Matt's 5000ltr Display

[d3hree]

A bit of a boring update but what the hell, its all part of the build.

I worked out that I need approx 2500lbs/1136.4 kg of sand for the DSB and RDSB. In the UK we can buy aragonite in bags of about 20kg from LFS meaning I would need about 57 bags.

So I searched around and found that I can buy calcium carbonate by the tonne by going directly to the quarry.

Today i recieved the samples they sent.

The p52 is an extremely fine grained sand, too fine.
The p25 is also fine grains but about twice the size of the p52.

My thinking is that this will make up about 90% of the DSB's. In the display I will also add a larger grain sand as a top layer.

 

[dave.m]

From what I've read, the trouble with making up your substrate from terrestrial sources is that it is most likely contaminated with all sorts of leachates that you don't want in your aquarium. Can they verify the purity of their product?

Dave.M

 

[zoney]

Tanks coming along great Matt :spin1: Now hurry up and finish it

Im with dave.m on the sand you may find all sorts of contaminate amongst it have a word with Martin im sure he can get you some huge sacks

ps if you need any help im only 90 odd miles up the M6 lol

 

[d3hree]

Thanks Dave, Ash

The sand is good, been used in many a tank in the UK. I will wash and soak in RO before hand though.
Welcome to RC Ash lol.

 

[GRP UK]

Euler, thanks. I will ask SWMBO how she feels about the college fund.

pscott99, Thanks for the compliments. After the tank is fibreglassed I will install the glass. After the silicone has cured I will leak test with tap water. If all goes well I will drain the tank and aquascape and then fill with salt water and allow to cycle.

The glassing will go very well Matt. The tank won't leak I assure you of that.

We will need to speak about the point where we finish the fibreglass, inlet returns, outlets etc.

Hopefully I'll be working near you soon so part of my service to you will be to pop over to your place and work with you on the finer points of the grp work. Seeing these images is very useful but there's no substitute for seeing it up close and personally instead of having to think on my feet on the day. Plus, it will give me chance to get the information I need from you about how to get child labour for my fibreglassing business, I thought all that went out the window with the chimney sweeps in the 1800's?

All the best Matt

Matt

 

[d3hree]

Cheers Matt

I suppose it would be advantageous for you to see what you are up against before you start :spin1:
As regards the child labour, I am just looking forward to my daughter becoming 5 so she can start using the power tools and finish off the rest of my house!! :lmao:

 

[zoney]

Matt she's already good at filling the mistakes and holes you make with the power tools maybe its time you gave them to her :lol2:

 

[FancyDirty]

wow cant wait to see it all up and running

 

[d3hree]

Matt she's already good at filling the mistakes and holes you make with the power tools maybe its time you gave them to her :lol2:

Lol Thanks Ash, why o why did I tell you where my thread was! :debi:

 

[d3hree]

wow cant wait to see it all up and running

Thanks FancyDirty, you and me both.

 

[zoney]

Thanks FancyDirty, you and me both.

That makes a few of us Matt shall we start a list of people waiting to see your tank up n running lol. As for telling me where your tank thread was you wanted to cause you miss all my sarcastic remarks lol

 

[Hamish46]

Just found this thread tonight and have read every page, got to the last comment and almost broke down in tears when i thought the thread had suddenly stopped. Then i looked at the date and felt like an idiot.
SO excited to tag along on this thread and watch this build. Im planning my 1500L reef at the moment so no doubt i will be stealing a lot of your ideas, cant wait to see more pics of the filtration.

Good luck hope this build goes well!

 

[Genetics]

Great build! :thumbsup:

On your surge design and the toilette sound. Could you solve this by lowering the surge to have the exit drain sit a few inches below the tank's water level so it never completely empties and then just build a taller surge to help with the pressure?

 

[d3hree]

Just found this thread tonight and have read every page, got to the last comment and almost broke down in tears when i thought the thread had suddenly stopped. Then i looked at the date and felt like an idiot.
SO excited to tag along on this thread and watch this build. Im planning my 1500L reef at the moment so no doubt i will be stealing a lot of your ideas, cant wait to see more pics of the filtration.

Good luck hope this build goes well!

Thanks Hamish, glad to have you tagging along. Rest assured the build hasnt stopped. I have reached a slightly dull stage of filling and sanding down the wood so not much to see really.
I have been waiting a while for a suitable hole saw for 3" bulkheads. This will allow me to drill the holes in the tank and build the weir. I hope it will be delivered tomorrow.

 

[launchnukes]

That is gonna be a lot of sand to rinse! And I thought the 300 pounds I had to wash was a lot!

 

[d3hree]

Great build! :thumbsup:

On your surge design and the toilette sound. Could you solve this by lowering the surge to have the exit drain sit a few inches below the tank's water level so it never completely empties and then just build a taller surge to help with the pressure?

Hi Genetics

The toilet sound from surge devices is due to the air being sucked in ( I think, please correct me if I am wrong) from the surge tank. The carlson and bourneman surge designs rely on the water lowering in the surge tank and air entering the pipe work to break the surge/syphon. This air is also the reason for bubbles.
I didnt want either the noise nor the bubbles so I have opted for the expensive route for a surge using an actuated ball valve.

Two float switches in the surge tank controll the length of the surge. The first is triggered at the top when the tank is full and opens the ball valve allowing the surge to begin. The second switch is triggered when the tank is almost empty, closing the ball valve before air is allowed to enter into the pipework and so (hopefully) removes the sound of the surge and also the tiny bubbles they usually create.

The water level will run approximately 3" below the tank level and the drains from the tank are 3x3". I should be able to have approximately a 400 ltr surge without any issues.

The suge outlet in the tank will sit approx 4-5" below the water surface and I will raise the surge tank as high as possible for increased flow.

 

[d3hree]

That is gonna be a lot of sand to rinse! And I thought the 300 pounds I had to wash was a lot!

This is the worst aspect of using this much sand, I am undecided of how I will best wash this much sand.

 

[dave.m]

Pay someone else to do it.

Dave.M

 

[zoney]

This is the worst aspect of using this much sand, I am undecided of how I will best wash this much sand.

I see more child slave labour :lmao: or should that be your daughter having great fun water sand and dont forget the bucket and spade :lol2:

 

[KROS]

Quite like the look of the sand samples. Don't fancy the rinsing though. Is the larger grain size within the params for a DSB? have you consulted the expert?

Don't jinx my car, other than not wanting to go into any gear for 2 mins while i was dropping friends to the airport (should have seen their faces) its been totally fine since i had the work done. Still, only done 250 miles since then. I don't need Ash making RAC jokes about me just because you've trashed your Alfa!