Capt_Cully
Active member
I just creamed my jeans....
order my DT today...
- Thread starter byronsands
- Start date
byronsands
Member
Thx folks, going to start working on the plumbing next... Using Sch 80 valves & gates
Breakbeats2334
New member
Keep up the good work your gonna force us all to step up our game for organization!
Capt_Cully
Active member
Got any pics of the outside room from which the tank will be viewed? Basement? Main floor?
byronsands
Member
thanks
the stock tanks are 150g, but I will likely use them at 125g so the overal will be 465+125+125=715 (minus rock displacement)drooling over all the nice toys, looks like ur moving at light spd, keep it up
btw, how many gals are those water tank?
If your question was the storage tanks, they are 65g each for salt water & RO water.
The skimmer is a BK 300 external, but its sitting in a container which will drain to the sump if needed -- I've had skimmers go nuts in the past and cause floods...
I will take some "viewing room" when I get stuff uncluttered a bit. It is the lower floor media room which has a 70" TV and opens outside with double French doors (house on a slope), but the main floor is the upper floor. The lower floor is stained concrete. We dont have a basement per se, back wall goes into the hill, but sides and front open out. Lower floor is insulated concrete form construction.
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byronsands
Member
btw, the fun part of this so far is turning stuff on and off from my iPhone through the Apex (and reading all of the probes) just for the helluvit...
should be a useful feature someday, just an amusing distraction at the moment :--)
should be a useful feature someday, just an amusing distraction at the moment :--)
byronsands
Member
well, the RO/DI system is running now -- with no leaks...
the platform has a built waterproof lining to catch any minor leaks or spills. The left tank is salt water and right tank is RO. I can fill into either and pump from one to the other. The salt tank can recirculate to mix. Either tank can pump over to the refugium to inject salt or RO water into the system. The electronics are driven by the Apex with a temperature and conductivty probe in the salt tank. Valve switching is manual -- I didnt automate that :--(
the platform has a built waterproof lining to catch any minor leaks or spills. The left tank is salt water and right tank is RO. I can fill into either and pump from one to the other. The salt tank can recirculate to mix. Either tank can pump over to the refugium to inject salt or RO water into the system. The electronics are driven by the Apex with a temperature and conductivty probe in the salt tank. Valve switching is manual -- I didnt automate that :--(
byronsands
Member
finally got around to unboxing the 6 Radions and going through setup... interesting process..
I laid them all out on the granite kitchen island -- light unit and (large) power supply, connected a USB cord from one to the laptop and configured them all to wirelessly converse as a group in "nature" mode. They will slowly move from east to west bringing up their lights in the AM and reversing for PM... Very cool setup. Current plan is to have the 6 units will span the 8ft length of the DT.
I laid them all out on the granite kitchen island -- light unit and (large) power supply, connected a USB cord from one to the laptop and configured them all to wirelessly converse as a group in "nature" mode. They will slowly move from east to west bringing up their lights in the AM and reversing for PM... Very cool setup. Current plan is to have the 6 units will span the 8ft length of the DT.
reefjunkie42
Wrasse junkie
wow amazing!
Breakbeats2334
New member
Awesome it took me a good while to figure out how to maneuver through that software like a champ but they're fantastic lights if you can get pass the trial and error frustrations. Are you planning on adding Vortechs to this system as well?
Capt_Cully
Active member
:eek1: :eek1: :eek1:
Capt_Cully
Active member
Oh hey, I just saw your post about Reef Crystsls @ ABC, they can also special order the 200gallon boxes which works out to an even better deal I think. It's worth inquiring. You'll probably rip through tons of salt in the first 6 months.
byronsands
Member
thanks guys
BTW, I have SunnyX at ProCorals over in MI as mentor on this project... add .com to the name and check out his stuff... pretty amazing
we have the aquascaping pretty much designed now... all of the rock is from BRS... pics soon...
yes, I have 4 x MP40 to create the motion
thanks for the tip, I'll check with them on price... 10% water changes are 73g, so it will e a lot of salt :--)
BTW, I have SunnyX at ProCorals over in MI as mentor on this project... add .com to the name and check out his stuff... pretty amazing
we have the aquascaping pretty much designed now... all of the rock is from BRS... pics soon...
