new adventure into largeland

Just received my skimmer from MRC yesterday, starting to put plumbing together. Will post updated photos.

Finding nemo, I used Minwax Polyshades Natural Cherry........... stain and polyurethane all in one application. Thanks for the kind comments.
 
Well everything is coming together. Received my drill bits from Lau on ebay. Great deal. Read about him on another thread on r/c
Put some of the plumbing togehter and water tested the overflow bulheads and one was leaking. Reasealed bulkhead with silicone.

8627DSCN2033__Small_.JPG
 
I just finished all the plumbing work, and did some adjusting to quiet everything down. I changed my air valve setup on the durso just like Mcdonaldjt mentioned in his post. Thanks Tim for the idea, it is really working out.
I have to order another pump for my skimmer, the used one that I got with the tank, a Mak 4, is making noise.
Then I am going to be looking into what Lighting I should purchase for my 180 R/R.
Definitely will be using M/H, probally w/ uri vho. For the m/h I was thinking of using 3 pendants with 250 watt XM 10K bulbs and PFO HQI ballasts.
Any suggestions would be greatly apreciated
Thanks
 
Looks like everything is coming together nicely.

Have you thought about Lumanarcs? It looks like you have plenty of room in the canopy for them. If your planning SPS may be worth a look.
 
Thanks Joe, actually just today I ordered 3 Lumenarc reflectors and 3 Coralvue 250w ballasts from Reef Exotics.com. I read an article about how well the Lumemarc reflectors perform, and a great thread on R/C done by JBNY, about bulbs and ballasts .
I am going to install XM 250w SE bulbs and URI attinic bulbs.
 
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You mean Reef Exotics? Tony is a great guy to deal with, actually picked up most of my setup from him. If you can you have to see his 450, beautiful tank.
 
Thanks for the correction Joe, gotta quit staying up late, made the change in the post.
I did talk to Tony and may possibly see his tank. I hope.
 
Picked up my lighting parts from Reef Exotics today. Tony is a great guy and was very helpful. And what a reef tank he has,,,,,,WOW. Should be canidate for Tank of the Month. Here is a pic of my reflectors mounted in canopy.


8627DSCN2106__Small_.JPG
 
I changed my plumbing scheme around a little bit. I plumbed my skimmer to run off the main pump (dart) and gonna use the Genx4 pump for my closed loop and a branch off to feed my refugium.

8627DSCN2103__Small_.JPG



8627DSCN2101__Small_.JPG


Working on staining all the doors now.
 
Things have been going slow lately. I have some issues with micro bubbles that I need to take careof.
When I was testing system with fresh water everything looked good. I did notice that the flow in the sump was very fast because of the size of the return pump I am using. Well when I filled the tank with salt water, could not beleive the amount of micro bubbles that were being sent to the return lines.
After doing some reading on R/C, I have decided that the dart pump is too much pump for my return, and I am rethinking about what size pump to use. I am agreeing that slower the flow the better and less electric use. And slow flow in the sump should make the skimmer work more effeciently too.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6815562#post6815562 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by portjeffski
Things have been going slow lately. I have some issues with micro bubbles that I need to take careof.
When I was testing system with fresh water everything looked good. I did notice that the flow in the sump was very fast because of the size of the return pump I am using. Well when I filled the tank with salt water, could not beleive the amount of micro bubbles that were being sent to the return lines.
After doing some reading on R/C, I have decided that the dart pump is too much pump for my return, and I am rethinking about what size pump to use. I am agreeing that slower the flow the better and less electric use. And slow flow in the sump should make the skimmer work more effeciently too.
Click to expand...

Some constructice critisism :thumbsup:

Running your skimmer off of your return line isn't the most efficient use of it. You'll be reskimming skimmed water.

I'd use that Mak4 for your return line and the Dart for the closed loop.

IMO, Your baffles on your sump could be moved closer together. 1" apart is good. Use three panes with the middle pane being off the floor of the sump 1". Another set of them would be helpful for bubble control also. One set on each end.

I think you were on the right path when you were setting up the skimmer on the left side of the sump (opposite the return line). It doesn't look like you have much room under in your stand, but I find it best to have beckett skimmers raised above my sump (drains faster) and drain into the middle section. I'd use a Blueline 55 HD to power those dual becketts. But that's JMO.
 
The Dart will not provide enough pressure to drive a dual-Beckett skimmer efficiently. I am using a Blueline HD70 to drive my dual MRC MR3 and I love it.

The Dart would make a good CLS pump in your situation since you have so little head involved.

Mike
 
Reefy, thanks for the your opion. I am moving the skimmer back to the left side of the sump. That's where the drain lines spill into the sump. And I am going to set up the baffles in the sump also. The stand is 81/2 feet long and 2 feet wide, I have some good space under the tank. Thanks for the help.

Alien9168
Thanks. The reflectors fit great under the canopy and the M/H lights look great when they are on.

cmhollis
I will probally use the dart pump for a closed loop. I installed a PanWorld 100X-X for my return pump. I have a old GenX4 pump that I was going to use for the skimmer, but it makes allot of noise. Was thinking of getting a Mak 12 or 18 for skimmer, What do you think of those pumps?

fishball2222........thanks

tomkb .......thanks
the canopy does sit on top of the tank
 
Had to go to Maryland over the weekend and I got a chance to stop by Pacific East Aquaculture. What a great place!! State of the art facility. Beautiful show tanks, very clean setups and very helpful people. They were very friendly. And the way they have the coral set up in the vats for veiwing is incredible. I am thinking of getting my live rock from them.
 
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