MY 75 Gallon RR project and soon to be "former setup" DIAL UP BEWARE!

[concept3]

well, couldn't do what I planned to do, I got home very late, and didn't want to start messing with the tank around 12:30 am. I did get the Iwaki 20 today, and I placed it right next to the 40. OMG it's freakin tiny compared to the other guy. I'll try to run some water in the tank on Sunday, I'll have an early day off at work and I should be home by 9:00pm at the latest (trust me, 9:00pm to be back home is early for those of us who work RETAIL)

 

[BlueTBird]

What a great thread. Love all the details you are providing. Your doing a great job. Cant wait to see how your flow test goes with the 20.

By the way, I just sold two 40's and I know other folks are looking for them it you decide to sell your 40.

 

[concept3]

What a great thread. Love all the details you are providing. Your doing a great job. Cant wait to see how your flow test goes with the 20.

By the way, I just sold two 40's and I know other folks are looking for them it you decide to sell your 40.

Hey.....I know you.

You're Btang from thereeftank forums. Glad you stopped by my thread and checked out my transfer project.

 

[Reeftreasures]

show us some updates on the beast Merv

 

[TA]

show us some updates on the beast Merv

Yeah....Wanna see how the 'new' Megaflow is workin out!

 

[concept3]

HA! I wish I got stuff done this weekend, but I work retail! Here's a quick update though.....

I got home around 11:45pm last night, made dinner and ate. I couldn't wait until today to "test fit" the new pump, so I placed it right next to the Iwaki 40. The 20 model sits a tad bit shorter than the Iwaki40, so I needed to replace the wooden legs it was sitting on. STUPID me, I siliconed the wooden legs to the bottom of my stand (I was thinking "use SILICONE to dampen the vibration"......MOUSEPADS have silicone in them, don't they? They use mousepads to dampen vibration on external pumps, don't they?)

So here I am at 3:00am last night trying to PRY loose the two pieces of wood together with a VICE GRIP and WHACK! I slammed the Sump with the freakin VICE!!!! After cursing myself off about 1,056 times last night, I went to Petsmart on my lunchbreak today and bought another $20 20-gallon tank.

I just finished drilling it AGAIN a few hours ago and am currently applying silicone AGAIN to hold the baffles up for the sump AGAIN.

Here are a few pics:

WORD OF ADVICE: Never start anything you know you won't be able to finish the same day after a long day at work and being tired! This is what happens! Note the new sump behind it! Another thing...I drilled the new bulkhead hole in less than 25 minutes this time!

Here is how I made more notches around the megaflow in case you were all wondering. I should have water in the tank on Tuesday for another test run with the Iwaki 40. We'll see how the megaflow mods work then.

I'm taking off work Tuesday to Friday, so if all goes well, I'll have everything worked out by Friday...........just waiting now for my FRIED...I MEAN LIVEROCK to cure now..............

 

[TA]

Can you show me a close-up pic of the dremmel bit (or bits) you used to widen (or make) the teeth of the mega-flow?

btw...man, I would have been so P!$$@&-OFF if just shattered my sump...sounds like you're getting back on track, though. Good for you...I like persistence

Tony

 

[concept3]

I used the same CONICAL bit to enlarge and widen the holes. I did use a circular cutter to make straight lines first, then used the conical pont to widen. My hands aren't that steady when it comes to making fine details, so I used Painter's masking tape as a guide to keep my hands in check. Just take your time and it'll come out the way you want it. Basically, the deeper you go into the plastic with the Conical Bit, the wider the holes will get. Since I am somewhat of a stickler to detail, I used an X-acto blade to clean up any burrs from the plastic at the end. Another word of advice when widening the holes: Keep the bit and your hand as SQUARELY close as possible to the Megaflow box.

 

[TA]

Instituted the 'Concept' Mod...worked great!

Same bit, same result. All Megaflow-ers should use it. After seeing it completed, I'm not all too sure you needed to cut any 'extra' teeth. I think that mod at least doubled if not tripled the amount of flow that thing will handle now.

Thanks, that was one of the last remaining things I needed to do!

 

[concept3]

Well, got a few things done today. I'm about 90% done on the hood wiring and electrical. Just gotta clean em up a bit. I'll be using two 4.5 inch computer fans up TOP to draw hot and humid air out, and two 4 inch fans to draw in air from BEHIND the halides.

