Haffs09 370gal Tank Build...Finally!
- Thread starter Haffs09
- Start date
Haffs09
Member
I have a Reeflo Hammerhead as the main pump. It will feed the fuge, RDSB, skimmer and the display. For the display tank, I want to set it up to achieve a gyre effect. On the overflow side, I will have two MP40Ws in the lower third of the tank moving water in the lengthwise direction. On the opposite wall, I'll have another MP40W positioned in the upper third of the tank pointing towards the overflow. I'll see how that works and if necessary add another MP40W. The returns from the main pump will be positioned in a similar fashion.
Haffs09
Member
Finally...an update!
Finally...an update!
I spent the last several weekends running electric for the tank. To keep things neat, I ran wire in 1/2" PVC conduit. I'm very happy with the way everything turned out. I have 4 dedicated circuits for the tank; 3 20A and 1 15A. Overkill to say the least, but I was fortunate enough to be given all the wire and half of the outlets. Here's a rundown on what's going to be on each circuit:
15A - 3 or 4 Vortecs, and lighting
20A #1 - Main sump (heaters, QT, and possible frag tank)
20A #2 - Refugium, additional QT/frag tanks (future)
20A #3 - Return pump and house basement sump.
I also changed my mind on lighting. Initially, I was going to run 2 400W halides on a light mover. I've decided to go LED. Right now, I have 5 of nanoturner's 60º 20K Par 38 bulbs. I plan on rigging them up on the light mover and see how that works. For corals, I only have a few I'll transfer over, so I'm pretty much starting from scratch. I don't plan on adding many corals for a while, so when that time comes, maybe there will be more LED options at better prices...we'll see.
Next items to complete include; gathering the odds and ends plumbing items together and installing them, fabbing hoods for all the tanks in the basement and then a system water test. Hopefully, I'll be able to complete that over the next 2/3 weeks!
Finally...an update!
I spent the last several weekends running electric for the tank. To keep things neat, I ran wire in 1/2" PVC conduit. I'm very happy with the way everything turned out. I have 4 dedicated circuits for the tank; 3 20A and 1 15A. Overkill to say the least, but I was fortunate enough to be given all the wire and half of the outlets. Here's a rundown on what's going to be on each circuit:
15A - 3 or 4 Vortecs, and lighting
20A #1 - Main sump (heaters, QT, and possible frag tank)
20A #2 - Refugium, additional QT/frag tanks (future)
20A #3 - Return pump and house basement sump.
I also changed my mind on lighting. Initially, I was going to run 2 400W halides on a light mover. I've decided to go LED. Right now, I have 5 of nanoturner's 60º 20K Par 38 bulbs. I plan on rigging them up on the light mover and see how that works. For corals, I only have a few I'll transfer over, so I'm pretty much starting from scratch. I don't plan on adding many corals for a while, so when that time comes, maybe there will be more LED options at better prices...we'll see.
Next items to complete include; gathering the odds and ends plumbing items together and installing them, fabbing hoods for all the tanks in the basement and then a system water test. Hopefully, I'll be able to complete that over the next 2/3 weeks!
I think you'll need more lighting that just those PAR38's. I am planning on going full LED on my build (when it starts) and I'll have a ton more LED's than what those would provide you. Look into doing a few DIY LED strips for yourself on top of the PAR38's on light movers, especially if you're trying to equal 2 x 400W MH's.
Haffs09
Member
mseepman - Yeah, there's no question I'll need more lights down the road. I've thought about going the DIY route, but I don't have the time now. Once I start filling it with corals, I'll then get serious about the lighting. My initial goal is to get it filled with a bunch of fish first, and then coral. 
Sol - No pics of the par38s. I need to rig those up. I'll do that while I'm waiting for the system to fill up with RODI water.
Sol - No pics of the par38s. I need to rig those up. I'll do that while I'm waiting for the system to fill up with RODI water.
Haffs09
Member
Update time!
Update time!
At the end of January, I filled up the tank for a system water test. That last about 2 minutes as I immediately found a couple of leaks around my sump area. I overtightened one of my 3/4" gate valves and cracked the housing...oops. My three way valve also was leaking. I pulled it apart and found the o-ring around the face plate had slipped out of place. That must have happened months ago when I took it apart.
Once those were fixed I fired up the pump and then found a few more leaks around several of my supply bulkheads (1"). When I installed the 3/4" x 1" reducer bushing and then the locline 3/4" male insert, I must not have held the bushing in place when I tightened the locline part in. At least that's my story and I'm sticking too it (I can't remember what I did 9 months ago when they were installed)!
Fortunately, I installed unions above all the supply bulkheads and I had plenty of spares. It only took 5 minutes to repair each of them and then I was back in business.
Update time!
At the end of January, I filled up the tank for a system water test. That last about 2 minutes as I immediately found a couple of leaks around my sump area. I overtightened one of my 3/4" gate valves and cracked the housing...oops. My three way valve also was leaking. I pulled it apart and found the o-ring around the face plate had slipped out of place. That must have happened months ago when I took it apart.
Once those were fixed I fired up the pump and then found a few more leaks around several of my supply bulkheads (1"). When I installed the 3/4" x 1" reducer bushing and then the locline 3/4" male insert, I must not have held the bushing in place when I tightened the locline part in. At least that's my story and I'm sticking too it (I can't remember what I did 9 months ago when they were installed)!
Fortunately, I installed unions above all the supply bulkheads and I had plenty of spares. It only took 5 minutes to repair each of them and then I was back in business.
Haffs09
Member
I left the system running for about a week before I discovered a slow leak around my Hammerhead's shaft seal. I wasn't too pleased with that at all. I contacted Reeflo and although the pump is past its 3 year warranty, they sold me a replacement seal kit for 1/2 off. Hopefully, I'll make that repair tonight.
