Lunchbucket's 48"x48"x20" Reef

[melev]

You can make your sump out of 1/4". We can talk about it when I'm there. Most of the sumps I build are 1/4". It comes down to volume of water and water height to determine material thickness, as well as how the sump is constructed.

Petco or Petsmart seems to have a $1 per gallon sale a couple of times a year. You might be able to score glass tanks.

If you need baffles, you'd better buy the tanks now and get me some measurements to be able to bring along the pre-cut acrylic.

 

[Lunchbucket]

khoivo1 - I paid $700 for the tank and stand and I needed $75 in steel 1" tube to redo the stand to put into two pieces

bbehring - I did my sump for my 58gal and enjoyed it. Was a fun project IMO. Sorry you didn't like it

melev - That would be great if we could talk. 1/4" would be nice. I don't remember the price of acrylic at Lowes but I'll check

Ok look what my friend brought me.

I believe the left is a 30gal as it measures about 36 1/4 x 12 1/2 x 16 3/4 and the right is a 40 breeder and measures in at 36 1/2 x 18 1/2 x 16" From what I found online this is VERY close to a 30gal and a 40gal.

This is what they could look like. I should have turned them 90degrees as the double bars where it was split will be at 90degrees w/ the overflow or I can't get the overflow plumbing down.

I'm thinking of using the 30gal as the overflow dump and a fuge. The hole drilled in teh side will be enlarged to 1" or 1.5" and will connect the 30 to the 40gal.

The 40gal will be used at the acclimation area, skimmer dump, heater, probe, ca rx dump, etc. There will be a return pump area all the way to the back (towards the camera in this pic)

This is the space I have for the return pump to be plumbed

There is a hole in the 40gal breeder and the 30gal. It will be enlarged for a 1 or 1.5" bulkhead. The left (30gal) area will be the fuge and dump into the right tank (40gal). I'm thinking of using a "race way" to direct the water to the back of the 40gal so that it can flow back towards the retern area. I'll get a sketch up of what I mean in the next day or two

What you guys think? I don't know if these were used w/ copper. I think they came from my LFS's sumps about 2 years ago. They were stored outside in a shed would this mess up the silicone? Also, if they were used w/ copper can I use them or does it stay in the silicone?

thanks
Lunchbucket

 

[jnarowe]

First of all, it doesn't get any better than that! That's what I love about this "hobby". People helping others out to solve problems. Thos tanks are perfect size.

As far as the copper goes, you could silicone over the old stuff too, locking in any copper that might be there. I would have to imagine that they did come into contact with copper, and you probably couldn't trust that anyone would remember correctly anyway.

Also, couldn't you run a plating nail in there with it filled with RO/DI water and attract any metals? Remember how we did that in school? That might help.

The enlarging holes is what scares me!

 

[melev]

Looks like this tank will be up and running by my visit this weekend. :lol:

If the silicone is discolored or hard/brittle, the tanks won't be a good solution. However, if they look normal, you'll be set for a while until you can build that perfect acrylic sump.

Making holes larger is possible if you make a holesaw guide with a board. Basically you drill the correct size in the board, and secure this on the tank with a spacer between. As you drill, the bit cannot wander because the board keeps it in position.

As long as 75% of the water goes to the skimmer section, and 25% goes to the refugium, I think you'll be very happy with that setup.

 

[Lunchbucket]

jnarowe - Yeah buddys are the best. I've met many great people and hope I helped some along the way.

I thought about siliconing over the old stuff too. Would help to make sure that they are completely leak free and help secure them together.

Like melev said enlarging the hole shouldn't be too bad. I need to search Ebay for a diamond diped hole saw for a 1.5" sched 40 bulkhead.

A plating nail? Umm..guess I missed that class

melev - umm..Summer time it will be set up.

Yeah I would like to build the perfect acrylic sump but I want to use 3/8" but the $$ is a HUGE thing right now. I like this dual solution

75% to the skimmer section...DEAL I want to feed the skimmer via one overflow and will dump it into the return section and will use the other overflow to feed part to the fuge and part to the return section. I'm thinking I'll tee it off and use a ballvalve to close off some of the flow to the fuge and the rest that gets backed up will go through the tee to the return section.

I'm off to find some bulkheads and a hole saw. Any suggestions? Ebay?

Lunchbucket

 

[Lunchbucket]

Well just ordered a 60mm diamond dipped hole saw from lau***, I believe that is who a lot of people get them from. 60mm should give me a 2 3/8" hole just what I need for the 1.5" bulkheads. I'm hoping 1 drill bit will get me 2-3holes pretty easily. Not sure why it wouldn't.