Breakbeats2334
New member
Do you plan on putting a mp40 on each side or since its an inside wall build all 4 in the back?
byronsands
Member
two on the left side and 2 on the right side... per instructions from my build mentor
another plug: visit procorals dot com -- tell SunnyX that Byron sent you
byronsands
Member
btw, started filling the 2 x 150 stock tanks (refug & sump) late Sat night -- large fiasco...
the drain plugs/bulkheads on both tank began to drip!!!!!!!! damn!!!!!!!
I started by filling the sump. After the water got above the bulkhead, I began to notice a drip... crap!!!! so my solution was to pump the water around to the refug and then fix the sump...
Crap again... go the water moved to the refug and then noticed the EXACT SAME SITUATION... dripping at the bulkhead...
now I have 150 x 2 gals dripping (at least they weren't actually full yet, so maybe 70g)
took my GFO pump, stuck in a long 1/2 line and pumped the refug and the sump out...
the fun started at midnight Sat, got to bed at 4am...
on Sunday took both units apart, put a gallon of silicone sealant on each, put them back together and let them set until this morning, Monday...
currently refilling them and they appear to be holding...
wasted an entire bucket of Reef Crystals!!!!!!!!!!!! damn!!!!!!!!!
the takeaway: never trust the manufacturer!!!! I should have totally checked out the Rubbermaid stock tanks and didn't... my bad...
the drain plugs/bulkheads on both tank began to drip!!!!!!!! damn!!!!!!!
I started by filling the sump. After the water got above the bulkhead, I began to notice a drip... crap!!!! so my solution was to pump the water around to the refug and then fix the sump...
Crap again... go the water moved to the refug and then noticed the EXACT SAME SITUATION... dripping at the bulkhead...
now I have 150 x 2 gals dripping (at least they weren't actually full yet, so maybe 70g)
took my GFO pump, stuck in a long 1/2 line and pumped the refug and the sump out...
the fun started at midnight Sat, got to bed at 4am...
on Sunday took both units apart, put a gallon of silicone sealant on each, put them back together and let them set until this morning, Monday...
currently refilling them and they appear to be holding...
wasted an entire bucket of Reef Crystals!!!!!!!!!!!! damn!!!!!!!!!
the takeaway: never trust the manufacturer!!!! I should have totally checked out the Rubbermaid stock tanks and didn't... my bad...
Capt_Cully
Active member
Better to have mishaps like that early. Once you're up and running stuff like that can be disaterous. Why were you filling with saltwater? Why not just use regular tap water to test the system for leaks?
byronsands
Member
Didn't intend 2b leak testing - thought I had it nailed. I was getting it ready 2 start curing rock 
Capt_Cully
Active member
Gotcha, hope that didnt come across as condescending. I learned that you should fresh water test your final configuration and plumbing scheme for at least a day, maybe even a couple of days. Then once you're sure you've got it nailed, then you can filler up with RO and salt mix. Even doing all of this, one can still find areas that are weak and subject to salt creep down the road.
I wasn't trying to bust balls, just thought it could save you on salt if there are other pitfalls along the way. Sometimes with these elaborate builds, some silly little things go over looked and can cause headaches.
I'm so anxious to see this system get off the ground. It's surely one of the premier builds in the area. Keep up the great work!
I wasn't trying to bust balls, just thought it could save you on salt if there are other pitfalls along the way. Sometimes with these elaborate builds, some silly little things go over looked and can cause headaches.
I'm so anxious to see this system get off the ground. It's surely one of the premier builds in the area. Keep up the great work!
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