Phuzzykins' 300 gallon AGE Build Extravaganza
- Thread starter phuzzykins
- Start date
BWIPlumbing
Registered Member
keep the pictures coming!!!!!
phuzzykins
New member
Hopefully I'll get a chance to post more pics this week - I've made some progress on the sump, plumbing, and electrical.
The AGE tank is officially on the way; the contract has been signed, and I've put down a 50% deposit on the tank and stand. Estimated delivery is late May.
The AGE tank is officially on the way; the contract has been signed, and I've put down a 50% deposit on the tank and stand. Estimated delivery is late May.
phuzzykins
New member
Alex,
I ordered through Kingfish Aquariums, which is in TX along with AGE. My understanding is that any LFS can order from AGE, but I chose to go with Kingfish because they have a lot of experience working with AGE.
Delivery will be to my home in MA.
Between the tank, stand, crating, and shipping charges, I'm paying a little under $5500.
It's quick and easy to get a quote if you're interested. Prices will vary depending on who you get the quote from, since the LFS is free to add their own mark-up to the price they get from AGE.
I ordered through Kingfish Aquariums, which is in TX along with AGE. My understanding is that any LFS can order from AGE, but I chose to go with Kingfish because they have a lot of experience working with AGE.
Delivery will be to my home in MA.
Between the tank, stand, crating, and shipping charges, I'm paying a little under $5500.
It's quick and easy to get a quote if you're interested. Prices will vary depending on who you get the quote from, since the LFS is free to add their own mark-up to the price they get from AGE.
Re: Pics? Of course.
Re: Pics? Of course.
Looks likea great build.
I am in the planning stage for a 180g inwall in my basement family room. I would like to plumb a sink in what will be the fish room but have been puzzling over how to plumb the drain for a sink without having to bust up the concrete floor. Your mention of the pump-out laundry sink in one of your earlier posts caught my attention. Can you provide any details regarding it?
Thanks
Aaron
Re: Pics? Of course.
Looks likea great build.
I am in the planning stage for a 180g inwall in my basement family room. I would like to plumb a sink in what will be the fish room but have been puzzling over how to plumb the drain for a sink without having to bust up the concrete floor. Your mention of the pump-out laundry sink in one of your earlier posts caught my attention. Can you provide any details regarding it?
Thanks
Aaron
phuzzykins
New member
Absolutely, Aaron.
I bought a standard laundry sink, and an ejector pump designed specifically for the purpose. The ejector pump I bought was a Bur-Cam model: http://www.idealtruevalue.com/servlet/the-73896/Detail
The pump connects under the strainer basket of the sink where you would normally see a P-trap.
The output of the pump has a check valve to prevent back-siphoning of waste water. The Bur-Cam pump came with a very cheap ball-type check valve, which I had to replace with a high quality flapper-type valve in order to completely eliminate back siphon.
In my case, 1" flexible tube connects to the pump output, and runs over the drop ceiling in my basement until it meets up with the main waste pipe that exits the house. I had a licensed plumber connect it to ensure that everything was properly vented.
Here's a pic of the pump and check valve installed:
When water accumulates in the sink basin, a pressure switch automatically turns the pump on.
The only problem I've had with this pump is that the impeller does not tolerate ANY foreign particles at all. A few grains of 2mm sand got into it, and the impeller bound up enough that I had to disassemble the volute and clean it out.
Cheers!
I bought a standard laundry sink, and an ejector pump designed specifically for the purpose. The ejector pump I bought was a Bur-Cam model: http://www.idealtruevalue.com/servlet/the-73896/Detail
The pump connects under the strainer basket of the sink where you would normally see a P-trap.
The output of the pump has a check valve to prevent back-siphoning of waste water. The Bur-Cam pump came with a very cheap ball-type check valve, which I had to replace with a high quality flapper-type valve in order to completely eliminate back siphon.
In my case, 1" flexible tube connects to the pump output, and runs over the drop ceiling in my basement until it meets up with the main waste pipe that exits the house. I had a licensed plumber connect it to ensure that everything was properly vented.
Here's a pic of the pump and check valve installed:
When water accumulates in the sink basin, a pressure switch automatically turns the pump on.
