Mike's 300 Double-D

[prop-frags]

So to fix our light rack canopy-mounting dilemma, we looked around at some big weight-bearing sliding rail setups. The closest thing we could think of was those pots & pans rack jobbies they sell at Lowe's. Those all had the sliding rails mounted vertically - makes sense, as that provides the greatest load-bearing strength. So then we got to thinking, let's flip the rails vertical, and then construct some kind of bracket system on top of the light rack so we can attach the rails. Here's how it turned out:





We picked up some of those DIY plugs and created quick-disconnects for the Lumenmax Elites. The wires are run into the wall at canopy level, and come out underneath the stand, where they'll be connected up to the ballasts:



Here's how it looks from underneath:





Still quite a few more things to do with the lighting:

• Install ballasts/switch panel under stand
• Procure 5' VHO fixtures and install
• Tidy up wiring up top and down below

But getting the rack mounted was a big check mark for the project.

 

[PSU REEFER]

Looking dang good. Keep up the progress so we can get some water in there.

 

[blumoon reefers]

Wow!!! You guys don't disappoint the waiting masses. Great job, very impressive....Now I know I want to be just like you when I grow up. ;-)

 

[Untamed12]

Nice work on the slides for the light rack.

I've been thinking about your access to inside the tank... With the lights over the tank, you'll burn yourself if you reach in. So anytime you need to do something inside the display, you'll have to roll the lights out of the way and all of your access will be from the ends.

That's fine, but with the lights rolled out it will be dark in the display tank. You might consider mounting some sort of light to the top/inside of your canopy. That way, you can turn that light on so you can see what you are doing when you are working in the tank.

Plumbing coming along...don't forget to put union ball valves on every output of that 4-way.

 

[thejuggernaut]

Tagging along...really like how your stand turned out

 

[prop-frags]

Looking dang good. Keep up the progress so we can get some water in there.

Thanks so much, Rob! We've made some great headway the last few days...

Wow!!! You guys don't disappoint the waiting masses. Great job, very impressive....Now I know I want to be just like you when I grow up. ;-)

Melissa, you're too kind. We both really appreciate all the great support you've given us. We're gonna put up some pics later today...hopefully to meet your high expectations!

Nice work on the slides for the light rack.

I've been thinking about your access to inside the tank... With the lights over the tank, you'll burn yourself if you reach in. So anytime you need to do something inside the display, you'll have to roll the lights out of the way and all of your access will be from the ends.

That's fine, but with the lights rolled out it will be dark in the display tank. You might consider mounting some sort of light to the top/inside of your canopy. That way, you can turn that light on so you can see what you are doing when you are working in the tank.

Plumbing coming along...don't forget to put union ball valves on every output of that 4-way.

UT, we can't thank you enough for all the insightful comments and edits you have provided. We're gonna work on the light rig some more before it's all done. Your idea about a light inside the top of the canopy is great...we need to shop around for something suitable. Maybe a LED strip...

Tagging along...really like how your stand turned out

Thanks! Glad to have you along! We're very excited and pleased with the way it turned out. Rick the cabinet-maker is such a perfectionist and it shows.

You guys stay tuned. The tank's got water in it finally. We're both exhausted of two full days work on it, and need some sleep.

 

[blumoon reefers]

You guys stay tuned. The tank's got water in it finally. We're both exhausted of two full days work on it, and need some sleep.

:bounce3::bounce3::bounce3:

 

[Reef Happy]

Great build thread. Love the cabinet work and quartz. I am beginning a build on my 300DD. I am considering doing something like you have done in regards to the cabinet top. What kind of supplimental lighting are you using?

 

[prop-frags]

Originally Posted by Reef Happy View Post
Great build thread. Love the cabinet work and quartz. I am beginning a build on my 300DD. I am considering doing something like you have done in regards to the cabinet top. What kind of supplimental lighting are you using?

Hey, thanks a lot Doug - it's great to have a fellow member of the "double D" club following our thread! In regards to the lighting, we finished up the mods to the light rack today. What we're going to start out with are the three LMEs running 250w Hamilton 14k SE bulbs, and we've just built on the brackets for two 5' VHO 454 bulbs. Here's some shots of the light rack mods we finished up today:

The whole rack


Close up of one end so you can see the VHO brackets

 

[prop-frags]

OK, I promised you guys some pics for the progress we've made over the weekend...

First, let's cover the aquascaping. This was the most time-consuming work, but we were expecting a long investment to get everything looking the way we have planned.

We started out with setting up our work area out in the garage - set up the work table, got all the tools, fiberglass rods, epoxy, and live rock. Laying everything out helped us a lot as we went to select the pieces and get the design to work the way we needed it to.