I also installed the VHO actinics about 3 inches underneath the Mogul sockets of the halides. I placed both VHO's towards the back of the tank since I want to use them only as "flouresce" light, not so much as my primaries like the MH. I placed them at back so the tank will be easier to fiddle around with. VHO Ballast was mounted directly behind the hood, but the Icecap MH ballasts will reside in the same cabinet they are in right now.

Test fitting on the placement of the VHO's. I wanted them out of the way for those long excursions in fiddling with Liverock and Corals..............

Here is a shot of the fan placements....Two behind, two above. I hate freakin messy wires!

Here is the ballast being soldered on. No twist connectors for this bad boy! I'll be keeping this setup for a while!

 

[concept3]

Here's a test run...

A Close up shot of the VHO placement

I also did a wet run of the Iwaki 40 today. Too much water! Not enough for the dursos! I swapped it out for the Iwaki20. Perfect! I guess I'll be selling the Iwaki 40 after I get everything squared away........Maybe I'll use it for a closed loop system. Who knows what will happen next. Everything's a CONCEPT you know

 

[TA]

Too much water! Not enough for the dursos!

Curious...

1. What do you mean by "Not enough for the durso's"? Do you mean that the durso's can't handle all that water or was it the Megaflow Mod...wasn't the Mod able to handle the flow?

(I used the "Concept" Mod and, while I havn't tested it yet, no doubt in my mind its gonna work much better than the stock version.)

2. How many outlets and what size pipe leading into the tank? Couldn't reall tell from your earlier post.

3. How did you wire up your fans? I'm just finishing my hood (2 x 250 IceCaps; 2 x 95W VHO actinics; 2 x 4.5" computer fans)...got it all wired (except fans), and like you, I hate messy wires. I was planning on running some 'conduit' (3/4" PVC) along the back of my hood (back of my hood is fully open for ventilation) were all my wires will be neatly hidden (as well as supported and away form salt).

Looks nice. You buying new rock? If so, have you decided what kind and where to get it?

I right behind ya!

Keep Reefin'

 

[kabal2]

wow man a beautiful job your doing keep it up , and thank you for this thread is teaching alot , keep it up man 8)

 

[concept3]

Originally posted by TA
Curious...

1. What do you mean by "Not enough for the durso's"? Do you mean that the durso's can't handle all that water or was it the Megaflow Mod...wasn't the Mod able to handle the flow?

Yeah, that was another late night update as you could see that I posted it up right before midnight as I was waiting for dinner to get cooked. What I really meant to say (in detail) is: A standpipe with inside diameter of 1" can accomodate 600 gallons of water per hour (fact). Having one durso in a megaflow works great, and having two (in my mind) should work better. I just haven't gotten to the point yet where I'm able to get equal amounts of flow on the downpipes to reduce gurgling or echoing from the other (the other empty and the other taking in water). The second durso that I made will be converted to an emergency drainage (overflow security....doubt if it'll ever overflow with the "megaflow mod") for now until someone can give me a few more pointers out there on how to make this work QUIETLY.

I was reading a few threads out there about the Durso standpipes, and some DO NOT recommend using TWO in the same overflow box for such reasons aforementioned.

2. How many outlets and what size pipe leading into the tank? Couldn't reall tell from your earlier post.

I'm using the Stock Durso that came with the RR tank (AGA 75 gallon) which uses a 1 inch bulkhead. The PUMP RETURN which uses a 3/4 inch bulkhead is what I've been messing with ON and OFF for the past few days as my second durso made out of a 1" PVC Tee, a 90 degree angle and a cap.

3. How did you wire up your fans? I'm just finishing my hood (2 x 250 IceCaps; 2 x 95W VHO actinics; 2 x 4.5" computer fans)...got it all wired (except fans), and like you, I hate messy wires. I was planning on running some 'conduit' (3/4" PVC) along the back of my hood (back of my hood is fully open for ventilation) were all my wires will be neatly hidden (as well as supported and away form salt).

Fans will be wired up today, I'm still brainfarting about that one. I am currently using a 12 volt power adapter bought in Circuit city, the kind that enables you to change voltage. I have two 12 volt adapters right now, and it's a pain since they take up so much space. I'll wire them up individually for now, I can always change them in the future.

