Kelly's 300g in-wall build thread

[kelrn98]

Progressing on, won't be long!! Pictures!

Progressing on, won't be long!! Pictures!

tank arrived saturday, but it is still in back of truck until later this week. I still have to get my fuge and sump set up.
300g 96x24x31 glass cages with starfire front glass.

Living room is finished! It will be even better when the tank is done!

This is the view facing the tank (or where it will be). The bar top is not finished yet, but it will be decorative stone.

Two 45g water storage containers each 37x18x18. One will be for RO/DI top off, the other will be for saltwater mixing and storage for water changes. Both will be plumbed to tank directly. Also on the top shelf is a portable AC/dehumidifier and frag tank which will be plumbed to tank.

pump: used Reeflo barracuda w/ baldor motor

Some more of my father's handywork. Shelves.

Super Reef Octopus XP5000 internal skimmer

Reef Octopus 5000 Calcium Reactor

Not in pics: JNS Alpha 2 Biopellet Reactor (1000ml). Reefkeeper Elite Net. Two 48'' T5MH combos for main tank, 1 24'' 4 T5 light for frag tank. Not yet arrived but purchased: 2 x Vortech MP60s and 36x18x18 fuge. Will be installing baffles in sump tomorrow and doing some of the under the tank plumbing the next day. I should have the tank in place in 2-3 days!!

Any feedback or words of encouragement are appreciated!

 

[SPotter]

Its like being a kid at christmas all over again!!!! How many times do you look out the window at the tank to make sure its still there?

 

[rogermccray]

Can't wait to see the living room with the tank in it, it looks great right now as it is, the addition of the tank will be like icing on a cake

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

That is looking great so far! I'll be tagging along.

 

[Rytek]

You are doing a great job! This is going to be beautiful, I just know it!

Okay this may be weird but its part of what I do for a living:

In your living room you have wall to wall furniture from the chase lounge, to the side table, to the couch, to another side table, then wall. I would Pull the side table between the wall and couch and put a tall floor lamp and ditch the table. Then you can slide the couch over and give some room between the couch, side table, and chase. This will visually break up the furniture and relax the room while still giving you a table to use for both the chase and couch.

Lastly, the sun mirror is really nice but it is causing your 7th channel speaker to be off set and causes an eye sore. If you got a super long rectangle framed picture of say, a skyline, a beach front, ect then it would make the horizontal lines in the room longer and give a greater sense of space. You would then also be able to have you dad recenter that speaker.

Sorry I know you didn't ask about that but thought I would chime in. No doubt you just moved your whole room around and just threw stuff in so I am just brain storming with ya.

Keeps those pics coming!!

 

[kelrn98]

Thanks guys for all of your support. The tank will be moved into the house tomorrow afternoon. I will try to snap a few pics and post late tomorrow night.

@Rytek, I am by far no interior decorator, lol. This is my worst link. I had to repaint the living room because the first color I picked out was horrible. I did literally just throw everything back into the room without much thought. I have plans (after I recover from the financial dent of this tank build) to buy new furniture (possibly a sectional w/ chase and 2 recliners) in the near future. But for now, it will have to be because I am broke, lol.

 

[SPotter]

any updates Kelly?

 

[kelrn98]

Updates......slow but steady progress......lots of pics

Updates......slow but steady progress......lots of pics

So far I have gotten the tank in place. I plumbed all major areas.......tonight I am working on plumbing a drain line to house plumbing so I can do in line water changes. Still have to hang lights, set up the reefkeeper, and of course the dreaded aquascaping. Here are some pics of the progress.

 

[Everyones Hero]

So jealous... At least the GF has agreed to let me have a big tank when we can afford it.

Such an awesome build. I can't wait to see it wet.

 

[kelrn98]

Thanks, I think its pretty awesome myself. I wish I had more time to devote to the build right now but I am a full time student in Nurse Practitioner school and still work full time too. Life is CRAZY right now. If it weren't for my father, this would be no where near done. I have always dreamed of having a big tank and having it set up just right, I am very pleased so far.