Some pics with water flowing:
The main overflow drain is 2", and I have a gate valve just prior to my basement sump that I throttled back to keep the noise down in the overflow:
You can only hear a trickle of water with this setup! The pump flow was 100% to the tank, so this is probably the "worst" case scenario for the total amount of flow. I need to hook up my protein skimmers, 75gal refugium and RDSB to the supply, so the total flow to the display tank should be less than what I was testing at. With this "worst" case scenario, I have no confidence the 1 1/2" emergency overflow will handle all the flow. Once I get all the ancillary equipment hooked up, I'll run a test to ensure I'm protected. If I still don't feel comfortale, there's an additional 1 1/2" bulkhead in the overflow that is capped. I can always plumb that to the sump too.
Some pics with water flowing:
The main overflow drain is 2", and I have a gate valve just prior to my basement sump that I throttled back to keep the noise down in the overflow:
You can only hear a trickle of water with this setup! The pump flow was 100% to the tank, so this is probably the "worst" case scenario for the total amount of flow. I need to hook up my protein skimmers, 75gal refugium and RDSB to the supply, so the total flow to the display tank should be less than what I was testing at. With this "worst" case scenario, I have no confidence the 1 1/2" emergency overflow will handle all the flow. Once I get all the ancillary equipment hooked up, I'll run a test to ensure I'm protected. If I still don't feel comfortale, there's an additional 1 1/2" bulkhead in the overflow that is capped. I can always plumb that to the sump too.
Haffs09
Member
My Superbowl Pregame Party!
My Superbowl Pregame Party!
In January, a friend at work decided to take down his 220gal reef. He gave me all of his liverock, approximately 300lbs...talk about a second Christmas. Unfortunately, it was covered in majano anemones and kenya tree was all over the place. I bleached it all for 7-10 days and then on Superbowl Sunday, decided to give the rock it's acid wash. Talk about returning to elementary school and making volcanoes with baking soda and vinegar! Fortunately, I didn't experience a volcano, but I did come close!
The 30gal drum:
The 55gal drum:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/49249553@N04/5501779945/" title="IMG_5031 by Haffs09, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5299/5501779945_bdd9728fbf.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_5031" /></a>
The rock came out looking great. It's been sitting in RODI water since the acid wash.
More to come later...
My Superbowl Pregame Party!
In January, a friend at work decided to take down his 220gal reef. He gave me all of his liverock, approximately 300lbs...talk about a second Christmas. Unfortunately, it was covered in majano anemones and kenya tree was all over the place. I bleached it all for 7-10 days and then on Superbowl Sunday, decided to give the rock it's acid wash. Talk about returning to elementary school and making volcanoes with baking soda and vinegar! Fortunately, I didn't experience a volcano, but I did come close!
The 30gal drum:
The 55gal drum:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/49249553@N04/5501779945/" title="IMG_5031 by Haffs09, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5299/5501779945_bdd9728fbf.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_5031" /></a>
The rock came out looking great. It's been sitting in RODI water since the acid wash.
More to come later...
Mr. Winters
New member
but you killed all the beneficial life in it... 
just chip the majanos off with a chisel at least you would have live rock then.
just chip the majanos off with a chisel at least you would have live rock then.
Mr. Winters
New member
btw love the stand and canopy. very classy.
and if you ever move it would make an amazing room divider with the three viewing panes.
wheres the obligitory mermaid shot?
and if you ever move it would make an amazing room divider with the three viewing panes.
wheres the obligitory mermaid shot?
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
this is an incredible aquarium when seen in person- beautifully done.
I'll bet it was difficult to sleep soundly at night knowing it's finally filled with water!
I'll bet it was difficult to sleep soundly at night knowing it's finally filled with water!
bksaccount
New member
what software did you use to do the design renderings?
Haffs09
Member
btw love the stand and canopy. very classy.
and if you ever move it would make an amazing room divider with the three viewing panes.
wheres the obligitory mermaid shot?
Thanks for the comments. Not a mermaid shot, but here's what my wife would probably call the first angelfish in the tank :lolspin:
On the liverock, I wasn't going to take any chances and there wasn't any saving it. It was covered in majano anemones. I already have 150-200lbs of rock that's been seeding for the last 9 months.
Haffs09
Member
G - thanks for the comments. I'll sleep easy once I get my pump repaired. I'll test it out tonight.
bksaccount - I used Google Sketchup
Sol - I'll let you know. The current e-drain isn't dedicated, so that gives me another reason to plumb another, dedicated one. The current e-drain is common with my refugium and RDSB overflows in the basement.
bksaccount - I used Google Sketchup
Sol - I'll let you know. The current e-drain isn't dedicated, so that gives me another reason to plumb another, dedicated one. The current e-drain is common with my refugium and RDSB overflows in the basement.
Haffs09
Member
I hope to start my rock scape this weekend. I ordered 10lbs of thorite from marco rocks, which should be here tomorrow or Friday. I plan on drilling the rock to accept 1/2 fiberglass rod and then cementing it together in sections I can safely get into the tank.
I switched plans for my in tank water circulation. I picked up two MP60s. Man, do they move a lot of water, but I need to get used to the whining of the drive. With the pumps at 100%, you can hear them throughout the house. I haven't played with them too much, but I have a few friends the just hooked up their MP60s, so I'll need to stop by to compare.
I switched plans for my in tank water circulation. I picked up two MP60s. Man, do they move a lot of water, but I need to get used to the whining of the drive. With the pumps at 100%, you can hear them throughout the house. I haven't played with them too much, but I have a few friends the just hooked up their MP60s, so I'll need to stop by to compare.
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