Matt's 5000ltr Display
- Thread starter d3hree
- Start date
muttley000
MTS Sufferer!
Nice selection! What is your dipping protocol?
tahiriqbal
Sialkot
Don't forget to tell us that you have bought all SPS from Mayo's tank too 
Tahir
Tahir
d3hree
New member
Oh dear.
Dave.M
Ha...as ever Dave I am somewhat buoyed by your glass half empty outlook
I use the reef scientific dip. i find it to be effective and yet the corals "appear" to be less sulky having been dipped. I dont do anything special, I use 1ml dip per 1ltr water. I add the coral straight from the bag into the dip water and leave for 5 mins agitating the water and using a turkey baster. Depending on the coral and if ive removed the base I will do a 2nd dip a few days later.
Don't forget to tell us that you have bought all SPS from Mayo's tank too
Tahir
Ha...damn spies everywhere!
At present Ive only bought 6 or so i think. Im waiting on Al telling me if he wants to sell the rest.
Hello d3hree
You truly have inspired me to build my tank in Plywood rather that glass
It's going to be a 1000l tank.
They ask me in glass 1000€ + Shipment and if my math is correct I would be able to build the same in Plywood + Fiber + Epoxy paint by 450€
My big concern is about the maintenance of the sides. Do you let coraline algae to build? I would assume it's not possible to use a scrapper.
Any change for you to share the video with the fiber being applied?
All the best and thank for a true inpirational build.
Rui
You truly have inspired me to build my tank in Plywood rather that glass
It's going to be a 1000l tank.
They ask me in glass 1000€ + Shipment and if my math is correct I would be able to build the same in Plywood + Fiber + Epoxy paint by 450€
My big concern is about the maintenance of the sides. Do you let coraline algae to build? I would assume it's not possible to use a scrapper.
Any change for you to share the video with the fiber being applied?
All the best and thank for a true inpirational build.
Rui
d3hree
New member
Hi Rui
for 1000lt I wouldnt bother with fibreglass...I would just use epoxy resin. Pour the resin onto an internal flat side of the aquarium...wait for it to go slightly tacky then rotate the aquarium and poor another internal flat surface.
I will pm you a link so you can have a read up on it.
If Im completely honest I would probably bite the bullet and go full glass for 1000ltrs @ 1000 euros. The extra 550 euros could easily account for your time and peace of mind.
Have a read up on the pour method and then you can decide.
Whilst the fibreglass looks smooth it certainly isnt smooth enough for a glass scraper. Yes I do get coraline algae, yes it does annoy me. I tried on a couple of occasions to don the wet suit and clean the back walls with a scrubbing pad but its difficult especially with corals in the tank so Ive resigned myself to putting up with the algae. In time I hope the coral growth will make it less noticeable.
The water level in the sump is controlled by a float switch that is located at water level when the surge tank is full and just about to fire. This is the lowest level of the sump running height, any lower would be due to evapouration. Therefore when the surge fires the float switch in the sump becomes submerged and is submerged until the surge tank is refilled. You need a reasonably quick ATO pump to replenish fresh ro water because theres only a small window for it to do so. Using my surge as an example it would fire every 7 minutes and would last 20-30 seconds. So the ATO float switch would be submerged for nearly 7 minutes and then would only have a few seconds to recognise any evaporation and to replenish the water. If the ATO pump was too slow it would struggle to keep up with small windows of opportunity.
I try and check my sg once/twice a week and never noticed any salinity issues with the ATO working in this fashion.
Im currently not running the surge because the flow was too much, it stirred up the tank entirely and made it cloudy. I have some large grain sand to distribute over the DSB to avoid the cloudy water but I just havent gotten around to sorting it out.
HTH
for 1000lt I wouldnt bother with fibreglass...I would just use epoxy resin. Pour the resin onto an internal flat side of the aquarium...wait for it to go slightly tacky then rotate the aquarium and poor another internal flat surface.
I will pm you a link so you can have a read up on it.
If Im completely honest I would probably bite the bullet and go full glass for 1000ltrs @ 1000 euros. The extra 550 euros could easily account for your time and peace of mind.
Have a read up on the pour method and then you can decide.
Whilst the fibreglass looks smooth it certainly isnt smooth enough for a glass scraper. Yes I do get coraline algae, yes it does annoy me. I tried on a couple of occasions to don the wet suit and clean the back walls with a scrubbing pad but its difficult especially with corals in the tank so Ive resigned myself to putting up with the algae. In time I hope the coral growth will make it less noticeable.
The water level in the sump is controlled by a float switch that is located at water level when the surge tank is full and just about to fire. This is the lowest level of the sump running height, any lower would be due to evapouration. Therefore when the surge fires the float switch in the sump becomes submerged and is submerged until the surge tank is refilled. You need a reasonably quick ATO pump to replenish fresh ro water because theres only a small window for it to do so. Using my surge as an example it would fire every 7 minutes and would last 20-30 seconds. So the ATO float switch would be submerged for nearly 7 minutes and then would only have a few seconds to recognise any evaporation and to replenish the water. If the ATO pump was too slow it would struggle to keep up with small windows of opportunity.
I try and check my sg once/twice a week and never noticed any salinity issues with the ATO working in this fashion.
Im currently not running the surge because the flow was too much, it stirred up the tank entirely and made it cloudy. I have some large grain sand to distribute over the DSB to avoid the cloudy water but I just havent gotten around to sorting it out.
HTH
Hello again d3hree,
Thank you so much for your reply.
Actually I already know that forum and the plywood section and I have been reading through that.
Also I know the pour method because of the RC Topic called "moutains of sawdust".
I really like the pour method in terms of finish but the problem is the Epoxy price ... For that it would be preferable the glass one.
As for the price itself ... the difference almost pays the APEX controller and with 3 children I am in a tight budget.
I understand that the back and laterals would be difficult to clean in a 5000l system but in a 1000l system should be much simpler as I can reach all parts of the tank without actually diving.
But I will investigate further and take all your advice in consideration. Thanks!
As for your surge device can't you just put the lower float upper ... It should solve your problem.
All the best,
Rui
Thank you so much for your reply.
Actually I already know that forum and the plywood section and I have been reading through that.
Also I know the pour method because of the RC Topic called "moutains of sawdust".
I really like the pour method in terms of finish but the problem is the Epoxy price ... For that it would be preferable the glass one.
As for the price itself ... the difference almost pays the APEX controller and with 3 children I am in a tight budget.
I understand that the back and laterals would be difficult to clean in a 5000l system but in a 1000l system should be much simpler as I can reach all parts of the tank without actually diving.
But I will investigate further and take all your advice in consideration. Thanks!
As for your surge device can't you just put the lower float upper ... It should solve your problem.
All the best,
Rui
prop-frags
SPS Slave
Great selection of SPS - that granulosa is gorgeous. Give us some pics once they settle in a bit!
danielmitchell
New member
nice build, thanks for the updates.
Newbie Aquarist
Reefing is my middle name
That is pretty cool to walk into an LFS and before they crack the box just say, "heyH let me save you some acclimation time and take that box off of you." Seriously awesome.
