How to make Swiss Cheese - Krunchy's 275g Closed Loop monster!

[ekrunch]

So how about a little update to start the week?

Well, first off, I just got back from Boston, MA. I spent a week up there with my wonderful girlfriend and it was great. We totally needed that trip and had a great time. Pictures from the trip are on Facebook for those that give a crap. :lol:

Now the part that everybody is here for... more tank work!

• The stand is now braced front and rear as per Matt's advice. (Thanks to ReefKeepersCorner for showing me how to do that)
• The rear OM plumbing has water going through it with no leaks!
• One of the darts is mounted and plumbing for it has begun
• The 2 inch drain lines are braced and have water in them now.
• No leaks on any bulkheads, bottom or rear! The only ones left to test are the overflow boxes.
• The water i'm adding now is hyper salinity so the tank is slowing coming up to proper salinity as I add more water.
• I've added 120lbs of Carib Sea Reef sand. I'm adding sand slowly because I want a very shallow sand bed in the display.

And of course, here are some photos.

Bottom OM plumbing. Just have to hook up the return line and it's good to go!

2" drain lines are braced and water tight to the valves!

Dart #1 in position. I'll plumb it up tomorrow and fire up the first closed loop!

Front brace is installed.

Back brace is installed. It had to be off center but there are no stretches of 2x4 bracing over 4' without support so it should be okay.

More water going in the tank! A Tunze and a Seio to get the circulation going.

How about a cool side shot?

Another side shot. I'm loving this aquascaping. (Thanks Gluestick!)

Last but not least, a full tank shot

 

[SaraB]

Nice Ed! Can't wait to check it out in person tonight.

 

[TheStig]

def would love to see this in person when its all done... nicely done ed!

 

[ekrunch]

def would love to see this in person when its all done... nicely done ed!

Definitely. I had a set back on plumbing thanks to some crappy bulkheads but that will be rectified this week and I should have the system going by Friday.

 

[ekrunch]

Definitely. I had a set back on plumbing thanks to some crappy bulkheads but that will be rectified this week and I should have the system going by Friday.

Well actually it was some incorrectly sized bulkheads. Lesson learned... thou shalt not use Sch 40 bulkheads in a hole that was drilled for Hayward! :hammer:

I've got some new Haywards on the way so the plumbing will be fixed soon. Then I get to re-plumb the back of my tank because the old bulkheads were all slip so everything was glued into place.

 

[Gluestick]

your aquascaping is amazing.

 

[ekrunch]

your aquascaping is amazing.

Thanks! I had an expert come in to do it for me. She was hot too!

 

[FloformAustria]

Hey!

i think the whole build up is amazing!!

Keep pics coming :bigeyes:

Greetz from Vienna

Flo

 

[mcliffy2]

Lookin good! I like the open aquascape, well done.

 

[dcook]

Where's the pictures???

Where's the pictures???

I can't see any pictures (the entire thread?)

 

[ekrunch]

I can't see any pictures (the entire thread?)

Yeah, apparently something happened and it bombed my photobucket. 21.1G of transfer and you're supposed to only get 10G. It's all good now though so refresh and enjoy!

 

[ekrunch]

Hey!

i think the whole build up is amazing!!

Keep pics coming :bigeyes:

Greetz from Vienna

Flo

Thank you!

Lookin good! I like the open aquascape, well done.

Thanks Mike, props go to Valerie on that one. She did it all from start to finish. I just provided a big acrylic box and a pile of rocks.

One of these days I need to get downtown and see that tank of yours. The pictures look great, I can't wait to see it in person!

 

[elijaher]

Lookin great! You should not have any flow problem sand will stay clean.

 

[dcook]

PICTURES I SEE PICTURES



I NEED MY REEF CRACK LOL:rollface:

 

[ekrunch]

PICTURES I SEE PICTURES



I NEED MY REEF CRACK LOL:rollface:

Well I don't want to disappoint you, so here are some more pictures from tonight's progress.

Hayward bulkheads are now installed in the rear to replace the leaky ones that I had. Somebody remind me to smack stunreefer for those. :lol:

I had to remove the whole rear OM because those bulkheads were all slip so everything had to be cut out. Here are some pictures of it getting put back together.

Done with OM Closed Loop #1! It's online and running now!

 

[ekrunch]

Some friends came over (thanks gotfish8 and stingray702) and helped get the sump under the tank. Now I've got the Barracuda in it's new spot although I need to build a proper support for it to rest on.

Here are some pictures of everything coming together...
Dart #2 is mounted up

Ooooo Barracuda!

Bubble King is sitting in the sump ready to get some skimmate going.

Starting to plumb the return for the second close loop.

And this is what a Krunchy looks like while plumbing!

I love the smell of PVC cement in the evening ...

 

[ekrunch]

And last but not least, OM #2 is plumbed up and ready! Now to get the drains and the return lines done and fire it up.

 

[FloformAustria]

:bigeyes::bigeyes::bigeyes::bigeyes:

O M G

sooooo much plumping!

Looks really awesome!!!

i can´t wait to see the tank filled and running!

Flo

 

[mcliffy2]

Looking great, like a PVC Dr. Octagon back there! Can't wait to see it finished. Remind me again what you are using for panels to cover the stand? Some lightweight aluminum panels attached with cabinet door magnets (for easy removal and access) would look really cool.

 

[stunreefer]

Looks awesome man, well done! :thumbsup:

Somebody remind me to smack stunreefer for those. :lol:

I feel like an ace whole

Even reffering back to pics in the begining of the thread you can see Nick had used some seemingly SCH40 bulks with the jacuzzi fittings in them, and I had SCH40s installed while cleaning out the tank, however as you know I never got around to plumbing anything. It must have been the weight of the plumbing... wish that info regarding hole size was passed on to me when I bought it so I coulda done the same to you bro! Ah well... you like the plumbing better now don't ya :lolspin:

Seriously so excited that this is coming together so nicely! Sump looks great esepcially with that beast of a BK chillin' in there!