I might get a 24 volt transformer/adater instead and wire them up in SERIES in such a way: adapter to fan #1 +, - to + (fan #2), - back to adapter.....it's a little hard to explain without a diagram...... basically, it's the same way you would wire up TWO 2 ohm single voice coil subwoofers to achieve a 4 ohm load (for any of you car audio freaks out there...including myself )
I'm using Electrical Split Loom to hide the wires. Easy on, Easy off. Go to Pepboys........

 

[Reeftreasures]

are you done yet? hey i'm getting ready to redo the system again. just not what i want from it so i guess it's back to the drawing board, need more flow haha. i gotts get that 15 gallon tank to you so you can drill it for me if you have the time. got a mag 9.5 i think i'm gonna try this time. also got a lot of new goodies-

redsea ozone
redsea classic skimmer
2-15watt uv sterlizers
refugium light 18 watt pc
2-mag 7
mag 9.5
and i think i'm gonna go with 2-250 watt 14K's instad of the 175's

well thats enough spending money for now if i could only sell some of my other tanks to get the money back. i'll try and get in touch with you this week.

 

[concept3]

All right Kevin..... I'll be there, you know where to find me....Look for the red car LOL.

UPDATE: I did another wet test today for leaks and final fitting. I added some molding to the tank top, to finish it off and some final painting to do tomorrow. Everything works perfect, the only thing now is the loclines have to be reduced to get more pressure out. The dual dursos I got to work, One is sits taller than the other, which will act as my emergency overflow, the 1" durso is going to be the primary sump return. I'll post some pics as soon as I clean up.....The worst is finally over.

 

[concept3]

ALMOST DONE!!!

ALMOST DONE!!!

Well, my new tank venture is almost at a close. I finally finished the plumbing (with a CHECK VALVE against all my firends recommendations), Electrical wiring and some cosmetic issues. The tank is 98% complete, with only the fan wiring, MH ballast connectors and the final aquascaping. It's been a rough 2 1/2 weeks, but everything is almost at an end.

Here are a few tweeks that I made the past 3 days:

True Union CHECK VALVE to prevent back-siphoning that could possibly go downstairs to my neighbor's dining room. Against my fellow aquarist' recommendations......LOL.........better be safe than sorry!

Here it is installed just above the pump. I think I went overboard with the PVC unions, but I did that so I could swap out the check valve for a ball valve or something else in the future.

 

[concept3]

FINAL TOUCHUPS

FINAL TOUCHUPS

After looking at a 1/2 inch gap from the front of the tank and sides to the molding, I decide to throw another piece to make it look more uniform, plus it should prevent any kind of dirt or salt from falling in the gap. Just a minor aesthetic touch up......... Do it once, do it right!

I also repainted the stand and hood a third time to give it that well-finished look.

A close up of the final trim.....makes the tank look much better

 

[concept3]

I was running out of things to do, so I spent another few extra dollars today and made myself a GCFI box to hook up my pump and other equipment. I kinda rigged the setup using a 9 foot 15 amp power cord and an external box. I also threw in a "wet box" to make it look like I paid someone to do it........ not to mention the "cool" factor!!!

Here's another mess that I made in the living room today....

Here's the outdoor box and two GFCI 15 amp breakers hooked up to that 9 foot 15 amp extension cable that I cut the ends off...... I know it would have been cheaper to buy raw wire and a plug, but I've done so much work already as it is. Lazinitis is starting to kick in.

The Electrical box's final resting place. This will be hooked up to a UPS backup system (originally intended for computers) for power faliures or surges. I don't wanna fry my equipment. You never know in a condo complex. The only things that will be hooked up to the box are: Iwaki 20, 2 Icecap ballasts and the fans. Everything else will be on its own direct powerstrip.

 

[concept3]

Everything is looking good as far as ETA transfer of my livestock and rock (1-2 weeks). I'll be fine tuning any thing that I can find wrong or not up to par........ in the meantime, I would like everyone's 2 cents and recomendations on what I need to be aware of as far as possible equipment hang-ups or how I'd be able to move my 40+ colonies of coral/clams...you know, just like moving into a new "house"

Anything would be appreciated.