I need to order the bulkheads. Still not sure where to get them from but PA's is always my fav as they are close and do great. But MD has these http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~idproduct~FT8477~idCartRow~2036736~isKit~0.html Anyone have these? are the slots too big?

I need to oder 11 bulkheads . 6 (back of the tank), 2 (drains), 1 return pump feed), 2 (30gal sump and 40gal sump to attach together)

I know I remember seeing some "short" bulkheads. Anyone see thense? I'm thinking fo the return bulkhead and 30gal to 40gal these would work good to save a little room

Lunchbucket

 

[melev]

I didn't realize Marine Depot sold those large strainers. I knew Aquatic Eco did.

 

[chris wright]

If your going to silicone over the old joints, put on a good wide bead of silicone, so the new bead adheres to the tank. Silicone usually wont stick to old silicone real well as the old stuff will have contaminants in it now. Just a word of caution, some people may disagree, but I've worked with silicone a fair bit and never chance it

If the tanks are holding water now, it should suffice until you get your new sump

Cheers

Chris

 

[jnarowe]

don't forget about SAVKO for BHs. I buy a lot of stuff from them and Marvin is good at helping out when needed.

 

[maxxII]

Eric,
I'm using that same strainer on my 120...works great, better than the ones I used on my 58...no clogging.....period.


Got mine from Aquatic Eco....

Nick

 

[Lunchbucket]

chris - Yeah I planned on doing a good wide bead if needed. Everyone agree that this will seal any copper in IF there is any?

jnarowe - Yeah I looked there. Ordered much from them in the past. They are $1-1.5 more expensive...not that cost is everything. Might just try to get them all together w/ the strainers @ MD

Nick - Good to know about the strainers. They big enough to allow a small fish in or not to worry?

Can't wait to see the hole saw to start drilling. Hope it doesn't take long

thanks
Lunchbucket

 

[chris wright]

If the silicone gets a good bond it should seal in all impurities. I doubt you'd have any problems with copper.

Cheers

Chris

 

[maxxII]

Nick - Good to know about the strainers. They big enough to allow a small fish in or not to worry?

Neon Gobies and fish that size will fit through the strainer spaces....much bigger than that, no. The good thing about the strainer is that its so large that the suction really is diffuse, so smaller fish really shouldnt have too much trouble keeping away....

Nick

 

[asmodeus]

its about time that you got a bigger tank man..

 

[melev]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11095117#post11095117 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by maxxII
Neon Gobies and fish that size will fit through the strainer spaces....much bigger than that, no. The good thing about the strainer is that its so large that the suction really is diffuse, so smaller fish really shouldnt have too much trouble keeping away....

Nick

Like a wandering bubble tip anemone, for example.

 

[Dudester]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11092139#post11092139 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lunchbucket
Good to know about the strainers. They big enough to allow a small fish in or not to worry?

If you want to use that strainer but you're concerned about small fish getting through the holes, you could try this. Place a "T" into the drain hole and add 2 of the strainers instead of a single drain. This would decrease the pressure on all of the holes by 50%. The only downside to this would be that there would be a larger structure to cover with the aquascape, but that shouldn't be a big problem in a tank of your size. Just a thought.

 

[maxxII]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11097247#post11097247 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
Like a wandering bubble tip anemone, for example.

Yeah, that wouldnt be so good for anemones....

Guessing thats something you already figured out tho....

Nick

 

[melev]

No, but it is something I've anticipated.

 

[Lunchbucket]

Well just got my diamond coated hole saw!

Hole #1 - ~11" off the bottom I think, an emergency overflow to 2nd sump

Hole #2 - ~4" off the bottom - maid drain to 2nd sump

2nd Sump only one hole ~4" off bottom to attach to previous sump. The small hole on top was there when I got it. I'm thinking I might drill that up to match up w/ the emergency hole on the 1st sump

Cut out from the Oceanice 40gal breeder

See how the holes match up? The bulkhead will attach to the sump closest to the camera (will have a bulkhead in it) and the top hold on the sump closest to the camera is an emergency drain in case the bottom one gets plugged w/ algae (1st sump will be a fuge). I'm not sure If I'm going to drill the hole on top of the 2nd sump ...but I think I will. Otherwise I was going to tie the top adn bottom holes together (tee them) and then dump them into the bottom hole of the 2nd sump

Just thought I'd update on some progress
Lunchbucket

 

[asmodeus]

lunch looks great man any update is well deserved