In again sps reef tank build log.

[MyHouseIsAZoo]

Overflow and return installed. Plumbing next weekend.

The painted back looks great! What did you use to paint it?

 

[DesertReefT4r]

Great progress.

Thanks

The painted back looks great! What did you use to paint it?

Thanks. In the past I used Krylon Fusion but this time I used Quick Color which is cheap $1 can of spray paint. Worked just as well as as the $5 Krylon. You just need to make sure the glass you are painting is clean. I cleaned it 3 times before painting and I still had 1 spot I must of touched and got oil from my skin on it. Krylon Fusion for anything inside the tank and for plumbing for sure. I may paint the pvc after I plumb but not sure yet, I dont need to and dont want to paint any bulk heads together.

 

[plyle02]

Very cool build, and nice work, everything is clean and looking sweet! Looking forward to seeing it come alive

 

[DesertReefT4r]

Very cool build, and nice work, everything is clean and looking sweet! Looking forward to seeing it come alive

Thanks. So am I, cant wait to finally have saltwater in my house again.


I got my uniseals and gate valve from BRS today. Bean animal pluming will happen this weekend. Maybe get started on the return manifold but I need more plumbing fittings andd need to place another plumbing patts order with BRS.

 

[DesertReefT4r]

Got a second PC4 and SiD for my Reef Keeper Lite, just need the float switch kit and Aqua Lift pump and all my controller stuff will be sorted out. As I said in my last post I will be plumbing in the next day or 2, either Sunday after Easter activities or Monday. Need to get to Homedepot for PVC fittings and Petco for a 5.5g tank for my ATO res. I guess next will be getting my RODI back up to spec, powerheads, sand and rock. Once thats all done I will work on how Im going to hang my MH pendants and decide if I will use T5 or LED strips for actinics. I need all new filters, pressure gauge and lines for my RODI. I also want to upgraded it with a dual TDS meter and add on 2 more canisters so I will have 1 prefilter, 2 carbon and 2 DI. Thinking about a RODI station out in the garage with a Brute trash can to store water.

 

[DesertReefT4r]

Made it to Homedopt after Easter lunch with the family. Picked upwould should be mosty of the rest of the plumbling parts I need. Still nedd to order black tubing and 1" pipe clamps for BRS. I was not happy with Homepot offerings.

 

[DesertReefT4r]

I got the drains plumbed. Im kind of stuck on the return manifold though. I think w hat I have mocked up will work see last pic. Another issue I have is to have 1 or 2 outlets , I dont think I will run 2 reactors and if I do it will be for carbon and gfo which I can either mix the 2 in 1 reactor or have 1 reactor feed the second. Unless I decide to do bio pellets which I would want to have a dedicated feed to the bio pellets. Though I dont see harm in running carbon/gfo before the biopellets. Any help and experience here is welcome. Now on to the pics, my helper is in some of them.

 

[DesertReefT4r]

More pics.

 

[DesertReefT4r]

More pics

 

[reefmutt]

Nice and neat plumbing.
If you run the output of the gfo reactor into the biopellets, you may reduce their ability to reduce nitrates.
If p is completely stripped from the water, they will not reduce n..

 

[jda]

If it is not too late, I strongly suggest that you order some real live rock from blue zoo, livestock usa, or somewhere, and save yourself any possible headache of the dry rock.

 

[DesertReefT4r]

Nice and neat plumbing.
If you run the output of the gfo reactor into the biopellets, you may reduce their ability to reduce nitrates.
If p is completely stripped from the water, they will not reduce n..

Thanks. Im no plumbing master but it should work.
Yeah that's what I was thinking as well. Striping the water of po4 before it enters the biopellets would effect their efficiency. On the other and having the pellets before the gfo and carbon would likely clump them up with bio film. I really only have room in the sump for 1 reactor, maybe 2 could be squeezed in. Should I just run one or the other? I could always dose vinager in my ato with kalk.

 

[DesertReefT4r]

If it is not too late, I strongly suggest that you order some real live rock from blue zoo, livestock usa, or somewhere, and save yourself any possible headache of the dry rock.

I have yet to purchase any rock for the tank yet. I am going with mostly dry rock because I dont want to deal with pests from live rock. I have had a few reef tanks with high quality LR as well as plain fiji LR. Loved and hated all the life it came with. In the begining I was excited about it after a few years and a few pests my mindset has changed. I have had flatworms, aefw, red bugs, gorilla crabs, aptasia, bristle worms, bubble algae, bryopsis, cotton candy algae, gha, cyano. I hope to reduce or eliminate many of these pests by starting off with clean dry rock and seeding with a small piece of LR, pods and bacterial strains. BRS Reef Saver is what I am thinking on using. Eco friendly and no die off on it.

 

[jda]

It won't happen. None of what you mentioned can survive the cycle of real live rock... it came in other ways. Unless you QT everything, they will make their way back in again. ...and if you QT correctly, then there is no pest difference between pacific rock and dry rock, so take advantage of the phosphate free and ready-to-contribute live rock. Good luck.

 

[DesertReefT4r]

Trust me pests are and have been an issue and many come in on the rock. I have pulled about 4 gorilla crabs and a 4 inch long black crab from my LR, that one was a big nasty looking guy that stole several frags. Bristle worms and flat worms came in on LR and I had issues with those going crazy. Bristle worms just suck because you get stung by them but them do add to the CUC, I can live without them. I will also be removing new frags from their plugs, dipping and considering a QT tank. I know pests and unwanted algae will get into the tank one way or another. I will however do all I can to prevent them.

 

[DesertReefT4r]

Ok I think I have my return manifold figured out, only running 1 valve off it. Only have room for 1 reactor so if I carbon dose it wont be with bio pellets. I would rather have the reactor for carbon and gfo and dose a liquid carbon like vodka if needed. I will get the manifold glued and mounted today and my return hose will be in tomorrow. Almost ready to freshwater test the tank, I hope it all works out. Pics to come.

 

[DesertReefT4r]

Pics as promised. Finishing off the last piece of plumbing tomorrow after work. Just need the 3/4" tubing from BRS.

 

[DesertReefT4r]

Skimmer in its home.

 

[DesertReefT4r]

All plumbing is do e and ready for a wet test. Water coming soon. I need to get my Spectrapure RODI up and running again, needs fiters and pressure gauge. Then I can get my RODI station setup and making water for the tank.

 

[DesertReefT4r]

Not much new...just a water test!!! Just tap water for now to test for leaks ect. Found 3 leaks all at bulkheads on the overflow. 1 on the bottom center drain bulkhead and of coarse both bulkheads on the back of the tank have a small drip. Got them as tight as I can by hand but still a small drip every few minutes. Stuffed a towel under the overflow for now and I will see if it seals up overnight. If not a big wrench will come home with me from work and I will get them to stop dripping. I am pretry happy with the Speed Wave/Jeboa DC return pump. It moves a lot of water, way more than I need at 100% so its dialed back to 60%. It does make a little noise, like a computer fan, but I dont think it will bother me. I also picked up a 5g aquarium for ATO res while I was out LFS hopping today. I was very happy with 1 store in particular. Very friendly, awesome coral selection and very clean stock tanks. Of the other 2 I went to one I have been going to for years and it seems like they have been slacking on the corals systems for a while but still looking decent. The 3rd is whats left of an older pet store that closed down reopened in a smaller location after a few employees bought the store contents. Has the same feel as the old store and not the best looking systems or coral selection. I did buy the 5g tank from there though and they had a good selection of dry goods. Got the the leaks fixed as well, gaskets on wrong due to insteuctions being wrong, poor infomfrom Eshopps. On to the pics