oldreefer76
New member
This is still my favorite thread to follow, am always amazed at what Kevin comes up with
How not to build a 750/1500 gallon build thread-Khaosinc 3/5/71-8/30/11
- Thread starter JohnL
- Start date
noobtothereef
New member
hey kev, im researching a cryptic zone, what are you all keeping in the cryptic zone, lighting cycle times? Sand?
khaosinc
The cyborg reefer
I dumped a bit of sand in it when I was pulling it out of the main tank because I ran out of places to store it. Maybe 10 gallons worth. Before that none. Theres 500 or so pounds of live rock give or take in there (stuff from my old tank, and extra marco rock). I may steal some for the new tank though. Other than that, everything thats in there is stuff that went over the overflow or got out of the cheato tray I used to keep in there until I started the mangrove swamp. The Eel is temporalily in there untill I get this other tank up and running, so I suspect any shrimp/crabs may be long gone. I keep all the rock about 4" off the floor of the tank on egg crate stands so nothing builds up under there. I used to have a powerhead under it as well, but I swiped it for the mangrove swamp as well.
All I have over the tank is a couple old lights I swiped out of my shop. They are on for a bit every day, and I turn them on when I want to poke around in there. There is about a 1/2 dozen different colored sponges and who knows what else in there.
Can't find a recent pic... try to remember to take one tonight.
Its fun with plumbing night. Hopefully all the walls remain intact this time... LOL No room for error on this tank as once its filled, I'm never getting behind it again without draining it or removing the wall. I'm sure I will regret that design.. The wall I put in is designed to be removable, but I've never tested that theory.
Should get some more beer...
All I have over the tank is a couple old lights I swiped out of my shop. They are on for a bit every day, and I turn them on when I want to poke around in there. There is about a 1/2 dozen different colored sponges and who knows what else in there.
Can't find a recent pic... try to remember to take one tonight.
Its fun with plumbing night. Hopefully all the walls remain intact this time... LOL No room for error on this tank as once its filled, I'm never getting behind it again without draining it or removing the wall. I'm sure I will regret that design.. The wall I put in is designed to be removable, but I've never tested that theory.
Should get some more beer...
khaosinc
The cyborg reefer
Well with much coaxing, a cherry picker and a couple of floor jacks, the tank is inside, so I can work on it at night
I think I have most of the fittings I need...
The inlet needs to go up and over 2 tanks to get to it, then through the stand of one, and weaved through the stand of the main tank to return..
started playing with the design for the eel side. (man I hope he's still in the sump, haven't seen him in a bit.) Planning on making the cave in one corner enough that he can feel secure, yet open enough I can at least see he's alive. Also want it fairly open in case of some other interesting tankmates he might end up with, not to mention I only have about 70 pounds of base rock kicking around.. Got most of the dried coraline off as well... The tank still needs to go outside for one last pressure washing at some point. But wanted it inside for convienience. Missing a 1" 3 way already. guess I start from the sump side tonight.
Started on some of the minor plumbing as well.. I'm using weld on 16 instead of gaskets. I hate bulkheads. hope it works..
I think I have most of the fittings I need...
The inlet needs to go up and over 2 tanks to get to it, then through the stand of one, and weaved through the stand of the main tank to return..
started playing with the design for the eel side. (man I hope he's still in the sump, haven't seen him in a bit.) Planning on making the cave in one corner enough that he can feel secure, yet open enough I can at least see he's alive. Also want it fairly open in case of some other interesting tankmates he might end up with, not to mention I only have about 70 pounds of base rock kicking around.. Got most of the dried coraline off as well... The tank still needs to go outside for one last pressure washing at some point. But wanted it inside for convienience. Missing a 1" 3 way already. guess I start from the sump side tonight.
Started on some of the minor plumbing as well.. I'm using weld on 16 instead of gaskets. I hate bulkheads. hope it works..
khaosinc
The cyborg reefer
Well, got a bit more done before I ran out of a few crucial parts. Funny how that happens after the only store anywhere near you is closed. Due to several people asking, this is also a photo tour of my fish room...
This is the veiw walking in to the room.. you can usually see the glow from the street as well.
Turn right and you meet turtle. I never did name him, figured he wouldn't come when I called anyway.
Behind you when staring at turtle, my skimmer sits. Its about to be upgraded....
take a left behind the tank and heres my mess.
behind that mess is part of the secret to my power bill problem... each of the 4 ways is on its own circut.
hood vent for the 750
and up to the attic to an exaust fan that only kicks on when its over 80 in the tank (RKE)
under the mangrove swamp is some storage (yea I picked up a little for the pic)
more storage under the stand for the 300 (soon to be done) its a custom acrylic deal that I got with the 300 that is now my sump.
Inside the stand are the return lines for the mangrove swamp and the 300..
unions and valves so I can isolate any 1 tank, or 1 line if needed.
This is the veiw walking in to the room.. you can usually see the glow from the street as well.
Turn right and you meet turtle. I never did name him, figured he wouldn't come when I called anyway.
Behind you when staring at turtle, my skimmer sits. Its about to be upgraded....
take a left behind the tank and heres my mess.
behind that mess is part of the secret to my power bill problem... each of the 4 ways is on its own circut.
hood vent for the 750
and up to the attic to an exaust fan that only kicks on when its over 80 in the tank (RKE)
under the mangrove swamp is some storage (yea I picked up a little for the pic)
more storage under the stand for the 300 (soon to be done) its a custom acrylic deal that I got with the 300 that is now my sump.
