Here we go! Setting up my new 120

islandcreation

islandcreation

In Memoriam
Tank: 120 gallon starphire tank

Sump: 45 gallon acrylic tank given to me from Carlos

Refugium: My current 75 gallon tank. Probably nicest refugium setup. May use this as a frag tank too!

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External pump used: Iwaki 40 RLXT's but have a back up Iwaki 30

Lighting: 2 lumebrights with 250 watt radiums and a 120 vho super actinic.

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Flow: 2 seaswirls and either two seios or two korillias. This may change pending when everythings setup.

***Goal: To create a tank that is catering to the current corals I have. So I want a good amount of sand due to having aussie acans. Shooting for good med flow on the upper 2/3's of the tank (SPS's) but not really wanting too much sand being shifted at the sand bed.

This setup began two weeks ago. I left for training for a week and wanted to atleast get the rocks cycling (not really cycling since they were are live, from 2 other tanks). We got the plumbing done under the house and all I have to do now is connect the main tank to the sump.

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Aquascape is 90% on where I want it at. I might change 1 larger rock but thats about it.

Center piece rock is my favorite!

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Photo of the tanks in 3rds

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I had two 650 seio's and a 1500 turning the water. Took the 1500 out to mix more salt.

I was going to use two 120 VHO's but I ran into a problem with the seawirls taking more room. So I'm only going to use only one VHO bulb. I could use two but realistically only 24 inches of water would be exposed due to the overflow and each seaswirl. So I'm scratching the 2nd VHO out. On top of that would be two lumebrights with 250 watt radiums.
 
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Use both VHO even if some of it will be blocked, you will like it better. Trust me. If you can't mount one of the VHO in the back then use both of them in the front facing back.

Looking good so far though

When you are ready for frags, lem me know :D :D
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12381967#post12381967 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by northbay-reefer
Use both VHO even if some of it will be blocked, you will like it better. Trust me. If you can't mount one of the VHO in the back then use both of them in the front facing back.

Looking good so far though

When you are ready for frags, lem me know :D :D
Click to expand...

Thanks Jo... Didn't think it was going to be this much work. Jeff is right about taking my time!

Tom,

Jeff came by and saw my dilemma! Even if I did put the VHO in the back I'd have to raise my lighting brace to fit over the seaswirls (about 8 inches above the tank) and if I did that I'd have to compensate another 8 inches for the lumebrights. Plus additional inches inorder for me to lift the lighting brace inorder to get into the tank. Basically it would be a very tall hood which would look akward,even though my last tank hoods is huge! Can't double up in the front either.

Dimensions for the tank length 48 width 24

lumebrights alone take 18 inches allowing 3 inches upfront which is fine and 3 in the back which isn't much since the overflow and seaswirls are back there.



Today:

I rinsed the pvc running under the house since we didn't tape the ends and jammed it into the dirt when we were getting it down there. I checked both pipes for any leaks and all was good :) I was going to take pictures but I couldn't justify bring my Rebel down there and crawling on my belly as fiberglass from the insulation fell on my face! Plumbed everything to my sump and just need to finish plumbing to the tank and seaswirls.

***I wanted to thank Carlos for taking his time and tools for helping me plumb under the house!***
 
PROBLEM

Got the plumbing all set up! But the freakin Iwaki pump is loud, not as a motorcycle loud but a humming loud ha,ha,ha Is there anything I can do to it? Create a sound proof box like Jeff created for the generator, with an opening for the fan? Any suggestions, or even buying a new pump?
 
which size/model pump do you have? Did you buy it new?

I have two iwaki wmd 30rxlt's and they are very quiet. But before, I had bought a used one and it was loud as hell. So I replaced it with a new one.

Also, if you have a model 40 or higher, they have fans on them and are significantly louder.
 
Mount your seaswirl on the side :D j/k

If your tank is 24" deep, you might want to try mounting four 24" vho actinics perpendicular instead. Or do 1 36" VHO parallel in the back and 1 48" in the front since your tank is 48" wide and have the swirl on either end

Also, I have some thick heavy rubber pads if you need them to help with noisy pumps
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12396756#post12396756 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by corndogg
which size/model pump do you have? Did you buy it new?

I have two iwaki wmd 30rxlt's and they are very quiet. But before, I had bought a used one and it was loud as hell. So I replaced it with a new one.

Also, if you have a model 40 or higher, they have fans on them and are significantly louder.
Click to expand...

Jeff, didn't try the other one but I will!

Jason, I have the 40 RLXT with a fan. I can hear the damn thing through out the house. It was used so that also can be a problem but its just a humming noise.

Tom, I can't afford buying another set of supplemental lighting especially when I'm going to start making payments on the new house. :(
 
Jason, yeah I hear ya, the first year after buying the new house is hard, but after that you should be ok.

I was thinking, if you replace one of your 48" bulb with a 36" bulb then you would only have to buy 1 36" bulb so it should not be too bad.
 
If it is a humming noise, it could be your plumbing from the sump to the pump. Is your plumbing rigid or is it something like flex pvc or vinyl?

The used one I bought had a worn bearing that made it pretty loud. It could be that.
 
Tom, yeah, I was thinking of that and Jeff suggested that too!

Jason, I guess it one of those things that one would have to come over to hear. I'm going to re-do some plumbing and see what happens. Its no bearing noise at all I'm postive on that! I just got back into santa rosa and was gone since tuesday so I'll nail it out ateast by this weekend! Thanks
 
Home depot has 1" flex pvc (spaflex) for pretty cheap. You can buy it by the foot so I'd just grab a few feet. You can use all standard pvc fitting with it too.
 
Got everything plumbed! But may need some advice as far as getting those flexible PVC piping over those nozzles. I think I could have ruptured a vein in my forehead trying to get those things further on. Anyways, got the fixture running. Was excitied and threw them on. I still have to get them done the right way though, I guess its another weekend thing.

So here it is with two lumebrights with 250 watt radiums, and one 120 super actinic VHO.

***I'm so happy with the turn out of the lighting (Thanks Tom for suggesting that light combination)***

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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12437439#post12437439 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jkreefer
Looks great man!!
Click to expand...

Thanks Jeff. Just want to make sure my parameters are the same when transferring the corals now. I think I'll go with the zoas/palys first then wait a day then transfer the rest. The zoas/palys on the rocks in the tank are all opening up and looking great! So I guess thats a good sign :)

I still need to complete my acrylic box housing the filter sock. Something in the lines of what you and Mike have. Then I'd have to figure out the plumbing to the refugium ( I forgot to "T" it off with a ball valve from the external pump). After that is my hood which is going to be a pain :(
 
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