaded) connectors that I used, the unions seem to be easier to use..but that's OK.

I have a Mag 18 at the bottom of the return that you can see sitting there, goes up about 4-5 feet to the bottom of the AGA which splits off into two 3/4's, one to the normal AGA return the other to a return way over on the right.

I have no idea if this is all going to work..well, I think it will be fine but I'll have some water trials soon. :eek1:

Close-up of the media tray - just a smaller rubbermaid container with 1/2" pvc going through drilled holes, removed bottom and replaced with eggcrate.

 

[luckycat]

Couple more pics

Couple more pics

On the top side, the split..one goes to 3/4" vinyl tube to the normal AGA return, the other splits off to the right corner of the tank using all 3/4" pvc.

 

[JustOneMoreTank]

Looking good. Sorry to hear about the 29g sump cracking. You did good trying to get more volume with the seperate containers to use for the fuge, return, and skimmer areas.
The bulkheads you used are water-tight correct? Good luck on the water test. Also make sure that the Fuge and Skimmer tubs are on stable footing. Looks like they could be knocked off the 2x4s that they are perched on by someone uncoordinated or not paying attention.

 

[luckycat]

Looking good. Sorry to hear about the 29g sump cracking. You did good trying to get more volume with the seperate containers to use for the fuge, return, and skimmer areas.
The bulkheads you used are water-tight correct? Good luck on the water test. Also make sure that the Fuge and Skimmer tubs are on stable footing. Looks like they could be knocked off the 2x4s that they are perched on by someone uncoordinated or not paying attention.

Yeah all water-tight, I also rubber and nut on the inside that I also put 100% silicone around. The 2x4s are all nailed and screwed to that plywood, no way they can get knocked off... I tried standing on them and wobbling around. Seem pretty stable.

Thanks for the look

 

[Gooli]

Well...it's official - the megamacs accessory kit sucks.

I used both this kit and the durso from dursostandpipes.com and the one from dursostandpipes.com allows for much more flow and is designed much better and more convinent.

The accessory kit forced me to throttle back the return pump so much that the flow was reduced to practicly nothing !

hope this helps.

 

[luckycat]

Well...it's official - the megamacs accessory kit sucks.

I used both this kit and the durso from dursostandpipes.com and the one from dursostandpipes.com allows for much more flow and is designed much better and more convinent.

The accessory kit forced me to throttle back the return pump so much that the flow was reduced to practicly nothing !

hope this helps.

Are you referring to the megaflow accessory kit? I have one of those too...thought the return was a durso pipe..I guess not? I am assuming good flow through the sump so I'll check out dursostandpipes.com.

Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Gooli]

yes...i am referring to that and it is a durso but it is a modified one designed to work with megaflow in order to restrict flow - does that make any sense? sheeesh

 

[Gooli]

Updated photo

Updated photo

Here's some photos, i added the sand, rocks, 4 fish, and mounted 14k hamiltons

 

[JustOneMoreTank]

Looks good. That sure is lots of light.
Is there any way you could reflect some of that light that is escaping out the back of the canopy down into the tank?
What kind of reflectors are you using on the 14K Hamiltons?
Have you heard of the 14K bulbs made by Phoenix? Alot of people on RC are saying that they look really great next to the Hamiltons.
What kinds of fish did you add? Clown and Anthias???

 

[Gooli]

I dont mind the disco look in the house - so i'll keep the back of the canopy open

I am using the standard reflector that came with it from hellolights.com.

I have read about phoenix bulbs but nver seen them upclose - i love the look of these hamiltons though - exactly what i wanted - im happy i didnt go with the 20k. When these bulbs need replacing - im gonna try the new 15k XMs

I have added my ocellaris that i've had for a year now - love this guy....and a couple of green chromis. I also got a royal gramma hiding in the rocks.

My next project is the fans - i will be ordering orion fans - just not sure how to get them mounted on the wood.

 

[benray4fun]

whassup guys,
you guys are doing some great work! I just skimmed through the thread cause I didn't have much time to read or type. Keep the pictures coming as they're worth a thousand words!!!!

Gooliver,
our tanks look exactly alike, canopy holes and all (when I take my ice cap fans off!).

Have you guys looked at the 180 thread?... This guy has got some serious work and equipment. Grab a peek, you might get some idea's...."I did!".

 

[Gooli]

hey benray...help me out here - how do i mount the fan onto the wood? do i need to drill? also...did you just put a grill or did you add the guard thing as shown here:

http://www.orionfans.com/html/filtration.html

 

[luckycat]

yes...i am referring to that and it is a durso but it is a modified one designed to work with megaflow in order to restrict flow - does that make any sense? sheeesh

Is there any mod to the megaflow kit tubes to make them more efficient?

 

[luckycat]

gooliver - your tank is looking great! I'll put up some pics soon when I have my bb done and water flowing. I've been encountering some leaks in the DIY sump in the basement, and have been on vacation.

 

[JustOneMoreTank]

Leaky DIY sump plus vacation is a really bad combination. :eek1: :lmao:

 

[luckycat]

Leaky DIY sump plus vacation is a really bad combination. :eek1: :lmao:

Yeah it's just my test sump - so not all setup yet. The mechanism I used to get water from one to another didn't include a thick enough washer..fortunately even if I have a catastrophic leak the location in the basement, on concrete which slopes to the drain that I also use for water changes, will take care of itself.

 

[Gooli]

lucky - i dont know of any mods to it - i used the one from dursostandpipes.com and it allows for more flow.

 

[luckycat]

lucky - i dont know of any mods to it - i used the one from dursostandpipes.com and it allows for more flow.

Hey gooliver, tried this web site couldn't find it, maybe it's down.I'm wondering if you could send a picture of your durso pipe, so I can see how different it is from the megaflow kit.

 

[luckycat]

I think the main dursostandpipe.com site is down, but saw this one http://www.midwestcustomaquariums.com/dursostandpipe.html that describes the concept of the standpipe. Doesn't seem like it is dramatically different than the aga megaflow kit. If I built it myself out of pvc it would like very similar to the aga kit, but I wouldn't have the nice trap on the intake.

 

[luckycat]

OK so finally did a full water test today! Fortunately no leaks, and I think my pump is doing a good job... problem I have is noise from the overflow! Water level drops, then rises, then drops, etc., over and over again, gurgling every once in a while. I'm not quite sure what adjustment I can make to the standpipe to make it more efficient, a more even flow of water.

I'm going to screw around with the megaflow standpipe to see if I can make it more "constant" tomorrow...but for now, main thing is no leaks, and the DIY sump w/multiple chambers seems to be working well.