Inside the stand are the return lines for the mangrove swamp and the 300..
unions and valves so I can isolate any 1 tank, or 1 line if needed.
khaosinc
The cyborg reefer
Finally sat down to play with spray foam. I have a couple ideas that I want to play with as well. Using pvc fittings for interesting nooks, and second shaping the spray foam after it drys. I'm not planning on the epoxy/sand part because its a PITA, and everything in my tank seems to turn purple soon enough anyway. The "mighty" shop lights will most likely be over the eel side of the tank, and for some reason they grow coraline like mad.
Anyway... take one pile of rocks...
then add some boring egg crate...
throw a bunch of rocks/pvc pieces on there...
and spray foam the heck out of everything. I tried the Becket stuff because it was on sale cheaper than great stuff. not using it again. I like my great stuff.
and repeat with wall section #2
This will be the divider between the 2 tanks. Just going to be foam, and drilled out to put frag plugs in one side, and play with my sculpting idea on the other. Leaving room for good flow between the tanks. ran out of foam
Once its nice and hard tommorow night, I'm going to go at the foam with a die grinder and a drill. see what happens.
Anyway... take one pile of rocks...
then add some boring egg crate...
throw a bunch of rocks/pvc pieces on there...
and spray foam the heck out of everything. I tried the Becket stuff because it was on sale cheaper than great stuff. not using it again. I like my great stuff.
and repeat with wall section #2
This will be the divider between the 2 tanks. Just going to be foam, and drilled out to put frag plugs in one side, and play with my sculpting idea on the other. Leaving room for good flow between the tanks. ran out of foam
Once its nice and hard tommorow night, I'm going to go at the foam with a die grinder and a drill. see what happens.
You've found something to keep yourself busy! Looks good so far! 
reefgeek31
New member
dude thats funny 3000 PSI
nitro4kthompson
New member
"I'm also convinced that open brain can walk"
Maybe it's brain mating season.LOL
Maybe it's brain mating season.LOL
khaosinc
The cyborg reefer
strong enough to tip the aquarium over if I wasn't holding it when spraying the top.. Usually I use the cheesy electric one for washing cars, but I fired up the big gas one today. Always have to wait for the reserve tank to fill back up as my water pressure is kinda lame.
Return plumbing is in, and I'm running my top off water through it now to check for leaks. Had one union not tight enough, and it looks like I bumped a bit of the overflow getting everything in (crawling over the tank)so I'll have to see about fixing that tommorow. About killed myself today getting stubbern trying to do things. I suspect I will regret it when I wake up...
Fish room is offically crowded. The extra stand is just for me to have a work table, thats where my comphy chair goes...
Leaky leaky. so far one loose union isn't so bad for the goofy plumbing I pulled getting it all in there...
needed to top off anyway, been a couple days since I had and it actually broke 80 today... LOL 1 leak in the overflow... I suspect it was me crawling over the tank. Tank is not near as bad as it looks, I let it air dry after pressure washing it. I needed a nap.
sump is getting a little cluttered. On the lighter side I don't think I will need powerheads in there anymore. I figure about 4000 gph from return lines should be plenty. Gonna have to figure out new levels for power outages. Theres a whole lot of 1 1/4" line to drain out of there. Still need to run a proper line to the 250 as well, its still running on hose as I didn't get to it yet.
Return plumbing is in, and I'm running my top off water through it now to check for leaks. Had one union not tight enough, and it looks like I bumped a bit of the overflow getting everything in (crawling over the tank)so I'll have to see about fixing that tommorow. About killed myself today getting stubbern trying to do things. I suspect I will regret it when I wake up...
Fish room is offically crowded. The extra stand is just for me to have a work table, thats where my comphy chair goes...
Leaky leaky. so far one loose union isn't so bad for the goofy plumbing I pulled getting it all in there...
needed to top off anyway, been a couple days since I had and it actually broke 80 today... LOL 1 leak in the overflow... I suspect it was me crawling over the tank. Tank is not near as bad as it looks, I let it air dry after pressure washing it. I needed a nap.
sump is getting a little cluttered. On the lighter side I don't think I will need powerheads in there anymore. I figure about 4000 gph from return lines should be plenty. Gonna have to figure out new levels for power outages. Theres a whole lot of 1 1/4" line to drain out of there. Still need to run a proper line to the 250 as well, its still running on hose as I didn't get to it yet.
It was 'bathtub gin' but Tink likes to bathe. Kevin, find your own distillery.:smokin:
khaosinc
The cyborg reefer
LOL, actually I was trying to build a somewhat overkill/overbuilt skimmer to handle about 2000 gph. The base was a 50 gallon acrylic tank, and I was planning on 4 recirculating 'stacks' each running a bubble blaster 5000. I stumbled over a great deal on a skimmer a fair bit bigger than mine and between those 2 I should be good to go for a while... See when it gets here. Its sitting at a friends place who has a big mill at the moment. I'll post pics of the fiasco when I get over there.
I still might build it for fun if I stumble over some cheap pumps.
Just up from my nap, be back playing with the 300 soon enough.
I still might build it for fun if I stumble over some cheap pumps.
Just up from my nap, be back playing with the 300 soon enough.
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