Tonight we ran a alternate pvc line off the return pump w/ valve. We cut the pvc which drains my washer and Tee'd the line off the return into the washer drain. I will be able to shut all valves and open this valve, turn pump back on and siphon out needed amount for water change. I plan to calculate the time needed to evacuate desired water change amount and program it into my Reefkeeper to shut the pump off after "X" minutes while in "water change mode" so that hopefully I never inadvertently siphon my whole tank!! there is a check valve in place just incase back flow were to occur from the washer and the ball valve will remain closed unless water change is in process. I also plumbed the drain line from my RO/DI to this drain line and plan to run RO/DI to float valve in reservoir w/ safety net of a "leak controller" which is supposed to clamp the water line if moisture is detected on the floor (I will place sensor near reservoir on floor).

Anyway, I am babbling about now. I am tired and will update as I can, I am almost there, yea!!

 

[Everyones Hero]

That's awesome. I feel the more you automate maintenance the more inclined you'll be to do it, especially when you have a busy schedule.

 

[rpjaws74]

nice tagging along...

 

[SPotter]

Everything looks great so far but I think I am confused about this part. Will you be closing the return line to the tank as well? If so, how big is the return compartment in your sump because that will be the only water that you pump out for the water change if you are not pumping water back into the tank.

Tonight we ran a alternate pvc line off the return pump w/ valve. We cut the pvc which drains my washer and Tee'd the line off the return into the washer drain. I will be able to shut all valves and open this valve, turn pump back on and siphon out needed amount for water change.

 

[kelrn98]

Uggg, Steve I am sooo glad you pointed that out. I guess I just wasn't thinking. Oh well. I have figured out a rather easy solution. I am going to place a 1'' pvc line in the back of the display approximately 5 inches from the water surface w/ screen. I will run it to a mag drive pump w/ a ball valve in place, then run it to the drain line I have attached to my washer drain line. Hopefully that is the only big mistake I have made.

Another question, is there anything special about biopellet reactor or are they simply a reactor as all other reactors? I was thinking of using my biopellet reactor (which has its own pump) as a kalk stirrer and buying a basic reactor to run biopellets and feed it from the manifold. Any thoughts? Thanks.

 

[SPotter]

I havent had any experience with bio-pellet reactors but I have heard a lot of people saying they are more trouble than good on larger tanks. I would suggest searching thru the reef chemistry forum to see what people are doing. I dont think you would want to use the pellet reactor as a kalk stirrer unless it has a spray bar to help really mix up the kalk. I have a kalk stirrer and to be honest with you....it requires more maintenance than any other piece of equipment that I have. I would just get a brute garbage can and mix enough kalk for a week at a time in there and use that as your top off.

 

[Tiffanyxoxo]

That is so awesome!!

 

[SPotter]

updates?

 

[kelrn98]

Not much. Busy with school until wednesday next week. i did get majority of plumbing and should water test in next few days. still have to paint back glass too. will post again when i get some more done.

 

[kelrn98]

a bit aggravated today

a bit aggravated today

Last night I completed the plumbing. Added tap water to tank and sump and turned on the reeflo barracuda and its not pumping any water! Not sure whats up with it, my dad will take a look at it tomorrow. I am 99.9% sure I have the intake and output correct and there no sign of push/pull/suction/airflow or waterflo from intake or output of pump but I can hear the motor running.

I opened my new MP60s and noticed that BOTH of them have exposed wires on the dry side (see pics below). I have sent email to customer support. Is this a common problem? They were new in the box!

And lastly, as if everything else isn't enough........I bought a spectrapure liquid level controller and hooked it to my RO/DI unit along w/ a booster pump plugged into the solenoid transformer. All was well, water w/ 0 TDS was coming out for about 45 minutes and then the booster pump shut off. I checked the set up and the AC adapter for the solenoid was super hot to touch. I unplugged it, let it cool, tried it again and nothing!!

So bottom line..............THIS REALLY BITES! :headwally:

 

[SPotter]

The line for the return is air locked. with pump off open the union on the outlet line for the pump. let some water push out then tighten it back up and turn the pump on. are you going to drain the tap water and refill with rodi?