My New AGE tank build! It's big! ~1500g DT

[prickles]

got the rebar and sewer line done today! We pour in the morning. I'm very excited.



On the solar tube thing, I read that the home depot variety come in two types, 95% reflective and 98% reflective. The manufacturer says the 98% reflective tubes will provide at a minimum 25% more light than the 95% reflective ones.

Sola tube claims 99.7% reflective. If the ratio is about the same, that could mean the sola tubes will provide about 20% more light than the better home depot brand ones. Do you think that's correct and do you think they are truthful when they claim the 99.7% part?

 

[dave.m]

Solatubes have been in the game longest for a reason. I don't trust in-house brands from non-specialty stores like HD. See jdpiii3's build thread here on RC. He also used a blue filter material over his to get a more correct colour balance on his tank.

Dave.M

 

[ace_92101]

Solatubes have been in the game longest for a reason. I don't trust in-house brands from non-specialty stores like HD. See jdpiii3's build thread here on RC. He also used a blue filter material over his to get a more correct colour balance on his tank.

Dave.M

There's also a reefer in AZ who uses them. I'll try and search to see if I can find him.

 

[drej424]

I've also heard good things about solatubes

 

[prickles]

Solatubes have been in the game longest for a reason. I don't trust in-house brands from non-specialty stores like HD. See jdpiii3's build thread here on RC. He also used a blue filter material over his to get a more correct colour balance on his tank.

Dave.M

I have read every thread I can find on solatubes. I LOVE the blue filter material idea for color idea and think I couldn't do solar without it.

 

[prickles]

Concrete poured today. I can't help but feel like I spent alot of effort doing nothing.

Monday: cut concrete out
tuesday: cut concrete out
wednesday: cut concrete out
thursday: cut concrete out
friday: rebar/sewer
Satuday: put concrete back.

SEE!!!

 

[prickles]

so I went to see danfeig's tank today. Let me start by saying THE PICTURES DO NOT DO IT JUSTICE!!! I would rate the pictures as awesome. The reality is mind bending!

It is absolutely gorgeous! If ever you have a chance to see his tank in person TAKE IT! I'm pretty sure my blood pressure dropped about 20 points by standing in front of his tank for 5 minutes.

I went to see it because the person that helped dan set it up is now running a LFS called Fishy Bizness in tucson AZ and that is where I am getting my tank. I am planning to blatantly "borrow" much of dan's research and experience in making decisions on my tank.

Thanks dan!

 

[SS_Sean]

subscribed!

 

[prickles]

subscribed!

glad to have you along!

 

[prickles]

okay so something I realized after seeing dan's tank is that ventilation will be a much bigger deal than I thought. I live in a very hot dry climate so what's my best choice?

1) an ERV/HRV
2) a mini split


I would lean towards the mini split because why not cool as well, but will it exhaust enough humidity? I saw dan does both that and an open window. I do not have a window.

I am also confused by the readups on ERV vs HRV and some say they do humidity, while some say they don't.

thoughts?

 

[dave.m]

I don't know your area, but it might be good to get a pro to come in and do an estimate. Use the opportunity to pick his brain and get some ideas, whether you choose to use his company or do it yourself.

Dave.M

 

[prickles]

I don't know your area, but it might be good to get a pro to come in and do an estimate. Use the opportunity to pick his brain and get some ideas, whether you choose to use his company or do it yourself.

Dave.M

Dave,

I would feel bad misleading someone with no intention of using him/her. I have a spare mini-split lying around I would put in and if I did the ERV, I would just amazon it and DIY for ~$400.

 

[prickles]

today we moved much of the junk out of the way of where the mixing station will be about 50 feet away from the main tank. I was thinking this for a mixing station.

the concept is that I can run water quickly from the RODI tank to the salt tank and also in an emergency run water quickly from the salt tank to the aquarium. That is the large pump loops. the large pump is pretty much only turned on manually.

the first small pump would be running pretty much 24/7 through an overflow out of the salt tank and back up into the salt tank. The concept is to use a sump so I can just dump bags of salt in there and it will mix on its own without climbing a ladder.

the second small pump would be plugged into the genesis and deliver water only when the computer told it to. it wouldn't need to be on very often.

what am I missing on this plan? Thanks in advance for your input!

 

[dave.m]

Check out pmroger's thread for an alternate way of mixing salt into the saltwater reservoir.

Dave.M

 

[prickles]

Check out pmroger's thread for an alternate way of mixing salt into the saltwater reservoir.

Dave.M

Dave,

I was actually more or less copying that. My only significant change (I think) is that I am using an overflow concept in the salt tank that now I see won't work unless the salt tank is full.

so, back to the drawing board. BTW does his work well or does he have that problem he worried about? Wouldn't another ball valve between main tank and the T be a good idea?

thanks!

 

[dave.m]

Ask the man. I'm not sure if he has actually progressed to the salt stage yet or what his experiences are with that design, i.e. what would he change now if he could start over.

Dave.M

 

[prickles]

okay how about this? that's a lot of ball valves. do i really need that many?

 

[prickles]

so not much progress the last two days. I am going to take the next two days off to concentrate on the remodel. I am hoping to get the rough electric and plumbing done tomorrow and the mixing station done Friday and start the building of the rockwork so I can cycle it. This assumes they have the mixing tanks in stock in town!

 

[evo_2679]

Wow - awesome set up so far! Can't wait to see the custom tank. Following this build !

 

[prickles]

Wow - awesome set up so far! Can't wait to see the custom tank. Following this build !

Thanks! I can't wait to see it either! We're fiddling with the dimensions so that will probably delay it a bit.

Today the rough electric got done as well as the framing for the side viewing window. We also ran water transfer lines for water changes to the mixing station which is conveniently 100' of pipe (up walls across attics to the garage) away from the fish room. Even after a long shower I feel like I am still covered with insulation.