The process went pretty much just like the prototyping we did. Lay out the rock, use a 1/2" wood bore bit to drill the holes, and stack using the fiberglass rods. It was important to choose the placement of the rock carefully in order to get the friction/binding action we wanted. This allowed the pieces to stay in place without the need for much epoxy, and balanced the structures so we were able to get some of the "gravity defying" designs we wanted.




We taped out the dimensions of the tank on the garage floor, along with the overflows and CL bulkheads to guide our designs. Clearly, it was important to get a good fit within the tank and have our "bonsai trees" integrated well into the CL design. In this set of pics you might be able to make out some of the "branch extensions" we did. This was accomplished with smaller 1/4" rods pushed in along the horizontal length of the rock and some epoxy between the joints:





Next up - vinegar and R/O water sponge bath for the inside of the tank - get her all shined up and ready to go...
Mr. Frodo the tank inspector gave it the once over when we were done

 

[prop-frags]

Next came the tricky part of disassembling the trees, moving them into the tank, and re-assembling. This worked flawlessly on one of the trees, and the other one we had trouble remembering how it went back together!! :hmm6:
No problem-o! We just re-worked and wound up improving it.
Here's how it looked with both in there...



Detail of the left side sculpture:




And then finally looking from the right side across towards the left:



For you plumbing freaks, we finally finished up the closed loop and drains.
Thanks for everyone's input and advice on this, it really did help us a lot:





All of this work, and while we knocked some stuff off the list, there's still quite a lot more to do:



The good news is the tank is now full of water, the closed loop is blasting like no tomorrow! The herbie drains are working just like we planned (and it's a really good thing we took y'alls advice and put gate valves on those things).

:celeb3:

Now we are dreaming of having fish in there:

 

[Untamed12]

That's a good strainer for the CL intake. The same one that I use. I've found it useful to have an extra one so I can reach in, unscrew, and replace the strainer without shutting anything off. There won't be any dangerous suction on that strainer at all.

 

[blumoon reefers]

Love the aquascaping! Can't wait to see it with corals and fish swimming around. You guys have done a GREAT job!!!

 

[spamn]

Somehow, I've missed this build up until now. Mike, it looks GREAT. It looks like no details were overlooked at all. I cannot wait to see the finished product.

 

[prop-frags]

Originally Posted by Untamed12
That's a good strainer for the CL intake. The same one that I use. I've found it useful to have an extra one so I can reach in, unscrew, and replace the strainer without shutting anything off. There won't be any dangerous suction on that strainer at all.

Thanks UT. We placed the rock in such a way as to be able to easily get at the strainer and unscrew it. It's very sturdy.

Originally Posted by blumoon reefers View Post
Love the aquascaping! Can't wait to see it with corals and fish swimming around. You guys have done a GREAT job!!!

Thanks Milissa! We're really looking forward to getting the sand and some livestock moved in.

Originally Posted by spamn View Post
Somehow, I've missed this build up until now. Mike, it looks GREAT. It looks like no details were overlooked at all. I cannot wait to see the finished product.

Great to have ya onboard! Terry's already said she's looking forward to having the RRC crew come over and check it out...

:fish1: :fish2:

OK, brace yourself, here's our first 300 DOUBLE D full frontal!!



Sorry about the white balance. Got a new camera and haven't read the book yet :reading:

 

[NasotheHutt]

Looks good!

 

[RichK]

Mike, I haven't commented in a while, but that looks great man. That is kinda what I am thinking for aquascaping. Two towers and a small island in the center. With sand and fish, that is going to look awesome!

I take it that the overflows are working OK? Still not sure what I am going to do there. However, I may ask Marineland to stretch my 300DD to 8'. Decisions, decisions.

BTW, if you have photoshop. etc, just go to color balance and adjust the sliders. That blue look will be gone in a few seconds

 

[leslie hempel]

coming along very nicley

 

[prop-frags]

Looks good!

Thanks Naso.

Mike, I haven't commented in a while, but that looks great man. That is kinda what I am thinking for aquascaping. Two towers and a small island in the center. With sand and fish, that is going to look awesome!

I take it that the overflows are working OK? Still not sure what I am going to do there. However, I may ask Marineland to stretch my 300DD to 8'. Decisions, decisions.

BTW, if you have photoshop. etc, just go to color balance and adjust the sliders. That blue look will be gone in a few seconds

Appreciate you checking in, Rich. Yes, the overflows are fine. We're running a Panworld 150PS main return pump. It is also driving the loop over to the Ca Reactor and the frag tank/refugium, but it's not over-running the drains at all. We may need to use the chiller pump for the frag tank/refug loop, and just let the main return run full out to the display...

8' of double D goodness would just be stunning. If you got the room and the cash, I would go for it!!

coming along very nicley

Thanks Leslie! Appreciate the kind words from way over there!!

 

[lhcorals]

Mike everything is looking great. Cant wait to see it finished in person. LMK if you need anything.

Lynn and Anna