The only problem I've had with this pump is that the impeller does not tolerate ANY foreign particles at all. A few grains of 2mm sand got into it, and the impeller bound up enough that I had to disassemble the volute and clean it out.
Cheers!
phuzzykins
New member
One more note - there is an alternate style of laundry pump available that collects water in a plastic container, and uses a standard sump pump to eject it.
I don't have any personal experience with this style of pump, but I expect that it would be less susceptible to damage from grit and sand simply because that matter would be able to settle out rather than being sucked into the pump.
The downside would be that stagnant, possibly dirty water would be present in the collection vessel.
I don't have any personal experience with this style of pump, but I expect that it would be less susceptible to damage from grit and sand simply because that matter would be able to settle out rather than being sucked into the pump.
The downside would be that stagnant, possibly dirty water would be present in the collection vessel.
phuzzykins
New member
150lbs of Marco Rock is being delivered today, according to FedEx. 
phuzzykins
New member
Nobody's more eager than I am, Beaun.
Just opened a box of the Marco Rock - gorgeous, clean, and no piece smaller than a football. I think I'm in love.
Just opened a box of the Marco Rock - gorgeous, clean, and no piece smaller than a football. I think I'm in love.
phuzzykins
New member
I just got tanked
I just got tanked
I haven't fully uncrated the tank yet, which makes photos less interesting, but it's absolutely gorgeous.
I just got tanked
I haven't fully uncrated the tank yet, which makes photos less interesting, but it's absolutely gorgeous.
phuzzykins
New member
It's the same external dimensions as the Marineland DD 300. I liked the dimensions enough that I didn't see a reason to mess with them when I decided on an AGE tank instead of the Marineland.
External: 72x36x27
Internal: 71x35x25.25
The tank has two external overflows, each 24" long. Starphire front and sides. It'll be visible from the front and left-hand side, but I had Tom build it with Starphire on the right hand pane just in case I sell the tank at some point, or move to a place where 3-sided viewing would be an option.
The craftsmanship on this beast really shows. Tom isn't afraid to whip out his CNC router, and the fit and finish it produces is fantastic.
External: 72x36x27
Internal: 71x35x25.25
The tank has two external overflows, each 24" long. Starphire front and sides. It'll be visible from the front and left-hand side, but I had Tom build it with Starphire on the right hand pane just in case I sell the tank at some point, or move to a place where 3-sided viewing would be an option.
The craftsmanship on this beast really shows. Tom isn't afraid to whip out his CNC router, and the fit and finish it produces is fantastic.
Blinding Reef
New member
simply beeeaaaauuutiful. want more pics of what's inside and also more info the marco rocks..is it live rocks or dead? thinking about doing MR for my next tank sometime early next year.
phuzzykins
New member
Blinding Reef,
I have 300lbs of the Marco Rocks "Deco Rock", which is dry, but "pre-cycled" to remove the vast majority of the organic matter that's normally in dry rock.
100lbs of the rock has been curing in my sump and a 29 gallon tank with a couple of pieces of Fiji live rock, and the rest is still in boxes.
When I crack open another 50lb box, I'd be happy to take pics of each individual piece so that you can see what to expect.
Back of the tank:
Adjustable overflow grate, from the inside of the overflow:
External overflow, seen from the inside of the tank:
I have 300lbs of the Marco Rocks "Deco Rock", which is dry, but "pre-cycled" to remove the vast majority of the organic matter that's normally in dry rock.
100lbs of the rock has been curing in my sump and a 29 gallon tank with a couple of pieces of Fiji live rock, and the rest is still in boxes.
When I crack open another 50lb box, I'd be happy to take pics of each individual piece so that you can see what to expect.
Back of the tank:
Adjustable overflow grate, from the inside of the overflow:
External overflow, seen from the inside of the tank:
phuzzykins
New member
nauticac4,
I'm one of those strange people.
I edited those out in the JPEGs, but not the RAW format files... good catch, and I'll fix that before some crazed reefer shows up with a forklift!
I'm one of those strange people.
I edited those out in the JPEGs, but not the RAW format files... good catch, and I'll fix that before some crazed reefer shows up with a forklift!
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